..::Football III::..

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Victory slipped through Marseille's fingers - Bielsa

Marcelo Bielsa felt Marseille allowed victory to slip through their fingers as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Ligue 1 leaders Lyon on Sunday.

The home side enjoyed more possession and had more efforts on goal than the visitors at the Velodrome and saw a 'goal' for Lucas Ocampos controversially overlooked in the second half, with replays unable to show conclusively if the Argentine's effort crossed the line.

Jeremy Morel's late red card brought a halt to Marseille's hopes of victory and they had goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to thank for ensuring a point in the dying moments as he saved well from Corentin Tolisso.Bielsa was thrilled with his side's performance up until the dismissal but accepts it was a match that had been there for the taking.

"I think tonight's game was the best game of the season," he told reporters."The match was intense and very enjoyable to watch, even without a goal. The first 85 minutes were very satisfactory. Then the sending off happened and the game changed.

"I thought we deserved to win up until then. The victory was in our hands, but we missed it."Bielsa refused to criticise the officials after the match despite the controversy over Ocampos' second-half effort.

"I think the referees and their assistants may be right or wrong. They allow the league to keep going. The referee made the decision, he is impartial," he added.
Lyon are now two points clear at the top of the table following Paris Saint-Germain's defeat to Bordeaux, while Marseille sit four points adrift in third.

 

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Luca Toni leaves Napoli's Champions League hopes in the balance

Luca Toni netted a double as Napoli's bid for Champions League qualification faltered in a 2-0 defeat at Verona on Sunday.

The veteran striker pounced after seven minutes to power into the back of the net from close range after forcing his way into the Napoli box and rounding goalkeeper Mariano Andujar.

Emil Hallfredsson provided the assist for the second six minutes into the second period, pulling the ball into the centre of the penalty area from the left for Toni to guide home.

Verona had Jacopo Sala dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 90th minute, but it was too late for Napoli to make the most of the man advantage.

The result leaves Napoli fourth, having slipped behind Lazio in the race for the top three, while Verona pull 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

Beleaguered Parma's miserable season continued as they were beaten 4-1 at Sassuolo having been reduced to 10 men on the hour, while Atalanta managed to hold on for a goalless draw against Udinese after having Carlos Carmona sent off late on.

In the day's other fixture, Chievo won 2-0 at Genoa, who are now level with Inter after their 1-1 draw with Cesena.

 

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'He didn't score but he was alive' - Ancelotti defends Ronaldo showing

Carlo Ancelotti has defended Cristiano Ronaldo's performance in the 2-0 win over Levante, insisting the forward was "alive" in the match.Ronaldo played a part in both of Gareth Bale's first-half goals. The first came when the Welshman side-footed home following a Ronaldo shot that was cleared off the line, before he deflected in another effort from the Portuguese to double the lead.

The 30-year-old Ballon d'Or holder cut a visibly frustrated figure as he failed to find the net himself but Ancelotti maintains he delivered an influential performance.
"I think the first half was good, we played well, with good intensity and quality. We had control of the game," he told a press conference."In the second half we were more relaxed.

"I think Cristiano's alive because the first goal came from a shot which the defender saved and then Bale scored the second in the same way. Cristiano didn't score but was alive in the game."

Bale's double came after the €100 million man had been on the receiving end of mounting criticism for his recent displays, and Ancelotti felt he looked more determined on Sunday.

"I saw a more motivated Bale, with more desire, and the whole team had more concentration. Everyone did well in the first half."We now have to do it for the whole game on Sunday [against Barcelona]," he said.

Ancelotti also praised the performances of the returning Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos ahead of the crucial Clasico at Camp Nou next week.

"Modric and Ramos gave an important contribution to the team. Modric has the quality, Sergio the personality. I think we'll arrive at Camp Nou with the whole squad available," he added."The first half gives me confidence, the second half worries me. But it'll be a different game. We need our best, and we can win with our best."

Ancelotti had given assurances that under-fire Iker Casillas would start the Clasico despite Keylor Navas playing on Sunday, but he did suggest - albeit jokingly - that he now has some doubts over who to start between the posts next week."I have a clear XI for Camp Nou, I don't think there'll be any surprises. I've a doubt over the goalkeeper!"

 

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Rooney inspired Manchester United at a meeting, Van Gaal confirms

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney inspired his team-mates with an inspirational speech at a squad meeting before they beat Tottenham 3-0 on Sunday, manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed.

United produced a superb performance to defeat Spurs 3-0 thanks to goals from Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Rooney, to edge six points clear of the London club in the race for the Champions League positions.

Fellaini stated post-match that Rooney had gathered the players together and gave "a very important speech" and the boss verified the story in his press conference.

Van Gaal told reporters of the meeting: "I was aware but I was not involved. It was the captain who was involved.

"The players knew that this game was massively important and so I think the captain has to do something to help the players or the manager or the club. I was very pleased."

Rooney was key in a win that represents a big blow to Tottenham's ambitions of finishing in the top four and Van Gaal stressed the significance of the result.

"We have waited a long time for such a victory," he declared. "The performance was very good against a very good team. I'm very pleased. I have to watch the video again but we played like a team and were very determined, which is nice after a defeat. It was a massively important game and I'm very pleased with the players.

"Tottenham is a team that wants to play football so you have time and space to play your own game. It's a matter of the process we are in. I have played this system [4-3-3] against Manchester City and Chelsea and, in those games, we didn't do what we have done today.

"Maybe now it's a game that gives us a fantastic boost."

Finally, when asked if Manchester City had been dragged into the battle for the top four by their defeat at Burnley on Saturday, Van Gaal responded: "Yes, because we are only two points behind."

United travel to Anfield on March 22 to take on Liverpool, who are five points behind in the Premier League table, having played one game fewer.

 

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Ibrahimovic: France is a s**t country

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has described France as a "s**t country" following Paris Saint-Germain's 3-2 defeat against Bordeaux on Sunday.

The Swede scored twice as the Ligue 1 champions twice came from behind to level the match, though a last-minute goal from Diego Rolan consigned Laurent Blanc’s men to a defeat that further damages their title aspirations.

Following the game, in which referee Lionel Jeffredo made a number of contentious decisions against the Parc des Princes side, the Swede was caught on camera appearing to call the assistant referee a “f***** a*****e” before launching into a rant.

"In 15 years I've never seen a [good] referee in this s**t country," the Swede said. "It doesn't even deserve PSG. You're not playing with amateurs."The former AC Milan striker apologised later on Sunday for his remarks, insisting his frustrations were directed purely at French football.

"I want to clarify that my remarks were directed at neither France nor the French," he said."I spoke about football and nothing else."I want to apologise if people have been offended."

Ibrahimovic was at the centre of another major controversy earlier this week when he branded the Chelsea side "11 babies" after he was dismissed from PSG's Champions League meeting with Jose Mourinho's side.The Swede, who only returned from a two-match suspension last weekend against Lens, could face another ban should the French League elect to take action.

While the Parisians were able to come out on top on the away goals rule after extra-time against the Blues, they have only won one of their last seven away matches in Le Championnat, in which they have still yet to top the standings after a completed round of fixtures this season.

 

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Chelsea limping towards Premier League title

Pride dented and aura damaged by Wednesday’s Champions League exit to 10-man Paris Saint-Germain, Jose Mourinho picked an interesting moment to revisit the theme that helped him make such an explosive introduction to English football back in the summer of 2004.

“My happiness, first of all, is when I compare myself with the others [managers], I see just a few that are with me in terms of success… you are too much worried about myself,” he told reporters. “What makes me feel special is that I am above all of this.”

Such outspoken confidence might prove hazardous for a lesser manager. But just as in his first season at Chelsea, Mourinho is poised to back up his bold talk with the Premier League trophy – even if Sunday’s draw with Southampton provided further evidence that the manner of the triumph is proving markedly less “special” than the man himself.

Hoping for a reaction to the PSG setback, Mourinho made just one change to the side that failed to beat the 10-man Ligue 1 champions. He got one, at least until Diego Costa scored his first goal in almost two months. Then Sadio Mane started running all over a startlingly hapless Nemanja Matic, Shane Long caused his typical nuisance and Chelsea once again looked the tired, fragile team we have watched limp their way to the title since mid-January.

Indeed, the biggest surprise as gaps opened up and mistakes were made in the second half was that Southampton, who had the benefit of 11 days rest and training for this game, were the ones who found themselves driven back and eventually pinned inside their own half. The introduction of Ramires for Matic on 53 minutes, in Mourinho’s words, “killed the counter-attack”, and only towering performances from Morgan Schneiderlin, Jose Fonte and Fraser Forster ensured the visitors escaped Stamford Bridge with a point.

A winner proved elusive. Against PSG their sin was pragmatism; against Southampton it was profligacy. A mixture of both has undermined Mourinho’s men since the turn of the year and is now threatening to help turn this Premier League title race into a comedy of errors.

Manchester City’s latest in a series of inexplicable collapses against Burnley on Saturday turned this into something of a free game for Chelsea, and afterwards Mourinho was equally aware of a point gained and an opportunity lost.

“There are two perspectives [on the result],” he insisted. “One is that a draw at home to Southampton is not a good result, and for me that perspective is very acceptable because I have this feeling. The second perspective is we had a five-point gap to second and now we have six points to second with one match less [played].”

Another consequence is that Arsenal, incredibly, have been allowed onto the fringes of the title conversation. “Of course,” Mourinho replied when asked if the Gunners were contenders, though he dismissed any suggestion that five straight Premier League wins makes them more dangerous than City: “Which momentum… 3-1 against Monaco? Or 3-0 against West Ham?”

Despite their lead, it seems remarkable that Chelsea have allowed it to come to this. From August to November it looked as though we were witnessing the emergence of a team every bit as dominant as Mourinho’s first group of Stamford Bridge champions, but with added swashbuckling style. Diego Costa ran riot, Eden Hazard teased and tormented, Cesc Fabregas was the best footballer in England and Nemanja Matic was a one-man wall in front of a defence impressively marshalled by John Terry. The balance was beautiful and brilliant.

Given his startling lack of rotation, it is tempting to conclude that Mourinho was just as enamoured with the chemistry of his strongest XI as the rest of us. A run of four games in 11 days over the festive period – culminating in that 5-3 defeat to Tottenham on New Years’ Day – destroyed Chelsea’s air of invincibility and they have never been quite the same since.

What has followed instead has been classic Mourinho: grating performances, grinding results and spiky press conferences. On the pitch, a combination of the leaders’ determination and the champions’ incompetence has ultimately brought the Blues to the verge of what was always this season’s primary goal.

There are still 10 games for Chelsea to change the narrative, and the absence of Champions League commitments will surely boost the energy levels. Winning the title is no longer a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’ and ‘how’. A return to the form of autumn would be a fine exclamation point on an excellent season, though as long as he gets to grasp the trophy in May it is likely Mourinho will consider himself “special” regardless.

 

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'It was a few friends joking around' - Rooney plays down controversial boxing video

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney sought to play down a controversial boxing video that appeared on Sunday following his side's 3-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford.

The England captain hit the headlines after a video published by the Sun on Sunday was published showing the striker apparently knocked out by Stoke City defender Phil Bardsley.

Rooney responded on the pitch with United's third goal against Spurs, performing a boxing celebration after his strike, before insisting after the game the incident was simply the case of a few friends joking around.

"That's the world we live in today. It was a few mates in a private house which has somehow managed to go front page of a national newspaper," he told Sky Sports.

"It was me and a few friends joking around. I've been focused on the game. I think it's more interesting for people rather than myself. You've seen today I've done a professional job, got on with the game and helped the team win 3-0.

"It's private. It's in my own home. It's what friends do, they mess around in the house and unfortunately it's made the front page of the newspaper so let's just deal with it."

The win gives Louis van Gaal's side a boost in their attempts to secure a top four finish with United now just two points behind neighbours City and Rooney was impressed with his side's display.

"We knew it was a big game today obviously with City losing and Southampton drawing before we came out today it was a big game for us so I think this was a great three points for us," he added.

"I think we've played well a few times this season. Particularly first half today was probably the best 45 minutes we've had all season. Second half we didn't want to lose the advantage of the three goals we had so we defended really well and made sure we saw the game out.

"It was a nice goal. It was a mistake by Bentaleb I picked the ball up and didn't see any team-mates around so I've just gone for it. I attacked the defence and thankfully I've gone through and scored."

 

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Man City interested in Perez - Carver

Newcastle United manager John Carver claims Manchester City are interested in signing striker Ayoze Perez.

The former Tenerife striker has enjoyed an impressive debut season in English football, scoring five goals despite the bulk of his 30 appearances coming from the bench.

And Carver claims that the Premier League champions are taking a keen interest in the 21-year-old.

"I'm not surprised [by the interest in Perez]. He's a young lad and an exciting talent," Carver told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

"I know for a fact there is interest. You go in coaches' rooms after games and have a chat. A few people have spoken very highly of him, which is good.

"I had a good chat with Brian Kidd at Man City about him."

Carver also explained his reasoning for resting Perez - who previously claimed to have been the subject of interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"He's got five goals - just behind Papiss [Cisse]. I took him out of the firing line and I was right to do so," he added.

"It has helped him having a bit of a break. There was an awful lot of pressure on this young lad coming from Tenerife and being thrown into our cauldron, as we all know it is."

 

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FA Cup Fixture 2015.03.16

FA Cup Fixture 2015.03.16

Reading Vs Bradford City​

 

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Barclays Premier League 2015.03.16 Fixture

Barclays Premier League 2015.03.16 Fixture

Swansea Vs Liverpool

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La Liga 2015.03.16 Fixture

La Liga 2015.03.16 Fixture

Getafe Vs Real Sociedad​

 

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Serie A 2015.03.16 Fixtures

Serie A 2015.03.16 Fixtures


Fiorentina Vs AC Milan


Torino Vs Lazio


Roma Vs Sampdoria​

 

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Getafe 0-1 Real Sociedad: Moyes earns first away win in La Liga

Real Sociedad's long wait for a first La Liga away win of the season came to an end with a 1-0 victory at Getafe on Monday.

After 12 winless league games on the road, Sociedad ended that run thanks to Inigo Martinez's goal in the 66th minute.The win lifted David Moyes' men into 10th, while 13th-placed Getafe are only four points clear of the relegation zone after their loss.

The visitors had to wait until after the hour-mark for their goal.Esteban Granero's set-piece from the right was headed in by Martinez, with the help of the post and diving Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

Sociedad would hold on for their third league win in four matches, a result which means they have now climbed five places in the table since Moyes' arrival in November.

 

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Roma 0-2 Sampdoria: De Silvestri and Muriel all but end Giallorossi title hopes

Roma's title hopes are all but over for another season after they were beaten 2-0 at home by Sampdoria on Monday.

After spurning a number of chances in the first hour, Rudi Garcia's side were undone by goals from Lorenzo De Silvestri and Luis Muriel as their faltering Serie A form continued.

A late red card for Seydou Keita compounded the misery of the home side, who now find themselves looking over their shoulders at bitter rivals Lazio, who have closed to within a point.

Francesco Totti was recalled to the starting XI after missing the Europa League draw with Fiorentina due to injury, while Radja Nainggolan was forced to sit out through suspension. Sampdoria, meanwhile, replaced Afriyie Acquah with Roberto Soriano and Muriel with Stefano Okaka.

Roma began to dictate proceedings from the off but it took 18 minutes to carve out the first clear chance, as Keita acrobatically volleyed in Alessandro Florenzi's free kick, but the offside flag had been correctly raised.

Minutes later, Gervinho darted forward through the defence and found Juan Iturbe, who in turn played in Totti to the left of the penalty area, but the veteran's shot was straight at Emiliano Viviano.

Totti then spurned another good chance when he failed to get a meaningful connection to Vasilis Torosidis' cross.

Roma continued to do all the pressing and Miralem Pjanic was amazed he could not do better as he slid in with defender Vasco Regini to meet Gervinho's left-foot cross but could only bundle the ball into Viviano's grasp.

The Ivorian, whose pace was a real threat throughout the first half, raced clear of the defence again in the dying minutes but could only prod straight at the keeper.

Roma came flying back out after the break and Totti again fluffled his lines when the goal was at his mercy, contriving to thigh the ball wide of the far post from Florenzi's free kick. Pjanic and Gervinho then got in each other's way in the area following Totti's flick on.

Sampdoria, who had barely threatened for the opening hour, then duly delivered the sucker-punch. Samuel Eto'o skipped his way into the area and De Silvestri prodded home to silence the Olimpico.

The goal saw Roma lose their rhythm and the attack began to look far less threatening. Substitue Daniele Verde's shot over the bar from distance was the best they could muster for some time.

And 12 minutes from time, Samp doubled their advantage. Muriel's brilliant burst forward saw him hit the post with a shot and, after Duncan and Eder kept the ball alive, the Colombian had an even easier finish at the near post.

The whistles began to rain down from the stands as Roma continued to press with little end product until Pjanic drew a good save from the excellent Viviano. But the hosts' misery was compounded when Keita was issued a quick-fire second yellow card after applauding the referee for issuing the first.

 

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Roma Serie A title hunt 1ka iwaraimeh sareth Juventus thamai​

 

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Swansea City 0-1 Liverpool: Henderson goal sets up mouth-watering Manchester United showdown

A fortuitous Jordan Henderson goal saw Liverpool claim a 1-0 victory over Swansea City and a massive three points in the race for a place in next season's Champions League.

The first half ended goalless, but both Brendan Rodgers's side and the hosts had chances to score through Daniel Sturridge and Gylfi Sigurdsson respectively.

But Henderson scored the only goal of the game in bizarre fashion, racing on to a Daniel Sturridge through ball which cannoned in over Lukasz Fabianski off the midfielder's shin as Jordi Amat attempted to clear.

Daniel Sturridge hit the post in stoppage time, but Henderson's goal proved enough for the visitors to claim all three points.

The result leaves Liverpool just two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who travel to Anfield on Sunday March 22.

While Liverpool had to leave Mario Balotelli behind due to illness, Swansea were able to call on Bafetimbi Gomis after the France international recovered from his collapse at Tottenham last time out.

But it was the visitors who posed the early threat as Sturridge dragged an effort wide of the left-hand post.

Gomis broke the defensive line in the 15th minute and, after the ball found its way to Kyle Naughton on the right flank, Ki Sung-Yueng had a glorious chance to head for goal, choosing instead to nod back across the six-yard box as the move broke down.

Adam Lallana – occupying an unfamiliar position at right wing-back – drilled straight at Fabianski from the edge of the box, before Martin Skrtel did well to block a Gomis header at the other end, with Swansea just about edging an entertaining opening 20 minutes.

Gomis was causing problems for Liverpool again as the match passed the half-hour mark, forcing Mignolet into a one-handed diving save with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Sigurdsson turned and blasted over following good work by Neil Taylor down the left flank and the Iceland international had Mignolet sprawling moments later with a goal-bound curling effort.

Jonjo Shelvey's strike from a well-worked corner routine deflected wide off Lallana's head, with Liverpool arguably fortunate to go in at the break on level terms.

The visitors emerged for the second half with greater attacking intent and Fabianski had to be on his guard to keep out a low Philippe Coutinho strike.

Sigurdsson then curled a tame free-kick into the arms of Mignolet on the hour, before Joe Allen came close to netting against his old club at the other end but Fabianski saved well to his left.

Henderson settled the encounter in the 68th minute when Skrtel's through ball was flicked into his path by Sturridge, with Amat - only included due to Federico Fernandez's absence for family reasons - proving hugely unlucky in his bid to clear the danger.

Liverpool threatened to double the advantage late on, but Sturridge could only find the bottom of the right-hand post after being sent clean through on goal in stoppage time.

 

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Reading 3-0 Bradford City: Rampant Royals set up Arsenal semi-final

Championship side Reading easily swept aside 10-man Bradford City on Monday night, winning 3-0 in their sixth-round replay, to set up an FA Cup semi-final against holders Arsenal at Wembley.

The Royals made a flying start to the match, two goals up after just nine minutes at the Madejski Stadium; Hal Robson-Kanu heading home from a corner to open the scoring, before Garath McCleary doubled the lead with a deflected strike.

League One minnows Bradford have made a habit of giant killings in the cups recently, famously beating Chelsea, but their hopes of a comeback ended when Filipe Morais was sent off, before Jamie Mackie added a third goal just minutes later.

While Phil Parkinson now turns his attention to securing Bradford a League One play-off berth, Reading counterpart Steve Clarke was left to bask in steering the Berkshire club to their first FA Cup semi-final since 1927.

Clarke, an FA Cup winner during his playing days at Chelsea, fielded an entirely different XI to the team that lost 4-1 at Watford on Saturday, but any fears from home fans that Reading may take time to gel were quickly extinguished.

Robson-Kanu broke the deadlock when he timed his run to perfection to get ahead of Stephen Darby and glance a six-yard header across Ben Williams after meeting McCleary's inswinging corner at the near post.

McCleary then doubled Reading's advantage three minutes later in rather fortuitous circumstances to leave Bradford shell-shocked.

The Jamaica international cut in from the right, worked some space for himself with some quick footwork before hitting a shot that clipped Andy Halliday and looped over the goalkeeper.

Ben Williams reacted sharply to palm away a swerving 25-yard Danny Williams effort as the hosts went in search of a third and McCleary created a carbon-copy of the build-up play that led to his earlier goal, but curled well over.

Any slim hopes of a Bradford fightback disappeared when Morais saw red for his rash challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah, clattering a high boot into the young midfielder's midriff, who then picked himself up to set up Mackie's fifth goal in his last six games with 22 minutes remaining.

Chalobah slipped the ball through for Mackie to beat the offside trap and drill between Ben Williams' legs to send the home supporters into raptures and set up a trip to Wembley where holders Arsenal await.

 

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Fiorentina 2-1 AC Milan: Joaquin completes stunning late turnaround

Joaquin snatched all three points for Fiorentina as they completed a dramatic late comeback to beat AC Milan 2-1 on Monday.

The hosts had fallen behind at a sodden Artemi Franchi when Mattia Destro rewarded under-pressure Filippo Inzaghi's decision to reinstate him to Milan's starting line-up.

However, winger Joaquin, introduced at half-time, helped to turn the tide for Montella's men as he produced a delightful cross for Gonzalo Rodriguez to head home seven minutes from time.

Fiorentina - missing the likes of David Pizarro, Mario Gomez, Stefan Savic and Giuseppe Rossi due to injury - looked to be tiring prior to their equaliser after a hectic run of fixtures including Europa League and Coppa Italia commitments.

However, they continued to press and were rewarded when Joaquin headed home Manuel Pasqual's delivery late on to bolster their hopes of European qualification.

Inzaghi's men were left to lament their inability to see the game out as they succumbed to late goals in back-to-back Serie A outings, with questions about the former striker's future in the Milan hotseat bound to follow.

A Milan win would have truly been a smash-and-grab effort with Fiorentina controlling much of the contest and going close early with a fierce Josip Ilicic effort six minutes in before Keisuke Honda blasted Milan's first opening at Neto.

Honda was played through on goal after some slick build-up with Jeremy Menez next to break through, only to see his shot deflected behind by Aleandro Rosi.

Jose Basanta had the best chance of the opening half-hour, crashing Ilicic's free kick against Diego Lopez's crossbar from close range and Fiorentina continued to knock on the door when the second half eventually resumed amid torrential rain.

The lack of a quality final ball continued to hold back Vincenzo Montella's men, although substitutes Milan Badelj and Joaquin did go close to the opener before the hour mark.

Greatly against the run of play, Milan then got themselves in front when Destro diverted Giacomo Bonaventura's wayward effort past a helpless Neto following a quick break.

Destro's second goal for the San Siro club failed to halt the hosts' advances and incessant Fiorentina pressure finally paid off in the 83rd minute as Rodriguez rose to nod Joaquin's cross home.

And Milan's misery was compounded a minute from the end of normal time as Joaquin was left free to head beyond a helpless Lopez, leaving Inzaghi clinging to his job as his side well adrift of the race for Europe.

 

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Inzaghi will learn from AC Milan struggles - Montella

Filippo Inzaghi will grow as a coach as a result of his disappointing season with AC Milan, according to Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Montella.

Milan conceded twice in the last seven minutes at the Artemio Franchi to suffer a dramatic 2-1 defeat to the Viola on Monday, piling more pressure on their under-fire boss in the process.

Montella, however, believes Inzaghi will have learned from his spell in charge of the Rossoneri, irrespective of whether he escapes the sack before the end of the season."This experience will really help him to grow as a coach," he told Sky Sport Italia.

Turning to the match, in which Milan took the lead through Mattia Destro before goals from Gonzalo Rodriguez and Joaquin turned the game on its head, Montella hailed his side's "Champions League spirit" as they boosted their chances of a top-three finish.He said: "We suffered from Milan's counterattacks and they could have taken the lead earlier.

"We dominated after half-time but conceded against the run of play. The goal [Gonzalo's equaliser] gave the team an important mental strength, the right spirit - the spirit with which we can aim for the Champions League.

"Joaquin did well when he came on but I liked the whole team. Everyone sacrificed themselves. Josip Ilicic was great, Aleandro Rosi played through cramp, Alberto Gilardino was exhausted. We played like a mature team and deserved the win."
Montella's side will now change their focus to the Europa League, where they meet Serie A rivals Roma in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Thursday after a 1-1 draw last week.

 

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Monk bemoans missed chances against Liverpool

Swansea City manager Garry Monk has lamented his team's profligacy after a 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Monday.

The hosts dominated the first half at the Liberty Stadium but were unable to beat Simon Mignolet, before being undone by a fortuitous second-half Jordan Henderson goal.

And Monk, whose team sit ninth in the Premier League after back-to-back losses, felt his side had failed to capitalise on the chance to beat Liverpool.

"It was a good opportunity where we could have got something," he told Sky Sports afterwards.

"We dictated the whole of the first half, but we should have got the goal. Credit to Liverpool, they showed their quality in the second half.

"To concede the goal we did was very hard on the players. Against these big teams, you have to take that opportunity and get that goal or two.

"We have been doing that well this season but Liverpool stepped up second half and we weren't as crisp or sharp with our passes."

He continued: "Ultimately, we deserved at least a point from the game. The commitment and effort from my players was fantastic.

"If we play like we did in the first half, we will be able to get lots more points in the games to come."