Campbell confident Arsenal can progress
March 9, 2010
Sol Campbell expects Arsenal to use the painful memories of their farcical Champions League first round defeat in Porto to kill off the Portuguese champions in the decisive second leg on Tuesday.
Arsene Wenger’s side must overcome a 2-1 deficit at the Emirates Stadium following a self-inflicted first leg loss that featured two bizarre mistakes by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
The Pole spilled a Silvestre Varela cross into his own net early on at the Dragao Stadium. Campbell headed Arsenal’s equaliser, but Fabianksi showed a shocking lack of awareness in the second half when he picked up a back-pass from Campbell and then compounded his mistake by throwing the ball straight to Falcao, who gratefully shot into the empty net.
It was a comical way to lose such an important match, but Campbell’s away goal could prove priceless as the Gunners need only a 1-0 win in north London to advance to the quarter-finals.
“The game is only halfway done, and that should stand us in good stead for the second leg,” Campbell said.
“Scoring away from home was important. Had we lost 1-0, it would have been harder. That one away goal could make a massive difference.
“It gives us a bit of an advantage to build on for the second leg. But, we are not happy because we lost the game.
“What we have to do now is take the positives from the game and go again as a team.
“There is still a big job to be done, don’t get me wrong, but it would be much harder without that goal.”
Reaching the last eight should be more than enough incentive for Arsenal but former England defender Campbell, 35, believes the manner of the first leg defeat could provide an important additional motivation.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was less than impressed by the way Swedish official Martin Hansson allowed the free-kick to be taken so quickly and Campbell agrees that Arsenal were hard done by.
“You can go on about it, and yes it was quick thinking from the Portuguese, but the ref has never given me a chance to get in front of the ball – basically he gave it to them and let them play,” Campbell said.
“There was no whistle and I do not think he even had his arm up when the kick was taken.”
Arsenal can draw on recent history for proof that they have nothing to fear from Porto. A 4-0 victory over Jesualdo Ferreria’s team at the start of last season followed a 2-0 win over Porto at Emirates Stadium in September 2006.
But the Gunners could be without captain Cesc Fabregas after the Spain midfielder limped off in the first half of his side’s 3-1 win over Burnley on Saturday.
Fabregas had just scored Arsenal’s first goal moments earlier when he suffered the hamstring injury and Wenger will give him until the last minute to prove his fitness.
While Porto’s European progress would be guaranteed with a draw, midfielder Raul Meireles insists there is no chance of the visitors playing cautiously at the Emirates.
Porto, who drew 2-2 with Olhanense on Saturday, need success in the Champions League to keep their season alive as they sit eight points behind Portuguese leaders Braga.
We will not be ultra-defensive in London. That’s not our style and to try to play that way would be a disaster for us,” Meireles said.
“Arsenal are a dangerous team in attack and to give them the ball would cause chaos for us.
“I’m optimistic and our squad have the confidence and belief that we will reach the last eight.”
Who Will Real Madrid Blame If They Fail In Europe Again?
February 19, 2010
When Florentino Perez reclaimed his position as president of Real Madrid, the football world waited for the birth the new Galacticos.
Perez didn’t disappoint. First he bought Kaka for £60m, before days later paying £80m for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Others followed, with Benzema and Alonso both joining Madrid for fees of £30m, before Perez sprinkled a little loose change around to buy Raul Albiol and Arbeloa.
Such cosmetic surgery was deemed necessary, as Real’s arch-rivals Barcelona had just enjoyed an astonishing campaign in which they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
The new Madrid team have won all 11 of their home games this season and have matched Barcelona by scoring a total of 53 goals. They are now just two points short of Guardiola’s side.
A close league title race seems assured, but at a club the size of Madrid, that is never enough and success in Europe is also demanded.
Madrid won their Champions League qualifying group, but on the way suffered home defeat to AC Milan, who they could only draw with at the San Siro.
In the first knockout stage they drew a Lyon team that are beyond their peak and suffered a 1-0 loss in the opening leg. Champions League Betting suggests Madrid may win the return to progress, but having already lost to Milan and Lyon in the competition, it seems likely that they will be eventually found out.
Will we see another summer of huge spending if Madrid fail in Europe? It’s unlikely to be on the same scale, but rumours are already abounding that Vidic – who is backed by Carling Cup betting to win silverware later this month – may join to bolster the defence.
Perhaps more likely is that Perez will go all out to land a top coach. Someone will pay if Real’s expensive buys don’t deliver and it may be Pellegrini, even if they weren’t his choices.
QUIET NIGHT FOR BECKHAM AND QUITE A NIGHT FOR ROONEY
February 17, 2010
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Milan and Manchester United played out the first leg of their last-16 Champions League fixture in a packed and vibrant San Siro stadium last night. The match had twists and turns, and saw the aging aristocracy of the Milanese pitched against the now established mastery of Wayne Rooney, who added his 24th and 25th goals of a season which has seen him move into the reckoning as one of the players who will be most feared in South Africa by international defences in June this year. His Italian, Brazilian and Dutch opponents will no doubt report back to their national colleagues that here is a striker whose form has put him in contention as the world’s most in-form player. That both of his goals were headed efforts should be all the more pleasing to England and Manchester United fans, as his all round game continues to blossom.
David Beckham’s much anticipated clash against his former club was less impressive, substituted after 70 minutes and final proof, were it needed, that the talisman of English football currently plays for Manchester United, and is not the former United man. He played his part; he will run and run until his legs tell him they will not do so anymore, and his whipped free kick in the first half put Patrice Evra under pressure for Milans first goal. Evra was able to clear only to Ronaldinho, who, confidence up, took the falling ball on the volley and was rewarded for his candour with a deflected effort that took the ball beyond Edwin Van Der Saar. 1-0 Milan in the second minute. Beckham seems to have only enthusiasm left in his locker these days, although his dead ball talents will remain a threat until his last game. His freekick in the 42nd minute would have made the headlines, had the ball not flow 10 yards over Van der Sars goal.
United, seeking their first win at the San Siro, seemed determined to ensure they would not banish that statistic in the first half. Down 1-0 after two minutes, and with Ronaldinho reaching into his bag of tricks every time he touched the ball, United seemed mesmerized and kept handing the ball back to Milan. Johnny Evans received the hairdryer from Sir Alex Ferguson for his lack of composure in possession, and Rio Ferdinand was hardly an inspiration to his younger colleague, also guilty of conceding possession too cheaply. Carrick and Scholes had vision but lacked execution in their passing. Nani was industrious on the right wing, but lacked end product- begging the question of how much patience Ferguson will show in the Portugese winger- much to the frustration of his colleagues. In particular Wayne Rooney, who was to grow into the game but had a subdued first forty five. It took the much heralded luck of the champions for United’s equalizer, Paul Scholes lashing at a Fletcher cross, the ball striking the midfielder on his standing leg and crawling beyond the despairing reach of the scrambling Brazilian Dida in the Milan goal.
The most worrying thing for Milan’s head coach Leonardo must be that United were able to go into the break on level terms, without having to get out of second gear. Indeed, they go to Old Trafford with three away goals and an aggregate lead without stepping out of third for the entirety of this match. United needed a touch of inspiration, and their managerial maestro stepped in, swapping Nani for Valencia, who had been touted to start this encounter. Valencia’s first touch was a lesson to Nani in crossing, a cross stood up to the post, which Rooney expertly headed back across the goal to nestle in the top corner. Rooney had been growing in menace for ten minutes, forcing Dida to save twice and shooting narrowly wide, before his 62nd minute goal. His third, three minutes later, was a simple header past Dida after he and Fletcher had conspired to break open the famous Milan offside trap. Leonardo turned to the bench for inspiration himself, the distinguished Clarence Seedorf coming on to score with 5 minutes with a deft piece of skill at the near post. The match finished in confusion, Michael Carrick sent off for apparently kicking the ball away. He will miss the return leg as a result. Leonardo, frustrated on the touchline, was scolded by the referee in the dying seconds. Milan have unprecedented talent at prolonging the playing lives of elder statesmen, but messrs Seedorf, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Nesta, ahem, Beckham and Ronaldinho will need far more than a magic sponge to break down United at Old Trafford. The new Champions League fixture list means that the physios will have three weeks to work on tired limbs, but United and Wayne Rooney have put English football in the driving seat in stage one of Italy versus England this week. It remains to be seen if Chelsea can do the same to Mourinho’s somewhat sprightlier Internazionale tonight.
Arsenal cautious ahead of Porto clash
February 17, 2010
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will marry caution with adventure when they visit Porto for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie here on Wednesday.
The Gunners returned to league form with a much-needed 1-0 win at home to Liverpool in their last outing following damaging back-to-back defeats against title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.
Victory over Rafael Benitez?s side took Arsenal to within six points of league leaders Chelsea and they have had a full week to prepare for the trip to Portugal due to their early elimination from the FA Cup.
Arsenal, though, have not won on their previous two visits to the Estadio do Dragao and Wenger believes his side must approach the game carefully.
“The minimum requirement is not to lose the game and be out of the tie,” said the Arsenal coach.
“A clean sheet will do, but we are a team who will not hide – we want to play. However, we want to make sure defensively we are OK.”
The Londoners? cause has not been helped by injuries to influential players.
Dutch international striker Robin van Persie has already been ruled out for much of the season with an ankle injury and Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin is unlikely to feature against Porto due to a hamstring problem.
Defensive midfielder Alex Song is also a doubt with a knee ligament injury, but Croatian striker Eduardo (hamstring) and France midfielder Samir Nasri (head injury) are expected to be fit.
Eduardo has not been prolific in front of goal this season but Wenger is backing him to come good as he continues to adapt to top-level football after a year out with a badly broken left leg.
“Eduardo has shown signs in training that he is getting sharper again,” Wenger said.
“It takes a long time to recover when you have been injured as he was, but he is getting stronger and stronger.
“It is not a worry that he does not score – I told him that, once you start to make assists, it is the same as scoring and that, for me, there is no difference.”
Porto have made it through to the Champions League knockout phase six times in the last seven years, winning the competition in 2004, and Wenger anticipates a tight tie.
“From the outside, sometimes you are seen as favourites, but that does not matter,” said the Frenchman, whose side reached the semi-finals last season.
“Porto have been consistently in the Champions League and you know you will get a tough game, so I will not be surprised.”
The reigning Portuguese champions have demonstrated a rich pedigree in European competition in recent years but they are much changed from the side that frightened eventual runners-up Manchester United in last season?s quarter-finals.
A summer of upheaval saw Argentine pair Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez as well as left-back Aly Cissokho leave for France, with playmaker Lucho joining Marseille and striker Lisandro linking up with Cissokho at Lyon.
Jesualdo Ferreiras team are currently nine points behind Portuguese league leaders Benfica with a game in hand, having been held to an underwhelming goalless draw at second-bottom club Leixoes on Saturday that sparked clashes between angry Porto fans and police.
“To be realistic, we have to fight against the bigger powers in Europe, with different budgets, with a different type of players of a different level,” said Porto defender and captain Bruno Alves.
“But I think in football that’s not everything. It’s a matter of showing who’s stronger on the pitch, plays better, scores goals. We’ve always had good campaigns in the Champions League and I always think we can win.”
Still all to play for says Beckham
February 17, 2010
David Beckham admitted Manchester United benefited from the chances that were missed by Milan in the first leg of their eight final clash.
Ronaldinho gave the hosts an advantage after only three minutes of play but Leonardo’s men failed to add to that lead. Wayne Rooney’s second half double swung the tie in United’s favour ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford.
Clarence Seedorf pulled one back for Milan with five minutes remaining and former Manchester United midfielder Beckham believes there is still everything to play for.
“I think we played really well in the first half,” he told Sky Sports. “We went a goal up and had three really good chances.
“If we’d put them away obviously it would have been a different game but you have to put those chances away, especially against a team like Manchester United.
“In the second half the game opened up and they created a few more chances and they put them away.
“But Clarence getting the goal doesn’t finish the tie off.
“We’ll go to Manchester and it’s going to be a tough game, we know that.”
Beckham insists he was able to savour the occasion as he played against his former club for the first time since his departure from Old Trafford in 2003.
“It was all right,” he stated. “I enjoyed it. The fans were great to me. It’s great to play in front of a full stadium.”
Milan coach Leonardo agrees with Beckham that there’s still everything to play for despite the painful loss at the own San Siro.
“We did not deserve to lose this match,” said Leonardo
“But nothing is finished. We have to win 2-0 in England, which is certainly not beyond us.
“When we got into our stride, we dominated United.
“Indeed the first half could have ended 3-0 in our favour.”
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