Guardiola: We do not deserve to be 10 points behind Real
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hailed his players as a credit to the game after Sunday night's 5-1 demolition of Valencia in La Liga, and argued that his side do not deserve to be 10 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid at this point in the season. The Catalans, who have won 13 titles since Guardiola took charge in 2008, fell behind to an early goal from Pablo Piatti at Camp Nou but came storming back to win courtesy of four goals from Lionel Messi and one from Xavi. Guardiola insisted after the game that this current Barca squad, who traveled to Japan in December to claim the Club World Cup, had again underlined why some pundits believe them to be the best side ever assembled.
“We played very well this evening," the former Spain international told reporters after the game. "We’re very happy with how things have gone and how we’ve played. “We’re happy to have entertained the crowd. We’re happy that plenty of people have come to see us; let’s hope that they enjoyed it. “I always think that we’re really lucky to have this generation of players. It’s a privilege to be able to enjoy them because they’re fantastic lads.
“We’re 10 points behind but, honestly, I don’t think we deserve to be 10 points behind the way we’ve played this season. "There are many things that have happened that have resulted in us being this far behind and it will be difficult to make up those points. "But we have to try during the three months that are left to come back and we have to try to compete - like we did today." Guardiola added that he believes it is his players' drive and desire which sets them apart from the majority of their rivals. “I know that in sport you have to test yourself every day; every moment," he mused. "And I don’t think there’s a greater example of that than these players.
"How many teams have won things and then not been able to follow it up the following season? "It’s not the case for these lads. They’ve done it time and time again. And they’ve done it in style. "I think that they’re a credit to the sport and I think we’re really lucky to be around at the same time as them and to be able to enjoy them on a daily basis.” Barcelona return to La Liga action against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon next weekend.
Courtesy : Goal.com
Mourinho: Real Madrid must now concentrate on the Champions League
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has urged the Blancos to shift their focus to the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday. The Santiago Bernabeu side recorded a comfortable 4-0 home win over Racing Santander on Saturday, but Mourinho is keen to move on right away and feels the match in Moscow could prove to be a difficult task.
"Our eyes are now on the Champions League and we must focus on our match against CSKA Moscow. We're all happy. We have two days in which to recover," Mourinho said during a press conference. "We're a happy bunch and we are very motivated for the match, but we know playing in Moscow will be difficult."
Courtesy: Goal.com
Schweinsteiger is on par with Barcelona duo Xavi & Iniesta : Rummenigge
Bayern Munich's Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is of the opinion that Bastian Schweinsteiger is on par with Barcelona stars Andres Iniesta and Xavi. The Germany international has developed into a key figure at the Bavarians since former coach Louis van Gaal reinvented him as a holding midfielder, and the retired striker is the latest figure to compare him to the Spanish duo.
"He was absolutely fantastic until he got injured. There's not much of a difference between Bastian, Xavi and Iniesta. He's a very important player at Bayern," Rummenigge was quoted as saying by Kicker. Rummenigge then went on to discuss his side's Champions League ambitions, and admitted that it will be hard to go all the way. "I am deliberately cautious when we're talking about the Champions League. Real [Madrid], Barcelona and AC Milan are fantastic clubs in my opinion. We have closed the gap with them a bit in the past two years, but they are still slightly ahead of us."
Courtesy: Goal.com
Gunners suffer San Siro humiliation
Arsenal's Champions League dreams were shattered by a humiliating 4-0 defeat to AC Milan in the first leg of their last 16 clash at the San Siro. Kevin-Prince Boateng fired the Italians ahead on 15 minutes with a sublime strike, before two goals by former Manchester City frontman Robinho and a penalty from the impressive Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the tie beyond the Gunners. Arsenal never really settled and were punished for some careless possession - and not even the introduction of former captain Thierry Henry in the final game of his loan spell from New York Red Bulls could spark a fairytale comeback.
Robinho was on target for AC Milan two times
The heaviest European away defeat for Arsenal will be a bitter pill to swallow, but Arsene Wenger must lift his squad again for what is now a crucial FA Cup fifth-round tie at Sunderland on Saturday ahead of the Premier League derby with Tottenham - when the Gunners will look to keep alive hopes of qualifying again for the Champions League with a top-four finish. Milan had not won any of their previous seven matches against English clubs, knocked out of the Champions League at this stage by Tottenham last season. However, the Serie A leaders never looked in danger of a repeat, well organised from kick-off as Arsenal struggled to get any sort of foothold, regardless of a poor San Siro pitch which had recently seen the turf relaid down the flanks. Veteran Dutchman Clarence Seedorf - a European Cup winner with three different clubs - drilled a low effort into the side-netting, before going off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury - compatriot Urby Emanuelson replacing him.
Boateng fired the Italians ahead with a quarter of an hour gone. The former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder collected a chip to the edge of the Arsenal penalty area on his chest, before turning to fire the ball over Wojciech Szczesny and in off the underside of the crossbar. Van Persie's cut-back was blocked as the Gunners captain got clear down the left, before Laurent Koscielny's flicked header from a floated 25th minute free-kick was straight at Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati. Thomas Vermaelen lost out to Robinho, who darted clear but then then failed to cross for Ibrahimovic - who was clear in the middle - as Koscielny made a saving block. It was 2-0 in the 38th minute when Ibrahimovic charged down the left channel and crossed for Robinho to nod in from six yards.
Two minutes before the break, Koscielny hobbled off and was replaced by Johan Djourou - and another change followed at the start of the second half as Theo Walcott was replaced by Henry. However, before the World Cup winner had a chance to make an impact, Milan extended their lead. Vermaelen slipped, which gave Robinho the space to shoot at the edge of the box, and the Brazilian - whose £32.5million transfer to City in 2008 shattered the British record fee - slammed home what looked to be a tie-clinching third goal in the 49th minute. It was now a case of damage limitation for Arsenal - and it could have been worse but for a complete miskick by Luca Antonini when he was set free following another swift counter.
The value of an away goal, however, meant the tie would still be alive were the English side to fashion a meaningful opportunity of their own. Abbiati produced a brilliant one-handed save to turn around van Persie's volley after a flick-on by Henry on 65 minutes. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Kieran Gibbs as Alex Song dropped into the back four. However, any hopes of comeback were ended in the 78th minute when Djourou bundled over Ibrahimovic to concede a somewhat soft penalty, which the big Swede slotted into the bottom right corner, leaving Arsenal a mountain to climb in the return leg at Emirates Stadium on March 6.
Courtesy: ESPNSoccernet.com
Torres: “I have to improve”
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has conceded that he must improve his game if he is to silence his critics and rediscover his form in front of goal. Torres has scored just five goals for Chelsea since moving from Liverpool in a £50 million deal just over a year ago and has not found the back of the net in the Premier League since September 24.
Torres was far from his best in Chelsea colors
"To be honest, after one year I was expecting things would be better than they are now," Torres told ESPN. "It is a difficult situation because I am happy in my personal life. We really like the club and we're very happy here to be involved with the staff and the players. "On the pitch, it is a difficult time for Chelsea because we are not finding the results, but we're changing things like playing a different style and still we have a young team to do it.
"Personally, I have to improve. In my time at Liverpool there were games where I would not be playing well or I would be doing nothing but every time I touched the ball, I scored. It's such a strange feeling now because I am feeling better than ever physically. I am not finding the chances and when I do find the chances, I cannot score. "My present and my future are here. I have many things to do here and I want to do it because I always did what I wanted in every club I've been at, so this is not going to be different."
Courtesy: ESPNSoccernet.com
Recent Posts
- Guardiola: We do not deserve to be 10 points behind Real
- Mourinho: Real Madrid must now concentrate on the Champions League
- Schweinsteiger is on par with Barcelona duo Xavi & Iniesta : Rummenigge
- Gunners suffer San Siro humiliation
- Torres: “I have to improve”
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