Michel Platini (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Martin
- Start date
UEFA president Michel Platini has sensationally written off Celtic’s Champions League hopes by insisting Juventus can consider themselves already in the quarter-finals.
In an interview with an Italian paper the former Juve star said his old club had effectively been given a bye in the draw for the last-16 clash.
The France legend said: “After being drawn against Celtic we can already consider Juve to be in the quarter-finals. Juventus will count themselves very fortunate. This comes from someone who understands football and who has played on this great European stage.”
Platini – who made over 150 starts for Juventus in a five-year spell from 1982 – added: “Juve are also fortunate because several of the bigger teams will be eliminated at this stage.
“They are strong enough to win the Italian championship but I’m not so sure about Europe yet. It’s a matter of mentality. But they will always be the team of my heart.”
Platini’s outburst comes just days after he cosied up to Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell.
Lawwell revealed the Frenchman congratulated him at the draw, adding: “Platini told me every club wants to play Celtic and for the right reasons.
“They love Celtic. They want to go to Celtic Park because of our friendliness and the type of club we are.”
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This comes from the Daily Record via Tuttosport, so the quotes could be completely made up.
In an interview with an Italian paper the former Juve star said his old club had effectively been given a bye in the draw for the last-16 clash.
The France legend said: “After being drawn against Celtic we can already consider Juve to be in the quarter-finals. Juventus will count themselves very fortunate. This comes from someone who understands football and who has played on this great European stage.”
Platini – who made over 150 starts for Juventus in a five-year spell from 1982 – added: “Juve are also fortunate because several of the bigger teams will be eliminated at this stage.
“They are strong enough to win the Italian championship but I’m not so sure about Europe yet. It’s a matter of mentality. But they will always be the team of my heart.”
Platini’s outburst comes just days after he cosied up to Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell.
Lawwell revealed the Frenchman congratulated him at the draw, adding: “Platini told me every club wants to play Celtic and for the right reasons.
“They love Celtic. They want to go to Celtic Park because of our friendliness and the type of club we are.”
---
This comes from the Daily Record via Tuttosport, so the quotes could be completely made up.
“Who will win the Champions League? If I say that I’d like to hand the trophy to Juventus, then someone will get annoyed,” smiled Platini.
“I saw two great German teams, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. I include Juve in the list of potentials, as they are so strong and I love their national identity. At times they play with nine Italians, which is so rare nowadays.
“L’Avvocato would’ve loved this team too, as he would not have enjoyed this sport with a thousand foreigners who come and go.”
L’Avvocato is the nickname used for former Juve President Gianni Agnelli, who was at the helm during Platini’s Turin stay.
“Can Juve win it? If Barcelona go out, then the Champions League is wide open,” continued the UEFA President.
“It is not easy to come back from a 2-0 first leg defeat, even for Barcelona. That’s what makes football great, the fact Milan can sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, have Mario Balotelli cup-tied and then beat Barcelona 2-0.
“If you’re Chelsea with tons of money, you can still lose in the Europa League to Steaua Bucharest. If you are Manchester United then you can concede two goals in 10 minutes. Just having a man sent off does not justify it.
“My Juve, Ajax and Bayern used to have three Finals in a row. Now every year it is different for the Champions League.”
“I saw two great German teams, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. I include Juve in the list of potentials, as they are so strong and I love their national identity. At times they play with nine Italians, which is so rare nowadays.
“L’Avvocato would’ve loved this team too, as he would not have enjoyed this sport with a thousand foreigners who come and go.”
L’Avvocato is the nickname used for former Juve President Gianni Agnelli, who was at the helm during Platini’s Turin stay.
“Can Juve win it? If Barcelona go out, then the Champions League is wide open,” continued the UEFA President.
“It is not easy to come back from a 2-0 first leg defeat, even for Barcelona. That’s what makes football great, the fact Milan can sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, have Mario Balotelli cup-tied and then beat Barcelona 2-0.
“If you’re Chelsea with tons of money, you can still lose in the Europa League to Steaua Bucharest. If you are Manchester United then you can concede two goals in 10 minutes. Just having a man sent off does not justify it.
“My Juve, Ajax and Bayern used to have three Finals in a row. Now every year it is different for the Champions League.”
“Who will win the Champions League? If I say that I’d like to hand the trophy to Juventus, then someone will get annoyed,” smiled Platini.
“I saw two great German teams, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. I include Juve in the list of potentials, as they are so strong and I love their national identity. At times they play with nine Italians, which is so rare nowadays.
“L’Avvocato would’ve loved this team too, as he would not have enjoyed this sport with a thousand foreigners who come and go.”
L’Avvocato is the nickname used for former Juve President Gianni Agnelli, who was at the helm during Platini’s Turin stay.
“Can Juve win it? If Barcelona go out, then the Champions League is wide open,” continued the UEFA President.
“It is not easy to come back from a 2-0 first leg defeat, even for Barcelona. That’s what makes football great, the fact Milan can sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, have Mario Balotelli cup-tied and then beat Barcelona 2-0.
“If you’re Chelsea with tons of money, you can still lose in the Europa League to Steaua Bucharest. If you are Manchester United then you can concede two goals in 10 minutes. Just having a man sent off does not justify it.
“My Juve, Ajax and Bayern used to have three Finals in a row. Now every year it is different for the Champions League.”
“I saw two great German teams, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. I include Juve in the list of potentials, as they are so strong and I love their national identity. At times they play with nine Italians, which is so rare nowadays.
“L’Avvocato would’ve loved this team too, as he would not have enjoyed this sport with a thousand foreigners who come and go.”
L’Avvocato is the nickname used for former Juve President Gianni Agnelli, who was at the helm during Platini’s Turin stay.
“Can Juve win it? If Barcelona go out, then the Champions League is wide open,” continued the UEFA President.
“It is not easy to come back from a 2-0 first leg defeat, even for Barcelona. That’s what makes football great, the fact Milan can sell Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, have Mario Balotelli cup-tied and then beat Barcelona 2-0.
“If you’re Chelsea with tons of money, you can still lose in the Europa League to Steaua Bucharest. If you are Manchester United then you can concede two goals in 10 minutes. Just having a man sent off does not justify it.
“My Juve, Ajax and Bayern used to have three Finals in a row. Now every year it is different for the Champions League.”
