London, Apr. 17 : Wayne Rooney and his Manchester United team-mates know they are within touching distance of the Premier League title and now have semi-finals in the FA Cup and Champions League.

The Sun quoted Rooney as saying: "We're so close to glory now but just one defeat could shatter our dreams. We have to make sure we stay focused and prepare properly for the games we have left. Over the last few weeks we've had some terrible results - but maybe that has helped by reminding us what we had to do, by getting back to basics and defending as a team."

London, Apr. 17 : England team director Andy Flower may have to consider other employment options if Andrew Strauss were to lose the captaincy, reveals former skipper Tony Greig.

Greig believes everything should be done to avoid a repeat of the Peter Moores and Kevin Pietersen fiasco.

London, Apr. 17 : Hampshire all-rounder and captain Dimitri Mascarenhas has said he would love to lead England in the ICC World Twenty20, especially after learning so much about captaincy from Shane Warne.

Mascarenhas, 31, who is in South Africa to play under Warne for the Rajasthan Royals in the relocated Indian Premier League, was quoted by The Telegraph as saying that he felt he could do a good job especially after a year in charge of Hampshire, after Warne left the county.

London, Apr. 17 : Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton will stay on at McLaren.

The world champion pledged his support for the under-fire team's new regime as manager Ron Dennis stepped down from all grand prix activities.

Dennis, 61, insisted his decision to go had nothing to do with McLaren's appearance before motor sport chiefs over the Aussie Liargate scandal.

He said the timing was "purely coincidental" and all about becoming chief executive of their new sports car business.

London, Apr. 17 : Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas says he dreams every day of lifting his first trophy and he is not losing any sleep over a Champions League semi-final clash with Manchester United.

Fabregas believes the Gunners have the fearlessness of youth on their side going into the eagerly awaited all-English showdown.

London, Apr. 17 : England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney wants Everton fans to give him Wembley hell as it makes him play better.

As he prepares to face Everton in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final, Rooney said: "All the stick I get makes me want to do better. But it doesn't bother me that much now because I expect it whenever I play against Everton."

Rooney's old boss David Moyes also stoked up the fires ahead of the Wembley crunch - by hinting match referee Mike Riley is a United fan.