Eriksson: Press conference cancelled
Sven Goran Eriksson's future as Manchester City boss remains uncertain after the club cancelled the manager's routine pre-match press conference due to "exceptional circumstances".
The former England boss has kept a low profile in the build-up to Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool, while club owner Thaksin Shinawatra reportedly puts the finishing touches to his summer pay-off.
Speculation is mounting in the press with The Mirror claming Phil Scolari is on his way to City of Manchester Stadium while The Express says Jose Mourinho is being lined up by Shinawatra.
Eriksson has already been linked with a move away, most notably to one of his previous clubs, Benfica, whom Portuguese media claim want him to replace Jose Antonio Camacho.
"The door is not closed on Benfica," Eriksson's agent Athole Still told O Jogo.
"The question of money is important. He may have been contacted indirectly. If any club wish to talk with Eriksson, they must call me."
Meanwhile, Eriksson has done his best to shrug off the speculation and perhaps put Thaksin in a more difficult position by winning the last two matches of a promising season, starting at Anfield.
Quoted in the Manchester Evening News, Eriksson said: "We are all professionals and we must concentrate on the two games we have left to play.
"It is strange to have two away games to finish and they are both difficult matches but I am sure we are going to produce good performances in both those matches.
"If we will win or not at Liverpool, you never know because they are a top side but all those fans that travel to see us play at Anfield and all those watching back home will see a good performance.
"The players are determined. There are certainly no signs in training that they have packed their bags for their summer holiday. They did excellent sessions earlier this week and playing Liverpool is always special.
"There will be days of speculation, I am sure, but we must be focused on winning matches."

Latest Sky Sports News Report
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Zola
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Moyes
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Martinez
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Hodgson
Hull 2-1 Stoke - Horton
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Man City 2 - 2 Fulham | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Bolton 3 - 2 Everton | |
Skysports.com looks at the best and worst moments from the latest round of top-flight fixtures.
Have a read through the skysports.com debate on Chelsea's 1-0 win over Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.
Pictures from Sunday's Premier League action where Hull snatch victory and Chelsea beat Man United.
Sir Alex Ferguson insisted John Terry's winner should not have been allowed to stand after Man United's defeat at Chelsea.
A John Terry header proved the difference as Chelsea beat Manchester United to move clear at the top of the Premier League.
Carlo Ancelotti admitted his delight in beating Chelsea's "best opponent" at Stamford Bridge.
Wes Brown feels Chelsea's winning goal should not have stood as he insists he was fouled by Didier Drogba.
Darren Bent is in the England squad to face Brazil, while Stephen Warnock and Tom Huddlestone have also been called up.
Comments (16)
Callum Aldam (Manchester United fan) says...
sven is one of the best managers in the game his record says it all why the owner let sven spend all that money and then sack him its stupid the owner should give him all the time he needs
Posted 18:42 2nd May 2008
Chris Lee (Manchester United fan) says...
Move on to a big club Sven, no point in hanging around and playing a part in the longest football pantomine in history!
Posted 18:37 2nd May 2008
Carl Turner (Manchester City fan) says...
It's embarrassing that the chairman would want to get rid of Sven after one season. I can understand the frustration with the second half of the season, but when you are playing key players out of position, it's a miracle to even score goals, let alone win matches. Everyone knows that good teams require stable managers to develop their clubs, sacking Sven after 1 season is just a joke.
Posted 14:07 2nd May 2008
Jon Brown says...
I support Sven and i am going to the match on sunday and i will be letting my feelings knows about how angry i am about how sven has been treated.
Posted 13:35 2nd May 2008
Robert Mcnicol (Manchester City fan) says...
Come on Shinawatra, open your eyes City have got the most points in the league for years under sven, (and we did the double over utd) What more can you expect after 1 season????
Posted 13:23 2nd May 2008
William Hall (Manchester City fan) says...
All true supporters next season, if Sven is replaced, should boycott at least one home game. Hit this Owner of what was once a proud football club and is now a plaything for a billionair in the pocket. Show him that without the visible support of fans his team will just be a Ghost team. Silence is GOLDEN.
Posted 13:17 2nd May 2008
Cityfan67 . (Manchester City fan) says...
Those fans going to Anfield, turn your backs on the game. Show Sven that we want him there and show Dr. S what WE think of his decision
Posted 11:48 2nd May 2008
Dan Smith (Arsenal fan) says...
I can't understand why the owner would employ a manager and spend millions on shaping a team suiting to that particular manager just for him to be sacked a year later. No point to me, give Sven more time to build and mould a team.
Posted 11:43 2nd May 2008
Paul Clements says...
After last season it was good to see Man City back to winning ways under Sven this year, even if they did do the double over Utd (utd fan). It just goes to show with the rest of the results how far Man City have come under Sven with the players he brought in. As far as Shinawatre then I'm sorry but he is a time bomb waiting to go off. A matter of tme before he is deported to answer for his fraud crimes and the biggest losers will be Man City and not just by losing the boss but financially aswell as City might end up coughng up the money they spent on players. Only time will tell
Posted 11:34 2nd May 2008
Female Blue (Manchester City fan) says...
If Sven IS actually going to be made to leave, there will be a lot of angry fans at Eastlands. Sven has given the fans faith that City are more than the "joke club" that our neighbours down the road love to ridicule. Doing the double over them this season was unimaginable a year ago, and is no doubt the one thing that most City fans are proud of achieving this season. And for that, we love him. I sincerely hope that the boys can pull it out of the bag this weekend and (hopefully) win at Anfield. If playing for their club wasn't enough, I hope they can find the strength to play for the best manager (in my opinion) that City have seen in as long as I can remember, whether he's going to be here next season or not, I hope they can do it to make Sven and the fans proud, whether Dr Shinawatra will care or not. City 'Til I Die.
Posted 11:12 2nd May 2008
Roy Hollis says...
(Everton Fan) this is just typical of a man with a fat wallet and no knowledge of football at all. Man City were near relegation last season and Sven has installed confidence which they could not find for love nor money last year. he has had one season and city have rose from the depths of bottom five to mid table. and iI bet every city fan is happy with what they have seen for most part of this season. So for gods sake give Sven the time to make a difference. because no team is built and win trophies in one season. so mr moneybags if you think that you have invested in the wrong sport. Give the man a chance to build on what he has done in his first season and for gods sake back him up in the press.
Posted 11:05 2nd May 2008
A S (Manchester City fan) says...
Keep Sven on. Stability is the key to the way forward for City. Consistency is what we need. Looks like it is going to be back to the days of a new manager every few months/ year at this rate. What happened the 3 year plan? Shinawatra should listen to the fans !!! Listen to the players! Come on City!
Posted 11:01 2nd May 2008
Steve Hine 40yrs+ says...
Be in no doubt Dr S is only interested in succeeding and he will. He has no love of City like a true fan, but he does have the money to make the club a success. Like most of the big money men coming into football, the club is not their number one priority. These are men of business who make millions, not for what they love, but for being successful. Sven, should, and I hope will be, the man in charge next year. He is the best thing to happen to City in all the years I have supported them. The best season for a very long time needs to be built on. However, Dr S does not need to heed fans requests. This is his plaything that we were all thankful for at the beginning of the season. Chelsea, Liverpool, and even the other side of the street have all gone the same way.To be as successful, we as fans will have to be silent.
Posted 10:31 2nd May 2008
Matthew Nelson (Manchester City fan) says...
I would like to give sven more time. But lets not forget Who put sven there in the first place along with millions of pounds. Where would we be now without Mr Shinawatre. Its his money he is investing in our team so i say let him employ who he wants.
Posted 09:25 2nd May 2008
Anthony Donovan (Manchester City fan) says...
If Sven walks, then so will a lot of Man City fans. We have suffered a lot over the years and now we have money, stability and an excellant manager. Just look at what happened at Old Trafford. I was there and Sven was the reason not one Man City Fan sneezed never mind coughed during the minutes silence. I truly believe if Sven does go then Sinatra will not be able to watch a home game anymore. Those that do still go to home matches will want to lynch him. Don't do it Sinatra, you will only regret it!
Posted 09:16 2nd May 2008
Shane Watts (Manchester City fan) says...
Sven has been treated abismally, yet he still remains dignified and a consumate professional throughout. As a MCFC fan i am appalled at the treatment he has received. As far as i am concerned, Scholari or whoever are lined up should just turn round and head the other way if they know whats good for them, Shinawatra just wants a 'puppet' he can manipulate. How can the club i love possibly move onwards and upwards with this nutter in control of things?, do your self a favour Dr S, let someone who knows all about the game run the club, do not ruin something that has finally come good for City.
Posted 09:12 2nd May 2008