IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Zenit v Lyon: Fournier wants visitors to play with freedom
18 October 2015
Lyon coach Hubert Fournier has called for his side to play with more freedom as they seek their first win of this season's Champions League at Zenit.
The French side head to St Petersburg having taken just one point from their opening pair of Group H encounters.
Fournier's men were held 1-1 by nine-man Gent in the first game and then lost 1-0 at home to Valencia, leaving Lyon little room for error in Russia against a Zenit side that sits top of the Group with six points.
The visitors will not head into the game on the back of a strong result after being held to a 1-1 draw at Monaco despite the hosts having defender Wallace sent off in the second half.
Lyon have 16 points from 10 games in Ligue 1 and are 10 points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
And Fournier knows what his team need to do in order to gain a confidence-boosting victory to bolster their hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages.
"I regret that there was a lack of enthusiasm. We were playing too far away from each other, even if we had control of the game," Fournier said after the stalemate with Monaco.
"The second half was better with a lot of chances created. It's obvious that is it is hard for us to score these days. There were glimpses of good football by half-time.
"I hope we will be better by Tuesday [against Zenit]. We need to play more freely if we want to continue our Champions League dream.
"We reacted well in the second half. This is positive. We even had the chances to win. There were individual and collective shortcomings, though."
Those shortcomings could be exposed by a Zenit team that has been impressive in front of goal so far in the competition.
Zenit emerged victorious from a thrilling game in their opening match by winning 3-2 at Valencia and made it two victories from two courtesy of a 2-1 defeat of Gent.
However, Zenit displayed plenty of fallibility in a disappointing 2-2 draw with Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League on Saturday and are without midfielder Viktor Fayzulin because of a knee problem.
Lyon meanwhile have a number of injury issues going into the match.
Defender Jeremy Morel is a doubt because of a back problem and forward Aldo Kalulu is expected to be out for two months because of an ankle injury.
Kalulu joins Bakari Kone (foot), Clement Grenier (thigh) and Nabil Fekir (knee) on the sidelines as Lyon aim to get themselves back into contention for progression.
Dynamo Kiev v Chelsea: Mourinho eyes momentum after weekend win
18 October 2015
Jose Mourinho has urged Chelsea to take confidence from returning to winning ways when they face Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday.
A Group G defeat to Porto had contributed to a three-match winless run for Mourinho's side amid a rocky start to the campaign before Saturday's much-needed if unconvincing 2-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa.
Mourinho opted to bench a host of regulars as Diego Costa's opener and an Alan Hutton own-goal gave the hosts maximum points at Stamford Bridge ahead of their trip to Ukraine.
The Chelsea boss visited the Olympic Stadium in Kiev earlier this week for Ukraine's defeat to Spain on a reported scouting mission - speculation suggesting he was watching Kiev attacker Andriy Yarmolenko - and Mourinho hinted he could bring back the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Gary Cahill to add stability.
"I asked the players to look at the picture in a different way to a normal situation," he said of Saturday's selection.
"To look at a picture where I have to try to make decisions to bring results back, and when the results are back and we have better stability in our confidence levels, then go back to what you are.
"We were able to find these ingredients that we need especially when we are not playing at a top level.
"When you are not playing at a top level and on top of that you have no concentration, you make defensive mistakes, you don't defend well, you lose the ball and you don't have 10 players fighting to recover it as soon as possible, you cannot win.
"So let's try to keep this mentality, let's try to keep this tactical attitude and at the same time with a little bit more happiness and confidence, go in the direction of what we are."
Victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv on matchday one means Chelsea are third, a point behind leaders Kiev, who have also beaten the Israeli side and drawn with Porto.
Sergey Rebrov's men go into the game off the back of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of title rivals Shakhtar Donetsk, but were boosted by a new five-year deal for star man Yarmolenko in the build-up to the loss.
The loss was Kiev's first in the league since April 2014 and former Tottenham striker Rebrov called for a reaction from his side.
"I want to apologise to our supporters. We are all upset," he said.
"Still we must forget this terrible match and start getting ready for the game against Chelsea. Nothing horrible has happened in the Premier League for us.
Bayer Leverkusen v Roma: De Rossi preparing for ´knockout´ clash
18 October 2015
Daniele De Rossi knows Roma can ill-afford another defeat when they take on Bayer Leverkusen if they are to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Roma travel to Germany for Tuesday's encounter sitting bottom of Group E with just one point from their opening two matches.
An encouraging 1-1 home draw with defending champions Barcelona on matchday one was followed by a shock 3-2 defeat at BATE, in which Rudi Garcia's men found themselves three goals down within half an hour.
With Barca leading the group on four points and BATE and Leverkusen having earned three apiece, De Rossi knows Tuesday's clash is of huge significance.
"There's no question it won't be easy against Leverkusen because we're playing away from home and they are a quality side," said the midfielder, who celebrated his 500th game for the club with a goal in Saturday's 3-1 win over Empoli.
"Qualification to the next round of the Champions League is at stake in this match so it will be a kind of mini knockout game."
Garcia, meanwhile, hopes Roma's strong Serie A form will transfer to European competition.
"We've won three in a row and now we can concentrate on the Champions League. We'll go to Leverkusen to win," he said.
Leverkusen come into the game without a win in three matches across all competitions, a 2-1 defeat to Barca on matchday two having preceded two draws in the Bundesliga - with Roger Schmidt's men held 0-0 at Hamburg on Saturday.
Tuesday's clash marks the first of back-to-back games between the pair in Group E, with Leverkusen's Christoph Kramer in no doubt as to their importance.
"Yes, we expected the two Roma games to be key," he said. "At the moment, though, we're in a better position and obviously want to qualify from the group.
"From Sunday, we'll be working hard on our preparations for the Roma game. We've already shown this season that we can create chances against anyone - even Barcelona.
"We'll try to impose our game on the Italians. I think it'll be a really intense game. I think it'll be uncomfortable for Roma to play against us."
Garcia looks set to be boosted by the return to fitness of Edin Dzeko, who has not featured since September 26 after suffering a knee injury.
Leverkusen have already prevailed against Italian opposition in this season's competition, having ousted Roma's fierce rivals Lazio 3-1 on aggregate in the play-off round.
Arsenal v Bayern Munich: Lahm wary of slow-starting Gunners
18 October 2015
Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm says Arsenal are a better side than their opening two Champions League defeats suggest ahead of the teams' meeting at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
The Gunners go into the match under big pressure to pick up a result if they are to stand a realistic chances of reaching the last 16, having lost to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos in their opening two matches.
Bayern, by contrast, have beaten the same two opponents and scored eight goals without conceding, meaning they comfortably sit at the top of Group F.
"Anybody who knows about football also knows that Arsenal are better than the way they have started this season in Europe, with two defeats," Lahm told the Bundesliga's official website.
"They have got some very, very dangerous individuals and certainly it is not going to be easy, but we are ready. We take all of our opponents seriously, otherwise you don't win nine games in a row in the Bundesliga.
"We are going to London two days before the game because you always have a lot of travelling to do in London and you often spend a lot of time in traffic and it takes more than an hour to get to training.
"It is not the first time we are travelling two days in advance. It is just the way it is, even if we would prefer to stay at home. We always prepare ourselves professionally."
Arsenal and Bayern are familiar opponents, with this clash to be their third double-header in the last four seasons. The 2013 and 2014 meetings were in the last-16 stage, with Pep Guardiola's side progressing on both occasions, winning the leg which took place at the Emirates on each occasion.
Arsene Wenger's men are in uncharted territory - they have never lost their opening two group-stage fixtures before. The Gunners are also yet to experience three Champions League group-stage defeats, a record which is under threat against Bayern.
Arsenal have made the knockout stages for 12 straight years but are aware that run is in serious danger, with Theo Walcott emphasising the importance of winning the clash against a side who have reached the semi-finals in five of the previous six editions of the competitions.
"Playing against Bayern and their quality is of course going to be a challenge for us, but we are at home with our support and we need a similar sort of performance like we had against Manchester United," said the England striker.
"We know we can beat anyone and we are going to be completely ready for this one. We need to move on from the first couple of results in the Champions League.
"We know we are capable of getting results against Bayern and we want to put things right. Looking at our last Premier League home match against United, the intensity of our game was different to what it was like against Olympiakos in the Champions League."
Arsenal warmed up for the crucial tie with an impressive 3-0 victory away to Watford, while Bayern won 1-0 at Werder Bremen to make it nine successive wins to open the Bundesliga season.
Dinamo Zagreb v Olympiacos: Silva plays down importance of Group F clash
18 October 2015
Olympiacos coach Marco Silva does not believe Tuesday's Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb will be decisive in determining whether they progress to the knockout rounds.
The Greek side are level with Zagreb on three points in Group F after each side beat Arsenal and suffered defeats to Bayern Munich.
Dinamo's loss at the hands of the German champions was their first since November of last year and they face another tough task against an Olympiacos side that has won seven from seven in the Greek Super League.
The fixture has traditionally favoured the home team. Dinamo and Olympiacos have met on four occasions in European competition and the last meeting not to be won by the hosts was the most recent one, a 1-1 draw in the 1998-99 group stage.
That result secured Olympiacos' first and only quarter-final berth in Europe's premier club competition and Silva would not be drawn on whether this clash will decide how far they go in this season's tournament.
Silva told Olympiacos' official website: "The most crucial game for me is not in Zagreb, but the last game if there is qualification. I cannot say that a match will judge our European path."
Dinamo beat city rivals NK Zagreb 4-1 on Friday to stay top of the Croatian First Football League by a point from Hajduk Split.
Zoran Mamic's men are aiming to secure qualification from the group stages for the first time in Dinamo's history.
And Mamic is in upbeat mood ahead of Olympiacos' visit to the Stadion Maksimir.
"Luckily we have the quality and the individuals who can turn a match and they have shown that [in Friday's game]," Mamic said.
"There was a lot goals, and this is a good invitation for everyone to come together on Tuesday to take down one of the greats."
Olympiacos have a host of injury problems heading into the game, with veteran midfielder Esteban Cambiasso unavailable because of a left ankle injury.
Attacking midfielder David Fuster will also miss out due to a right calf problem, while Andreas Bouchalakis and Giannis Maniatis (ankle) will not feature.
Midfielder Domagoj Pavicic (foot) and Gordon Schildenfeld (thigh) are out for Dinamo as they attempt to put breathing space between themselves and Olympiacos ahead of the reverse fixture next month.
Porto v Maccabi Tel Aviv: Zahavi wants Israeli champions to show their worth
18 October 2015
Eran Zahavi has called on Maccabi Tel Aviv to prove they belong in the Champions League as they approach Tuesday's Group G clash with Porto.
The Israeli outfit visit the Estadio do Dragao looking to claim their first points of the campaign.
Maccabi lost 4-0 to Premier League champions Chelsea and were then defeated 2-0 by Dynamo Kiev and they now face a Porto side that has been in magnificent form under coach Julen Lopetegui this season.
Porto famously won the competition for a second time back in 2004 under Jose Mourinho and are unbeaten in all competitions this campaign.
Lopetegui's men are level with Sporting Lisbon with 17 points at the top of the Primeira Liga and have four points from two games in the Champions League after beating Mourinho's Chelsea 2-1 last time out.
Maccabi head the Israeli Premier League and go into the meeting with Porto on the back of wins over Hapoel Acre and Maccabi Petah Tikva.
Zahavi has scored three goals in Maccabi's last two games and was their talisman in qualifying for the Champions League with seven goals.
And the attacking midfielder is hopeful the momentum picked up from the victories in the league will prove pivotal against Porto.
"I think that both the game against Petah Tikva and Acre will help us as every match gets us in better shape," Zahavi told Maccabi's official website.
"We will be playing a game at a totally different level and we have to get ourselves prepared for that.
"I really hope we can get a good result and now we're going to deal with Porto. We want to take some points and make sure we get something out of this campaign.
"We achieved our goal of making it to this tournament but now we have to try and get something out of it, play solid football and show that we have something to offer at this level. I believe in our team and I hope we can do something this Tuesday.
"As a child you dream about playing on the biggest football stage in the world and that's where we are. We didn't come into this just to be here and I hope we can achieve the goals we set for ourselves and succeed in the upcoming match."
BATE v Barcelona: Luis Enrique makes case for the defence
18 October 2015
Luis Enrique is hoping for a tighter defensive performance from Barcelona during the Champions League Group E trip to BATE.
Having suffered two La Liga defeats in their previous three outings, the Spanish champions got their title defence back on track with a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Brazil captain Neymar dazzled with four goals but his heroics came after the visitors went ahead through Javi Guerra.
Barca began the Liga campaign with back-to-back 1-0 wins over Athletic Bilbao and Malaga but they have conceded in each of their eight games across all competitions since the latter of those two victories on August 29.
"We're going to keep working on our defence," Luis Enrique told reporters.
"To win titles, you have to score more goals and give up less and that's what we're working on."
One man who could add to the Catalan giants' defensive efforts is Thomas Vermaelen.
The Belgium international endured an injury nightmare during his first year with Barcelona last season, playing just 63 minutes in La Liga.
Making his fourth start in all competitions this time around at Atletico Madrid last month, Vermaelen sustained a calf injury.
Despite being back in training before the Rayo match, Luis Enrique elected not to risk the former Arsenal defender but will assess him once more before the encounter in Minsk.
Lionel Messi, Rafinha (both knee) and Andres Iniesta (hamstring) remain unavailable for the visitors.
BATE recovered from a 4-1 thrashing in the opening game of the round-robin stage to stun Roma with a 3-2 triumph last time out.
Irrespective of how they fare from this point onwards, Aleksandr Yermakovich can look forward to another crack at Europe's premier competition next season after claiming their 10th successive Belarussian title.
A 2-0 win over Vitebsk on Friday gave BATE an unassailable lead over second-placed neighbours Dinamo Minsk with three games of the campaign remaining.
Forward Dzmitry Mozolewski will hope to feature against Barca having completed the scoring in the title-clincher – his first action at the end of an injury nightmare that began in September 2013.
Yermakovich told reporters: "I'm happy that our efforts give us good results.
"I'm very glad for Dmitri Mozolevski, who scored a beautiful goal. I hope there won't be these long pauses in his career in the future."
BATE chairman Anatoli Kapski added: "For me, the hero of the day is Dmitri Mozolevski. He hasn't played football for more than two years but has coped with everything, which only a very strong person could do."
BATE duo Vitali Rodionov (knee) and Maksim Zhavnerchik (ankle) will miss out.
Wenger: We’ve beaten better Bayern Munich teams before
Oct 19, 2015 13:10:00
The French boss says his side can take heart from their 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena in the 2012-13 season, when the Germans won the treble, but refused to reveal their weaknesses
By Greg Stobart
Arsene Wenger insists his Arsenal side do not fear Bayern Munich ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League meeting, despite the Bavarians having won every game they have played this season.
Pep Guardiola’s men have streaked clear in the Bundesliga title race, picking up maximum points after nine games, and also top their Champions League group after consecutive wins.
Arsenal’s own place in the competition is at risk after back-to-back defeats against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos, with victory desperately needed against Bayern, and Wenger believes his side can take heart from previous wins over the German champions.
“We could be suspected of not taking the first two Champions League games seriously enough, but that won’t be a problem against Bayern,” Wenger told reporters. “We know we are playing against a top side. Tomorrow everyone will be highly focused.
“We are [confident]. We’ve played great Bayern teams before, at least as good as the one we play tomorrow, and beaten them. The team that won the treble, with [Franck] Ribery at full power, [Arjen] Robben at full power, [Toni] Kroos and [Bastian] Schweinsteiger, [Thomas] Muller.
“There is no team without weaknesses. If you asked me to come out with them now, I wouldn’t do it. But there are no teams without weaknesses.
“We want to defend well, attack well and score the first goal. That is massively important in big games. You can’t say you will score three goals in 20 minutes [as against Manchester United] because that is absolutely crazy.”
Petr Cech will start in goal for the Gunners, with David Ospina carrying an injury, but Wenger has no plans to rest star players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
“You would be surprised if I told you that I’ll rest them tomorrow. Unless I have a very bad sleepless night, maybe, and got it wrong. But normally they play,” he continued.
“These kind of medical predictions are beyond everybody. Even with the most sophisticated equipment doctors cannot predict the impact on the body. But they have no specific problems so I don’t see why they should be [rested].”
Nasri doubtful for Sevilla clash with hamstring injury
By Dom Farrell
Oct 19, 2015 09:19:05
The Premier League side are set to be without the midfielder for their Champions League meeting, adding to the clubs' injury woes
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has added his name to Manuel Pellegrini's mounting injury list ahead of the Champions League clash against Sevilla on Wednesday.
Nasri sustained a hamstring problem after coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute during City's 5-1 Premier League win over AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
Although the Frenchman remained on the field until the end of the match, Pellegrini stated he is unlikely to feature against Sevilla – who are locked together on three points with City after two Group D matches.
"Nasri had a problem with his hamstring," Pellegrini said.
"I don't know because I didn't talk with the doctor yet, but I think it will be very difficult for him [to play on Wednesday].
"Unfortunately we knew that he was feeling something after we made the third change so if not maybe I can change him before.
"He didn't run too much, he stayed in the middle so we'll see in the next days what happens with him."
City are already without Sergio Aguero and David Silva due to respective hamstring and ankle problems at the start of a pivotal week that concludes with the Manchester derby against United at Old Trafford.
England midfielder Fabian Delph is also out with a hamstring injury, while injuries to Aleksandar Kolarov (thigh) and Gael Clichy (ankle) leave Pellegrini without a recognised left-back.
The Netherlands international will miss the Champions League clash at the Emirates but has praised the Gunners boss and is surprised to see them struggling in Europe
Arjen Robben says he has no problem with Arsene Wenger calling him a diver and warned Bayern Munich that Arsenal "can beat any team" ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Arsene Wenger’s side have suffered a dismal start to their European campaign losing their opening two games to Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb leaving them bottom of Group F without a point.
In stark contrast, Bayern are in daunting form having a perfect record in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League so far this season, but Robben says they must be careful at the Emirates.
"I think they have got enough quality," he told the Telegraph. "I thought last season they did very well. They won prizes; the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
"They looked very stable and this year they look very strong. I was really surprised to see them lose two Champions League games but, on their good day, I think they can beat any team and we have to be aware."
Robben, who will miss the game in London due to a groin injury, also praised Arsene Wenger as "unique" despite the Frenchman calling him “a very big diver” the last time the two sides met.
"I met him in Brazil,” says Robben. "It was not a problem at all. No hard feelings. I’m quite easy that way."
"If they lose, some managers are disappointed and not always fair and realistic.
"Maybe one week after, they say: ‘OK, maybe it was wrong what I said.’ But I haven’t got a problem. I think he’s unique.
"To be there for such a long time you are doing a lot of things very, very well. See the players who became better [under his charge].
"Look at the way Arsenal has developed. In Holland or Germany, they always talk positively about Arsenal. Why? The way they play, no negative football, always positive technical football, wanting to make the game.
Di Maria: I won't celebrate if I score against Madrid
By Dejan Kalinic
Oct 19, 2015 07:37:49
The 27-year-old revealed he still has fond memories of his time at the Spanish capital club, and feels Paris Saint-Germain can win the Champions League this term
Paris Saint-Germain star Angel Di Maria promises not to celebrate if he scores against former club Real Madrid in Group A of the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Argentine was sold to Manchester United by los Blancos in the summer of 2014, with Di Maria later claiming he was unappreciated at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Despite the circumstances of his departure however, the 27-year-old, who lifted the Champions League trophy with Madrid that summer, said he would not celebrate out of respect for the club he has fond memories of.
"If ever I score a goal, I will not celebrate because deep in my heart I will never forget what I experienced at Real," he told Canal+.
Di Maria moved to Parc des Princes in August, and believes the French champions have the quality to challenge other European powerhouses in order to win Europe's premier club competition.
"We will fight together to win the Champions League," Di Maria said.
"Upon my arrival, I noticed the high quality of Parisian players. With the players we have, we can do it."
Both the Ligue 1 and La Liga leaders enter Wednesday's clash with perfect records in Group A so far.
World-class Cech offers Arsenal Champions League lifeline
Oct 20, 2015 21:55:00
The goalkeeper made some superb saves as the Gunners sensationally beat Bayern Munich 2-0 on Tuesday night to keep alive their hopes of progression into the knockout rounds
By Greg Stobart at Emirates Stadium
If there is one thing that Arsene Wenger has mastered over the last decade, it's the great escape.
So many times, Arsenal have dragged themselves to a top-four finish in the Premier League when it looked beyond them.
Now the Champions League comeback is truly on and it would perhaps be the most remarkable of them all.
Arsenal bounced back from defeats in their first two Champions League group games to beat Bayern Munich 2-0 on Tuesday night and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Wenger described this as a must-win game and his side produced when he needed them.
So too did Petr Cech. While the goals were scored by Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, it was the goalkeeper's name that was on the lips of the jubilant fans in the Clock End after the game.
Just as David Ospina so dearly cost the Gunners against Olympiakos, Cech saved them here with a string of remarkable saves, the best of which denied Robert Lewandowski when the Bayern striker was through on goal 15 minutes from time. It was undoubtedly the turning point of the night as, two minutes later, Arsenal took an unlikely lead.
On a night when Arsenal were always going to need a slice of luck, they got it as Giroud scored with a combination of hand and face in the 77th minute before Ozil's goal in the dying seconds was awarded by the extra official after it just crept over the line.
Giroud's last four goals in all competitions have been as a substitute and he is now pushing to win back his place in Wenger's first-choice starting XI.
Ozil, for his part, has been accused of not stepping up in the big games but scored the clincher against the champions of his home nation.
The gameplan went perfectly for Arsenal and Wenger as the Gunners manager finally showed that he is capable of putting out his side with the tactical nous to beat the biggest and best opponents.
The hosts conceded possession to Bayern and were happy to defend deep before striking on the counter-attack.
Pep Guardiola's side created few chances despite having 73 per cent possession - and, when they did get through the Arsenal defence, Cech was there to stop them.
At the other end, Arsenal constantly threatened on the counter. They would have been ahead at half-time if it had not been for a stunning save by Manuel Neuer to keep out Theo Walcott's close-range header.
But Neuer undid his good work when he missed a kamikaze attempted punch and allowed Giroud to score the hosts' first goal.
Cech had no such problems as he produced a goalkeeping masterclass.
The Arsenal midfielder pulled up after attempting to close down David Alaba and was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after 57 minutes of the win over Bayern Munich
Aaron Ramsey is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal's win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
The Welsh midfielder was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 10 minutes into the second half after pulling up as he attempted to close down David Alaba, with the 24-year-old immediately clutching his hamstring in clear discomfort.
Speaking to reporters after the match, that the Gunners won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, manager Arsene Wenger said: "He's alright but very down. He told me he injured his hamstring. It's quite a tough one."
Losing Ramsey for a prolonged period would come as a big blow to Wenger's side, with the Gunners facing Everton in the Premier League on the weekend before away fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City.
Arsenal then face Bayern Munich away from home in the Champions League before the north London derby against Tottenham in the Premier League on November 8.
'Weak & naive' - Mourinho launches another referee rant
By Tom Beck
Oct 20, 2015 22:10:00
The Portuguese boss didn't hold back in his assessment of the officials after Cesc Fabregas' penalty appeal was turned down in the Blues goalless draw in Ukraine
Jose Mourinho has launched another scathing attack against referees, this time in the Champions League, after Chelsea were denied a penalty in their 0-0 draw against Dynamo Kyiv.
Cesc Fabregas appeared to have been tripped inside the penalty area in the first-half but referee Damir Skomina waved away Chelsea's appeals and Mourinho afterwards branded the official "weak & naive".
The Premier League champions have dropped three points behind Group G leaders Porto following their stalemate draw in Ukraine and the Portuguese boss once again criticised the officials for failing to award his side.
"The referee was weak and naive," Mourinho boss told BT Sport.
"Big penalty [decision]. I don't know what the goal referee does because he doesn't make a clear decision too.
"When the result it 0-0 and such a penalty is not given, I think is a pivotal moment of the game."
The 2011-12 Champions League winners face surprise package West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Red Devils travel to the Russian capital just days before a top-of-the-table match against their city rivals but the manager is adamant each game will be taken seriously
Louis van Gaal has dismissed suggestions he will prioritise the Manchester derby over Wednesday's Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow, but insisted a draw would be a decent result.
United go into the game at the Arena Khimki on three points from two games - an identical record to the other three sides in Group B - and Van Gaal knows there is little scope for resting players for Sunday's home game against their Premier League title rivals.
"For me, as a manager, the next match is the most important match. I don't think about Man City. I only think about CSKA Moscow and I have to focus on this match," the Dutchman told reporters.
"I demand that also from my players. We have already lost one game against PSV away and we want to gain one point at least. That is why it is a very important match for us."
Van Gaal would be happy to claim a point in Russia and target wins at Old Trafford.
"I said before PSV - one point away from home is good," he added.
"Three points is better but one is good."
United traditionally train at the stadium the night before the game, but opted this time to go through their paces at Carrington before heading east.
"We trained in Manchester today because of the logistics and the way we have to prepare for matches," Van Gaal explained.
"We were told that there would be traffic jams in Moscow so we thought it would be better to train at home on our training ground.
"My preference is to train here, because then the players know the circumstances and where they have to play, but in this case we decided to train in Manchester."
Wayne Rooney took the time to inspect the pitch prior to meeting the media and the England captain was impressed with what he saw.
"The pitch looks very good, a lot better than we thought. We can't complain about it."
Atletico Madrid boss Simeone wary of Astana threat
By Dom Farrell
Oct 20, 2015 20:00:44
The Argentine coach is wary of the Rojiblancos' rivals from Kazakhstan, and will not be taking the European test lightly after seeing them in the competition qualifiers
Diego Simeone is expecting Astana to present his Atletico Madrid side with a stern test in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Kazakhs may have claimed just a single point from their two games in Group C so far but they have impressed against Benfica and Galatasaray.
Atletico are overwhelming favourites to register their second win in three games at the Vicente Calderon but Simeone is anticipating a difficult evening.
"We have seen their Champions League games and qualifiers and I was impressed," he said.
"They were very competitive against Benfica and Galatasaray and I was surprised at their determination to play the game the right way. They have good individual players and a very compact team.
"But we need to win and we need to play well. We will go with the players who we think will give us the best performance."
Atletico have made a solid start to the season - they lie fourth in La Liga, two points behind the leaders - but have still come in for criticism.
Simeone accepts that comes with the territory and is hoping it will benefit him and his team in the long term.
"I like criticism, I think it will help us grow," he added.
"I would not like Atletico, after all we've achieved over the past few years, to not have the requirement to improve."
Manchester City to be charged by Uefa after fans boo Champions League anthem before clash with Sevilla
European football's governing body confirms case had been opened against City following report from match delegate at City's 2-1 win over Sevilla
Making voices heard: City fans regularly boo Champions League anthem in protest at Uefa
By Ben Rumsby
2:55PM BST 22 Oct 2015
Uefa has found itself a laughing stock for opening disciplinary proceedings against Manchester City after their fans booed the Champions League anthem.
Fans mocked European football’s governing body after it confirmed a case had been opened against the Premier League leaders following a report from its match delegate at their 2-1 win over Sevilla on Wednesday evening.
The chairman of the Manchester City Supporters Club (MCSC) branded Uefa “petty”, suggesting it would be better off focusing on the scandal over a £1.3 million payment that has engulfed its president, Michel Platini.
City were stunned to learn they could be punished over the booing, which has become a regular occurrence prior to Champions League games at the Etihad Stadium since the club were sanctioned for breaching Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations last year.
They declined to comment on the matter, although it is understood they will fight to defend the right of their fans to express their feelings.
Uefa was keen to stress the disciplinary case would not necessarily lead to a sanction.
The man who reported City over the booing, Icelandic Football Association president Geir Thorsteinsson, refused to discuss his reasons for doing so when contacted by The Telegraph.
“I’m not allowed to speak about my reports to Uefa,” he said.
When informed of the reaction it had provoked, he added: “I cannot speak about this. Sorry, you have to respect it.”
The Champions League anthem is played before every fixture in the competition using music adapted from Handel’s Zadok the Priest and words provided by English composer Tony Britten.
City fans began booing it last season after the club were hit with a fine of £50 million – most of which was suspended – and a squad reduction of 25 to 21 for breaching FFP regulations.
Supporters believe the rules were introduced to favour European football’s established elite and prevent the likes of billionaire City owner Sheikh Mansour buying his way into that exclusive club.
Those regulations were relaxed earlier this year amid threats of legal challenges.
MCSC chairman Alan Galley said: “It’s all to do with this Financial Fair Play, isn’t it, and the fact that a lot of City fans don’t think that what Uefa did was fair. That’s where a lot of it comes from.
City fans feel Uefa should sort its own affairs out first
“A lot of City fans think that Uefa has had a cartel for years and years and years.
“All of a sudden, we find ourselves with a little bit of money and they don’t like the fact that they’re having their noses pushed out.”
Claiming some fans feel Uefa have a little bit of an axe to grind against City, he added: “It’s petty when you think about it, isn’t it, when there are people there at Uefa who are being accused of walking off with millions, that we get done for just a few fans booing.”
As well as their disgruntlement over FFP, City fans were angered last year after Uefa ordered their match at CSKA Moscow to be played behind closed doors because of the behaviour of home supporters.
A number of City fans had already paid for tickets, travel and accommodation and felt they were being unfairly punished.
An organised boycott of the anthem was arranged in conjunction with Bayern Munich fans, who had a similar issue over a game in Moscow, prior to a game against the Germans last December. Both sets of supporters turned their backs during the anthem.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini this week refused to criticise fans over the matter.
The Chilean was asked before the Sevilla game if the continued booing might be affecting his players in creating a negative atmosphere before games.
He said: “I think we always have in the Etihad the atmosphere we need in Champions League, Capital One Cup or Premier League. We always feel the fans are behind the team and they always support us a lot.
“I don’t think the atmosphere is lower than what we need. It is a good atmosphere.”
