[EU] Champions League 05/06 (30 Viewers)
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I read on the Singapore papers that the English media and the Spanish media r cooking things up. The fight between Arsenal and Villarreal has left many comments
Lehmann said that Jose Mari cheated on the 2 games
Franco is disgusted and said that Villarreal deserved to go through
Forlan remains calm
The president condemned Arsenal's tactics in the game
The spanish papers praised Villarreal for their performances and siad that Arsenal came and left a London double decker bus in front of the goal.
And Riquelme doesn't wanna comment
Lehmann said that Jose Mari cheated on the 2 games
Franco is disgusted and said that Villarreal deserved to go through
Forlan remains calm
The president condemned Arsenal's tactics in the game
The spanish papers praised Villarreal for their performances and siad that Arsenal came and left a London double decker bus in front of the goal.
And Riquelme doesn't wanna comment
Hmmm...we have a 'footballing' final or atleast that is what people here in England are saying. But is it any better than previous years?
Arsenal:
- Not conceded in 6 knockout matches.
- Won each first leg and gained 0-0 draws in each second leg to confirm progression.
Barcelona:
- Not conceded in last 4 knockout matches - only goals conceded against Chelsea were an own-goal and penalty. Haven't conceded away from home in CL except that Chelsea match.
- Again 3 wins and 3 draws in their 6 knockout matches.
Hardly impressive statistics is it? I'm certainly not fooled by the names of the clubs and players. The final will have one goal which decides the contest. I don't think the winner this year significantly changes the philosphy of winners - only Brazil can do that in the World Cup this summer.
Where does this lead?
Coaches such as Mourinho, Benitez and even Capello will be very happy to realise their time will come again with little changes.
Early prediction:
UEFA Champions League winners 2006-2007: CHELSEA.
Arsenal:
- Not conceded in 6 knockout matches.
- Won each first leg and gained 0-0 draws in each second leg to confirm progression.
Barcelona:
- Not conceded in last 4 knockout matches - only goals conceded against Chelsea were an own-goal and penalty. Haven't conceded away from home in CL except that Chelsea match.
- Again 3 wins and 3 draws in their 6 knockout matches.
Hardly impressive statistics is it? I'm certainly not fooled by the names of the clubs and players. The final will have one goal which decides the contest. I don't think the winner this year significantly changes the philosphy of winners - only Brazil can do that in the World Cup this summer.
Where does this lead?
Coaches such as Mourinho, Benitez and even Capello will be very happy to realise their time will come again with little changes.
Early prediction:
UEFA Champions League winners 2006-2007: CHELSEA.
How Arsenal can beat Barca
By Tom Fordyce
It might seem like an impossible task - beating the best side in Europe, a side that contains the stellar talents of Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Puyol.
But as legendary Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni tells BBC Sport, it is a task within Arsenal's reach.
Zaccheroni - twice voted Serie A manager of the year - reveals what Arsenal must do to be crowned European champions.
DEALING WITH RONALDINHO
Zaccheroni says: "Because of Ronaldinho's quality, Wenger will make Arsenal as compact as possible on the right-hand side.
"Barca do have quality on their ring - but not to the same extent.
"Ronaldinho will be taken by the right-back and the midfielder closest to the right-back at the time.
"Ronaldinho starts on the left-hand-side, but he doesn't play with his left foot - so they will try to force him outside.
"Why? Because if you force him outside, you give him fewer options to play.
"Ronaldinho is not a player who is constantly involved. He plays with a lot of quality, but not a lot of quantity.
"So they will keep it compact, try to force him out and try to put a two-on-one on him so they can win the ball.
"I don't think Arsene Wenger will attempt to man-mark him.
"If Arsenal were to try that, Ronaldinho could drift into the middle and Samuel Eto'o would go to the left, and Barca would wreak just as much havoc.
"When Barca played Milan in the semi-finals and Cafu came on, Ronaldinho drifted into the middle and Eto'o went to play against Cafu - and they caused all sorts of problems."
CONTAINING THE OTHER BARCA THREATS
Zaccheroni says: "To stop Barca playing, you have to watch the spaces.
"What does that mean? Well, Eto'o and Giuly are really good at attacking the space between and behind the back four.
"You have to stop Ronaldinho playing his through-balls, and stop the other two exploiting the space behind the defence."
THE SECOND KEY AREA
Zaccheroni says: "It's vitally important that Arsenal keep Barca under pressure in midfield, because it's not just Ronaldinho - there's Deco, Iniesta and Van Bommel - players with a lot of quality.
"They can create problems, because they are also capable of playing the killer through-ball.
"Arsenal shouldn't worry about letting Barca have space on the flanks - Belletti or Van Bronckhorst are not so much of a danger as the men in the centre.
"Barca don't cause as many problems with crosses, because while Eto'o is OK in the air, Ronaldinho and Giuly are not so much of a threat.
"Arsenal as an English team are very good at dealing with crosses. So I would give more freedom to Belletti and Van Bronckhorst - they will not be able to hurt Arsenal in the same way."
WHICH SYSTEM?
Zaccheroni says: "Against Arsenal, Barca will play the classic 4-3-3 - different to the way they played against Milan.
"Against Milan, Rijkaard put a man on Kaka and played three at the back - but he will not do that in the final, because Arsenal do not have the same creative midfield threat as Milan did in Kaka.
"I don't think Wenger will change his tactics or system.
"Arsenal's best chance of success will come if they go wide and attack down the flanks.
"If Arsenal are brave enough to attack Barca, they can succeed - because Barca's biggest weakness is at the back.
"They are not very well-organised. If you attack the back four, you can beat them.
"In the semis, Milan couldn't play down the flanks. They failed to offer a threat out wide - and that cost them."
ARSENAL'S ATTACKING WORRY
Zaccheroni says: "My biggest worry with Arsenal is that they might not be able to put enough pressure on the Barca rearguard.
"Wenger will continue to use Thierry Henry in the same way as he has throughout the Champions League - as a lone striker.
"But to put the weak link of Barca's defence under pressure, you maybe need more than one man - even if that one man is Henry.
"Eventually Barcelona will make a mistake, but you have to put them under pressure.
"Arsenal's system of counter-attack has worked brilliantly for them in Europe - but they need to apply as much pressure as they can to the Barca back four.
"They need to play as they did against Juve in Turin, and not as they did against Villarreal in the second leg."
WHAT HENRY MUST DO
Zaccheroni says: "Henry must look to get one-on-one against Rafael Marquez rather than Carles Puyol.
"Rijkaard will get his defence to play a deeper line than usual, so they deny Henry the space behind them that he likes to exploit with his pace.
"But that could favour Arsenal in the midfield battle - it creates more space in midfield.
"And Arsenal can use that midfield space to attack the flanks."
FINAL WORDS
Zaccheroni says: "I'm not Wenger, but I would say this: the mindset makes all the difference in the final.
"I would trust my players. I would repeat their achievements in making the final.
"I would tell them that I trust their abilities. 'What you have done in the past was right, and I trust you again.
"'Trust your ability, trust yourselves. You deserve to be in the final; you are a strong team.'"
THE ZACCHERONI PREDICTION
Zaccheroni says: "It's always hard to know what will happen in the Champions League final - just look at what happened in Istanbul last year.
"On paper, Barca might seem to be the favourites, because they are the more technically accomplished team.
"But they are not as well organised as Arsenal.
"And that leaves it beautifully poised at 50-50...."
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/europe/4958320.stm
Published: 2006/05/15 11:51:47 GMT
Mods feel free to move or merge this thread if it doesn't deserve it's own thread.
By Tom Fordyce
It might seem like an impossible task - beating the best side in Europe, a side that contains the stellar talents of Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Puyol.
But as legendary Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni tells BBC Sport, it is a task within Arsenal's reach.
Zaccheroni - twice voted Serie A manager of the year - reveals what Arsenal must do to be crowned European champions.
DEALING WITH RONALDINHO
Zaccheroni says: "Because of Ronaldinho's quality, Wenger will make Arsenal as compact as possible on the right-hand side.
"Barca do have quality on their ring - but not to the same extent.
"Ronaldinho will be taken by the right-back and the midfielder closest to the right-back at the time.
"Ronaldinho starts on the left-hand-side, but he doesn't play with his left foot - so they will try to force him outside.
"Why? Because if you force him outside, you give him fewer options to play.
"Ronaldinho is not a player who is constantly involved. He plays with a lot of quality, but not a lot of quantity.
"So they will keep it compact, try to force him out and try to put a two-on-one on him so they can win the ball.
"I don't think Arsene Wenger will attempt to man-mark him.
"If Arsenal were to try that, Ronaldinho could drift into the middle and Samuel Eto'o would go to the left, and Barca would wreak just as much havoc.
"When Barca played Milan in the semi-finals and Cafu came on, Ronaldinho drifted into the middle and Eto'o went to play against Cafu - and they caused all sorts of problems."
CONTAINING THE OTHER BARCA THREATS
Zaccheroni says: "To stop Barca playing, you have to watch the spaces.
"What does that mean? Well, Eto'o and Giuly are really good at attacking the space between and behind the back four.
"You have to stop Ronaldinho playing his through-balls, and stop the other two exploiting the space behind the defence."
THE SECOND KEY AREA
Zaccheroni says: "It's vitally important that Arsenal keep Barca under pressure in midfield, because it's not just Ronaldinho - there's Deco, Iniesta and Van Bommel - players with a lot of quality.
"They can create problems, because they are also capable of playing the killer through-ball.
"Arsenal shouldn't worry about letting Barca have space on the flanks - Belletti or Van Bronckhorst are not so much of a danger as the men in the centre.
"Barca don't cause as many problems with crosses, because while Eto'o is OK in the air, Ronaldinho and Giuly are not so much of a threat.
"Arsenal as an English team are very good at dealing with crosses. So I would give more freedom to Belletti and Van Bronckhorst - they will not be able to hurt Arsenal in the same way."
WHICH SYSTEM?
Zaccheroni says: "Against Arsenal, Barca will play the classic 4-3-3 - different to the way they played against Milan.
"Against Milan, Rijkaard put a man on Kaka and played three at the back - but he will not do that in the final, because Arsenal do not have the same creative midfield threat as Milan did in Kaka.
"I don't think Wenger will change his tactics or system.
"Arsenal's best chance of success will come if they go wide and attack down the flanks.
"If Arsenal are brave enough to attack Barca, they can succeed - because Barca's biggest weakness is at the back.
"They are not very well-organised. If you attack the back four, you can beat them.
"In the semis, Milan couldn't play down the flanks. They failed to offer a threat out wide - and that cost them."
ARSENAL'S ATTACKING WORRY
Zaccheroni says: "My biggest worry with Arsenal is that they might not be able to put enough pressure on the Barca rearguard.
"Wenger will continue to use Thierry Henry in the same way as he has throughout the Champions League - as a lone striker.
"But to put the weak link of Barca's defence under pressure, you maybe need more than one man - even if that one man is Henry.
"Eventually Barcelona will make a mistake, but you have to put them under pressure.
"Arsenal's system of counter-attack has worked brilliantly for them in Europe - but they need to apply as much pressure as they can to the Barca back four.
"They need to play as they did against Juve in Turin, and not as they did against Villarreal in the second leg."
WHAT HENRY MUST DO
Zaccheroni says: "Henry must look to get one-on-one against Rafael Marquez rather than Carles Puyol.
"Rijkaard will get his defence to play a deeper line than usual, so they deny Henry the space behind them that he likes to exploit with his pace.
"But that could favour Arsenal in the midfield battle - it creates more space in midfield.
"And Arsenal can use that midfield space to attack the flanks."
FINAL WORDS
Zaccheroni says: "I'm not Wenger, but I would say this: the mindset makes all the difference in the final.
"I would trust my players. I would repeat their achievements in making the final.
"I would tell them that I trust their abilities. 'What you have done in the past was right, and I trust you again.
"'Trust your ability, trust yourselves. You deserve to be in the final; you are a strong team.'"
THE ZACCHERONI PREDICTION
Zaccheroni says: "It's always hard to know what will happen in the Champions League final - just look at what happened in Istanbul last year.
"On paper, Barca might seem to be the favourites, because they are the more technically accomplished team.
"But they are not as well organised as Arsenal.
"And that leaves it beautifully poised at 50-50...."
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/europe/4958320.stm
Published: 2006/05/15 11:51:47 GMT
Mods feel free to move or merge this thread if it doesn't deserve it's own thread.
