What the back pages say on Tuesday, April 21: Wenger wades into Wembley row, Messi job for Mancienne

21 April 2009 08:22
DAILY MAIL: Arsene Wenger launched an unprecedented attack on the state of Wembley pitch yesterday, which he claims 'nobody wants to play on'. Also: Michael Mancienne auditioned for the chance to mark Lionel Messi in the Nou Camp next week as Guus Hiddink contemplated a spectacular Champions League gamble.  THE SUN: Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez have been handed a humiliating ultimatum: Quit your war - NOW. Also: Arsene Wenger claims the silly sods at the FA have blown £800million on the new Wembley - because the pitch will never be any good.   DAILY EXPRESS: Sammy Lee defended Rafa Benitez last night and labelled the joint attack on him by Sir Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce as 'sad'. Also: Arsene Wenger has stepped up his pitch battle with the FA, accusing them of wasting £800million on building Wembley and jeopardising England's hopes.   DAILY STAR: Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Dimitar Berbatov as fans' fury rains on the penalty shoot-out flop. Also: Arsene Wenger last night blasted the FA for ruining England's hopes of glory with a shocking Wembley pitch.   THE GUARDIAN: Three captains in this year's Six Nations were among the fringe players for this summer's Lions tour to South Africa being debated by the head coach. Also: Arsene Wenger has renewed his attack on the Football Association over the state of the Wembley pitch by saying that nobody dreams of playing at the national stadium anymore and that the surface was also undermining the England team.   THE TELEGRAPH: Arsene Wenger has escalated his attack on Wembley Stadium, claiming the pitch is damaging the England team and is not good enough to stage the 2012 Olympics.   THE TIMES: The Wembley pitch that has drawn scorn as a national embarrassment from Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson is to be ripped up after the Football Association admitted that it was being forced to start again on the centrepiece of the £757 million stadium.   THE INDEPENDENT: Arsene Wenger claimed yesterday that the state of the Wembley pitch was so bad it could potentially damage the prospects of the England team and asked why the Football Association had spent £757m on a stadium without getting the most basic component right.    

Source: Daily_Mail