..::Football III::..

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Ramsey suffers hamstring injury blow

Aaron Ramsey is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal's win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

The Welsh midfielder was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 10 minutes into the second half after pulling up as he attempted to close down David Alaba, with the 24-year-old immediately clutching his hamstring in clear discomfort.

Speaking to reporters after the match, that the Gunners won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, manager Arsene Wenger said: "He's alright but very down. He told me he injured his hamstring. It's quite a tough one."

Losing Ramsey for a prolonged period would come as a big blow to Wenger's side, with the Gunners facing Everton in the Premier League on the weekend before away fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City.

Arsenal then face Bayern Munich away from home in the Champions League before the north London derby against Tottenham in the Premier League on November 8.

 

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Neuer takes responsibility for Arsenal opener

Manuel Neuer insisted he played well in Bayern Munich's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday - although he did admit responsibility for the crucial opening goal.

Neuer produced a string of fine saves to keep Arsenal at bay, the pick of which being a stunning first-half block to keep out a Theo Walcott header, but then blundered horribly as Bayern fell behind.

Germany goalkeeper Neuer opted to try to claim a hopeful Santi Cazorla punt into the box but got nowhere near it, missing his punch completely, allowing Olivier Giroud to bundle the ball home.

Mesut Ozil added a late second, despite Neuer's best attempts to prevent his close-range effort crossing the line.

Neuer told UEFA.com: "Basically, I played well. But it was my big mistake that led to Arsenal’s first goal.

"I think a draw would have been a more appropriate result."

 

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Mourinho: One mistake cost Chelsea, like Scotland in rugby

Jose Mourinho has likened referee Damir Skomina in Chelsea's 0-0 Champions League draw with Dynamo Kyiv to rugby official Craig Joubert.

Joubert refereed Australia's quarter-final Rugby World Cup victory over Scotland at the weekend, and awarded a controversial penalty for accidental offside that enabled the Wallabies to come from behind and win in the closing stages.

And Mourinho believes Skomina's decision not to award Chelsea a penalty after Cesc Fabregas was brought down by Sergiy Rybalka in the first half in Kiev on Tuesday was just as impactful.

"Our performance was solid, we had control of the game for 75 minutes. We hit the post, [should have] had a penalty," Mourinho said.

"It was a clear penalty. I don't know, the referee didn't see it, he didn't want to give it - I don't know.

"One mistake cost Scotland in the rugby. Here, one mistake cost Chelsea."

Mourinho labelled the Slovenian official "weak and naive" immediately following the clash in Kiev.

When asked whether he believed he would be fined for his comment, Mourinho gave a light-hearted reply: "Okay, it was not a penalty."

 

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Wenger: Beating Bayern will strengthen Arsenal


Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal will draw strength from the manner of their rousing 2-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

Having lost their opening Group F matches against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos, defeat to Pep Guardiola's runaway Bundesliga leaders would have all but ended Arsenal's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of Europe's Premier competition.

But Olivier Giroud capitalised on Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's uncharacteristic mistake before Mesut Ozul sealed the points in the dying seconds, with their French boss delighted with his team's unity.

"Overall we have beaten a very strong team. We kept a clean sheet as well," Wenger said at the post-match news conference.

"The team focus and dynamic was there. Tonight we showed we needed that.

"It can strengthen our belief and those around us. It is important we have good balance between attacking and defending."

 

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Rooney reveals perfect birthday gift

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has revealed his ideal present ahead of his 30th birthday on Saturday.

The England captain, who netted last time out against boyhood club Everton, shunned any potential individual gift and showed his loyalty to United with his response.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference before Wednesday's Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow, Rooney appeared focused on the weekend's Premier League clash with rivals City.

“If we start with three points tomorrow then that would be great, and then another three on Sunday," he told reporters.

Louis Van Gaal's side have started the season in impressive fashion, having won six of their nine league games and currently sit third in the table.

Table toppers City beat United 4-2 in their last visit to Old Trafford in April 2015.

 

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Nainggolan: Roma deserved to beat Leverkusen

Radja Nainggolan felt Roma paid the price for taking too many risks after letting slip a late two-goal lead in a 4-4 Champions League draw with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Italians fought back from an early 2-0 deficit to move 4-2 ahead at the BayArena, with second-half goals from Miralem Pjanic and Iago Falque putting them on course to clinch their first away triumph in the competition since November 2010.

However, Leverkusen picked up a point from a see-saw Group E clash when Kevin Kampl and Admir Mehmedi beat Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the final six minutes.

"We dropped two points today and deserved to win because we played well from the start," Nainggolan told Mediaset Premium.

"The penalty so early knocked us down, but we did well to get back in front. We can be disappointed with the result today, but that’s football.

"We didn’t lose and that is the only positive to take from this, but a victory would’ve given us such a good chance of qualifying.

"With the last two goals we lost the ball in a stupid way and ran risks when we shouldn’t have done. Perhaps we felt too confident being 4-2 up."

Roma find themselves stuck at the bottom of the group on two points, though they do host Leverkusen - who occupy second spot - in the next round of fixtures.

 

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Coquelin: We had to keep the heat on Bayern after first goal

Francis Coquelin feels Arsenal's continued pressure after Olivier Giroud's opener was key to their crucial 2-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

Substitute Giroud broke the deadlock with 13 minutes remaining at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, before Mesut Ozil scored in injury time to keep Arsenal's hopes of qualifying from Group F alive.

Coquelin knew Arsenal would face a tough task against Bayern - who headed to London having won all 12 of their previous competitive games this season - but praised his team's counter-attacking prowess.

"It is always difficult against Bayern but I thought we started well and we created a big chance with Theo in the first half but we didn’t put it in the net," the Frenchman told reporters after the game.

"The second half was always going to be tough but Olivier scored a great goal and after we felt that we could keep the heat on and after the second it was game over.

"We knew Bayern would have a lot of the ball, but in the recent games against the big teams we have not had as much possession and counter-attacked.

"It worked well again here and everyone defended really well and we didn't concede any goals, so I am really pleased with the performance."

 

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Yaya Toure IS happy at Manchester City, insists Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini does not believe Yaya Toure's latest disgruntled comments should cast doubt on his future at Manchester City.

In an interview with French newspaper L'Equipe published on Monday, Toure hit out at perceived unjustified slights from journalists in England and his native Ivory Coast, concluding: "I have won titles, lots of money, but I am not happy."

Given the prominent role that Toure has played in City's trophy successes over recent years, Pellegrini stated it was understandable that he should balk at criticism but did not equate this unhappiness with the 32-year-old wanting to leave the club.

"He says he's not happy about [not] being recognised, but he's happy [at Manchester City] - it's different," Pellegrini said.

 

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Mourinho continues ref rant: Now I know how Scotland rugby team felt

Jose Mourinho has likened referee Damir Skomina's failure to award Chelsea a penalty in their 0-0 Champions League draw with Dynamo Kyiv to the controversial decision that sent Scotland out of the rugby World Cup.

At the weekend, the Scots suffered the ultimate heartbreak as referee Craig Joubert incorrectly awarded a penalty to Australia in the quarter-finals which was dispatched to seal a come-from-behind win for the Wallabies.

And now Mourinho says he has been on the wrong end of a similarly poor decision, claiming Skomina's refusal to give Chelsea a penalty after Cesc Fabregas was brought down in the first half in Kiev is on par with Scotland's World Cup misery.

"Our performance was solid, we had control of the game for 75 minutes. We hit the post, [should have] had a penalty," Mourinho told reporters in Kiev.


"It was a clear penalty. I don't know, the referee didn't see it, he didn't want to give it - I don't know.

"One mistake cost Scotland in the rugby. Here, one mistake cost Chelsea."

Mourinho, who has gotten himself into trouble for recent tirades against officials, had earlier labelled the Slovenian referee "weak and naive" in his post-match TV interview immediately following the clash in Kiev.

When asked whether he believed he would be fined for his comment, Mourinho gave a light-hearted reply: "Okay, it was not a penalty."

 

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Sanchez is exhausted and I'm demanding too much, admits Wenger

Arsene Wenger admits he is demanding too much from Alexis Sanchez and claims the Chilean looked jaded in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Bayern Munich.

After defeats to Dynamo Zagreb and Olympiacos, the Gunners boosted their hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout phase as Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil struck in the second half to beat Pep Guardiola's side.

Sanchez, meanwhile, has scored 10 goals in his last seven games for club and country but the Arsenal manager has once again hinted that the forward needs a rest.

"You could see he was a bit jaded physically tonight,” Wenger admitted on Tuesday evening.

“He pushes himself so much but he finished exhausted. He played two games with Chile, plus the travelling, plus Watford, plus tonight - it’s too much."

 

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Rooney sets sights on second Champions League crown

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has set his sights on lifting the Champions League trophy for a second time ahead of his return to Moscow on Wednesday.

United won their third Champions League crown in 2008 in the Russian capital, where they are set to take on CSKA Moscow in their third Group B fixture.

Rooney described the win over Chelsea in the 2008 final as one of the best nights in his club career and hopes United manager Louis van Gaal can guide them to another title in the coming years.

"I've had mixed emotions in Moscow," he said. "I lost here with England 2-1 [in Euro 2008 qualifying] and had possibly the greatest moment in my club career in winning the Champions League.

"It was a special moment for Manchester United which myself and the fans will never forget. Having a taste of winning the trophy gives you a desire and hunger to do it again.

"It's a different group of players but hopefully myself and Michael Carrick, who was also here that night, can help them do the same with the experience we've gained over the years."

PSV and Wolfsburg make up the other two clubs in Group B, with all four in the group locked on three points after two games.

 

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Manchester City must improve Champions League record, says Pellegrini

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says his side must improve on their poor home record if they are to progress in the Champions League, starting with Wednesday's clash with Sevilla.

Since Pellegrini joined the club in 2013, City have won just three of their nine Champions League games at Etihad Stadium and were beaten 2-1 by Juventus in their first Champions League fixture at home this term.

While Pellegrini does not feel past defeats should be dwelled on, he admits City must turn the Etihad into a European fortress if they want to taste success in the Champions League.

"I don't know the exact statistics but we must improve," he told reporters.

"I don't know what is the home record. It is just statistics or history. That will not help us to win or lose.

"We are just thinking about one game, not the past.

"We play against a different team and we hope we can win."

City are equal second with Sevilla in Group D, with both side's on three points and behind Juventus after the opening two matchdays.

 

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Ancelotti: PSG can beat Real Madrid... and win the Champions League

Carlo Ancelotti believes Paris Saint-Germain can beat Real Madrid on Wednesday - and are capable of winning the Champions League this season.

PSG have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage for the past three years but Ancelotti, who led the French club to the Ligue 1 title in 2013, feels les Parisiens are improving rapidly with each passing campaign.

The former Madrid boss thinks that the summer signing of Angel Di Maria from Manchester United has edged Laurent Blanc's side even closer to realising their dream of a first European Cup success.

"It's difficult to say who will win on Wednesday, really hard, but with home advantage, maybe PSG could have a little more ball possession," Ancelotti told Goal. "But Real will have the possibility to take advantage on the break.

"It will certainly be a real spectacle; really unpredictable. But I believe that it will be a very even game, especially this one in Paris, particularly because PSG have a very precise identity.

"They have a very controlled possession-based game, with players that are able to finish with a lot of quality.

"But they're facing Madrid, who can hit them very well on the counterattack.

"Real Madrid have a history, a tradition, an experience that PSG don't have, and this counts in the Champions League. This can still make the difference.

"But PSG are accumulating more and more experience. The Parisian club are developing very quickly and they are doing that through the signing of players of great international experience.

"Last year, they bought David Luiz; this year, Di Maria - this is a squad that is improving rapidly.

"I see PSG doing well in this season's Champions League. They are already practically qualified for the next round after winning their first two games [against Malmo and Shakhtar Donetsk].

"Much will depend on the draw [for the last 16] to determine if they are able to go forward or not. But, with a little bit of good luck, I believe that this team can go all the way."

Having coached both clubs, Ancelotti has first-hand experience of working with two men who are likely to play a big part in Wednesday's clash at the Parc des Princes, PSG talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo.

The ex-AC Milan coach sees a number of similarities between the two striking icons, who he believes are in the same class as Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

"They are champions that manage to maintain a high-quality level with an extraordinary consistency," the 56-year-old said of Ibra and Ronaldo. "They will both be decisive in these two games between PSG and Real.

"They are among the very few players that can make the difference all on their own, like Messi. Ibra and Cristiano are unique talents.

"I had the good fortune to train both of them and they have some very similar characteristics: both are very determined, always very concentrated and they are both winners."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ancelotti meh tikema PSG warna karanawa.PSG join weida kiyalath hithenawa​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Moyes: Rooney's records won't be broken

David Moyes believes the records that Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney will set are unlikely to ever be broken.

Rooney, who will celebrate his 30th birthday on Saturday, became England's all-time leading goalscorer after surpassing Bobby Chartlon's tally of 49 and is just 13 goals away from equaling his club record of 249.

Current Real Sociedad manager Moyes heaped praise on his former forward - who he managed at both Everton and United - and feels his records will last in the history books.

"History has already judged him, because when you pick up the record books, there will be the name of Wayne Rooney," he told the Mirror.

"He's already surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton as England's leading goalscorer and I'm sure he will go on to do the same at United.

"The England record is a great achievement, particularly when you look at the calibre of goalscorers before him – Sir Bobby, Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, all great strikers.

"Wayne has shown he belongs in that class and you have to score the goals to be top of the pile, which the record books show.

"For Wayne to be breaking records at his age is remarkable – and he's not finished yet."

 

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Cech: Arsenal could have lost to Bayern Munich without my saves

Petr Cech believes Arsenal could have lost their Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich had it not been for two crucial saves he made when the tie was still goalless.

The experienced goalkeeper denied Thiago Alcantara early on at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, before preventing Robert Lewandowski from opening the scoring after the break.

Late goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil then helped Arsenal to a vital victory, keeping alive the Gunners' ambitions of progressing from the Champions League group stages.

The win prompted Cech, an off-season recruit from Chelsea in the summer, to state how delighted he was with his own contribution to the team's success."I think there were two key moments," Cech told Arsenal's official website.

"Obviously if Thiago had scored early in the game then they would have had control of the game so it was a very important save at the start.

"And then I'm obviously glad I made the save against Lewandowski as in that moment we could have been 1-0 down, but instead in a few minutes we were 1-0 up and [that] basically decided the game.

"As much as it went up and down and there were chances and shots and it was very entertaining, it looked like one goal might decide it.

 

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Rojo destined for greatness - Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal believes Marcos Rojo has the potential to become a key figure for Manchester United if he fulfils his promise.

The Argentina international joined United from Sporting CP in August 2014 and made 26 appearances in all competitions in his first campaign at Old Trafford.

Rojo has featured just three times so far this season due to injury, but his manager Van Gaal feels the 25-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.

"I saw him at the World Cup in Brazil when he played for Argentina," Van Gaal was quoted as saying by the Daily Express.

"He did it very well and he also played for Sporting CP. There I analysed him. What I like is that he is physically a very strong guy, he is a good header of the ball and his pass is very fast.

"That is what we always need, we need a high speed in our positional game.

"I think there is great potential in him to become a very good player for Manchester United when he improves. He can reach a very high level because he is not fully developed yet."

Rojo has a contract with United until June 2019 and Van Gaal's team are away to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday.

 

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Arsenal fear Ramsey could miss six weeks with hamstring injury

Arsenal fear Aaron Ramsey faces six weeks out with the hamstring injury that forced him off during the 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.

Ramsey pulled up sharply in the 57th minute of the Champions League clash at the Emirates Stadium and Arsene Wenger confirmed the Welsh midfielder had suffered another muscle injury.

The 24-year-old will undergo a scan to confirm the extent of the damage but Arsenal fear he has suffered a Grade II tear, which typically has recovery time of four to six weeks.

Ramsey suffered three separate hamstring injuries last season which blighted his campaign and Wenger revealed the midfielder was “very down” about his latest setback.

Wenger said: "He's alright but very down. He told me he injured his hamstring. It's quite a tough one."

Arsenal face Everton at home on Saturday before tricky away games against Swansea, Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup and the reverse fixture against Bayern, while the north London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates on November 8 may also come too soon for Ramsey.

 

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Nobody expected Arsenal's gameplan against Bayern Munich, says Mertesacker

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker believes his side's determined tactical display in their 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League took everyone by surprise.

Arsene Wenger's side hosted Bayern on the back on defeats in their opening Group F matches against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos, while a third consecutive defeat on Tuesday would have all but ended their hopes of progressing.

Yet the disciplined Gunners, who defended deep with just 27 per cent possession of the game, restricted Bayern as late goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil secured a vital home win.

Following the result, Mertesacker felt their tactics produced a performance that nobody could have predicted.

"Nobody expected us to stand that deep and to catch them with counter attacks," he said in the mixed zone.

"This was our gameplan and it was a good one. We wanted to hold the 0-0 scoreline as long as possible. Sometime later - we did know that - we would get our chance. We are really happy of our performance. We were a unity.

"It's impossible to shut Bayern off for 90 minutes. We did not allow them much and defended well. You have to keep Bayern as calm as possible [before hitting them], this was the key."

Arsenal must travel to Allianz Arena for the reverse fixture at the start of November, and Mertesacker feels their confidence will now be raised on the back of an impressive 2-0 victory.

"To defeat this club in this way raises our self-confidence. We will travel to Munich with chests out," the 31-year-old continued.

"It was [felt like] a release in the Champions League. We go step by step. The chance to get to the round of 16 is now bigger."

 

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2015.10.21

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2015.10.21

Malmo Vs Shakhtar

PSG Vs Real Madrid

CSKA Vs Manchester United

Wolfsburg Vs PSV

Atletico Madrid Vs Astana

Galatasaray Vs Benfica

Juventus Vs Borusia Mongengladbach

Manchester City Vs Sevilla

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