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Anderson: Injuries halted Manchester United career
Anderson believes that returning from a knee injury too soon led to his demise at Manchester United .
Anderson ended his eight-year association with United by signing a four-year contract at Brazilian Serie A outfit Internacional on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old midfielder arrived at Old Trafford with much fanfare in 2007 and went onto win four Premier League titles as well as the Champions League.
But Anderson struggled for form and fitness throughout his time in Manchester, featuring in just five league matches last season, while he only made one start under Louis van Gaal this term.
Now back in Brazil for the first time in nine years, Anderson revealed injuries played their part in what was a disappointing end to his United career that had promised so much.
"I played for eight years for Manchester. I would like to thank the club. In my first four years I won everything there, Champions League, Premier League and Clubs World Cup," the former Porto midfielder is quoted as saying by the Guardian .
"I had a knee injury and returned to play again too fast. I played but the knees were not equal and I got myself injured again."
Anderson, who was often scrutinsed over his weight at United, added: "A player will always be criticised. I had injuries in the past, but I have to be quiet right now and answer in the field.
"It will be a pleasure play in a club such as Internacional. I want to be happy as I was in other clubs. I'm coming back to Porto Alegre because Inter went after me. The president gave me attention. I was training [at United] but not playing."
Anderson believes that returning from a knee injury too soon led to his demise at Manchester United .
Anderson ended his eight-year association with United by signing a four-year contract at Brazilian Serie A outfit Internacional on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old midfielder arrived at Old Trafford with much fanfare in 2007 and went onto win four Premier League titles as well as the Champions League.
But Anderson struggled for form and fitness throughout his time in Manchester, featuring in just five league matches last season, while he only made one start under Louis van Gaal this term.
Now back in Brazil for the first time in nine years, Anderson revealed injuries played their part in what was a disappointing end to his United career that had promised so much.
"I played for eight years for Manchester. I would like to thank the club. In my first four years I won everything there, Champions League, Premier League and Clubs World Cup," the former Porto midfielder is quoted as saying by the Guardian .
"I had a knee injury and returned to play again too fast. I played but the knees were not equal and I got myself injured again."
Anderson, who was often scrutinsed over his weight at United, added: "A player will always be criticised. I had injuries in the past, but I have to be quiet right now and answer in the field.
"It will be a pleasure play in a club such as Internacional. I want to be happy as I was in other clubs. I'm coming back to Porto Alegre because Inter went after me. The president gave me attention. I was training [at United] but not playing."
Man United stars wish 'legend' Fletcher well
Manchester United players have paid tribute to Darren Fletcher after the midfielder completed a deadline day move to West Brom.
The Scotland captain completed his move to the Hawthorns in the final hours of the window, prompting an outpouring of gratitude from several current United stars.
Ander Herrera, Rafael, Ashley Young and David De Gea all took to their personal accounts on Twitter and Instagram, expressing their goodwill towards the 31-year-old.
David De Gea's agent, Jorge Mendes, has revealed the goalkeeper is likely to stay at Manchester United despite reports linking him with Real Madrid.
The Spain international is yet to have agreed a new deal with the Red Devils, with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2016, and Louis van Gaal has already admitted "anything is possible" over a potential departure.
The signing of Victor Valdes has brought about more questions surrounding De Gea's future, but Mendes does not think his client will depart Old Trafford.
"He has one year left on his contract and I think that he will stay in Manchester," he told BBC Sport.
"The player will decide, but he's happy there, at the moment."
Mendes represents some of the world's biggest names, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria, as well as Radamel Falcao.
And the super-agent admitted he is not sure whether Falcao will stay with Van Gaal's side after his season-long loan deal comes to an end, though he is confident he will be at a top European club.
"If he will not stay in Manchester, he will play for sure in one of the biggest teams in Europe," he said.
Monaco 0-0 Bastia (pens: 6-7): Squillaci fires visitors through after lengthy shootout
Sebastien Squillaci fired Bastia into the Coupe de la Ligue final for the first time in 20 years after a dramatic 7-6 penalty shootout win over Monaco in Wednesday's semi-final.
The former Monaco defender came back to haunt his old side as he held his nerve from 12 yards to book a final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, the side they faced in their last final appearance in 1995.
After 120 goalless and dull minutes at Stade Louis II, the shootout finally provided some excitement with the two sides trading blows, before Nabil Dirar crashed his effort against the crossbar.That left Squillaci – Bastia's ninth penalty taker – the chance to seal victory and he made no mistake in beating Maarten Stekelenburg.
The thrilling nature of the shootout was a surprise after a match devoid of any real excitement, with Dimitar Berbatov and Julian Palmieri - for Monaco and Bastia respectively - wasting the best openings.It mattered little, though, as the Corsican side dumped their hosts out, and booked their spot in the showpiece.
Leonardo Jardim welcomed back Ricardo Carvalho to the heart of his defence as one of five Monaco changes, and the Portuguese veteran was needed as Bastia made a bright start.
Ryad Boudebouz led the visitor's charge with several dangerous runs in the attacking third, but Carvalho marshalled the Monaco back line well to ensure Stekelenburg was not called into action.Chances were few and far between but Monaco were able to find a gap in Bastia's defence after 22 minutes.
Valere Germain was unable to get the ball out of his feet, though, having been played in by Bernardo Silva, and despite the loose ball falling to Berbatov, he could only shoot at Bastia goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from 15 yards.
A half devoid of quality should have had its opening goal three minutes before the break as Giovanni Sio raced past Carvalho, but his first effort was well saved by Stekelenburg before the Bastia debutant wasted the rebound.
With a place in the final up for grabs, the intensity was always likely to improve in the second half and Moutinho should have been more accurate from 20 yards once play resumed.Anthony Martial's mazy run into the penalty area failed to produce an effort on goal, however the hosts worked the ball back to Moutinho, only for the Portugal international to fail to work Areola from distance.
Again both sides struggled to create in the final third, with more than 15 minutes passing before the game's next notable chance - which saw Elderson Echiejile head straight at Areola at the back post.
While Monaco were largely in control, Bastia offered a reminder of their threat when Boudebouz created a shooting chance for Squillaci, but the defender fired just wide.Boudebouz was beginning to be more involved and in the 82nd minute, a cross from the Algeria international was met by Palmieri - only for his diving header to be straight at Stekelenburg.
Extra time failed to produce an increase in quality, with only Hervin Ongenda going close in the first period, the forward skewing his shot wide from inside the penalty area.
Both sides missed their second attempts in the shootout, and Moutinho threw away Monaco's chance to win after Sio's effort had been easily saved.The score moved on to 6-6 before Dirar saw his effort thud off the crossbar, leaving Squillaci to score the winner and put Bastia in the final.
Sebastien Squillaci fired Bastia into the Coupe de la Ligue final for the first time in 20 years after a dramatic 7-6 penalty shootout win over Monaco in Wednesday's semi-final.
The former Monaco defender came back to haunt his old side as he held his nerve from 12 yards to book a final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, the side they faced in their last final appearance in 1995.
After 120 goalless and dull minutes at Stade Louis II, the shootout finally provided some excitement with the two sides trading blows, before Nabil Dirar crashed his effort against the crossbar.That left Squillaci – Bastia's ninth penalty taker – the chance to seal victory and he made no mistake in beating Maarten Stekelenburg.
The thrilling nature of the shootout was a surprise after a match devoid of any real excitement, with Dimitar Berbatov and Julian Palmieri - for Monaco and Bastia respectively - wasting the best openings.It mattered little, though, as the Corsican side dumped their hosts out, and booked their spot in the showpiece.
Leonardo Jardim welcomed back Ricardo Carvalho to the heart of his defence as one of five Monaco changes, and the Portuguese veteran was needed as Bastia made a bright start.
Ryad Boudebouz led the visitor's charge with several dangerous runs in the attacking third, but Carvalho marshalled the Monaco back line well to ensure Stekelenburg was not called into action.Chances were few and far between but Monaco were able to find a gap in Bastia's defence after 22 minutes.
Valere Germain was unable to get the ball out of his feet, though, having been played in by Bernardo Silva, and despite the loose ball falling to Berbatov, he could only shoot at Bastia goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from 15 yards.
A half devoid of quality should have had its opening goal three minutes before the break as Giovanni Sio raced past Carvalho, but his first effort was well saved by Stekelenburg before the Bastia debutant wasted the rebound.
With a place in the final up for grabs, the intensity was always likely to improve in the second half and Moutinho should have been more accurate from 20 yards once play resumed.Anthony Martial's mazy run into the penalty area failed to produce an effort on goal, however the hosts worked the ball back to Moutinho, only for the Portugal international to fail to work Areola from distance.
Again both sides struggled to create in the final third, with more than 15 minutes passing before the game's next notable chance - which saw Elderson Echiejile head straight at Areola at the back post.
While Monaco were largely in control, Bastia offered a reminder of their threat when Boudebouz created a shooting chance for Squillaci, but the defender fired just wide.Boudebouz was beginning to be more involved and in the 82nd minute, a cross from the Algeria international was met by Palmieri - only for his diving header to be straight at Stekelenburg.
Extra time failed to produce an increase in quality, with only Hervin Ongenda going close in the first period, the forward skewing his shot wide from inside the penalty area.
Both sides missed their second attempts in the shootout, and Moutinho threw away Monaco's chance to win after Sio's effort had been easily saved.The score moved on to 6-6 before Dirar saw his effort thud off the crossbar, leaving Squillaci to score the winner and put Bastia in the final.
Napoli 1-0 Inter: Higuain sends Benitez's men through at the death
Defending Coppa Italia champions Napoli moved into this year's semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Inter on Wednesday, courtesy of Gonzalo Higuain's injury-time winner.The holders looked to be heading to extra time for a second consecutive round after a stubborn Inter side defended well.
But Higuain, a constant threat throughout, produced an excellent 93rd-minute finish to score his eighth goal in as many games and set up a last-four clash against Lazio.
Inter, who have now lost three successive matches in all competitions, saw Marcelo Brozovic denied by the woodwork in the early stages of a first half that Napoli controlled.
Higuain had a series of chances in the first 45 minutes, and while the second half was more tame, it produced the all-important goal.The defeat will heap the pressure on Inter boss Roberto Mancini, recently given a vote of confidence by the club's board.
Mancini, only appointed as Walter Mazzarri's successor in November, sees his Inter side sit 13th in Serie A, and their Coppa Italia elimination means their only realistic chance of silverware this season will come in the Europa League.
Inter came into the clash without a win at Napoli since 1997, and found life no easier during the opening exchanges this time around.Higuain first forced a save from goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo after six minutes, before heading narrowly over the bar.
The visitors weathered the early onslaught, however, and were unlucky not to be ahead on 13 minutes when Brozovic, one of eight Inter inclusions, evaded his man on the edge of the box before cracking a low drive back off the foot of Mariano Andujar's right-hand post.But the hosts continued to threaten and should have taken the lead 12 minutes before the break.
Marek Hamsik's drilled 25-yard strike was palmed into the path of Higuain by Carrizo, only for the Argentina international to poke the rebound straight back at the keeper.Kalidou Koulibaly then squandered another great chance for Napoli on the stroke of half-time, guiding a volley well over from just six yards.
A cagey opening to the second half saw both sides struggle to create in the final third, with Inter doing well to keep Napoli quiet.And the seven-time Coppa Italia winners were nearly rewarded for their efforts just after the hour-mark, when George Puscas' angled effort was well kept out by Andujar.
Hernanes saw a goalbound effort deflected wide six minutes later, while at the other end, Napoli, who introduced Dries Mertens and Manolo Gabbiadini in a bid to find a winner, had David Lopez fire well over.
Extra time seemed on the cards but Napoli avoided that when a clever throw-in routine down the left allowed Higuain to shake off Andrea Ranocchia and bend a clinical finish into the top corner to spark scenes of celebration.
Defending Coppa Italia champions Napoli moved into this year's semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Inter on Wednesday, courtesy of Gonzalo Higuain's injury-time winner.The holders looked to be heading to extra time for a second consecutive round after a stubborn Inter side defended well.
But Higuain, a constant threat throughout, produced an excellent 93rd-minute finish to score his eighth goal in as many games and set up a last-four clash against Lazio.
Inter, who have now lost three successive matches in all competitions, saw Marcelo Brozovic denied by the woodwork in the early stages of a first half that Napoli controlled.
Higuain had a series of chances in the first 45 minutes, and while the second half was more tame, it produced the all-important goal.The defeat will heap the pressure on Inter boss Roberto Mancini, recently given a vote of confidence by the club's board.
Mancini, only appointed as Walter Mazzarri's successor in November, sees his Inter side sit 13th in Serie A, and their Coppa Italia elimination means their only realistic chance of silverware this season will come in the Europa League.
Inter came into the clash without a win at Napoli since 1997, and found life no easier during the opening exchanges this time around.Higuain first forced a save from goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo after six minutes, before heading narrowly over the bar.
The visitors weathered the early onslaught, however, and were unlucky not to be ahead on 13 minutes when Brozovic, one of eight Inter inclusions, evaded his man on the edge of the box before cracking a low drive back off the foot of Mariano Andujar's right-hand post.But the hosts continued to threaten and should have taken the lead 12 minutes before the break.
Marek Hamsik's drilled 25-yard strike was palmed into the path of Higuain by Carrizo, only for the Argentina international to poke the rebound straight back at the keeper.Kalidou Koulibaly then squandered another great chance for Napoli on the stroke of half-time, guiding a volley well over from just six yards.
A cagey opening to the second half saw both sides struggle to create in the final third, with Inter doing well to keep Napoli quiet.And the seven-time Coppa Italia winners were nearly rewarded for their efforts just after the hour-mark, when George Puscas' angled effort was well kept out by Andujar.
Hernanes saw a goalbound effort deflected wide six minutes later, while at the other end, Napoli, who introduced Dries Mertens and Manolo Gabbiadini in a bid to find a winner, had David Lopez fire well over.
Extra time seemed on the cards but Napoli avoided that when a clever throw-in routine down the left allowed Higuain to shake off Andrea Ranocchia and bend a clinical finish into the top corner to spark scenes of celebration.
Bolton 1-2 Liverpool: Coutinho stunner completes dramatic comeback
Philippe Coutinho celebrated his new contract with a sensational stoppage-time winner as Liverpool left it late to beat 10-man Bolton 2-1 and secure progression to the FA Cup fifth round.
Steven Gerrard's 700th Liverpool appearance looked set to end in defeat when a 59th-minute penalty from Eidur Gudjohnsen put hosts Bolton ahead in Wednesday's fourth-round replay.
However, Raheem Sterling's fine volley pulled Liverpool level with four minutes remaining - following the dismissal of Neil Danns - and the Championship side were subjected to further heartbreak when Coutinho, who signed a new long-term deal at Anfield earlier this week, found the net with a sublime 25-yard strike.
Defeat would have been harsh on Brendan Rodgers' men, who hit the woodwork on three occasions prior to their late goals.
Liverpool will now travel to Crystal Palace in round five, while Bolton will return to Championship action having given their more illustrious opponents a major scare over 180 minutes.
Home goalkeeper Andy Lonergan had to be alert early on to deny Gerrard - who followed Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher in reaching 700 games for Liverpool - and Sterling as the visitors made a fast start.
Bolton gradually grew into the game, and Gudjohnsen should have done better when he was played in by Josh Vela, only to shank his effort high over the bar.
The underdogs could well have taken the lead when David Wheater connected with Liam Feeney's free-kick, but the centre-back's header was well held by Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool responded by going even closer to an opener, as Sterling picked up the ball outside the area and curled a superb effort that rattled off the crossbar.
Mignolet was called into action again to keep out a dipping half-volley from Bolton's joint top-scorer Matt Mills, who led the line rather than occupying his usual position in defence.
Liverpool threatened to seize control as the opening half drew to a close though, with Coutinho – looking bright cutting in from the left flank – driving just wide of the right-hand upright from the edge of the box.
Bolton made a strong start to the second period and were buoyed further when Sterling started limping, with an apparent recurrence of an ankle knock picked up in the first half.
That didn't stop the forward twice testing the Bolton defence – breaking through only to be halted by Dorian Dervite's terrific last-ditch tackle before forcing Lonergan into another fine stop.
Liverpool were left stunned when referee Roger East penalised Martin Skrtel for a foul on Zach Clough in the area, with Gudjohnsen coolly side-footing home the resulting spot-kick.
However, Bolton then suffered a setback when Danns picked up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Joe Allen and Liverpool twice hit the woodwork, through Jordan Henderson and Emre Can, as they surged forward in search of an equaliser.
Former Bolton forward Daniel Sturridge was introduced by Rodgers, but it was Sterling who eventually equalised with a controlled left-footed volley from Can's exquisite pass.
Coutinho then took centre stage, firing a dipping shot beyond Lonergan to leave Bolton devastated.
Philippe Coutinho celebrated his new contract with a sensational stoppage-time winner as Liverpool left it late to beat 10-man Bolton 2-1 and secure progression to the FA Cup fifth round.
Steven Gerrard's 700th Liverpool appearance looked set to end in defeat when a 59th-minute penalty from Eidur Gudjohnsen put hosts Bolton ahead in Wednesday's fourth-round replay.
However, Raheem Sterling's fine volley pulled Liverpool level with four minutes remaining - following the dismissal of Neil Danns - and the Championship side were subjected to further heartbreak when Coutinho, who signed a new long-term deal at Anfield earlier this week, found the net with a sublime 25-yard strike.
Defeat would have been harsh on Brendan Rodgers' men, who hit the woodwork on three occasions prior to their late goals.
Liverpool will now travel to Crystal Palace in round five, while Bolton will return to Championship action having given their more illustrious opponents a major scare over 180 minutes.
Home goalkeeper Andy Lonergan had to be alert early on to deny Gerrard - who followed Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher in reaching 700 games for Liverpool - and Sterling as the visitors made a fast start.
Bolton gradually grew into the game, and Gudjohnsen should have done better when he was played in by Josh Vela, only to shank his effort high over the bar.
The underdogs could well have taken the lead when David Wheater connected with Liam Feeney's free-kick, but the centre-back's header was well held by Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool responded by going even closer to an opener, as Sterling picked up the ball outside the area and curled a superb effort that rattled off the crossbar.
Mignolet was called into action again to keep out a dipping half-volley from Bolton's joint top-scorer Matt Mills, who led the line rather than occupying his usual position in defence.
Liverpool threatened to seize control as the opening half drew to a close though, with Coutinho – looking bright cutting in from the left flank – driving just wide of the right-hand upright from the edge of the box.
Bolton made a strong start to the second period and were buoyed further when Sterling started limping, with an apparent recurrence of an ankle knock picked up in the first half.
That didn't stop the forward twice testing the Bolton defence – breaking through only to be halted by Dorian Dervite's terrific last-ditch tackle before forcing Lonergan into another fine stop.
Liverpool were left stunned when referee Roger East penalised Martin Skrtel for a foul on Zach Clough in the area, with Gudjohnsen coolly side-footing home the resulting spot-kick.
However, Bolton then suffered a setback when Danns picked up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Joe Allen and Liverpool twice hit the woodwork, through Jordan Henderson and Emre Can, as they surged forward in search of an equaliser.
Former Bolton forward Daniel Sturridge was introduced by Rodgers, but it was Sterling who eventually equalised with a controlled left-footed volley from Can's exquisite pass.
Coutinho then took centre stage, firing a dipping shot beyond Lonergan to leave Bolton devastated.
Real Madrid 2-1 Sevilla: Jese and James fire Ronaldo-less hosts to victory
La Liga pacesetters Real Madrid extended their lead over Barcelona to four points by beating wasteful Sevilla 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti once again had to do without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, but his men were in clinical form against Unai Emery's side, with first-half goals from James Rodriguez and Jese Rodriguez enough to win a frantic encounter.
Despite falling behind to James' 12th-minute header, Sevilla arguably enjoyed the better of the first half-hour, as Vitolo, Vicente Iborra and Grzegorz Krychowiak all went close to finding the net.
Knocks to Sergio Ramos and James forced Ancelotti into changes, while the first half was marred by a potentially serious head injury suffered by Sevilla goalkeeper Beto in a collision with Karim Benzema.
Real showed no mercy, though, doubling their lead through Jese just one minute after Beto's exit, giving Sevilla - who lost 7-3 on their last visit to the Bernabeu - a mountain to climb.
Iago Aspas pulled one back with 10 minutes to go, after Jese had been denied a second goal by the woodwork, but Real held on to open up a healthy advantage in the Liga title race.
Sevilla began the contest brightly and should have taken the lead inside three minutes, as Vitolo capitalised on a defensive miscommunication, only to see his effort smothered by the advancing Iker Casillas.
The visitors then received a boost to their chances in the ninth minute, as former Sevilla defender Ramos was forced off after seemingly injuring his hamstring.
That substitution showed no signs of causing an immediate hindrance to Real, though, and James put them into the lead three minutes later, meeting Marcelo's pinpoint delivery with a diving header.
Sevilla did not look perturbed by falling behind and almost hit back four minutes later, as Iborra charged into the area and hit the post, before Krychowiak headed into the side-netting soon after.
Stoppages began to upset the away side's momentum, however, with goal-scorer James forced off, before Sevilla goalkeeper Beto required a stretcher after being caught on the head by Benzema's knee in the 35th minute.
Within 60 seconds of Beto's withdrawal, substitute keeper Sergio Rico was picking the ball out of his net, as James' replacement, Jese, smashed in from close range.
Sevilla continued to see their fair share of possession early in the second half, but Real looked rampant going forward and a crucial Krychowiak block prevented Gareth Bale from scoring a fine solo effort, before Jese fired against the post from an acute angle.
Isco also got in on the act, driving through the middle of the Sevilla team in the 55th minute, only to see Rico produce a good save.The visitors remained a threat on the break and should have clawed one back with half an hour to go, but Iborra inexplicably missed the target from six yards.
Emery furiously urged his men forward in search of a last-gasp comeback and substitute Aspas steered past Casillas following Vitolo's delightful run and cut-back, but they failed to find a second and Real secured a slender win to go four points clear at the summit, while Sevilla stay fourth.
La Liga pacesetters Real Madrid extended their lead over Barcelona to four points by beating wasteful Sevilla 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti once again had to do without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, but his men were in clinical form against Unai Emery's side, with first-half goals from James Rodriguez and Jese Rodriguez enough to win a frantic encounter.
Despite falling behind to James' 12th-minute header, Sevilla arguably enjoyed the better of the first half-hour, as Vitolo, Vicente Iborra and Grzegorz Krychowiak all went close to finding the net.
Knocks to Sergio Ramos and James forced Ancelotti into changes, while the first half was marred by a potentially serious head injury suffered by Sevilla goalkeeper Beto in a collision with Karim Benzema.
Real showed no mercy, though, doubling their lead through Jese just one minute after Beto's exit, giving Sevilla - who lost 7-3 on their last visit to the Bernabeu - a mountain to climb.
Iago Aspas pulled one back with 10 minutes to go, after Jese had been denied a second goal by the woodwork, but Real held on to open up a healthy advantage in the Liga title race.
Sevilla began the contest brightly and should have taken the lead inside three minutes, as Vitolo capitalised on a defensive miscommunication, only to see his effort smothered by the advancing Iker Casillas.
The visitors then received a boost to their chances in the ninth minute, as former Sevilla defender Ramos was forced off after seemingly injuring his hamstring.
That substitution showed no signs of causing an immediate hindrance to Real, though, and James put them into the lead three minutes later, meeting Marcelo's pinpoint delivery with a diving header.
Sevilla did not look perturbed by falling behind and almost hit back four minutes later, as Iborra charged into the area and hit the post, before Krychowiak headed into the side-netting soon after.
Stoppages began to upset the away side's momentum, however, with goal-scorer James forced off, before Sevilla goalkeeper Beto required a stretcher after being caught on the head by Benzema's knee in the 35th minute.
Within 60 seconds of Beto's withdrawal, substitute keeper Sergio Rico was picking the ball out of his net, as James' replacement, Jese, smashed in from close range.
Sevilla continued to see their fair share of possession early in the second half, but Real looked rampant going forward and a crucial Krychowiak block prevented Gareth Bale from scoring a fine solo effort, before Jese fired against the post from an acute angle.
Isco also got in on the act, driving through the middle of the Sevilla team in the 55th minute, only to see Rico produce a good save.The visitors remained a threat on the break and should have clawed one back with half an hour to go, but Iborra inexplicably missed the target from six yards.
Emery furiously urged his men forward in search of a last-gasp comeback and substitute Aspas steered past Casillas following Vitolo's delightful run and cut-back, but they failed to find a second and Real secured a slender win to go four points clear at the summit, while Sevilla stay fourth.
Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Augsburg: Ten-man visitors inflict further misery on Klopp's men
Borussia Dortmund's malaise continued as the Bundesliga's bottom club suffered a 1-0 home defeat to 10-man Augsburg on Wednesday.Dortmund, who have finished in the top two in the last four Bundesliga campaigns, have struggled immensely in the league this season.
Terrible away form saw them trapped in the relegation zone as 2014 ended, but many expected that 2015 would be different for Jurgen Klopp's men.But, after falling to the foot of the table on Saturday, a poor home defeat is sure to increase the pressure on Klopp.Dortmund shaded the first half but found themselves behind when Raul Bobadilla pounced on a loose ball to smartly score in the 50th minute.
Augsburg defender Christoph Janker was given a straight red card for bringing down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang midway through the second half and Dortmund upped the pressure as a result.
They were unable to find the all-important breakthrough, though, as Augsburg continued their outstanding season and climbed to fourth.
Dortmund were criticised for their lack of attacking verve in Saturday's goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen and coach Jurgen Klopp bolstered his forward options with the inclusion of Aubameyang.The Gabon forward returned from African Cup of Nations duty, while Ilkay Gundogan recovered from a thigh problem.Dortmund were bright in the early stages, but had little to show for until they produced three efforts within 90 seconds.
Kevin Kampl initially fired wide in the 15th minute, before Marco Reus blasted into the side netting after an excellent first touch, and then Aubameyang toe-poked an effort at Augsburg goalkeeper Alex Manninger as the hosts turned the screw.
Aubameyang then found the back of the net, but his effort from one yard - which saw him bundle Reus' fierce effort in - was correctly ruled out for offside in the 26th minute.
After soaking up the pressure, Augsburg came agonisingly close to the opener, as, following a storming run, right-back Paul Verhaegh saw his low effort go narrowly wide, but neither side could break the deadlock in the first half.Augsburg did get their goal, though, as Bobadilla produced a first-time finish five minutes into the second half.
Halil Altintop created havoc with a mazy run into the penalty area and even though he lost the ball, Dortmund panicked.Marcel Schmelzer's tackle did enough to see off Ji Dong-won, but all it did was move the ball in Bobadilla's direction, with the Argentinian smashing past the onrushing Roman Weidenfeller and into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards.
Dortmund received a lifeline in the 63rd minute when Janker was given his marching orders and it ramped up the atmosphere inside Signal-Iduna Park.Nuri Sahin fired the resultant free-kick well over, before Gundogan shot tamely at Manninger from 20 yards, but Dortmund were beginning to control the contest.
Immobile shot at Manninger in the 80th minute, and the goalkeeper was kept busy as Henrikh Mkhitaryan's half-volley required an excellent save.In stoppage time, Immobile, inside the six-yard box, could only head straight at Manninger, and Schmelzer - next to try his luck - was also denied by the ex-Arsenal man.
Dortmund eventually ran out of time, though, and tensions were evident after the final whistle when captain Mats Hummels and Weidenfeller went over to speak with angry fans demanding answers for the club's pitiful form.
Borussia Dortmund's malaise continued as the Bundesliga's bottom club suffered a 1-0 home defeat to 10-man Augsburg on Wednesday.Dortmund, who have finished in the top two in the last four Bundesliga campaigns, have struggled immensely in the league this season.
Terrible away form saw them trapped in the relegation zone as 2014 ended, but many expected that 2015 would be different for Jurgen Klopp's men.But, after falling to the foot of the table on Saturday, a poor home defeat is sure to increase the pressure on Klopp.Dortmund shaded the first half but found themselves behind when Raul Bobadilla pounced on a loose ball to smartly score in the 50th minute.
Augsburg defender Christoph Janker was given a straight red card for bringing down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang midway through the second half and Dortmund upped the pressure as a result.
They were unable to find the all-important breakthrough, though, as Augsburg continued their outstanding season and climbed to fourth.
Dortmund were criticised for their lack of attacking verve in Saturday's goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen and coach Jurgen Klopp bolstered his forward options with the inclusion of Aubameyang.The Gabon forward returned from African Cup of Nations duty, while Ilkay Gundogan recovered from a thigh problem.Dortmund were bright in the early stages, but had little to show for until they produced three efforts within 90 seconds.
Kevin Kampl initially fired wide in the 15th minute, before Marco Reus blasted into the side netting after an excellent first touch, and then Aubameyang toe-poked an effort at Augsburg goalkeeper Alex Manninger as the hosts turned the screw.
Aubameyang then found the back of the net, but his effort from one yard - which saw him bundle Reus' fierce effort in - was correctly ruled out for offside in the 26th minute.
After soaking up the pressure, Augsburg came agonisingly close to the opener, as, following a storming run, right-back Paul Verhaegh saw his low effort go narrowly wide, but neither side could break the deadlock in the first half.Augsburg did get their goal, though, as Bobadilla produced a first-time finish five minutes into the second half.
Halil Altintop created havoc with a mazy run into the penalty area and even though he lost the ball, Dortmund panicked.Marcel Schmelzer's tackle did enough to see off Ji Dong-won, but all it did was move the ball in Bobadilla's direction, with the Argentinian smashing past the onrushing Roman Weidenfeller and into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards.
Dortmund received a lifeline in the 63rd minute when Janker was given his marching orders and it ramped up the atmosphere inside Signal-Iduna Park.Nuri Sahin fired the resultant free-kick well over, before Gundogan shot tamely at Manninger from 20 yards, but Dortmund were beginning to control the contest.
Immobile shot at Manninger in the 80th minute, and the goalkeeper was kept busy as Henrikh Mkhitaryan's half-volley required an excellent save.In stoppage time, Immobile, inside the six-yard box, could only head straight at Manninger, and Schmelzer - next to try his luck - was also denied by the ex-Arsenal man.
Dortmund eventually ran out of time, though, and tensions were evident after the final whistle when captain Mats Hummels and Weidenfeller went over to speak with angry fans demanding answers for the club's pitiful form.
Ospina vows to keep Arsenal starting role
David Ospina has vowed to continue his fight to become first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal following his impressive recent form between the posts.
The Colombia international has kept four clean sheets since taking over from Wojciech Szczesny, who was dropped by Arsene Wenger for reportedly smoking in the showers following a 2-0 defeat to Southampton.
And, while Wenger has insisted that Szczesny is still his number one goalkeeper, Ospina is determined to win the job and showcase himself in a league filled with high-quality shot-stoppers.
"I see it as a big responsibility to come to a great club like Arsenal," Ospina told the club's official website. "It is a dream come true, now it is my job to make the most of this opportunity that has come my way.
"I always watched the Premier League when I was in Colombia because that was one of the leagues they showed on television.
"At Arsenal we have very good goalkeepers in the shape of Wojciech Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez.
"The Premier League has always had top-quality goalkeepers. David de Gea, Hugo Lloris, Joe Hart - they're great keepers who've proved their worth over the course of many seasons and are continuing to do so now."
David Ospina has vowed to continue his fight to become first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal following his impressive recent form between the posts.
The Colombia international has kept four clean sheets since taking over from Wojciech Szczesny, who was dropped by Arsene Wenger for reportedly smoking in the showers following a 2-0 defeat to Southampton.
And, while Wenger has insisted that Szczesny is still his number one goalkeeper, Ospina is determined to win the job and showcase himself in a league filled with high-quality shot-stoppers.
"I see it as a big responsibility to come to a great club like Arsenal," Ospina told the club's official website. "It is a dream come true, now it is my job to make the most of this opportunity that has come my way.
"I always watched the Premier League when I was in Colombia because that was one of the leagues they showed on television.
"At Arsenal we have very good goalkeepers in the shape of Wojciech Szczesny and Emiliano Martinez.
"The Premier League has always had top-quality goalkeepers. David de Gea, Hugo Lloris, Joe Hart - they're great keepers who've proved their worth over the course of many seasons and are continuing to do so now."
I'll improve my discipline, vows Verratti
Marco Verratti has denied doing anything wrong during Paris Saint-Germain's Coupe de la Ligue win over Lille on Tuesday night, but promised to heed coach Laurent Blanc's plea to sort out his discipline.
The Italy international was booked for the eighth time this season after clashing with Florent Balmont just before the break in the semi-final clash at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.Blanc blasted Verratti after the game, claiming that not only is the 22-year-old "penalising himself" with his recklessness, he is also "penalising the team".
Verratti has defended his role in his altercation with Balmont but nonetheless promised to address his ill-discipline.
"I didn't throw any punches," he is quoted as saying by L'Equipe. "I wasn't naughty. "But I sincerely believe that I can improve."
Verratti joined PSG from Pescara in the summer of 2012 and has since established himself as one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world by helping the capital club win back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.
The playmaker is also looking to pick up another Coupe de la Ligue winners' medal, with PSG having progessed to the final with their 1-0 win over Lille, which came courtesy of Maxwell's first-half strike.
Marco Verratti has denied doing anything wrong during Paris Saint-Germain's Coupe de la Ligue win over Lille on Tuesday night, but promised to heed coach Laurent Blanc's plea to sort out his discipline.
The Italy international was booked for the eighth time this season after clashing with Florent Balmont just before the break in the semi-final clash at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.Blanc blasted Verratti after the game, claiming that not only is the 22-year-old "penalising himself" with his recklessness, he is also "penalising the team".
Verratti has defended his role in his altercation with Balmont but nonetheless promised to address his ill-discipline.
"I didn't throw any punches," he is quoted as saying by L'Equipe. "I wasn't naughty. "But I sincerely believe that I can improve."
Verratti joined PSG from Pescara in the summer of 2012 and has since established himself as one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world by helping the capital club win back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.
The playmaker is also looking to pick up another Coupe de la Ligue winners' medal, with PSG having progessed to the final with their 1-0 win over Lille, which came courtesy of Maxwell's first-half strike.
Higuain: Supercoppa success the turning point in Napoli's season
Gonzalo Higuain identified December's Supercoppa Italiana success as the turning point of Napoli's season, after firing his side into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night.
The Partenopei's last-eight encounter with Inter at the San Paolo looked certain to go to extra time but, with just seconds remaining, their Argentine centre-forward lost Andrea Ranocchia on a throw-in before curling home a sublime winner.
Higuain refused to accept any praise for his last-gasp heroics, though, preferring instead to pay tribute to Rafael Benitez's entire squad for building upon their penalty shootout success over Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana just before the winter break."I want to thank my team-mates and the fans who have supported us," the striker told Rai Sport.
"The team has worked really well in this last period. We're all going through a good moment right now and we must continue to take advantage of that.
"We work well right until the end of every game and I'm sure that tonight's win is just a consequence of this."I must say that we started to improve after the victory in the Supercoppa, as it gave us great confidence for the rest of the season.
"But we're not thinking too far ahead, only of Udinese this weekend."Napoli have lost just once since their Supercoppa success, coincidentally to Juve in Serie A, and will go into Sunday's meeting with Udinese at the San Paolo just four points behind second-placed Roma in the standings.
Meanwhile, the reigning Coppa Italia champions will now face Lazio in the last four of this year's competition.
Gonzalo Higuain identified December's Supercoppa Italiana success as the turning point of Napoli's season, after firing his side into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night.
The Partenopei's last-eight encounter with Inter at the San Paolo looked certain to go to extra time but, with just seconds remaining, their Argentine centre-forward lost Andrea Ranocchia on a throw-in before curling home a sublime winner.
Higuain refused to accept any praise for his last-gasp heroics, though, preferring instead to pay tribute to Rafael Benitez's entire squad for building upon their penalty shootout success over Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana just before the winter break."I want to thank my team-mates and the fans who have supported us," the striker told Rai Sport.
"The team has worked really well in this last period. We're all going through a good moment right now and we must continue to take advantage of that.
"We work well right until the end of every game and I'm sure that tonight's win is just a consequence of this."I must say that we started to improve after the victory in the Supercoppa, as it gave us great confidence for the rest of the season.
"But we're not thinking too far ahead, only of Udinese this weekend."Napoli have lost just once since their Supercoppa success, coincidentally to Juve in Serie A, and will go into Sunday's meeting with Udinese at the San Paolo just four points behind second-placed Roma in the standings.
Meanwhile, the reigning Coppa Italia champions will now face Lazio in the last four of this year's competition.
Marcelo fumes at Madrid derby ban: I didn't touch Vitolo!
Real Madrid defender Marcelo struggled to contain his frustration after being ruled out of Saturday's derby with Atletico on account of a yellow card in Wednesday night's 2-1 win over Sevilla.The Brazilian's 60th-minute booking for an alleged foul on Vitolo means that he will miss the trip to the Vicente Calderon through suspension.
Replays suggested that Marcelo had made little or no contact with the Spanish winger and the full-back admitted that he has not given up hope of having the yellow card rescinded before the Madrid derby."I'm happy with the result," he is quoted as saying by AS. "The three points were very difficult to attain.
"I'm not angry about the yellow but we've all seen that I didn't touch him."One must play every game intensely and not go into it thinking about the next game, but I didn't touch him!
"I want to be available for Madrid for every game, but I do not know what to do. I hope to be told that I can play."Sergio Ramos (hamstring) and James Rodriguez (right foot) also look likely to miss the crucial Liga clash with third-place Atletico after picking up injuries against Sevilla.
Marcelo admitted that losing either would be a hammer blow but he feels that Carlo Ancelotti has the strength in depth to cope with any absences. "If are not available, they would be significant casualties," he added.
"But we have a very good squad. Today, both Nacho and Raphael Varane had great games."Atletico will be a very tough match and we know that they are very good but we will try to win there."
Madrid's win over Sevilla, which came courtesy of first-half goals from James and Jese, saw them move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the Primera Division.
Real Madrid defender Marcelo struggled to contain his frustration after being ruled out of Saturday's derby with Atletico on account of a yellow card in Wednesday night's 2-1 win over Sevilla.The Brazilian's 60th-minute booking for an alleged foul on Vitolo means that he will miss the trip to the Vicente Calderon through suspension.
Replays suggested that Marcelo had made little or no contact with the Spanish winger and the full-back admitted that he has not given up hope of having the yellow card rescinded before the Madrid derby."I'm happy with the result," he is quoted as saying by AS. "The three points were very difficult to attain.
"I'm not angry about the yellow but we've all seen that I didn't touch him."One must play every game intensely and not go into it thinking about the next game, but I didn't touch him!
"I want to be available for Madrid for every game, but I do not know what to do. I hope to be told that I can play."Sergio Ramos (hamstring) and James Rodriguez (right foot) also look likely to miss the crucial Liga clash with third-place Atletico after picking up injuries against Sevilla.
Marcelo admitted that losing either would be a hammer blow but he feels that Carlo Ancelotti has the strength in depth to cope with any absences. "If are not available, they would be significant casualties," he added.
"But we have a very good squad. Today, both Nacho and Raphael Varane had great games."Atletico will be a very tough match and we know that they are very good but we will try to win there."
Madrid's win over Sevilla, which came courtesy of first-half goals from James and Jese, saw them move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the Primera Division.
Rodgers: Coutinho is our new Suarez
Brendan Rodgers has compared Philippe Coutinho to Luis Suarez after the Brazilian's late stunner saw Liverpool reach the FA Cup fifth round.
Late goals from Raheem Sterling and Coutinho cancelled out Eidur Gudjohnsen's earlier opener for Bolton, who had Neil Danns sent off when they led 1-0.
And Rodgers lavished praise on Coutinho after the game, predicting the former Inter man to match Suarez's "world-class" talent in the years to come.
"You just pay money to watch that kid," he told reporters.
"Watch how he plays football. He can be a great role model for young British players who, for many years, may have been discarded because they didn’t have the stature. He’ll become world-class in the next few years.
"With Luis Suarez, he was at a level when he played in this team, and he grew with the model before getting into that world-class bracket.
"I can see Coutinho following in a similar sort of line. He may not be as prolific but he’s on his way to that level. He’s a wonderful player."
It was a nervy end for Liverpool, who were staring at an embarrassing exit, until an exquisite pass from Can after 86 minutes set up Sterling for the equaliser - and Rodgers singled out the summer signing.
He added: "He's a kid that’s going to go on and be a big player for this team and Germany. He can defend, pass, he’s quick, he’s powerful. A lot of these young players are standing up to be counted now."
Liverpool now travel to Crystal Palace on February 14 for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with Rodgers noting the 3-1 Premier League loss at Selhurst Park in November.
"[Going back] is a great thing," he said. "We didn’t play anywhere near our level and that the lowest point of the season in terms of performance.
"We go back there very soon with a different frame of mind and level of performance. Alan has lifted the club since he’s gone there but we go with big confidence."
Brendan Rodgers has compared Philippe Coutinho to Luis Suarez after the Brazilian's late stunner saw Liverpool reach the FA Cup fifth round.
Late goals from Raheem Sterling and Coutinho cancelled out Eidur Gudjohnsen's earlier opener for Bolton, who had Neil Danns sent off when they led 1-0.
And Rodgers lavished praise on Coutinho after the game, predicting the former Inter man to match Suarez's "world-class" talent in the years to come.
"You just pay money to watch that kid," he told reporters.
"Watch how he plays football. He can be a great role model for young British players who, for many years, may have been discarded because they didn’t have the stature. He’ll become world-class in the next few years.
"With Luis Suarez, he was at a level when he played in this team, and he grew with the model before getting into that world-class bracket.
"I can see Coutinho following in a similar sort of line. He may not be as prolific but he’s on his way to that level. He’s a wonderful player."
It was a nervy end for Liverpool, who were staring at an embarrassing exit, until an exquisite pass from Can after 86 minutes set up Sterling for the equaliser - and Rodgers singled out the summer signing.
He added: "He's a kid that’s going to go on and be a big player for this team and Germany. He can defend, pass, he’s quick, he’s powerful. A lot of these young players are standing up to be counted now."
Liverpool now travel to Crystal Palace on February 14 for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with Rodgers noting the 3-1 Premier League loss at Selhurst Park in November.
"[Going back] is a great thing," he said. "We didn’t play anywhere near our level and that the lowest point of the season in terms of performance.
"We go back there very soon with a different frame of mind and level of performance. Alan has lifted the club since he’s gone there but we go with big confidence."
Ancelotti relieved by Ronaldo return for Madrid derby
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed Cristiano Ronaldo's availability for Saturday's derby against Atletico as "very good news" after a nightmare evening on the injury front against Sevilla.
The Liga leaders triumphed 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table but the victory came at a cost, with James Rodriguez, who opened the scoring, ruled out for two months with a foot fracture, and Sergio Ramos suffering a suspected hamstring tear.
In addition, Marcelo picked up a booking that means he will miss the derby through suspension, meaning Madrid will be particularly short on numbers at the back, with Pepe already having been ruled out of the trip to the Vicente Calderon through injury.
Ancelotti, though, is looking on the bright side, buoyed by the fact that Los Blancos will be buoyed by the return of their top goalscorer, who missed their last two games on account of his red card in last month's victory at Cordoba.
"Cristiano Ronaldo's comeback is important for us," he told reporters. "It's very good news.
"We won two games without him, but he's certainly going to help us against Atletico."
Ancelotti added that Madrid have not given up hope on having Marcelo available for the derby, but he insists that no matter what happens, the reigning European champions have sufficient strength in depth to defeat their city rivals.
"We will appeal Marcelo's yellow because it was not a foul on Vitolo but Fabio Coentrao trained this morning and is available for the derby," the Italian coach said.
"We'll have less experience without Pepe and Sergio Ramos, but we'll have the enthusiasm of Nacho and Raphael Varane."
The Italian has also been lifted by the performance of Jese, who scored Madrid's second goal after coming on as a replacement for the injured James.
"We have seen the Jese Rodriguez we saw last year," the former Chelsea boss said. "He has worked very hard to recover from last year's injury and his performance today was very good.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed Cristiano Ronaldo's availability for Saturday's derby against Atletico as "very good news" after a nightmare evening on the injury front against Sevilla.
The Liga leaders triumphed 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table but the victory came at a cost, with James Rodriguez, who opened the scoring, ruled out for two months with a foot fracture, and Sergio Ramos suffering a suspected hamstring tear.
In addition, Marcelo picked up a booking that means he will miss the derby through suspension, meaning Madrid will be particularly short on numbers at the back, with Pepe already having been ruled out of the trip to the Vicente Calderon through injury.
Ancelotti, though, is looking on the bright side, buoyed by the fact that Los Blancos will be buoyed by the return of their top goalscorer, who missed their last two games on account of his red card in last month's victory at Cordoba.
"Cristiano Ronaldo's comeback is important for us," he told reporters. "It's very good news.
"We won two games without him, but he's certainly going to help us against Atletico."
Ancelotti added that Madrid have not given up hope on having Marcelo available for the derby, but he insists that no matter what happens, the reigning European champions have sufficient strength in depth to defeat their city rivals.
"We will appeal Marcelo's yellow because it was not a foul on Vitolo but Fabio Coentrao trained this morning and is available for the derby," the Italian coach said.
"We'll have less experience without Pepe and Sergio Ramos, but we'll have the enthusiasm of Nacho and Raphael Varane."
The Italian has also been lifted by the performance of Jese, who scored Madrid's second goal after coming on as a replacement for the injured James.
"We have seen the Jese Rodriguez we saw last year," the former Chelsea boss said. "He has worked very hard to recover from last year's injury and his performance today was very good.
Madrid confirm broken foot for James
Real Madrid have confirmed that James Rodriguez has broken a bone in his foot, while the European champions are also sweating on the availability of injured centre-back Sergio Ramos for this weekend's derby with Atletico.
James was replaced midway through the first half of Wednesday night's Liga clash with Sevilla after taking a blow to his right foot. The Colombia international, who opened the scoring in the 2-1 win, was taken to hospital for further assessment, where it was confirmed his fifth metatarsal was broken. Early reports suggest he could be sidelined for around two months.
Ramos, meanwhile, came off just nine minutes in with a suspected hamstring problem.
Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti will be desperately hoping that the defender's injury does not prove so serious, with the Liga leaders set to travel to the Vicente Calderon for a crunch clash with their city rivals.
Madrid will, at least, be buoyed by the return of star forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who sat out Madrid's meeting with Sevilla, as well as last weekend's 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, after picking up a two-game ban for his dismissal against Cordoba on January 24.
However, the prospect of losing James and Ramos will be of great concern to Ancelotti. James has stepped up to the mark in Ronaldo's absence, netting in both of the games the Portuguese missed through suspension. Furthermore, the loss of the Spain international would leave Madrid with just two fit centre-halves - Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez - given veteran defender Pepe is still sidelined through injury.
Los Blancos will also have to make do without full-back Marcelo, who picked up a booking against Sevilla, ruling him out of the derby due to a mandatory ban.
Dortmund doing everything wrong, concedes Klopp
Jurgen Klopp admits that all of the criticism coming Borussia Dortmund's way is "legitimate", conceding that they are doing "everything wrong" at the moment.
BVB are rock bottom of the Bundesliga after 19 rounds of action, two points from safety following Wednesday night's dismal 1-0 loss at home to Augsburg.
A chorus of whistles greeted Dortmund's latest setback, prompting captain Mats Hummels and vice-skipper Roman Weidenfeller to go into the crowd to speak to disgruntled supporters, and Klopp admitted that he can understand the fans' frustration.
"We can be accused of anything tonight and it is all justified," the under-fire BVB boss told reporters after the game at Signal Iduna Park.
"Battling also means having the courage to take the right decision. We were missing that tonight.
"It hurts, no doubt. We are doing everything wrong at the moment. We are not making anything of our chances."
Hummels, meanwhile, added that the players had no issue with the supporters expressing their anger with the team's current predicament at the full-time whistle.
"If one is in this position after 19 games then it would be unacceptable not to have understanding of the fans' reactions," the centre-half said.
Dortmund now face a crucial Bundesliga clash with 15th-placed Freiburg this weekend.
Jurgen Klopp admits that all of the criticism coming Borussia Dortmund's way is "legitimate", conceding that they are doing "everything wrong" at the moment.
BVB are rock bottom of the Bundesliga after 19 rounds of action, two points from safety following Wednesday night's dismal 1-0 loss at home to Augsburg.
A chorus of whistles greeted Dortmund's latest setback, prompting captain Mats Hummels and vice-skipper Roman Weidenfeller to go into the crowd to speak to disgruntled supporters, and Klopp admitted that he can understand the fans' frustration.
"We can be accused of anything tonight and it is all justified," the under-fire BVB boss told reporters after the game at Signal Iduna Park.
"Battling also means having the courage to take the right decision. We were missing that tonight.
"It hurts, no doubt. We are doing everything wrong at the moment. We are not making anything of our chances."
Hummels, meanwhile, added that the players had no issue with the supporters expressing their anger with the team's current predicament at the full-time whistle.
"If one is in this position after 19 games then it would be unacceptable not to have understanding of the fans' reactions," the centre-half said.
Dortmund now face a crucial Bundesliga clash with 15th-placed Freiburg this weekend.
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