Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is doing everything he can to lift his team-mates ahead of their must-win clash with Liverpool in the Europa League. United trail their rivals 2-0 after a disappointing performance at Anfield in the round-of-16 first leg and will have to put in a monumental display to book their spot in the quarter-finals. Their cause has not been helped by a knee injury to Rooney, who has missed the club’s last eight games. Without him, their form has fluctuated and while Rooney – who only recently returned from a lay-off in Dubai – admitted to being…
Author: David Folami
Laurent Koscielny has not given up hope of Arsenal qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals despite Barcelona holding a 2-0 lead. The Premier League side face the daunting prospect of trying to overturn that deficit at Camp Nou on Wednesday, a task many believe will prove beyond their capabilities. Since losing the first leg on February 23 Arsenal have only won once in all competitions, a run which has seen them fall 11 points behind in the title race and suffer elimination from the FA Cup. Progressing in Europe looks unlikely too, but Koscielny still believes they could cause an??upset…
Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery is open to a France return for Euro 2016, but only after talks with coach Didier Deschamps. Ribery, 32, retired from international football after the 2014 World Cup, which he missed due to a back injury. Returning for a home European Championship remains an option for Ribery after making a comeback in mid-February from an injury to his thigh. “I read that coach Didier Deschamps wants to take the best ones to the Euros. Full stop,” Ribery, capped 81 times for his country, told Kicker. “I am playing again at Bayern and found my level…
Ahead of kick-off against Dynamo Kiev, Manchester City fans welcomed club great Colin Bell on to the Etihad Stadium turf. Widely regarded as the finest player in City history, the gesture was to mark the 50th anniversary of former England midfielder Bell signing for the club, while giving a nod to the past on the night Manchester’s blue half broke new ground by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time. However, Bell’s late career was ravaged by a serious knee problem and there was an uncomfortable parallel in the second leg of the last-16 tie as one of…
Massimiliano Allegri is confident Juventus are fully equipped to cope with the absences of Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio in the Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Bayern Munich. The Serie A champions, runners-up in Europe’s premier competition last season, fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 in Turin in the first leg. However, Juve’s attempt to reach the quarter-finals has been hindered by the loss of the key trio for Wednesday’s contest, with Dybala and Marchisio (both calf) joining Chiellini (leg) on the sidelines. Nevertheless, Allegri is optimistic about his side’s chances of making it…
Pep Guardiola is adamant he has no fear ahead of Bayern Munich’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Juventus, describing it as a privilege to be involved in Europe’s premier competition. This will be Guardiola’s last chance to win Europe’s top prize with Bayern as he will leave for Manchester City at the end of the season. In his two previous campaigns, Guardiola – who won the Champions League twice as coach of Barcelona – has seen Bayern fall at the semi-final stage. But Guardiola, whose side let a two-goal lead slip to draw the first leg with Juve 2-2,…
Pep Guardiola is hopeful that Arjen Robben will be fit in time for Bayern Munich’s Champions League last-16 second-leg contest against Juventus on Wednesday. Netherlands winger Robben was rested as Bayern battered Werder Bremen 5-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday with one eye on the return tie versus Juve at the Allianz Arena. However, Robben has been struggling with illness this week, putting his involvement in doubt. Head coach Guardiola says he remains unsure if Robben will feature, saying at a news conference: “I hope he can play. “I don’t know yet, but I hope so.” Bayern surrendered a two-goal…
Under-pressure Valencia boss Gary Neville will expect a response on Thursday as they look to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their Europa League tie with Athletic Bilbao. Neville has been highly critical of his side’s performances in recent weeks after four defeats in their last five in all competitions, including last week’s loss at San Mames and a 1-0 reverse to local rivals Levante on Sunday. The former Manchester United captain branded Valencia’s performance against Levante “unacceptable” and vowed that there will be a marked improvement at Mestalla. Valencia have not lost in their last seven Europa League home games,…
Shaun Goater believes the arrival of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City could see Lionel Messi follow his former boss to??the Premier League. Bayern Munich coach Guardiola will join City on a three-year deal at the end of the season, with the likes of??Ilkay Gundogan, Manuel Neuer and??Gerard Pique linked with moves to the Etihad Stadium. And City icon Goater feels any player on the planet will be tempted to join the ex-Barcelona coach in Manchester. “Who would I like to see him sign? It’s an excellent question. All the players he’s managed and coached in the past want to go…
Arsene Wenger is planning a gung-ho approach when his out-of-sorts Arsenal side face the daunting challenge of overturning a 2-0 deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League last 16. The pressure has mounted on Wenger after a three-match winless Premier League run left Arsenal 11 points adrift of leaders Leicester City, while their defence of the FA Cup came to an end in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Watford on Sunday. Now Arsenal travel to Camp Nou for the second leg of their Champions League tie against holders Barca on Wednesday, but Wenger is refusing to give up hope of…
Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran is keen to avoid meeting Real Madrid or Barcelona – who meet Arsenal on Wednesday – in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after they saw off PSV in dramatic fashion in the round of 16. Diego Simeone’s men needed penalties to eliminate the Eredivisie champions after another scoreless draw in the second leg at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday. Juanfran eventually netted the decisive spot-kick and he is adamant Atletico believe in their chances of winning silverware after surviving a scare against PSV. “It was a real heart-stopper. I’m very happy to see how the…
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has admitted his side are the underdogs when they visit Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. Serie A champions Juve came back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw in the home leg of their last-16 tie, but will have to do without the likes of injured trio Paulo Dybala, Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini at the Allianz Arena. However, while accepting that Bayern are the favourites to reach the quarter-finals, goalkeeper Buffon feels Juve can upset the odds. “Their successes over the past five years make Bayern the stronger team. But…
Karim Benzema has hit back following comments made by France’s prime minister and sports minister as part of a row over his involvement with the national team. Patrick Kanner cast doubt on the idea of allowing the Real Madrid striker to return to Didier Deschamps’ set-up even though a court in Versailles opted to lift a sanction preventing him from having contact with international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena. Speaking to RTL, Kanner stated that “the conditions had not been met” for Benzema’s return and questioned his level of respect for the ethics of the France team, prompting a response from the…
Former Manchester United greats Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand lambasted their old team after they plunged to a 2-0 defeat at bitter rivals Liverpool in a Europa League last-16 first leg on Thursday. “It was shambolic … so bad,” Scholes told BT Sport after United were sunk by a first-half penalty from Daniel Sturridge and a 73rd-minute goal by Roberto Firmino. “Tonight was a disaster. “Liverpool had a way of playing. United? I didn’t have a clue what they were trying to do. “United have spent 250 million pounds (under manager Louis van Gaal) … they are sixth in the…
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Thursday was payback for the fans, manager Jurgen Klopp said after his side produced a commanding display to down their fiercest rivals in the Europa League. Klopp’s team ran out comfortable winners in the first leg of their last-16 clash at Anfield and would have inflicted a more embarrassing defeat on United but for a string of brilliant saves from David De Gea. In a simmering atmosphere, the hosts took a stranglehold on the tie with an authoritative performance that was, according to their German coach, like watching the dominant Liverpool sides of…
Manchester United will not be punished by Uefa after their supporters chanted about the Hillsborough stadium disaster during the 2-0 Europa League last-16 first-leg loss to arch-rivals Liverpool on Thursday. Midfielder Marouane Fellaini also escaped any retrospective action for an alleged elbow on Liverpool’s Emre Can because neither incident was mentioned by the referee Carlos Velasco Carballo. “The reports of the match officials did not include any mention of the alleged incidents, therefore no disciplinary proceedings have been opened for this,” Uefa said in a statement on Monday. Ninety-six Liverpool fans died following a crush of bodies on the terraces…
Five-time European champions Liverpool will aim to finish off eternal rivals Manchester United when England’s two most successful sides clash in the Europa League last 16, second leg at Old Trafford on Thursday. Leading 2-0 from the first leg at Anfield, Liverpool are well placed to reach the quarterfinals of a competition that realistically represents the best chance for either club to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino scored as Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated the first European meeting between the two Premier League giants, and Sturridge says Liverpool’s mindset won’t change despite their healthy advantage.…
Manuel Pellegrini backed his Manchester City team to make a mark on the Champions League’s latter stages after they overcame Dynamo Kiev to reach the quarterfinals for the first time. City fell to Barcelona in the last 16 in both of the past two seasons, but they will take their place in Friday’s draw for the last eight after Tuesday’s drab 0-0 stalemate completed a 3-1 aggregate success. City’s shaky domestic form suggests that they cannot be considered serious contenders for the Champions League, but having seen them top their group above last season’s beaten finalists Juventus before routinely eliminating…
Atletico Madrid coach hailed his side’s belief as they edged out a brave effort from PSV Eindhoven to reach the Champions League finals 8-7 in an agonising penalty shootout on Tuesday. Neither side was able to break the deadlock across 210 minutes of the two-legged tie. However, Atletico were clinical from the spot as they converted all of their penalties with Juanfran slotting home the winner after Luciano Narsingh hit the crossbar with PSV’s eighth attempt. “It was an enormous celebration for the whole stadium,” said Simeone. “The spectacle you see in the stands was tremendous. We won’t ever stop…
Paul Pogba has picked out former Brazil striker Ronaldo and current Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as his idols growing up. Juventus midfielder Pogba, who turned 23 on Tuesday, is regarded as one of the best young players in Europe and will be a key man for France as they bid to win the European Championship on home soil this summer. The last time France hosted a major tournament was the 1998 World Cup when Ronaldo’s Brazil were beaten in the final by a Les Bleus XI inspired by??Zidane. Pogba revealed the pair left a mark on him and have…