TheNewsGuru

Tag: UCL

  • I wasn’t brought to Man City to win Champions League – Guardiola

    I wasn’t brought to Man City to win Champions League – Guardiola

    Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have already achieved their aims by being contenders in every competition, insisting he was not brought to the Etihad Stadium to win the UEFA Champions League.

    Manchester City’s wait for European football’s top club prize will go on after they lost 6-5 on aggregate to Real Madrid on Wednesday following an incredible semi-final collapse.

    But in a lengthy response to a question about his players’ chances of ever winning the competition ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Newcastle United, Guardiola had much to say.

    He explained how the club view success differently from “the people” on the outside.

    “I don’t know [if this team can win it],” he said. “It’s a question I cannot answer. Before Madrid, I did not know if we were able to win it.

    “I don’t have an answer to all your questions. Football is incredibly unpredictable –— we saw it.

    “This is my feeling, maybe I’m wrong: Abu Dhabi didn’t buy this club and invest in these incredible facilities, invest in players, like a lot of other clubs in the world, to be what we lived the last years.

    “It’s not to win just the UEFA Champions League. They did it to be there in all competitions, in every season, compete, compete, compete until the end.

    “We will try again next season. It will be difficult, because the teams are good. I know the people want to be in that way, I accept it from day one, I have to handle it, but it’s not a problem for me.”

    Guardiola insisted he “cannot live” for European glory alone –— and suggested Manchester City would be criticised even if they did win the UEFA Champions League.

    Asked if the defeat gave him added hunger, he replied: “No, always I am starving.

    “I know the people outside here demand Champions League, Champions League, Champions League, we know it, but I cannot live [just for that].

    “The moment we win the Champions League, they’ll say look at the money we spent. If not, they spent all that money and didn’t win the Champions League. We are the only club in the world in the last 10, 15, 20 years who spent money.”

  • UCL Final: You are free to say whatever you like-Casemiro replies Salah

    UCL Final: You are free to say whatever you like-Casemiro replies Salah

    Brazil and Real Madrid midfielder, Casemiro, has responded to Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah’s revenge wishes, the mecurial midfielder after the Los Blancos survived a scare to upturn the result in their favour in the second leg encounter against Manchester city on Wednesday night.

    Salah had revealed he wanted to face Real Madrid in the final before the LaLiga champions defeated Man City 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

    And after the game last night, the Egyptian captain clearly relished the chance to get revenge on Carlo Ancelotti’s side, tweeting after their victory over Manchester City: “We have a score to settle.”

    The final of the UCL between Real Madrid and Liverpool takes place at Stade de France on saturday May 28.

    It would be a repeat of the 2018 showpiece event, where Liverpool was defeated 3-1 by the Spanish giants.

    TheNewsguru.com reliably gathered that Casemiro responded to Salah, stating that the Champions League final will be difficult, adding that the former Chelsea and AS Roma star can choose whatever he wants to say because of his previous injury in 2018.

    “Everyone can choose what he wants, maybe because of his previous injury,” Casemiro said.

    “It’s another final, another history and we respect it and know it will be difficult.”

  • Guardiola insists Manchester City “will rise” after Real Madrid shock

    Guardiola insists Manchester City “will rise” after Real Madrid shock

    Pep Guardiola promised on Thursday that Manchester City would bounce back from their UEFA Champions League heartache at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday.

    Manchester City were within moments of booking a return to the competition’s final match on Wednesday night.

    They held a 1-0 lead –– and a 5-3 aggregate advantage –– over Real Madrid in an absorbing semi-final second leg.

    But the English Premier League (EPL) leaders caved in in dramatic fashion as Rodrygo struck twice with 90 minutes on the clock to send the tie into extra-time.

    With Manchester City still reeling, Karim Benzema then put Real Madrid ahead for the first time over the two legs from the penalty kick spot.

    The Spanish giants held on for a memorable 3-1 success on the night and 6-5 on aggregate, to progress to a final date with Liverpool in Paris.

    Manchester City must now quickly pick themselves up from this shattering loss as the Premier League title race resumes at the weekend.

    Guardiola’s side, who host Newcastle United on Sunday, have no room for error, with Liverpool trailing them by just a point with four games remaining.

    The Manchester City manager however said: “We need time now, one or two days, but we will rise. We have to do it (and) with our people (we will).

    “The players gave everything. We were so close and we could not do it.”

    Guardiola felt Real Madrid’s dramatic late recovery came from nowhere.

    He said: “There is a long history in sport of this kind of situation happening when you arrive at the end, 10 or 15 minutes left, and you are absolutely being dominated with the opponent creating a lot of problems. But that didn’t happen.

    “Then they found it, and a minute later another one. With their people supporting it was difficult and after the penalty kick made the difference.”

  • African Curse is why Pep Guardiola won’t win UCL again – Yaya Toure’s agent

    African Curse is why Pep Guardiola won’t win UCL again – Yaya Toure’s agent

    Yaya Toure’s agent, Dimitriy Seluk’s comments from 2018 have again resurfaced where he claimed African curse is the reason why Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola cannot win the UEFA Champions League again.

    City snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, losing their semi-final second leg 3-1 at the Bernabeu to exit the competition with a 6-5 aggregate defeat.

    Guardiola’s side had looked to be on course for the final after Riyad Mahrez’s goal put them 1-0 up on the night, and 5-3 ahead in the tie.

    But two dramatic late goals from Madrid substitute Rodrygo sent the semi-final to extra-time before Karim Benzema sealed victory for the home side from the penalty spot.

    It is now 11 years since Guardiola last won the Champions League while at Barcelona. That is despite him coaching the biggest club in Germany, Bayern Munich, and now the richest club in England since his time at the Nou Camp.

    Seluk’s comments from 2018 resurfaced again, where he claimed the Catalan coach angered “all Africa” by benching the Ivory Coast international during the player’s final year at City.

    “He [Guardiola] turned all Africa against himself, many African fans turned away from Manchester City.

    “And I’m sure that many African shamans in the future will not allow Guardiola to win the Champions League.

    “This will be for Guardiola an African curse. Life will show whether I am right or not,” Seluk said at the time

    A lot to unpack there. Shamans, who boast the power of being able to invoke good or bad spirits, definitely don’t seem willing to deny Guardiola glorious domestic success wherever he goes. But Seluk is adamant.

    “The fact that Guardiola ended Yaya’s career in Manchester City is not even a mistake, but a crime.

    “But the boomerang will return, Pep. You will still see what the African shamans are. Remember this always,” he added.

    Toure and Guardiola had a sometimes strained relationship, despite their success together. The Ivorian played in Pep’s first Champions League final win in 2009, filling in in central defence for the 2-0 victory over Manchester United.

    However, in 2010 he left Barca to join Man City and did not have the fondest memories of his ex-coach.

    Toure became a City legend for his attacking midfield displays while at Man City but in 2016, the pair’s paths crossed again when Guardiola arrived at the club.

    Toure featured fairly regularly during Guardiola’s first season in Manchester, but was a bit-part player during 2017/18 and was allowed to leave the club at the end of the season, which apparently angered the player’s agent and – if Seluk is to be believed – African shamans.

    Whatever the reason, Guardiola and City will have to wait another year for a shot at Champions League glory.

  • Chelsea risk missing out on next season’s Champions League

    Chelsea risk missing out on next season’s Champions League

    Uncertainty hovers over Chelsea’s participation in next season’s UEFA Champions League season amid the club owner’s willingness to put the club for sale.

    Chelsea have till May 31st to sort out its take over bid in order for the club to settle down against next season, failure to do so may lead to its non-participation in the champions League.

    Meanwhile, they have reportedly identified four potential centre-back targets this summer as they look to replace Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

    The Stamford Bridge club are in need of defensive reinforcements this summer, with both Rudiger and Christensen set to leave on free transfers when their contracts expire at the end of the season.

    Rudiger and Christensen are expected to join Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.

    Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, is keen to bring in two top defenders this summer to cover for the departures of Rudiger and Christensen.

    They are also on the watch out for Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol and Atletico Madrid’s Jose Giminez as a potential replacement for the defenders.

    It remains to be seen if Chelsea will be able to conduct any business due to the restrictions placed on the club after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government, with delays to the sale process creating more uncertainty.

     

  • UCL: Liverpool to suffer in the hands of Villareal-Jurgen Klopp

    UCL: Liverpool to suffer in the hands of Villareal-Jurgen Klopp

    Liverpool boss, the German tactician Jurgen Klopp has said his boys should get ‘ready to suffer’ in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg tie against Villarreal in Spain.

    Liverpool leads by 2-0 in the first leg at Anfield, last week Wednesday.

    Although Liverpool are at a vantage position going into the second leg, it has been established that The Reds don’t find it easy playing in Spain under Jurgen Klopp.

    Since the year began, Liverpool has lost only 3 games in all competitions and the German said his players must remain focused and avoid starting the next game on the wrong foot

    “But my only concern is what we do [tonight] and we have to be ready to suffer but not going 1-0 down or whatever – that can happen in football matches – but giving the game the ri9ght direction,” he said,

    “Suffering doesn’t mean you suffer for long, it means you suffer [clicks fingers] and then react,” he said.

  • Jamie Carragher tips Liverpool to win Champions League trophy

    Jamie Carragher tips Liverpool to win Champions League trophy

    Former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, has predicted this season’s UEFA Champions League finalist.

    The Sky sports pundit said this year’s Champions League final will be played between his former team Liverpool and Real Madrid.

    Carragher has also backed the Reds to go all the way and win the trophy.

    Jurgen Klopp’s men beat Villarreal 2-0 in their semi-final first leg on Wednesday night with the reverse fixture holding next week Tuesday in Spain

    Carragher said “I think Liverpool will win the Champions League. The league I’m not so sure, Manchester City have a slight advantage in that if they win all their games they’ve won the league.

    “The Champions League, it feels like it’s Liverpool’s competition and they’ve got one foot in the final and I don’t think anyone else can say that. I think Madrid will go through. When you miss that many chances in the first leg you have got a massive problem. It’s a big standout game.”

  • UCL: Michael Owen predicts outcome of Man City vs Real Madrid semi-final clash

    UCL: Michael Owen predicts outcome of Man City vs Real Madrid semi-final clash

    Former Liverpool and England forward Michael Owen, has predicted the outcome of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League encounter with Real Madrid.

    Both teams clash on Tuesday night at the Etihad in the first leg of the first semi-final encounter.

    Owen predicts that “What a tie this should be! City were impressive at the weekend, and they will enter this with some confidence. We all know how desperate City are to win the Champions League, I am expecting a good performance.

    “Real [Madrid] have done so well to get to this round, but I am not entirely sure how they have done it. Chelsea had plenty of chances to knock them out in the quarters, I don’t think City will be as wasteful.

    “I will never write off Real in this competition, but I have to favour City. City will keep the ball and I can see them frustrating this Real side. I think Real will score, but I am going for a 3-1 City win.”

    Michael James Owen is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City, as well as for the England national team

  • You can’t bet against us winning the UCL – Real Madrid coach, Ancelotti

    You can’t bet against us winning the UCL – Real Madrid coach, Ancelotti

    Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti has boasted that Real Madrid will win this season’s UEFA champions League.

    Ancelotti said nobody can bet against them winning the Champions League this season after Los Blancos defeated Chelsea 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-final and are now in the last four.

    They await the winner of the Manchester city, Atletico Madrid tie .

    Speaking after the Chelsea game, Ancelotti said: “Nobody can say we aren’t going to win this Champions League. We showed we fight to the last.

    “I don’t think many people expected Spanish football would have two in the semi-finals, and we might have a third tomorrow.”

  • UCL Match: Rio Ferdinand reacts to Rudiger, Alaba bust- up

    UCL Match: Rio Ferdinand reacts to Rudiger, Alaba bust- up

    Ex-England international and Manchester United defended Rio Ferdinand is furious at Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger over his unsportsmanlike attitude towards Real Madrid defender,David Alaba at full time in the match Real Madrid versus Chelsea.

     

    Chelsea had won the game 3-2 but lost 5-4 on aggregate and the result favoured Real Madrid as they progressed to the UCL’s Semi-final.

    Rudiger pushed Madrid centre-back David Alaba away when he tried to console him after the match.

    As the final whistle went, Alaba went to put his arms around Rudiger and console him, but the Germany international pushed him away and stormed off screaming, before dropping to his knees.

    Other Real Madrid players tried to speak with Rudiger, but he remained furious on the ground.

    Ferdinand, speaking on BT Sport, said: “It’s emotional, man. And I don’t think he’d necessarily want to react like that or see those pictures.

    “But the feeling there you can’t control it. We’ve all been there after big games, I’ve said and done things that you regret, you think: ‘that’s not me, that’s not my normal personality’. But this is what football means to people.”