..::Football III::..

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AC Milan deserve a good end to the season, says Mexes

AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes is feels his side deserve to have a positive end to the current campaign.

The Rossoneri have struggled throughout this season and currently sit 10th in Serie A, five places behind the last Europa League spot.

Mexes feels his team are getting over their bad run of results and says they are hoping to have a bright end to the season, beginning with this weekend's fixture against Catania.

"I hope the team can have a good end to the season - we merit it," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are on the right track, the end of the season is very important for all of us.

"We went through a bad period, but we are recovering. We cannot afford to underestimate Catania we have got three important points in each of the last three games and we have to recover what we lost along the way."

The former Roma player turned his attention to team-mates Adel Taarabt and Stephan El Shaarawy.

"[Taarabt] is a young man, he is a great talent who wants to do well. I want to help him, to see him score and play well is very nice for me.

"[El Shaarawy] is a guy who is attached to the football, being out for so long was not easy for him. Seeing him now on the field is beautiful, we him missed so much this season. He's a strong point for us."

 

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Casillas: Madrid will miss Ronaldo

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas says his side will miss Cristiano Ronaldo while the Portuguese star is out injured.

The former Manchester United ace, 29, suffered a knee injury that kept him out of Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and will be absent for this weekend's clash against Almeria - and possibly even miss the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on Wednesday.

The Spain shot-stopper says he hopes his team-mate makes a quick recovery.

"He's a big miss. We can't have him tomorrow and possibly not for the cup final either," Casillas told the club's official website.

"With the goals he gives us and his presence, Cristiano imposes himself on the opponent and is important for us. He will know if he’s going to be fit for the final.

"If he's better he will be the first to know. [On Saturday] he won't be there but hopefully we can win the game as we have a league in which we're off the pace, but we want to win to go back up to first."

Casillas then turned his attention to the Champions League semi-final, in which los Blancos have been drawn against reigning European champions Bayern Munich.

"Now is the most important part of the season and we have a big enough squad to go for all three titles. We go game by game.

"Against Bayern it will be an attractive game because they're a tough rival and the current Champions League holders. We have to try and beat the reigning champions.

"They have great players but we're going to give our all to get to the final in Lisbon. We had a bit of a scare in Dortmund, but we will play an exciting game and hopefully it goes our way."

 

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Schalke 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt: Meyer and Farfan on target for dominant hosts

Schalke kept themselves in the running for second place in the Bundesliga with a comfortable 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.

Jens Keller's side were always in command at the Veltins Arena, and wasted several opportunities to add gloss to the scoreline against a below-par Frankfurt side.

But it mattered not as Schalke cruised to a deserved victory to move level on points with second-placed Borussia Dortmund ahead of their local rivals' daunting trip to champions Bayern Munich on Saturday.Despite dictating much of the game, it took Schalke until the 59th minute to open the scoring, which they did through attacking midfielder Max Meyer.

The 18-year-old slotted into the net on the second rebound after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's shot had been brilliantly saved by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp following Sead Kolasinac's fierce long-range effort, which rattled off the post.Schalke then thought they had doubled their lead when Julian Draxler's tame effort squirmed under the body of Trapp, only for the strike to be chalked off for offside.

The hosts were handed another opportunity to extend the lead in the 64th minute as they were awarded a penalty following Carlos Zambrano's foul on Draxler.
However, Huntelaar saw his spot-kick saved by Trapp to keep Frankfurt in the contest.

Leon Goretzka hit the post nine minutes from time as Frankfurt's goal continued to lead a charmed life, but the result was finally made safe in the first minute of injury time, as substitute Jefferson Farfan found the net with a superb curling free-kick.

 

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Montpellier 2-3 Olympique de Marseille: Payet snatches dramatic winner as Bielsa watches on

Former Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa has confessed that he is confident a deal can be concluded with Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille, who secured a late 3-2 win against Montpellier on Friday evening.

The former Chile boss watched live at Stade de la Mosson as OM’s push for Europe continued. Mathieu Valbuena and Andre-Pierre Gignac twice gave the Provence side the edge but the hosts showed resolve and battled back thanks to strikes from Remy Cabella and substitute Morgan Sanson. Dimitri Payet scored a fortunate winner with only a minute remaining.

Marseille did much of the early pressing and were rewarded on the stroke of half-time when Valbuena looped a tremendous lob over Geoffrey Jourdren, who had earlier denied Gignac with a fine reflex block.

But the fragility of the visitors was on show as Cabella pounced on a rebound early in the second half to level matters.

This was a rare blip to that point from OM, who promptly fought back and moved into the lead when Brice Dja Djedje’s low cross from the right picked out Gignac at the back post. A thumping shot from the former Toulouse man was enough to beat Jourdren.

Once more Marseille lacked killer instinct. Again Cabella did the damage, but after his low shot was parried by Mandanda, Sanson reacted quickest to score.

Perhaps for the first time, Montpellier exerted a spell of concerted pressure upon their opponents, with Hilton heading narrowly over and M'Baye Niang allowing a glaring chance to slip wide.

Within moments of the on-loan AC Milan striker missing, Payet cut inside from the left flank to shoot. His effort took a heavy deflection that looped the ball over the helpless Jourdren with literally seconds remaining.

While this win keeps Marseille in sight of a European spot, the club will be arguably more heartened by the news from the stands, where Bielsa told RMC that he is “optimistic” a deal can be concluded with the Stade Velodrome club that would likely see him take over as head coach next season.

 

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'I want to end my career with AC Milan' - Rami

AC Milan defender Adil Rami says he wants to end his career with the club and has backed them to overcome their current troubles and enjoy success once again.

The San Siro giants have 18 national titles and seven European Cups to their name, but have struggled in a turbulent campaign this time around.After parting company with coach Massimiliano Allegri midway through the season, Milan currently lie 11th in Serie A under club legend Clarence Seedorf.

However, Rami believes it will only be a matter of time before Milan, who have won their last three games, find themselves contending for honours once more.
"Milan will return to winning because it is a great club that has made the history of football," he told Corriere dello Sport."As a boy I saw [Alessandro] Nesta play and he became my role model. I then played in Milan and they have become my reference.

"Indeed now that I'm here, I want to end my career with the Rossoneri."

 

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Atletico-Chelsea is an even tie, says Caminero

Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero says reaching the Champions League final is a dream for his side and is expecting an even semi-final tie with Chelsea.

Diego Simeone's men were drawn against Jose Mourinho's charges on Friday, with the first-leg taking place at the Vicente Calderon on April 22 before the return tie at Stamford Bridge eight days later.Real Madrid or Bayern Munich await the victors, with the showpiece finale due to take place at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz on May 24.

In the immediate aftermath of the draw, Caminero was asked what he thought of the tie, with Chelsea possibly looking to avenge a 4-1 defeat in the Super Cup in 2012.

"This is totally different," he said. "I am happy to be among these three great teams.
"I think it's an even tie. We will follow the script of the team that wants to compete and fight. "We'll try to be as consistent as possible with our style. We'll try to reach the final, which is a dream not only for the players but for the fans."

Club president Enrique Cerezo echoed the sentiments of Caminero."We are going to face a great team," he said. "The semi-final will not be easy and is at 50 per cent.

"The two teams will fight hard and we will see a dramatic confrontation."Atletico reached the semi-final stage by defeating Spanish rivals Barcelona, while Chelsea came from behind to knock out Paris Saint-Germain.

 

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'I want to stay at Inter for many years' - Guarin

Fredy Guarin has announced his intentions to stay at Inter for the foreseeable future, and insists he feels good despite a 'difficult year' for the club.

Walter Mazzarri's side have been inconsistent throughout this season and still have work to do if they are to secure qualification for the Europa League, with Parma and Lazio both hot on the heels of the Nerazzurri, who are in fifth place.

A winless run of four games has come at a poor time for the Milanese side, but Guarin, who is committed to the club until the end of the 2016-17 season after signing a new contract in March, is remaining positive."I have agreed a deal for another three years. I hope to sign another contract once that one's up," he told reporters.

"I have not signed thinking that I will leave. I feel good here."It's been a difficult year, but we have to face up to those problems if we want to achieve our goals.

"We absolutely need to win the next game [against Sampdoria on Sunday]."So far we haven't been lucky in any sense this season, but we're looking forward to this weekend.

"We, the players, just have to think about the next game and then the next one after that. Sunday is fundamental for us. We simply have to win."

 

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Sherwood enjoying the pressure at Tottenham

Tottenham coach Tim Sherwood claims he is enjoying the pressure that he has come under since taking over at White Hart Lane in December.The former England international has faced a barrage of questions regarding his future since being charged with the task of replacing Andre-Villas Boas at the end of last year, particularly after heavy defeats against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Goal understands the 45-year-old will be replaced at the end of the season, with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal the favourite to take over, but Sherwood says the uncertainty surrounding his future does not bother him.

"The speculation has never eased since I came in. I've always fended off the questions. I don't see a difference from the first hour to now," he told reporters.
"I've enjoyed it and perversely I've enjoyed the pressure. I'm not sure I could do without it now. That [job speculation] will iron itself out in due course. The job for me is to worry about preparing the team, like I've done this week."

Tottenham face West Brom on Saturday having beaten Sunderland 5-1 at White Hart Lane on Monday and Sherwood says his team have momentum as they head to the Hawthorns.

"We had a good week's training and we're really going to West Brom on the front foot and trying to entertain those great Tottenham fans and get three points," he added.

"It's just about me concentrating on the game and today I'm concentrating on the game tomorrow. I think those questions are not for me to answer.

"It's just for me to worry about football matches and hopefully trying to win the next five games for Tottenham."

 

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Anti-discrimination group refers PSG-Chelsea fan trouble to Uefa

An anti-discrimination group has asked Uefa to assess reports of fan misbehaviour at the recent Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at the Parc des Princes.

The Fare network has referred two separate incidents from the opening fixture of the two-legged tie to the European governing body, who will now investigate the allegations.

One incident relates to alleged abuse of disabled fans, with the Daily Mail in England having reported earlier this week that a group of Chelsea supporters had been subjected to a barrage from coins, bottle and chewing gum thrown at them by PSG fans in the home section behind, while the group also claimed to have been spat on.

 

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UEFA Europa League Semi-Final Draw

 

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Liverpool have no nerves for Manchester City clash, insists Rodgers

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists his side have no nerves as they prepare to face Manchester City in the Premier League.

The two sides clash at Anfield on Sunday, in a game many are billing as a title decider with just four points separating the two teams at kick-off, although Manuel Pellegrini's men have played two games less than their rivals.

Rodgers says his side are looking forward to the game and has urged his men to maintain their recent form that has seen them win their last nine games in a row.

"We have no nerves, we have been enjoying it this week, and there has been a great feeling around the training ground this week,” he told reporters.

"It's vitally important to keep our cool and calm. We showed that last weekend with great composure when decisions went against us at West Ham.

"For us it's exciting, we have been building to get where we are and we are looking to sustain it in the longer period.”

The Reds have lost just once at Anfield all season in the Premier League, a 1-0 defeat to Southampton back in September, and Rodgers says their home form can help them against City.

“The great beauty is we are at home and we have a great record here - we will unleash the supporters yet again," he said.

"I get a sense of the old days around the place, and we will always respect and embrace our past. It has allowed us to make Anfield such a difficult place to come and we will use that.

"It's a significant game, but the finish line is still a long way to go afterwards. All that comes out of the game is three points so that's what we're after, but out of it would come confidence and belief.”

 

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Marotta dismisses Pogba-PSG Link: Juventus would reject €70 million

Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta has rejected rumours of a possible deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Paul Pogba, claiming the club would reject the reported €70 million on the table for the France international.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a fine first half to the season but his poor form since January has sparked speculation that he has had his head turned by PSG's reported interest in signing him this summer.

Marotta, though, insists that there is no truth in stories that Juve have already agreed to sell the midfielder for €70 million.

"The rumours about the transfer of Pogba to PSG have no foundation," he told La Repubblica. "We want to keep Paul and prolong his contract.

"It's true that €70 million would be an attractive figure, but Juventus is a club that always aims to win trophies.

“In the past, these kind of sacrifices have been made - for example, we sold [Zinedine] Zidane to take [Gianluigi] Buffon and [Pavel] Nedved - but this is not the case.

“Anyway, today we do not have a concrete proposal, so there is nothing to talk about.”

With Juve currently eight points clear at the top of Serie A, Marotta admitted that he is hoping that Antonio Conte's men pull off a league and cup double by winning the Europa League at Juventus Stadium on May 14.

He said: “A third consecutive title would go into history and as for the cup, the final in our stadium gives us even more reason to honour this competition.”

 

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Pellegrini: Aguero return a huge boost for crucial Liverpool clash

Manuel Pellegrini believes the return of Sergio Aguero is a huge boost for Manchester City ahead of Sunday's crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool.The Argentina international has not featured since limping out last month's Champions League loss to Barcelona at Camp Nou last month with a hamstring injury, but he is fit to feature at Anfield.

Four points separate City from leaders Liverpool, with Pellegrini's men having played two games fewer, and the Chilean is hopeful the return of Aguero can pose problems for Brendan Rodgers' side."Sergio is OK. He worked all week with the squad normally, so he doesn't have any problem," Pellegrini confirmed.

"It's very important [to have Aguero back]. He's a top player. It's very difficult for their defence to stop him and so it's very important for us."Pellegrini, whose only injury absentee is set to be Matija Nastasic, maintained his belief that Sunday's match will not necessarily determine who wins the Premier League.

"It's a very big game, it's the team who are at the top of the table. Liverpool have had a great season, so this is an important game," he added."But I don't think it will decide the title. Every game is a big game now until the end of the season.

"The biggest game is every week for me. It's important but if we beat Liverpool and lose against Sunderland and West Brom we are not going to win the title."Of course, the team that wins this game has more of a chance to win the title but if you think this is the finish of the Premier League, I think it is a mistake."

 

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Martino: Impossible to get over Champions League exit

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has admitted that the club are still reeling after their Champions League "failure".

The Blaugrana failed to reach the semi-finals of Europe's premier cup competition for the first time since 2007 after lost 2-1 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid, with the Catalans having slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Liga clash with Granada, Martino confessed that their Champions League exit is still playing on the players' minds, particularly as Real Madrid are also through to the last four.

“It is impossible for a team to be fully over an elimination like that in so little time,” Martino told a press conference.

“For me personally getting knocked out was a failure and it will continue to be even if we win the league and cup double.

"Nobody is in the best of moods, but there is no time for lamentations. We have to get straight back to thinking about the league.

“Only having to play one game a week might be positive, but I’d very happily swap places with either Atletico or Real Madrid right now.”

Barcelona travel to Granada on Saturday knowing they must win to keep the pressure on league leaders Atletico, who are just one point ahead of the Blaugrana.

Martino continued: “If these players have shown one thing, it’s that they know where they are playing and they know what they are playing for. But we have to remember that the other team is playing too.

“They [Granada] need the points as much as we do, but we know what’s at stake. We have to win every game we have left if we want to win the league. At least our destiny is in our own hands.”

The 51-year-old Argentine went on to defend his use of Lionel Messi against Atletico, having opted to play the No.10 higher up the pitch in Wednesday’s loss at the Vicente Calderon.

“What I said is that I wanted to limit his role as a playmaker," he explained. "To leave him up front and for the others to try to create chances for him.

"If he had scored, the press would be telling a very different story, It isn’t easy for Messi. Expectations of him are so high that if he isn’t quite as brilliant as he has been in other games, then he comes in for exaggerated criticism.”

 

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Liverpool's Suarez, Gerrard & Rodgers land March awards

Liverpool stars Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard have been named joint Barclays Premier League Player of the Month for March, while boss Brendan Rodgers has scooped the managers' gong.

Gerrard, who has won this award (six) more times than any other player, scored four times last month, including two penalties to help his side memorably defeat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Suarez, meanwhile, wins his second monthly award of the season after scoring six goals in March, including a superb hat-trick in the 6-3 victory over Cardiff City.

The award has been awarded jointly to two players on only five previous occasions, the most recent coming in April 2007 when Tottenham strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane shared the spoils.

Second success | Rodgers claims his first monthly award since August (Barclays)

Rodgers has claimed the manager's award after leading Liverpool to five victories in the month of March - a run which has seen them climb to the top of the Premier League.

The Northern Irishman masterminded wins over Manchester United, Cardiff City, Southampton, Tottenham and Sunderland, with his team scoring 18 goals in the process.

 

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Congratzzzzz for Gerrard,Suarez & Rodgers!​

 

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Liverpool trip will decide title, says Yaya Toure

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure believes Sunday's clash with Liverpool will decide the destination of the Premier League title.

Liverpool sit four points clear of City at the summit with five matches left and on the verge of their first top-flight title in 24 years, although Manuel Pellegrini's men have played two games less.

With those fixtures in hand, Toure knows that ending Liverpool's 14-game unbeaten streak in the league will move City closer to a second Premier League crown.

"The game will be very important," Toure told the Daily Mail.

"We know how difficult it will be [in the remaining games of the season] against teams fighting relegation but the important thing is going to Liverpool and trying to get a good result.

"After that we have to continue to perform because if we want to win the league we have to win all games."

Liverpool have exceeded all expectations this season after finishing seventh last campaign.

Toure paid tribute to Liverpool's resurgence, although he believes their absence from European football has proved beneficial.

"They have been amazing," he added. "They have had the advantage of playing one game a week and so they have been fresh.

"With players of their calibre, it helps to train all week and prepare for one game. It's going to be very, very tough until the end."

Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have led the way for Liverpool this season, scoring 49 league goals between them.

But Toure says that the league leaders are more than a two-man team.

"They score goals like a machine," said the 30-year-old, who has netted 18 times himself throughout the campaign.

"Things are going to be tough for our defence and if we make a mistake, or we are not concentrating 100 per cent, we are going to pay.

Toure added: "Against Liverpool, everything is going to come from everywhere. [Steven] Gerrard can score penalties and free-kicks and Suarez is a danger man."

 

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Lahm: It doesn't get bigger than Bayern Munich against Real Madrid

Philipp Lahm has expressed his delight at Bayern Munich drawing Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, claiming that there is currently no bigger match-up in European football.

The holders will face Carlo Ancelotti's side over two legs this month as they bid to reach their fourth final in five seasons, while Atletico Madrid will meet Chelsea in the other last-four encounter.

Lahm feels the clash with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. represents the toughest test Bayern could have expected prior to the draw - but is nonetheless excited about the challenge of trying to end Madrid's latest bid for a 10th European Cup.

"It's a fantastic semi-final," the versatile defender stated. "Two big clubs with a lot of tradition will meet each other. Bayern against Real - it can't get any bigger in European football at the moment.

"We want to prevail and reach the final, no doubt about it."

Franck Ribery is equally enthused by a tie that he feels is almost guaranteed to produce goals given the two teams' footballing philosophies.

"It's difficult draw," said the Frenchman. "Two of the best attacking sides of the world will meet. It will be two great matches. I really hope that we can reach the final."

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer - who was the hero of Bayern's penalty shootout victory over Madrid in the semi-final clash of 2012 - is expecting spectacular scenes in the Spanish capital when all four sides come face-to-face across two matchdays in the city.

"I'm looking forward to playing again at the [Santiago] Bernabeu," he said. "I have many positive memories when I think about that stadium. It was crazy to win the second leg of the semi-final two years ago on penalties.

"And I am curious about the mood in Madrid because Real and Atletico will play at home first. There will be supporters of all four semi-finalists in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday. It surely will be a big party."

 

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'It's a European Clasico' - Breitner relishing Bayern-Madrid semi-final

Former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid midfielder Paul Breitner has likened the Champions League semi-final between his two old clubs as "a European Clasico".

The holders were pitted against Carlo Ancelotti's side in Friday's draw in Nyon in a repeat of the last-four clash from 2011-12, which Bayern won on penalties.

Breitner - who played for Madrid in a meeting between the sides in 1976 - admits Bayern have positive recollections of their previous encounter and claims it will be a "very special" tie for coach Pep Guardiola.

"We have quite good memories. We are convinced we can play the final in Lisbon because our team is doing so well, we are so strong, we are on the best way to defend the treble," he told Eurosport.

"It's a European Clasico. I played it in 1976, but I was playing the semi for Real Madrid and we lost. It's a long, long experience for both clubs in the semi-finals.

"Both matches will be very special ones for Pep Guardiola, I think he likes to demonstrate that quality, the level which our team has under his leadership. I think he's very happy to play Real Madrid.

"Real is less painful than Atletico or Chelsea because those two pack the defence. Manchester United defended with nine guys in their box, too. The Spanish clubs prefer playing against English teams than playing against a German team. That's why all of the Madrid guys have a lot of respect."

The other tie sees Jose Mourinho's Chelsea pitted against Atletico Madrid, who beat Barcelona in the quarter-finals, and Breitner believes there is nothing to separate the remaining sides in the tournament.

"Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, there is no difference, we are all at the same level. We need to play two games at our top level [to reach the final]," he added.

 

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Extraordinary' Bayern will be tough for Real Madrid - Butragueno

Former Real Madrid forward Emilio Butragueno thinks Carlo Ancelotti's side face a tough task against the "extraordinary" Bayern Munich in the Champions League last four.

Los Blancos were drawn against the current holders in Friday's draw in Nyon in a repeat of the semi-final from 2011-12, which Bayern won on penalties.

After four consecutive semi-final appearances, Butragueno is desperate to see his former side reach the showpiece in Lisbon and conquer Europe a 10th time, but is well aware of the size of the task against Pep Guardiola's German champions.

"What can I say about Bayern, they are an extraordinary organisation, a team of great collective and individual talent and an extraordinary rival for us," he said following the draw. "It's our fourth semi-final and we have our hope, we know that it will be hard but we'll fight until the end.

"I have lot of confidence in the players but it will be extremely tough against Bayern. Of course I hope Real Madrid reach the final and win."