The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Champions League.

  • ‘Ronaldo spends too much time on his bum’

    Liverpool should be able to cope with the threat from Cristiano Ronaldo because he is not operating at anywhere near the same level he was last year, claims Graeme Souness.

    Jurgen Klopp’s men will come up against a formidable Real Madrid side in Saturday’s Champions League showdown with Ronaldo once again looking to make the difference in a major final.

    The 33-year-old was insatiable in last season’s final, scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Juventus as Real Madrid became the first team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.

    With a record 120 goals in the competition, Ronaldo stands out as the danger man, but Souness believes the Portuguese icon is in decline and says he now spends ‘too much time’ complaining and not enough time scoring.

    ‘He spends a lot of time on his bum now, complaining he’s been fouled, and plays the width of the box,’ Souness said.

    ‘He’s still capable of great things but, like Real, nowhere near where he was even 12 months ago.’

    Whatever Souness believes, Liverpool will certainly be expecting to face Ronaldo at his very best. Indeed, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has an unrivalled ability to turn up on the biggest occasions and has 15 goals in this season’s Champions League.

    That is five more than his nearest competitor, Roberto Firmino, meaning he is likely to finish as the competition’s top scorer for the seventh time in his career.

    With four goals in Champions League finals, Ronaldo also needs just one more to equal the all-time record held by Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano (5), giving him further motivation for Saturday’s match in Ukraine.

    Ronaldo has, however, struggled in La Liga. With 25 goals to show from his domestic campaign, 2017-18 stands as his joint worst return since moving to the Bernabeu from Manchester United in 2009.

     

     

  • Roma vs Liverpool: 2000 Italian police battle ready!

     

    No fewer than 2000 police officers will be on red alert ahead of the Champions League second leg clash between Roma and visiting Liverpool on Wednesday.

    It would be the highest number of officers that will be let loose for any visiting team, amid intelligence reports that a lunatic fringe of the club’s Ultras are somehow seeking to avenge Roma’s loss to Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup final and subsequent clashes on that night.

    The Reds have also launched an unprecedented level of instructions to help keep their expected 3,500 travelling fans safe.

    The club detailed specific stations, buses and congregating places to stick to and urged fans to ‘respect monuments of national importance with a particular emphasis placed on not hanging banners and/or scarves on fountains and statues’.

    The club stated that on matchday under no circumstances should supporters attempt to walk’ and that they should avoid areas in the north of the city.

    Police in the Italian capital will be at full stretch this week. There are concerns that a huge May Day festival could create potential for clashes between fans of the two teams.

    The prospects of Liverpool fans being attacked near the stadium are remote, though British police sources have said maintaining safety further afield is extremely difficult in Rome.

    The first images emerged on Sunday night of the two Ultras accused of attacking Liverpool fan Sean Cox, who remains critically ill after a brain haemorrhage.

    Student Filippo Lombardi, 20, and Daniele Sciusco, a 29-year-old pharmacy worker, were members of a 200-strong contingent of the violent Fedayn Ultras group who travelled to Merseyside. An estimated 30 Fedayn were ticket-holders at the first leg, which Liverpool won 5-2.

    The accused pair’s lawyer Lorenzo Contucci, who has represented hundreds of Italian football fans since the 1970s, told Sportsmail: ‘I wouldn’t say it was a premeditated attack.

    ‘But some fans, (including) English fans, don’t go out looking for trouble but if they find it they don’t back away froIf (the police) allow away fans to come to the stadium (without segregating them), all it takes is for one person to say something stupid and a fight breaks out.’

    Bizarre possible motives for Ultras attacking Liverpool fans last week include some Italian hooligans’ desire to prove a point because the national team have not qualified for the World Cup in Russia.

  • Police on alert ahead of Liverpool vs Roma clash

     

    Merseyside Police have vowed to crack down on any fan disturbances around Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Roma, following the ugly scenes which marred Manchester City arrival at Anfield in the previous round.

    City’s coach was badly damaged by objects thrown by supporters in the street when the sides met earlier this month – actions which led to a UEFA charge and strong condemnation from Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

    Local police are on alert for any untoward behaviour ahead of Tuesday’s last-four clash, promising a ‘firm, fair and friendly’ approach which they hope will keep football in the headlines.

    Chief superintendent Dave Charnock said: ‘We are expecting a vibrant atmosphere at Tuesday’s match, but our intention is that at the end of the day we will be talking about the game and what happened on the pitch as opposed to off the pitch.

    ‘Our policing style will be firm, fair and friendly, but we will take action where necessary, against those individuals who may seek to cause problems or misbehave and spoil the evening for the majority of supporters.

    ‘We know that this will be a busy operation and we hope that fans attending the match will act as ambassadors for their clubs and enjoy what I am sure will be a good game.

    ‘Both sets of supporters will be delighted that their teams have reached the semis and that is an achievement worth celebrating for both clubs.’

    Liverpool City Council has provided mobile CCTV to assist the effort, while specially trained dogs will be on hand to detect pyrotechnics such as fireworks and flares.

    Charnock added: ‘While recognising that some supporters feel they can add to the atmosphere of the occasion, the use of flares and other pyrotechnics at and around football matches is a concern.

    ‘We fully support the club in working to eradicate this dangerous and reckless practice and would ask that supporters work with us.

    ‘The police and courts take these offences very seriously and prosecution can result in a prison sentence. I would remind people that this can apply not only within the stadium, but also in the surrounding streets and when attempting to enter the ground.

    ‘Merseyside Police is committed to ensuring that everyone involved and attending the game has a safe and enjoyable experience and we will not tolerate any criminal, or anti-social behavior.’

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Arsenal boss Wenger criticises Premier League’s VAR delay

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said the Premier League’s decision to delay the implementation of the video assistant referee (VAR) system means the English top flight is being left behind.

    The 20 top-flight teams voted against introducing the system for the leagues 2018-19 seasons after trial runs in the cup competitions received mixed reviews.

    “The Premier League has been created with people who had a progressive mind…,” Wenger told reporters after Arsenal’s 2-1 league defeat by Newcastle United on Sunday.

    “Overall, I believe that with that decision we are behind the rest of the world.

    Read Also: Arsenal’s Wenger understands Mertesacker’s wish to retire

    “The young generation is used to (VAR) and worldwide they might move away from us because they see that in other countries they do it.

    “Unfortunately the Premier League has again decided not to go for VAR and personally I believe that is a very, very bad decision,” Wenger added.

    “Every big game this season has been decided by mistakes that could have been avoided with VAR, especially in the Champions League with Manchester City and Liverpool.”

    Arsenal host West Ham United on Sunday.

    NAN

  • Liverpool’s Salah targets Champions League over individual glory

    Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah says helping the team win the Champions League is more important than any individual award he could receive this season.

    The Egyptian reached the 40-goal mark across all competitions this season in Liverpool’s 3-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth on Saturday.

    He is also leading the race for the European Golden Shoe after an impressive campaign.

    Liverpool beat Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate this month to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they will face AS Roma, and Salah hopes the run can continue.

    “To win the Champions League,” Salah said when asked if he preferred to win the competition or an individual award.

    Read Also: ‘Salah-less’ Liverpool fail to beat Everton

    “If you had a choice, then of course, the Champions League.

    “…To win the Champions League is huge for everyone. I don’t care about the rest.”

    The 25-year-old has scored 30 goals in 32 league appearances for Liverpool in his debut season at the club and is a favourite to win the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award.

    Liverpool plays West Bromwich Albion in the league on April 21 before the first leg of their Champions League tie, three days later.

    NAN

  • Scandal: Champions league semi final draw fixed?

     

    *Roma sells ticket versus Liverpool before draw

    It is no longer news that the Semi final fixtures of this year’s Champions league has been announced with Roma pitched against Liverpool and Real Madrid pitched against Bayern Munich.

    But the big question on the lips of soccer pundits and fans across the globe now is; could the pairing have been fixed?

    Has there been some element of rigging in the process?  The queries are propping up following reports that Roma who against all permutations edged out hot favorites Barcelona, in the quarterfinals have already sold Roma versus Liverpool semi final tickets before the Friday draws were announced.

    SUSPICIOUS fans fear the Champions League draw was fixed as Roma advertised tickets BEFORE Liverpool were announced as their opponents.

    The Italian side appeared to offer supporters the chance to purchase home seats against Jurgen Klopp’s side on Thursday night.

    Roma accidentally offered supporters the chance to buy tickets to face Liverpool on June 2

    The website error was quickly taken down, but not before eagle-eyed viewers grabbed a screenshot of the tie supposedly taking place on May 2. They then drew the Reds in the draw in Nyon on Friday afternoon. Liverpool are, in fact, due to face Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on May 2.

    Conspiracy theories are storming social media with fans fearing some sort of corruption.

    So. Roma knew yesterday that they’d be playing Liverpool as they advertised tickets on their website. But it’s not fixed of course.

    If this is true, it’s a sad day for football, roma’s website selling tickets for the Champions leauge semi final a day before the draw is made. Time will tell” Were some of the submissions from worried fans

    One fan wrote: “Never seen something so rigged in my life, Roma selling tickets at 10am this morning against Liverpool away for season ticket holders.”

    Another said: “If this is true, it’s a sad day for football, Roma’s website selling tickets for the Champions League semi-final a day before the draw is made. Time will tell.

    Back-to-back winners Real Madrid will play German giants Bayern Munich in the other semi-final.

    The premature fuelled conspiracy theorists. Just last year Spanish publication AS suggested that Uefa had used a heated ball to avoid an all-Spanish final.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Liverpool to Supporters: Behave or risk jail

     

    Liverpool may be having the upper hand in today’s second leg quarterfinal Champions league tie billed for the Ethihad Stadium, but most of the Reds supporters will stay behind bars while the game is on unless they comply with club’s pre-match instructions dished out by the club.

    Liverpool won the first leg 3-0 but the victory was overshadowed by unacceptable behavior by the fans including destruction of Manchester City bus.

    But ahead of today’s clash billed for 7.45pm Liverpool warned their supporters not to bring to the stadium as those who do so will be picked up by the police.

    The Reds were charged by UEFA for crowd disturbances during the first leg at Anfield and are keen to avoid a repeat of the incidents, which included the setting off of fireworks inside the stadium.

    “Liverpool FC would like to remind supporters that flaring smoke bombs and pyrotechnics are illegal and prohibited,” said the club in a statement posted on its official website.

    “Any individual who is found taking these items into the stadium are liable to arrest.

    “The use of such devices breaches ground safety regulation and poses serious risk of injury to fellow fans and serious health risks.

    “Amnesty bins will be located outside the visiting section of the Etihad on Tuesday,” the club informed

    Meanwhile Man City’s David Sylva remains optimistic that they can turn things around despite the 3-0 defeat.

    The Spain international has promised that Pep Guardiola’s men will be giving their all to rescue their European campaign in the Etihad Stadium return match, still believing they can progress.

    “We’ve had a great season and we always create a lot of opportunities and chances,” Silva told City’s official website.

    “Above all, we are playing at home. One thing I can assure our fans of is that we will be giving 100 per cent on Tuesday evening and we are confident we can turn this game around and progress to the semi-finals.”

    On what went wrong on Merseyside, Silva added: “It was a very difficult game but, in fairness, I thought we started really well.

    “Then they hit us with two quick goals and, at a ground like Anfield, you are always going to be up against it after that. We had a lot of the ball after the break but couldn’t convert any of the chances we had.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Champions League:  Injury knocks out Alaba, Vidal

     

    Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will be heading into the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sevilla on Wednesday without David Alaba and Arturo Vidal. Interestingly the Jupp Heynckes led side are going into Wednesday’s clash with a 2-1 advantage earned at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Alaba was in action in the 6-0 demolition of Borussia Dortmund on March 31 leading while Vifsl had to be replaced after 36 minutes in Seville.

    “Jerome is free of any problems,” Heynckes told reporters on Tuesday. “He has been training very well.

    “David has been almost at full capacity, but he has not been able to train with the team for the past few days, so I think it’s better to do some more training sessions and maybe on Saturday he will be ready for action.

    “Arturo is doing very well; maybe he will be able to train with the team again on Thursday.”

    Arjen Robben only featured as a substitute in the first leg, but is likely to start at the Allianz Arena and Heynckes spoke glowingly of the Dutchman at his news conference.

    “When he did not play from the beginning in Sevilla, as the media, you speculated,” Heynckes said.

    “Then he could rest and train well – on Saturday you saw a Robben full of desire and with fitness levels like five years ago.

    “On the one hand he’s an absolutely top professional, but he’s also saved himself the pleasure of playing football, which is at the heart of his life. He does it with passion.

    “Players like him and Franck Ribery know that this is a phase in which we have to be absolutely perfect, physically, mentally and emotionally. I am very confident for tomorrow.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Nou Camp clash: Roma suffer Nainggolan injury blow

     

    Hard fighting Roma will be without inspirational midfielder Radja Nainggolan when they face Barcelona in the first leg quarterfinals of the Champions league on Wednesday.

    Nainggolan suffered what appeared to be a muscular injury against Bologna on Saturday limping out of the Seria A clash as early as the 16th minute clutching his right thigh.

    The Belgian is a key figure in Eusebio Di Francesco’s midfield and it remains to be seen whether the 29-year-old who was recalled to Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad for the friendly win over Saudi Arabia will be fit to feature in the all important Nou Camp showdown.

    Roma narrowly edged out Shakhtar Donetsk in the round of 16 to book a place in the quarterfinals. Although both teams ended on 2-2 aggregate Roma progressed on away goal rule.

    Another concern for Roma’s Di Francesco is winger Cengiz Under, who sat out the match against Bologna following a knee injury sustained on international duty with Turkey, although the youngster is expected to recover in time for the trip to Spain.

    Meanwhile English Championship side, Sunderland midfielder Darron Gibson is to leave Sunderland by “by mutual consent”, the Championship club have announced.

    The Republic of Ireland midfielder, who joined Sunderland from Everton in January 2017, was suspended by the club on March 18 after being charged with drink-driving.

    Gibson has not played for Chris Coleman’s side since January 1 due to injury, and the former Manchester United man’s contract was due to expire at the end of the campaign.

    A statement on Sunderland’s official website read: “Following the conclusion of his recent suspension, Darron Gibson will leave Sunderland AFC by mutual consent.”Gibson is due to appear in court on April 17.

  • Bayern Munich out to consolidate in Turkey

     

    Bayern Munich jetted off to Turkey in style on Tuesday after decked in blacked-out suits ahead of their Champions League clash with Besiktas.

    The Bundesliga side take a commanding 5-0 lead from the first leg into Wednesday’s game against the Super Lig team.

    A brace from both Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski gave the Barvarians a comfortable advantage going into the second leg.

    And it showed as the reigning German champions looked cool and relaxed as they waited for their flight at Munich international airport on Tuesday morning.

    With their massive advantage from the first leg, Bayern look set to advance into the quarter-finals of the competition barring any miraculous comebacks from their Turkish opponents.

    Lewandowski’s two goals at the Allianz Arena from the first leg means he has now scored 16 goals in his last 16 Champions League games and will be Bayern’s main threat going forward.

    Despite their dominant lead, defender Niklas Sule insists that they won’t be getting ahead of themselves and that they are expecting a tough tie against Besiktas.

    ‘It goes without saying that 5-0 is a comfortable cushion, but we’re expecting an extraordinary atmosphere, and Besiktas have a good team,’ he told the club’s official website.

    ‘We saw that in the first 15 minutes of the first leg when the game was still 11 vs. 11. Nevertheless, we still want to win in Istanbul. We won’t let ourselves get carried away but simply play our game.

    ‘They’ll try to put us under pressure and win the game in front of their own fans. I’m really looking forward to the stadium, but I think we have enough experience in the team to not be overawed by that.’