[EU] Champions League 05/06 (1 Viewer)

ZhiXin

ZhiXin

Senior Member
#708
Oct 1, 2004
10,321
#708
Udinese feel like 'old selves' again
Tuesday, 18 October 2005
by Richard Aikman
from Udine

Udinese Calcio coach Serse Cosmi believes his side have "rediscovered their old selves" ahead of Tuesday's visit of Werder Bremen. The Italian team hope to put a difficult month behind them by claiming three points at the Stadio Friuli and confirming their return to form.

Iaquinta dispute
After a flying start to their Serie A and UEFA Champions League campaigns, including a 3-0 win against Panathinaikos FC, Udinese were derailed by the contractual wrangling surrounding star forward Vincenzo Iaquinta. With the Italian international able to move on a free transfer at the end of next season, Udinese left him out of the side until he penned a new deal.

Unwanted spotlight
It proved the catalyst for a disastrous loss of form. Three league defeats and a 4-1 reverse at FC Barcelona, which witnessed the additional blow of Cesare Natali suffering a fractured ankle, saw a normally unassuming club thrust into the media spotlight by the Iaquinta saga.

'Like being in a blender'
"During that period we suffered four defeats in ten days," said Cosmi. "It was incredible. We were getting it from all angles - from the media as well. It was like being in a food blender. But now we seem to be back to our old selves."

Return to form
With Iaquinta back in action after signing fresh terms, the side have regained their spark, recording 3-0 and 3-2 wins against S.S. Lazio and AC Siena respectively. The Zebrette are now free to concentrate on the pressing matter of Thomas Schaaf's men. Bremen may be bottom of Group C and in desperate need of their first UEFA Champions League points, but they lead the Bundesliga after scoring 27 goals in nine games.

Klose hat-trick
The German team will be without the suspended Ivan Klasnić, who struck twice in the 6-2 weekend victory over 1. FC Nürnberg, but still have Bundesliga top scorer Miroslav Klose, a hat-trick hero on Saturday. "He is good in the air," said Udinese captain Valerio Bertotto. "Although we will miss Natali, we had a lot of heading practice against Siena on Saturday. They have Nelson Valdez too, who is fast and offers another dimension."

Di Michele favourite
Ümit Davala, Tim Wiese and Petri Pasanen will miss out through injury, while the Italians make do without the suspended Vidigal. Giampiero Pinzi and Roberto Sensini step in for Vidigal and Natali; Vincent Candela returns to left-back after being rested; and David Di Michele is favourite to partner Iaquinta after his treble against Siena.

'If we lose, it's all over'
A tough midfield battle could ensue with the combative trio of Pinzi, Sulley Ali Muntari and Christian Obodo likely to start. They will try to shackle Johan Micoud, the former Parma FC playmaker who pulls Bremen's strings at the tip of a diamond. The Frenchman said he had "happy memories" of Italy and "many friends I come to see on holiday". But he will be anything but relaxed on Tuesday, emphasising that defeat will all but end Bremen's hopes. "We need Barcelona to win their games - then a point isn't so bad. But if we lose it's virtually all over."

source: uefa.com
 
ZhiXin

ZhiXin

Senior Member
#709
Oct 1, 2004
10,321
#709
No fear for Panathinaikos
Tuesday, 18 October 2005
by Paris Ayiomamitis
from Athens

Panathinaikos FC coach Alberto Malesani says his side will not be intimidated by FC Barcelona forward Ronaldinho's star status in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League Group C encounter at the Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium.

Collective approach
The FIFA World Player of the Year was in prime form in Barcelona's 3-3 draw at RC Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday, creating one goal and scoring two. But Panathinaikos's Italian coach has urged his players to stick to their game plan. "We must be ourselves and not think of them as individuals but as a team," Malesani said. "We're playing against Barça the team, not Ronaldinho."

Winning form
Malesani has every reason to feel confident after Panathinaikos defeated Werder Bremen 2-1 at home on Matchday 2, before edging past Akratitos FC on Saturday to stretch their winning run in the Alpha Ethniki to three matches. The coach said he will be looking for the same commitment against Barcelona.

'We are ready'
"We played well against Akratitos for the full 90 minutes, we want the same tomorrow," he said. "We are ready, especially on the psychological front, perhaps too ready."

Ronaldinho 'challenge'
Striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos, now recovered from injury, echoed Malesani's sentiments. "It's a challenge for any player to play against Barça, but we are ready for them," he said. "We all know who Ronaldinho is but Barça are a team, not one player."

Mantzios chance
As usual, Malesani kept his cards close to his chest about his lineup but may well stick to Saturday's team. That would mean Papadopoulos staying on the bench as Malesani keeps faith with forwards Theofanis Gekas and the promising Evagelos Mantzios, who followed up a goal on his UEFA Champions League debut against Bremen with Saturday's winner.

Deco confident
Barcelona playmaker Deco said he was unworried by Panathinaikos's not-so-secret weapon - their fans. "We know there will be passionate support, but they don't play on the pitch," he said.

Moving on
The Portuguese international added that Barça had to get over the disappointment of their draw against Deportivo, in which they squandered a two-goal lead. "We have to analyse our mistakes and we have to leave it behind us and keep playing our usual game."

Left-sided strength
Coach Frank Rijkaard was not prepared even to hint at his side, but he did identify a potential area of strength for the visitors. "Sylvinho and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are both effective on the left," the Dutchman said. "I hope they can be tomorrow."

'Difficult to beat'
Rijkaard knows it will not be easy to break through anywhere on the pitch. "Panathinaikos played well against Bremen and have been playing well in the league," he said. "They are a well-tuned team and will be difficult to beat."

Victory in sight
Deco, though, believes victory and the knockout phase are in sight. "We have come here to win. If we win, of course we will go through," he said. "Maybe Panathinaikos will come in second."

source: uefa.com
 
ZhiXin

ZhiXin

Senior Member
#716
Oct 1, 2004
10,321
#716
Milan mindful of PSV threat
Wednesday, 19 October 2005
by Ivan Carvalho
from Milan

Carlo Ancelotti says his AC Milan side will take nothing for granted when they line up against PSV Eindhoven at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in UEFA Champions League Group E - a rerun of last season's thrilling semi-final when the Dutch team fought back from a 2-0 first-leg loss to come within a whisker of glory.

'Fighting spirit'
Milan needed an added-time header from Massimo Ambrosini to put the tie out of PSV's reach in the return leg in the Netherlands, although there was still time for Phillip Cocu to make it 3-3 on aggregate, if not to avoid an away goals reverse. Ancelotti was impressed. "The PSV squad is very different this year; it's been overhauled, but they still have the same fighting spirit," he said, referring to the summer exodus which saw Ji-Sung Park, Mark van Bommel and Johann Vogel leave the Eredivisie champions.

Milan better
Vogel moved to Milan, where he is on the fringes of the starting XI, and could be handed a chance as Ambrosini is injured and Ancelotti considers his options. "I've more faith this year because I have a better squad," he continued. "Rotating players has worked from a physical and mental standpoint; it's a stimulus that has motivated the entire group."

Vieri returns
A productive close season has given Ancelotti a roster with even more talent and allowed his team to hold down first place in Group E, though they remain five points off leaders Juventus in Serie A. For Wednesday's match, he is expected to rest Alberto Gilardino and deploy veteran Christian Vieri. "He hasn't scored yet but it's only because of bad luck," Ancelotti said of the former FC Internazionale Milano forward.

Hiddink ready to attack
Despite being on the losing side last term, PSV coach Guus Hiddink did not seem fazed to be back at the Giuseppe Meazza, where his charges played with such verve and determination six months ago. The dramatic second leg saw PSV become the only club to defeat Milan - in normal time - in their last eleven Champions League outings. Hiddink promised that his less experienced team would not sit back. "Yes, we will play with three up front because I like to have flexibility in attack," he said.

'Perfect game'
During a relaxed press conference, Hiddink added: "Against a side like Milan, we need to play the perfect game. And last time we played a perfect game, despite some unfortunate turns, so I wouldn't rule anything out." He also tried to downplay the effect of having various new faces in his squad. "We have a lot of young players who are very quick, and I'm confident they can adapt to the play of Milan."

Big name banned
However, Hiddink must rally the troops following the 3-0 Matchday 2 defeat at Fenerbahçe SK. He may also have to adjust his formation as he is without striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink through suspension, and has a fitness concern over Jefferson Farfan, another key man. Milan, meanwhile, are missing Alessandro Nesta after the defender's operation for a hand injury.

source: uefa.com
 
ZhiXin

ZhiXin

Senior Member
#717
Oct 1, 2004
10,321
#717
Mourinho wary of 'dangerous' Betis
Wednesday, 19 October 2005
by Trevor Haylett
from London

On the eve of their UEFA Champions League game with Real Betis Balompié, José Mourinho declared that those waiting for Chelsea FC's first defeat of the season in the hope it will trigger a psychological collapse in his team are misguided.

Setting the standard
Chelsea go into Matchday 3 with every prospect of setting new standards of winning football in the English Premiership, and with their UEFA Champions League ambitions in good order following a home win against RSC Anderlecht and a draw away to Liverpool FC.

Confident dressing-room
Mourinho is a manager with the luxury of seldom having to work on the morale of his players. Unshakeable confidence has been part of the Stamford Bridge dressing-room for as long as the Portuguese coach has been in charge. And true to his reputation for painstaking preparation, he says they are ready to deal positively with any stumble.

'No negativity'
"If anybody thinks the day Chelsea lose or don't play so well that we will suffer a pyschologically negative side, I don't think that's so," Mourinho insisted. "We are very well prepared for the other side of the coin."

'Winning and playing well'
When pressed as to whether Chelsea are currently playing the best football in Europe, Mourinho was more circumspect. "It depends what kind of football you enjoy, which sauce you prefer," he said. "It's very difficult to say but at the moment we are winning and playing well and that's what I like."

Invincibles
After Chelsea overcame the surprise of falling behind against Bolton Wanderers FC last weekend to run out 5-1 victors – extending their winning domestic sequence to a ninth game – it would seem that areas to exploit and undermine the English champions are diminishing almost to the point of invisibility.

Betis chase victory
Nevertheless, neither coach Llorenç Serra Ferrer nor his Betis players consider this an impossible task and hope to build on their away victory against Anderlecht two weeks ago having lost on their UEFA Champions League debut to Liverpool. "We have come here to try and win and if we play to the best of our ability, using the strengths we have, then it could become reality," Serra Ferrer said.

No guarantees
Mourinho has a lot of respect for Chelsea's Spanish opponents and repeated his warning that Group G is a difficult pool in which nothing should be taken for granted just yet.

'A lot of quality'
"I said after the draw that the group was very dangerous not because of Liverpool but because of Betis. They have players with experience in a tough league like Spain. I like their way of playing. They have a lot of quality in their attacking players and they use that and try to play football.

'Open group'
"It will be an open group to the end. You can imagine Betis beating Anderlecht at home and that gives them six points. If they win one more match, against Chelsea or Liverpool, that gives them nine points and a big chance to qualify so I think Chelsea and Liverpool are in trouble because Betis are dangerous."

Tricky customers
In Joaquín Sánchez and Ricardo Oliveira, Betis have obvious talents who can hurt the London team. Asier Del Horno, Chelsea's Spanish international, knows all about their threat and believes they will be highly motivated at Stamford Bridge. "Betis are the type of side who may find it difficult to qualify every year and that will be firmly in their minds," he said. "They will be trying to go as far as they can in this competition.

Joaquín danger
"If we allow Betis to play, Joaquín could be really dangerous," added Del Horno of a player who looks certain to return having missed Sunday's 1-0 defeat of Getafe CF with a throat infection. Midfielder Xisco Muñoz may start but Luis Fernández and Fernando Varela did not travel.

source: uefa.com
 
Gino Genesio

Gino Genesio

Senior Member
#719
Nov 14, 2004
4,329
#719
rosenborg is winning in madrid ! :eek:

i hope real is getting out in this round because i have a bad feeling when they go tru because then they are dangerous ,but the last years they always struggel in the first round i hope they are ouyt because when they are in form they are scary but hey i dont care

FORZA JUVE!
 
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