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Manchester United dismissed reports that captain Roy Keane and banned defender Rio Ferdinand would leave Old Trafford at the end of the season as "absolute nonsense".
Both men are still under contract at United with England international Ferdinand unable to play at all until September 20 when his eight-month ban for missing a random drugs test expires.
Keane, the combative
midfielder who recently announced his return to international football with
the Republic of Ireland, still has two years of his United contract left.
And the club insisted in a statement Thursday that both stars were not going
anywhere.
"The club has read today's newspaper reports and it is absolute nonsense," the statement said.
Newcastle's bid to reach their first European final in 35 years was left in the balance as Marseille held out to take a 0-0 draw back to France for the second leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final.
The two sides may have failed to produce a goal but they did deliver 90 minutes of pulsating, passionate football that suggested the return match could go either way.
"Both sides had chances, expecially in the first half," Newcastle captain Alan Shearer told ITV Sport. "It was a very, very even game.
"But the first priority for us was not to concede a goal and we've done
that."
Newcastle were without several first-choice players because of injury and Shearer added: "As the manager (Bobby Robson) said beforehand, we were down to the bare bones but the players who came in have staked a claim.
"It was a very mature performance."
Looking ahead to the second leg, Shearer insisted Newcastle could score in France. "The main priority was not to concede but we always fancy our chances to score goals and I think we can do that away from home."
Newcastle enjoyed sufficient first-half chances to have put the tie beyond doubt but it was Marseille who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Didier Drogba's second half volley rebounded to safety off the inside of the post.
"You need that little bit of luck sometimes," Shearer said. "We are still in it."
Marseille coach Jose Anigo refused to make his side favourites ahead of the second leg.
"0-0 is not necessarily a good result for the home team. We had a favourable draw but there is still a difficult match to play.
"Tonight I really felt what an English Premiership match must be like. I've rarely seen an atmosphere like it and the crowd played the role of the 12th man.
"But in the return leg the Velodrome will be ready to explode."
Drogba had needed less than five minutes to demonstrate why he is the leading scorer in France this season, lashing one right-foot shot across Shay Given's goal then flicking Brazilian right-back Ferreira's deep cross narrowly beyond the back post.
It was Newcastle however who enjoyed the clearer early chances, starting with an Olivier Bernard free-kick that Shola Ameobi narrowly failed to get his head to after getting beyond the Marseille back-four.
Minutes later Shearer's flick-on presented Ameobi with an even better opportunity. With only Fabien Barthez to beat from eight yards, the England under-21 striker contrived to strike his shot straight at the France international's legs.
It was a miss Ameobi and his team-mates could well end up bitterly regretting in two weeks time.
Marseille's best chance of the opening period came after Hugo Viana carelessly gifted possession to Camel Meriem in the centre circle.
The midfielder's quick pass found Drogba, who drew a good save from Shay Given after turning inside Aaron Hughes on the left of the box.
The Marseille defence's vulnerability at set-pieces was underlined again when Shearer headed a Robert free-kick wide shortly before the interval.
Newcastle went close again within two minutes of the restart after Laurent Robert was brought down on the edge of the area by a foul that earned Habib Beye a yellow card.
Viana touched the resulting free-kick to Shearer, who thumped in a shot that Barthez could only beat straight back out. Gary Speed was first to the rebound but could not direct his shot on target.
Barthez then did well to smother a deflected free-kick from Robert as Newcastle attempted to crank up the pressure.
But the home side were to enjoy a huge let-off just after the hour mark when Robert, attempting to dribble his way out of trouble dangerously close to his own box, was hustled off the ball by Meriem.
The midfielder picked out Drogba with a chip across the box which the striker met with a left-foot volley that cannoned off the inside of Shay Given's near post, across the goalmouth and away to safety.
That was to be as near as either side came to scoring although Drogba gave the Newcastle fans another scare when he got away from Jonathan Woodgate and fired a left foot shot over the bar.
Marseille also
enjoyed a late let-off, substitute Michael Bridges firing a left foot shot inches
wide after fastening on to Ferreira's miscued clearance.
"Manchester
United continues to concentrate on finishing the league and preparing and looking
forward to the FA Cup final."