Monthly Archives: May 2011

Video: Sevilla 2 – 6 Real Madrid

Posted on by
Reply

Sevilla 2 – Real Madrid 6 (La Liga, May 7, 2011)

First half goals from Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo & Kaka ensured the match was already won in the first 45 minutes.

Alvaro Negredo pulled one back just after the hour mark but five minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo made it 4-1 after some more poor defending.
On 70 Cristiano Ronaldo completed his hat-trick when he was given oceans of room to run into.

A further five minutes later it was four for Cristiano Ronaldo and six for Real Madrid from a low Karim Benzema cross, Alvaro Negredo grabbed a second late consolation.

Mourinho gets five match ban – Club and Player reactions

Posted on by
Reply
Mourinho at Inter

Image via Wikipedia

Real Madrid Jose Mourinho is set to contest a five match ban imposed by UEFA after his outburst against Barcelona claiming that UEFA supports Barcelona.

An official statement released by Uefa reads:

“Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed from the bench in the first leg and made an inappropriate statement at the post-match interview, has been suspended for the next five UEFA club competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible. The suspension includes the one-match ban for the match following the coach’s dismissal, which was served for the return leg in Barcelona on Tuesday. The fifth match is suspended for a probationary period of three years. Mourinho has also been fined €50,000.”

Confirming their position in regards the ban, the Spanish club’s official statement reads:

“Real Madrid CF believes this resolution still suffers from the same defects found at the start of the disciplinary case, which made it impossible for our coach to use his right to defend himself, since the exact statements for which the disciplinary case was opened are still unknown.

“Real Madrid CF will appeal this decision before the UEFA Appeals Body.”

Meanwhile Real Madrid assistant coach Karanka said that Jose Mourinho is no longer interested in attending press conferences.

“He has not received it well. They [Uefa] never explained why. The club has released a statement saying it will appeal,” Karanka is quoted as saying by Marca.com.

“Mourinho will defend himself until this comes to the end. Mou will not talk now because he will go through justice. He’s been through everything. But, for now we have to focus on the league and we want to concentrate on that.

“The idea is until they [Uefa] specify a reason then he [Mourinho] will not speak at the press conferences. Uefa have not communicated the reason why the coach has been suspended.”

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has refuted reports claiming that he has any problem with coach Jose Mourinho’s approach toward matches.

Zidane dismissed any such problems between him and Mourinho. Speak to Real Madrid’s official website: “My relationship with him and his staff is very good.

“I follow their work and collaborate with them in everything related to the first team. I have total respect for Jose Mourinho’s work on the Real Madrid bench. I only share comments or ideas on the first team with him.”

Champions League countdown latest updates -Road to Wembley

Posted on by
Reply

Barcelona and Manchester United will confront each other in the final of Europe’s premier club competition for the second time in three years at Wembley on May 28.

Here is some latest updates coming from both camps.

Barcelona Legend Johan Cruyff view on the upcoming final match

“It is a one-off match, so anything can happen,” the Dutchman told Catalan daily Sport.
Cruyff, a legend at Barcelona both as a player and as a coach, was at the helm when the Catalan giants won the tournament in 1991-92 and believes that just like his team, Pep Guardiola’s side are “perfect.”

“They are doing pretty well,” he said.

“The aim is to always try to assemble the best team possible, to play good football and to ensure that young people are proud to be associated with the Blaugrana. Comparing these things isn’t really the best approach.

“When we won it, we were perfect. When [Frank] Rijkaard took over, they were perfect again. Now under Guardiola’s system, it also seems perfect for Barcelona. The most important thing is that Barcelona are proud and happy with what happens on the field.”

 

Barcelona Midfielder Xavi thinks Manchester United are the favorites

Manchester United are the favourites,” said the Spain international, according to ESPNSoccernet. “They’re a great team that also likes to play football, and perhaps that’s good for us.”

Team-mate Pedro echoed his words and said: “I hope we can win but Manchester are also a great team.”

 

Manchester United keeper Van Der Sar wants to finish on top before retiring and on Sunday’s match against Chelsea

“If we win it will be a nice way to finish, otherwise I will have to keep on going,” he laughed to reporters.

“You have to work hard in life to get to things and that is what we have done as a team this season.”

The 40-year-old looks set to become the oldest player to ever play in a final later this month, but until then the keeper has his sights set on winning the Premier League and insists Sir Alex Ferguson’s team choice in the 4-1 second leg victory over Schalke on Wednesday was justified.

“It was good that we brought some fresher players in,” he added.

“Hopefully some freshness and that extra bit of rest will help us on Sunday.”

Van der Sar also admitted he is not suprised by the way United’s domestic season has turned out and admits the title all hangs on Sunday’s match with Chelsea.

“I am not shocked,” he said. “There are certain games in any season you can lose. Chelsea and Liverpool away for instance.
“It’s the others that are harder to take.

“Probably, all three teams at the top have games where they look back and think how did we lose that, or why did we draw there or what happened then.

“It doesn’t really matter now. It is all up for grabs on Sunday.”

 

Inter legend and captain Javier Zanetti thinks Manchester United has got to take a revenge

“I think the Manchester we saw yesterday [against Schalke] can have revenge this year for the final they lost in Rome,”

Zanetti told the press.

“It will not be an easy feat as Barcelona are the team who play the best football in the world.”

On Inter’s season, he added: “We are the world champions and we won the Supercoppa Italiana. So the season is not to be thrown away.”

Video: Manchester United to meet Barca after Schalke win

Posted on by
Reply

Manchester United 4 – Schalke 1 (Agg. 6-1)  (Champions League semi-final second leg, May 4, 2011)

Manchester United is set to meet Barcelon at Wembley for champions league final.

It was Schalke started brightly at Old Trafford with Jefferson Farfan dragging a shot just wide of Van der Sar’s post in the opening stages.

Darren Gibson neat pass met Antonio Valencia to score the first goal of the game.

Schalke needed 3 goals at this point to quality.

Minutes later the tie was well-and-truly over as United worked the ball in from the right hand side before Darron Gibson whacked a shot at Neuer, and the goalie made a terrible fluff to allow the shot to sneak into his goal.

Later in second half Anderson scored two goals to finished off the match completely.

 

Highlights of the match is here -

 

“Barcelona get help from outside” : Post-match reaction

Posted on by
Reply
Post match reactions were rather straight direct from Real Madrid players as to why they felt Barcelona gets unfair advantage over Real Madrid.
Real Madrid lost the first leg 2 – 0 with scores 0 – 0 until the controversial sending off defender Pepe.
At today’s game Gonzalo Higuain goal was controversially disallowed in the 2nd half and that could have been the changing point of the game.
Soon after a beautiful ball from Iniesta fell into the path of Pedro and he converted to make the score 1 – 0 and 3 – 0 on aggregate but minutes later Marcelo leveled the match.
Madrid pushed for more goals but the match finished draw and Barcelona go on Wembley to play against probably Manchester United in the finals.
This is what Ronaldo had to say about the match.
‘Barcelona is a difficult team to beat because they get outside help. Next year they should give the cup directly to them.’
Xabi Alonso’ view
‘When we scored the first goal it would have been totally different and we feel so many bad decisions have been made against us and we are not happy about that,’ he said.
‘We think we did a good job but decisions went against us, we really feel that way.’
The former Liverpool midfielder claimed that Higuain disallowed goal would have altered the nature of the tie in Madrid’s favor as the game was still deadlocked at 0-0 at the time.
‘It would have changed everything, our position would have been much stronger and after that it was much more difficult,’ he said.

Barcelona’s coach Guardiola view on the match

On response to Alonso claim that Barcelona got help from the referee by not allowing Higuain goal.
‘I don’t have time for that, it has been a tough 20 days and we have played the richest team in the world many times, the referee may have had an influence but we were very good in the second match,
‘Football is coming home so it an honor to play at Wembley,’ he said.
‘We won our first Champions League in 1992 at the old Wembley and we are ever so proud for our club and players.’
The 40-year-old Barca manager thinks Manchester United will progress against Schalke to set up a repeat of the 2009 final which his side won 2-0, but he believes that would have no bearing on any potential rematch.
‘I suppose it will be Manchester [in the final], it was two years ago and I think Sir Alex Ferguson will always be there so for us it is an honor and for me as a young coach it is an honor to arrive at the final and play them,’ he said.

Barcelona book wembley final after drawing with Real Madrid

Posted on by
Reply

Barcelona 1 – Real Madrid 1 (Agg. 3-1) (Champions League semi-final second leg, May 3, 2011)

Sergio Busquets had the first real opportunity with a header that Casillas caught. Towards the end of the first half Barcelona ramped up the pressure and David Villa saw his shot saved by Casillas after a great run by Messi.

On 54 Barcelona made the breakthrough, Andres Iniesta fed through a glorious ball into Pedro who finished past Casillas. Ten minutes later Real Madrid equalised on the night Marcelo firing home after Angel Di Maria had hit the post and then squared for the Brazilian.

Match Highlights:


szólj hozzá: Barcelona v Real Madrid 1-1

Title race goes to the wire as Arsenal defeats Manchester United

Posted on by
Reply
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Aaron Ramsey of Ars...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Arsenal 1 – 0 Manchester United (English Premier League )

Arsenal title hopes may have evaporated already with few games remaining but a win today make sures that the title race goes to the wire uptill the end of the season.

Manchester United already have 3 points lead over 2nd place Chelsea. Coming sunday, they welcome Chelsea at Old Trattford with aim to finish of the title race. A win by Chelsea might propel them to beat the odds the win the title.

Coming back to Arsenal game. Aaron Ramsey was the hero as his 2nd half goal was what differentiate between the two teams locked in a stalemate looking for a draw out.

Here are match highlights