..::Football IV::..

Wolverine GTR

Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Hazard makes the difference for Chelsea - Cahill

    eden-hazard-chelsea-06032017_enh1ll3uadj01ocstyopie9e4.jpg


    Gary Cahill thinks Eden Hazard showed his unique talent in the 2-1 win at West Ham to enable Chelsea to edge closer to the Premier League title.

    Hazard provided the inspiration to open up West Ham on Monday night as he rounded the goalkeeper to score in the 25th minute after a lightning quick counter-attack involving N'Golo Kante and Pedro.

    Diego Costa added the second goal before Manuel Lanzini netted a late consolation for the Hammers as Chelsea restored their 10-point lead at the top of the table and Cahill believes that Hazard can continue to be the difference maker in games like the one at the London Stadium.

    "Of course, I thought he was terrific," said Cahill. "Players like that are special players, they are players you look to in tight games to try and open the door. To try and create something out of nothing and he was terrific again today.

    "He got man of the match and I am sure he has got about nine of them at home after this season. He is in great form, long may that continue. Just like the rest of the boys. Everyone is in great form."

    Cahill will likely be joining up with England later this month, while Hazard heads off with Belgium soon, and the club's stand-in captain was keen to urge Chelsea to maintain focus in a strange month containing only two Premier League fixtures.

    "We have worked tremendously hard, up until this point, and we have got a lot of games left but it is a funny month as we have the cup next week and then we have got a league game and internationals," he added.


    "I was speaking today thinking we have two important games this month to get in a healthy position and that should be our aim. It is bizarre that we have got only two league games in a month. We have got the first one out of the way and a bit of time off until the next one."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Suarez: Barcelona must not go crazy from the start

    luissuarez-cropped_mea0nti7aws310n8emnk5uh90.jpg


    Luis Suarez has warned Barcelona not to "go crazy" from the start in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain as they look to pull off a miraculous comeback.

    The Catalans face a mammoth task to book their ticket for the quarter-finals after losing the first leg at the Parc des Princes 4-0, with no side ever managing to overturn such a first-leg defeat in the Champions League.

    Suarez refuses to throw in the towel just yet, but the Uruguay international has stressed it is vital they keep their cool throughout the game at Camp Nou.

    "The first-leg defeat really hurt us. But the good thing about football is that you get chance to pick yourself up. We have shown some good football and a good attitude, with some good goals. We want to show that on Wednesday as well," Suarez stated at a news conference.

    "We are looking forward to the game. It will be a great challenge to turn the tie around. We are aware that the second leg is 90 minutes. We have to be patient. We cannot lose our cool. We obviously have to be ambitious, but we should not go crazy from the first minute.

    "We want to make history. The players are aware of what is at stake. We realise it will be difficult, but it will not be impossible. We are convinced we can do it. If any team can score four goals, it is Barcelona. We have to stick to our philosophy, even if we are playing against a great team.

    "We will try not to give away any chances, but we know they are dangerous. They also know we can cause them damage. We have to be patient, united and remain positive. We have to give everything to turn things around.

    "Reaching the next round would be spectacular and a great boost. It would be something really positive. But we cannot afford to look too far ahead."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Luis Enrique: Barcelona can score six against PSG

    luis-enrique-cropped_an7c0cfmreqq1f2hqsvishr1t.jpg


    Luis Enrique remains optimistic over Barcelona's chances of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain and believes they could score six goals in Wednesday's return clash at Camp Nou.

    The Catalans were hammered 4-0 in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, but Luis Enrique has not given up hope of staging a dramatic comeback.

    "We are only halfway through the tie," the outgoing Barcelona coach told a news conference. "There are 95 minutes left and lots of things can happen."I go into the game with a positive mood. We have to do everything really well, both in defence and in attack. PSG are a really good side.

    "Of course, lots of things have happened since the first leg. We have improved and have put in some good performances. We are optimistic by nature and convinced of what we can do. We will try to make the most of the favourable circumstances."If a team can score four times against us, we can score six times against them. We have seen that before this season. We have nothing to lose.

    "My optimism does not mean I have unbreakable faith, but there are all sorts of performances in sports, negatives and positives. We have not been in a situation like this before, but I have faith in the team. You always have to keep your emotions in check.

    "I am not interested in becoming part of history. But I am convinced we will get chances. That does not mean it is definitely going to happen, but I think we can get close and boost morale even further, which could affect our opponents.

    "I don't have the feeling that we need the best game since I got here. We obviously have to play well and really effective. But it depends on how the match goes."Penalties on the training pitch are nothing like penalties in a big game. We have not trained penalties. I am not worried about penalties."

    Barcelona will need star player Lionel Messi to be at his very best if they are to turn things around, but Luis Enrique is adamant it is all about the team effort.

    "I look at all my players and they all have the attitude necessary," he added.
    "I know everybody likes to focus on Messi and he is a point of reference who can make the difference, but this is going to be a team effort. The team effort is what matters."
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Rooney & Shaw left out of Man Utd squad

    wayne-rooney-manchester-united-2016_131izxre7itof1sniygtfmltsr.jpg


    Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw have been left out of Manchester United’s squad for the Europa League trip to Rostov, it has been confirmed.

    Rooney has fallen out of favour with manager Jose Mourinho in recent weeks and was not included in either squad for the encounters with Saint-Etienne in the previous round of the competition.

    The England captain was heavily linked with a move to China throughout January but ultimately released a statement confirming that he would stay at the club.

    Shaw has also been left out of the squad despite returning to Premier League action against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday, along with the still-exiled Bastian Schweinsteiger.

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, has returned to the fold after missing the EFL Cup final win over Southampton and the encounter with Bournemouth due to a hamstring injury sustained against Etienne.

    Eric Bailly is suspended for the first leg of the encounter but Zlatan Ibrahimovic could play despite facing disciplinary action in England for an alleged elbow on Cherries defender Tyrone Mings.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    :(Zlatan Ibrahimovic receives three-match ban for elbow

    zlatan-ibrahimovic-premier-league-manchester-united-v-bournemouth_10intfhe40luq1j1dy2jkukag7.jpg


    The Football Association has confirmed that Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic has accepted a three-match ban for his elbow on Tyrone Mings.

    The prolific attacker will consequently miss the FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea on Monday, followed by the Premier League matches against Middlesbrough and West Brom.He is due to return in the home game with Everton on April 4 but remains eligible for United's Europa League clashes with Rostov.

    The news will come as a major blow to manager Jose Mourinho, with Ibrahimovic having scored 26 goals in all competitions thus far this season.

    Mings, meanwhile, has also been charged with violent conduct, following an alleged stamp on Ibrahimovic, but he is yet to be told how long he will be banned for.

    United are currently sixth in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Napoli 1-3 Real Madrid (agg 2-6): Ramos double sends Merengue into quarters

    sergio-ramos-napoli-real-madrid_1k433q1g794wj17rpkwts0o3qj.jpg


    Sergio Ramos once again rose to the occasion as the centre-back's double saw Real Madrid come from behind to win 3-1 at Napoli and secure progression to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-2 aggregate triumph.

    The Spain international has come up with the goods on the big stage for Madrid time and time again, including in last season's Champions League final, and he allayed Madrid's fears with two goals in quick succession after the break to turn things around following Dries Mertens' well-taken first-half opener.

    The match lived up to its billing in the opening 45 minutes, as Napoli took the game to the reigning European champions and caused them no end of problems from the start, before eventually halving Madrid's two-goal aggregate lead just before the half-hour mark – Mertens scoring his 17th goal in his last 16 games across all competitions.

    Both sides were then denied by the frame of the goal, as Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League goal drought was extended to six matches, while Mertens went close to scoring his second.

    But Napoli were made to rue their plethora of spurned first-half chances, as Ramos swiftly restored Madrid's two-goal advantage early in the second half, before then scoring again to take his respective tally for the entire season to 10.That quick brace left the hosts completely deflated and Alvaro Morata made the scoreline more flattering in stoppage time.

    Napoli lived up to Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane's expectations with a purposeful start and carved Madrid open early on, but Marek Hamsik was a whisker away from meeting Lorenzo Insigne's cut-back 12 yards out.

    Hamsik did manage to get a shot away a few moments later, though his attempt from the edge of the box went agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.The hosts' dominance showed no sign of letting up and they eventually broke the deadlock 24 minutes in.

    Madrid were dissected by a series of passes and Hamsik fed Mertens into the left side of the box, with the Belgian then coolly slotting into the bottom-right corner.

    Ronaldo provided a reminder of his presence shortly after, but his effort came back off the right-hand post after he breezed into the area and skipped past Pepe Reina.

    Napoli too were kept out by the post just before the interval – Mertens the one denied after the ball broke kindly for him in the area.

    Madrid began the second half with much greater control and intent, and they hauled themselves level on the night within five minutes of the restart – Ramos meeting Toni Kroos' left-wing corner with a glancing header that found the bottom-right corner.

    And he was decisive again moments later.Another Kroos corner – this time from the right – proved too inviting to pass up and Ramos sent a bullet header into the roof of the net via a deflection off Mertens.Ramos' efforts took the wind right out of Napoli's sails and suddenly left them looking utterly devoid of craft in midfield.

    Morata, sent on for Karim Benzema 13 minutes from time, added a third for good measure in stoppage time, smashing home a rebound after Reina failed to hold on to Ronaldo's effort.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Arsenal 1-5 Bayern Munich (Agg: 2-10): 10-man Gunners crash out of Champions League

    arsenal-bayern-laurent-koscielny_13rbkbye4vpe11af9emkt3p8a.jpg


    Bayern Munich matched their 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal last month to inflict a 10-2 aggregate pummelling upon embattled boss Arsene Wenger at Emirates Stadium.
    It meant a seventh consecutive last-16 exit for Arsenal, who had Laurent Koscielny sent off after Theo Walcott rewardrd a spirited first-half display with the opening goal.

    Robert Lewandowski won and converted a 55th minute penalty as Koscielny was dismissed and, as at the Allianz Arena, Arsenal collapsed in the absence of the French defender to suffer the heaviest aggregate defeat inflicted upon an English team in Champions League history.

    Wenger was the subject of fan protests asking him to step down both outside the ground and at the site of Arsenal's former Highbury home before kick-off and the sight of Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa picking off his feeble defensive line before Arturo Vidal added a late brace heightened the sense that his race is run.

    Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern are still in contention to repeat their 2013 treble, standing in stark contrast to Arsenal and Wenger as they stagger from one disappointment to another.

    Alexis Sanchez returned to the hosts' starting line-up three days after being benched for the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool amid widespread reports of a training-ground row.

    The Chile star was set to line up at centre-forward but Danny Welbeck was taken ill during the warm-up, meaning a reshuffle with Olivier Giroud coming in to lead the line.

    Sanchez's commitments to his hastily assigned defensive duties on the left was tenuous at best during the opening stages as Bayern found joy down that flank – albeit after the action was delayed by the away fans throwing vast amounts of toilet roll on the field.

    Visiting goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was out to thwart Walcott after the England winger sprung the offside trap, while Giroud grappled with Mats Hummels to glance wide in the 13th minute.But Neuer was caught out by a rasping Walcott strike that he could only punch into the roof of his net.

    Xabi Alonso was fortunate not to be punished for an ill-judged challenge on the goalscorer before the 27-year-old attempted to repeat his earlier finish by thrashing Shkodran Mustafi's throughball into the side-netting.

    Lewandowski should have restored Bayern's four-goal aggregate advantage but pulled Robben's chipped pass wide on the volley and they went in behind at the break.

    Early in the second period, Mustafi fizzed another fine low pass towards the Bayern box, although Giroud could not get over Aaron Ramsey's chipped cross and headed beyond the crossbar.

    Faint hopes of the improbable we extinguished when Koscielny pushed Lewandowski to the floor 10 yards from goal and the additional assistant official advised Anastasios Sidiropoulos to upgrade his initial yellow card to a red.

    The Poland international kept his calm to drill home the spot kick, sending David Ospina the wrong way, and he almost had a second on the end of a slick one-two with Vidal – Bayern turning on the style in front of their buoyant travelling support.
    Robben gave them the lead on the night, intercepting a poor Ospina clearance and capitalising on the resulting disarray to slot into the corner.

    Lewandowski then hit the post and the leggy 10-man hosts did not welcome a fresh Costa coming on to gallop towards goal from the right and make it three in the 78th minute.

    Vidal's classily chipped fourth as the Arsenal defence crumbled terribly demonstrated the swagger of a side still chasing glory in three competitions and the Chile international had the brace his compatriot Sanchez might have hoped for five minutes from time, accepting Costa's pass with Ospina once again horribly exposed.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Arsenal suffer second-biggest knockout loss in Champions League history

    alexis-sanchez-arsenal_qg9op283vbvr1dbat3rx8evjv.jpg


    Arsenal's 10-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the round of 16 tied the Gunners for the second-biggest knockout-stage loss in Champions League history.

    The Gunners lost both legs of the last-16 tie by a 5-1 scoreline. The German champions essentially put the tie away in the first leg at the Allianz Arena on Feb. 15 before furthering Arsenal's misery at the Emirates on Tuesday.

    Bayern Munich hold the record for the largest margin of victory in the Champions League knockout phase by virtue of a 12-1 aggregate win over Sporting Lisbon in the 2009 round of 16.

    With Tuesday's result, Arsenal join Werder Bremen (10-2 loss to Lyon in the 2005 round of 16) and Bayer Leverkusen (10-2 defeat to Barcelona in the 2012 round of 16) as teams to lose Champions League knockout ties by eight goals on aggregate.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    This time next year Arsenal fans will be begging to lose 10-2 to Bayern

    arsenal-fans_5ba7dq1gqbav19c4sb8jmp1pr.jpg


    Nobody was expecting Arsenal to overturn the 5-1 defeat against Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening. Not Arsene Wenger, not the players and certainly not the fed-up fans who marched through north London before kick-off demanding the Frenchman "get out" of their club. Go back even further and you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody who thought Arsenal would win the tie in the first place. And that’s the problem.

    Arsenal never surprise anyone, never excite, never fail to disappoint. They qualify for the Champions League through their league placing and get eliminated from the Champions League before the quarter-finals. Groundhog year.

    Put yourself in the shoes of those fans who partook in the march and ask yourself: What is there to live for as an Arsenal supporter? These nights when the battle is over and you’ve already lost? Nights like Saturday when you hope that your club can put some distance between themselves and Liverpool in the race for the top four but when deep down you actually know you'll lose?

    Arsene Wenger initially had not only an excuse but a legitimate reason for a club the size of Arsenal underperforming through the past 10 years or so. To keep them in the Champions League - year after year - with a debt that size on the Emirates Stadium is one of the great feats of modern club management. Every year he watched players depart, for money and for trophies, but could always rationalise the exits through financial necessity.

    The likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie left the house Wenger built to win titles elsewhere. Arsenal fans in their heart of hearts knew that their own club could not sustain a title challenge and - whatever the resentment they felt at their exits – they knew a Manchester City or a Manchester United were always closer to winning the league than they were.

    But the signing of Mesut Ozil in particular was to change all that. His was the statement transfer to demonstrate that Arsenal were back in the frame for titles; paying £42.5 million for a Real Madrid starter who would prove to have the quality to win the World Cup at the end of his first season in London.

    Alexis Sanchez was next. He was signed a year later and he too went on to claim international honours at the end of his first term and has now won consecutive Copas America with Chile.

    The capacity for those two superstars to win big trophies is undimmed but it would appear their qualities have been absorbed by the sanctuary of mediocrity that Arsenal has become. Ozil and Sanchez would very likely walk into any other team in world football yet both remain chained to an Arsenal squad with an unrivalled ability to underwhelm.

    The excuse of not having the money to compete is gone now; Granit Xhaka cost more than Chelsea paid for N’Golo Kante. Big money has gone on Danny Welbeck, Calum Chambers, Lucas Perez, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Mohamed Elneny and more without any noticeable uplift in output. Everyone who signs for Arsenal – whatever their level to begin with – seems to converge on the point of ordinariness.

    If any potential high-class Arsenal signing was considering moving to north London this summer they might well have been put off by the manner in which Alexis’s desire for improvement has been met with stiff resistance by players incapable of matching his efforts. His paltry total of one FA Cup in three seasons is a warning to good players everywhere: Don’t come to Arsenal.

    It is bewildering that Wenger fails to see the long-term pattern in any of it. He still analyses the disappointments match by match, incident by incident; seemingly the only one who remains surprised at how often they fail.

    It is he who still maintains control of the club, its direction and its future prospects of success. He is said to be equivocating over a new two-year contract; that lack of commitment now causing no end of uncertainty not only to fans but to players too. Mesut Ozil has already disclosed that he is waiting to see what Wenger does before making a decision on any new deal.

    How can Arsenal realistically begin attracting any new players when they cannot guarantee the manager will be here next season? How many managers will come onto the market and just as quickly go off it while Wenger prevaricates? How can a succession plan be put in place while Wenger is insistent on staying in control as long as he can?The fans are sick of it, the false hope and the cycle of decrepitude that every season brings.

    What they might be failing to consider though is the fate of Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. He called the shots on his own departure – winning a title and going out in style. He was ready to go but the club wasn’t ready for him to leave. United have fallen off a cliff since he left – relative to their achievements while he was there – and are nowhere near competing for major titles. And look at the level of investment they require just to tread water.

    If they stay in the top four then what Arsenal need to do is manage Wenger out; set up a sporting director position, surround Wenger with coaches capable of taking over. If they don't qualify, well, he’s in trouble. After Brexit and Donald Trump's victory, Arsenal fans could be the next ones to rage against a system that’s not working for them and demand someone, anyone takes over.

    In any context, Wenger’s departure this summer could be hasty. Arsenal are not ready for it. The options are either Wenger stays and they endure the same old story or he leaves and in a year or two Arsenal fans might well be begging for the heady days of being thrashed by Bayern in the Champions League last 16.
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    'I am absolutely revolted' - Arsenal boss Wenger turns on referee after Bayern humiliation

    arsene-wenger-arsenal-07032017_1v4dvcb5x8hll19urmjlu8vd2l.jpg


    Arsene Wenger accused the match officials of “killing” Arsenal’s chances against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, with the Frenchman considering his side to have been “unlucky” despite suffering a 5-1 defeat.

    The Gunners entered a meeting with the German giants having suffered a humbling by the same scoreline in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter.
    That result, along with other struggles in the Premier League, led some supporters to stage a protest against Wenger prior to kick off.

    A toxic mood was lifted slightly in the opening exchanges as Theo Walcott offered Arsenal a glimmer of hope, but the dismissal of Laurent Koscielny early in the second half proved decisive.

    Wenger, though, believes that crucial call was wrong, with Robert Lewandowski offside leading up to the game-changing challenge and Greek referee Tasos Sidiropoulos conspiring to make a tough task impossible for the home side.

    “I feel we produced the game we wanted and we are very unlucky tonight with some decisions which were very difficult to understand,” Wenger told BT Sport.

    “We are 1-0 up, it's a 100 per cent penalty on Walcott, Lewandowski's offside, there's no penalty on top of that, you get the red card, of course that killed us.

    “Overall it's difficult to understand what's happened. I still must say my team has produced a huge effort tonight and played very well.“He is offside, Lewandowski, there is no penalty, on top of that he gives a yellow card, on top of that he gives after a red card.

    “It's just not serious. When you see the importance of the games and you see an attitude like that I am absolutely revolted and sorry for people who come and pay a lot of money to watch this kind of game.”

    Wenger has now seen his side exit the Champions League at the first knockout stage in seven successive seasons.Those continental failings have contributed to the calls for him to step aside at the end of the season, but the long-serving manager believes there are positives to be taken.

    He added: “I felt we were in it.“You never know how Bayern would have reacted had we scored a second goal and at the end it finishes like that, it's difficult to take. And of course it looks very bad and doesn't reflect the quality of our performance tonight.

    “I think once it was 2-1 down it was very difficult. You have no chance to qualify any more. That's not the part of the game I would like to keep in my mind, because I think the second part of the game has been spoilt by the referee.”
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Mourinho admits Europa League may become Man Utd's top priority

    jose-mourinho-manchester-united_p5z2ul6ld8pp1xojscoepdtbh.jpg


    Jose Mourinho is prepared to make Europa League success Manchester United’s top priority if they continue to progress in the competition.

    The Red Devils have already secured one piece of major silverware this season, with the EFL Cup joining the Community Shield in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet.

    There are, however, still three more competitions filling their fixture list at present, with Premier League endeavours complemented by productive runs in Europe and the FA Cup.

    A top-four finish domestically would push the club back into the Champions League for 2017-18, but a Europa League triumph would deliver the same prize.Taking that into account, Mourinho will reassess United’s situation if they get into a position where they can “smell the final”.

    He said ahead of Thursday’s last-16 meeting with Rostov in Russia: “The Europa League is very difficult but it’s a target for us and if we beat Rostov and we find ourselves in the quarter-final, then we have to think really seriously about the Europa League because in this moment we are still in the last 16.“[With] the last 16 we are still far [away from the final] but when a team gets into the last eight, and you go to the quarter-final draw, you smell the final.

    “The quarter final – you smell the final and then in a certain period of the season I have to analyse my team, the players, the condition of everyone and I have to make choices. I have to make choices but choices that I would always share with my owners, with my board.”

    While competing on multiple fronts has been an obvious bonus for United this season, it is pushing them to their limit.A midweek clash with Rostov is the second of five fixtures in 16 days, with Mourinho admitting that he may have to rotate his squad in order to keep key men fresh and chase down top targets.

    He added: “For now it’s just to play against Rostov, play against Chelsea, play against Rostov again and then let’s see how we are in all the competitions and try to make the right decisions.

    “To finish second [in the Premier League] is better than to finish third and to finish third is better than fourth and fourth is obviously better than not being in the top four and not going to the Champions League. The second position is very difficult but it’s very possible. First is impossible. Second is possible and we have to fight for it.”
     

    Wolverine GTR

    Well-known member
  • Jan 1, 2009
    268,940
    11,592
    113
    ♥♥Ŧhệatrệ Θf Drệamś♥♥
    Arsenal 'in great shape' claims Wenger after Bayern humbling

    arsenewenger-cropped_t0rqwk3yt5kp1du3335cfs8fj.jpg


    Arsene Wenger tried to look at the bigger picture as his stock at Arsenal took another pummelling in the 5-1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

    Fan protests before the second leg of the last-16 tie called for an end to the Frenchman's 21-year reign in North London and the Bundesliga champions ruthlessly replicated the scoreline from last month's first leg at the Allianz Arena after Laurent Koscielny was sent off.

    Theo Walcott gave the Gunners a deserved first-half lead but the wheels came off for Arsenal when Robert Lewandowski converted a 55th-minute penalty having been brought down by Koscielny when through on goal.Goals from Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa and an Arturo Vidal brace followed as fans streamed out of Emirates Stadium in their thousands.

    Asked what needed to change at Arsenal, having again neglected to answer questions about his future when his contract expires at the end of the season, Wenger said: "What needs to change at this club? What do you mean by that?

    "I think this club is in great shape but is at the moment going through a very difficult situation. What needs to change is the result in the next game."You are always worried for headlines. I am here to speak about football, not about my future.

    "Tonight I thought there was no uncertainty in our game, we played very well.
    "It's difficult, when you are 5-1 down against Bayern and you have to score four goals.

    "You are down to 10 men - if you go forward you know you will be caught on the counter-attack; if you don’t go forward people will say, 'why didn't you at least try to score goals?' It is an impossible situation."
     

    Alucard_SxE

    Well-known member
  • Apr 18, 2015
    6,523
    2,465
    113
    Wow!:shocked::shocked::shocked:

    Barcelona pattama comeback 1kak:yes:3 goals in last 7 minutes.

    What a crappy performance by psg :frown::growl::growl: Specially after cavani scored they literaly had the game in hand. Barca's moral was down and they had 2 clear one to one opportunities to finish the game of. One with di maria and the other with cavani. They both blew them.

    Yeah there were some crappy decisions by the refrees but come on! How would you blow a 5-3 on agrregate with one away goal when they was only 5 minutes to be played?

    I'll tell you how. By being too cocky. PSG were already in wonderland thinking that they have gone through. specially after cavani scored. Trapp didn't even move to save that free kick by neymar. Which could;ve easily been avoided. The penalty was too soft but again could've been avoided. And even after that, I eman come on!! last minutes of the game can't you even fucking defend properly?

    PSG absolutely deserved this the way they played. Specially trying to be cocky