22 METROSPORT Friday, October 2, 2009 D Manchester United have proved there is life after cristiano ronaldo, insists former team- mate Wayne rooney. the Premier League leaders entertain sunderland tomorrow and rooney, the clubs top scorer this season with six, believes the squad have responded to the Portugal wingers departure by playing more as a team. rooney said: We came in for some unfair criticism at the start of the season because, although we werent playing as well as we can do, we were still winning games. Yes we lost to Burnley but we have won every game since and yet this week we still got criticised. Obviously, last season the team was based a lot around cristiano but this year there are a few more players chipping in with goals, which is great to see. Frustration: Lampard throws his arms up in despair as a chance goes begging in Cyprus Picture: Getty Lamps will shine soon, says Carlo CARLO ANCELOTTI insists he is not concerned by Frank Lampards goal drought. Chelsea prepare for the visit of Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with their normally free- scoring midfielder out of touch in front of the net. Lampard has regularly produced 20 goals a season for the Blues but has not scored in eight club games, since the Blues beat Sunderland 3-1 back in August. He has yet to come to terms with playing inAncelottis new diamond system and his shooting was poor as Chelsea struggled in midweek to beat Apoel Nicosia 1-0 in their Champions League encounter. ButAncelotti remains happy with Lampards overall contribution. The Italian coach believes it will not be long before the England star starts banging in the goals again and said: Im not worried because Lampard will score. Hes working hard for the team, Agger closing on a Reds return DanieL agger is nearing a first-team return at Liverpool, following a successful comeback for the reserves. the 24-year-old Danish international has not made a first-team start after back surgery in the summer but played 68 minutes of tuesdays reserve game with Manchester city. sundays Premier League clash with chelsea looks too soon for the defender to return to rafael Benitezs squad but agger said: it felt good to be back on the pitch again. i will do everything i can to get back in the side as soon as possible. 20 Goals Frank Lampard scored for Chelsea in the 2008-09 season. for me this is important. Chelsea, beaten 3-1 by Wigan in the Premier League last Saturday, made hard work of beating Apoel through a Nicolas Anelka goal to keep them on top of Group D. Lampard is baffled by criticism of the team and said ahead of the massive test against Liverpool: I dont know why people are saying we are not clicking. We have only lost one game this season. Chelsea will be without banned goalkeeper Petr Cech, who will be replaced by Hilario or Ross Turn- bull. But striker Didier Drogba and defender Jose Bosingwa will both return after being banned against Apoel while Michael Ballack has recovered from a calf injury. Top marksman: Rooney Rooney: Ronaldo is history MANAGER Paul Hart insists there is still a strong team chemistry in the Portsmouth dressing-room, despite the fact some players were not even paid this week. Pompey head to fellow strugglers Wolves tomorrow rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after seven straight defeats. But new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim has vowed to boost the club with a 50m cash injection. And Fratton Park boss Hart insists his players, who should have the money owed to them deposited in their bank accounts today, will not allow the latest crisis to hit the club to distract them from their task. Its a hiccup and a cash- flow problem, Hart said. We explained it to the players in a meeting and they are happy. They will get on with their jobs.You have choices.You either stick together and get through it or stamp your feet. Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie said revenue from the sale of star names this year had already left the clubs coffers. He added: All the money from the player transfers and the Sky TV money, all of the 35m from January, has gone straight to Standard Bank. Theres no money left. Hart: Wages hiccup wont hurt Pompey By maRk CuRTis soccer pRemieR League index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html