Last Day of Magic

A bit more stuff around to today, but i'll start with a continuation of yesterday's theme - Wigan. What struck me today is how come the basic theme of the final day is "What have Wigan got to be play for?" rather than "What do Wigan and Bolton have to play for?" Bolton are all but safe, I don't really see them giving their all, and yet all the talk is of Wigan. Take this from The Times today:

Several Chelsea players have expressed concerns that Wigan may be demotivated for their match against United, having already secured Premier League survival, but Marcus Bent, the forward, has promised Avram Grant's team that they will play fair. “There have been something like ten or 20 people randomly coming up to me in the street, asking me not to try and to take it easy and let United win the game,” Bent said. “But we are professionals and we are all going into the game on Sunday wanting to get three points.”

I don't look through all the Chelsea stories every day so maybe I'm wrong but why the continuous need for Wigan, rather than Bolton, to justify themselves? It's as if the fact that we've played the best football all season counts for nothing - the entire season will come down to the fact that Wigan aren't trying very hard.

Whether Wayne Rooney will play against Wigan is also a question on a lot of lips today, some wondering whether he'll be risked, others claiming he's ready. An appearance, if necessary, from the subs bench seems to be the consensus.

Comments from Wes Brown on playing all season, our good defense and on Ronaldo feature in most papers, here, for instance:

"Without a shadow of a doubt he's the best player in the world at the moment," Brown added.

"He's taken his game to a different level and I'm sure he'll get more goals this season. I'm just glad he's on our side.

"Even for his team-mates, it's exciting to watch him when he gets on the ball because you know there's a chance something's going to happen, whether it's him setting up a goal or scoring one.

"He's capable of producing something out of nothing."

The fact that reports on "The Battle of Stamford Bridge" are due to be submitted today generates some stories while saying nothing new, here and here:

The case is likely to centre upon what it was that provoked Evra because it now seems that both sides accept that – whatever set off the left-back – he did not hear it first hand. Either way it will be a minefield for the FA disciplinary department who will be expected to make a decision on one club's word against another and from studying grainy camera footage and pictures which are likely to be inconclusive to say the least.

Transfer talk in The Telegraph:

... Huntelaar, who can be bought for around £15 million will become Ferguson's main target, whilst the club continue to monitor the situation at West Ham regarding the availability of Dean Ashton.

A different ending today, as Daniel Taylor in The Guardian looks at final day 1968:

On Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson's players will go to Wigan Athletic hoping to see off Chelsea in a title race which, more than anything, has become a feat of endurance. It is the first time for 40 years that the leading sides have been separated by nothing more than a simple formula with 90 minutes to play. Then, as now, United were one of the clubs involved, with a European Cup final also on the horizon, although then they were still a semi-final second leg away. But the similarities do not end there. In 1968 Sir Matt Busby was missing his star striker, Denis Law, through injury; now Ferguson is fretting about Wayne Rooney. It was to be a chastening experience - and, again, the last match of the domestic season fell on May 11.