..::Football IV::..

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Lampard: English clubs set for golden era in Champions League


Frank Lampard is hopeful Premier League clubs are on the cusp of another golden period in the Champions League.

From Liverpool's stunning comeback and penalty shoot-out triumph over AC Milan in 2005 to Chelsea's win via the same means against Bayern Munich in 2012, English clubs were represented in seven out of eight Champions League finals.

Lampard was on the scoresheet before Chelsea lost on spot kicks in an all-Premier League affair against Manchester United in Moscow in 2008, but no English side has featured in the European showpiece since the Blues' triumph in Munich.

This season, Manchester City and Tottenham have booked their spots in the knockout stages with two group games to spare.Manchester United are virtually certain to join them in matchweek five, when Liverpool and Chelsea can also qualify.

"What's exciting for English football is that we have five teams that are performing very well in the groups," Lampard, who concluded his Premier League career with a season at Manchester City, told Omnisport during a Yokohama event at the British Embassy in Tokyo.

"Sometimes in football you have cycles. The last three years haven't been good for the English teams and I think now you're going to see the emergence of the strength of the English teams, so it's hard to say which team has got the best chance."

On Monday, City boss Pep Guardiola played down the notion of the Premier League leaders being favourites for continental glory on the back of their sparkling form this season. Lampard feels both of his former employers in the competition have strong claims as pretenders to Real Madrid's crown.

"On current form you've got to say Manchester City, but if you look at Chelsea and their performance against Atletico Madrid away from home it was the perfect away performance," he said, before discussing Tottenham taking four points off from back-to-back clashes with the European champions.

"Tottenham against Real Madrid, they were very good so we should celebrate now that English teams are really competitive again," Lampard added."I hope not just Chelsea, but English teams make it into the semi-finals and the finals because it's good for us."

 

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2017.11.22

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2017.11.22

Basel Vs Manchester United

PSG Vs Celtic

Anderlecht Vs Bayern

Atletico Madrid Vs Roma

Sporting CP Vs Olympiacos

Juventus Vs Barcelona

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Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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Basel Vs Manchester United

Basel Starting Line-up

Vaclik
Akanji
Suchy
Balanta
Die
Zuffi
Lang
Petretta
Steffen
Elyounoussi
Oberlin

&

Manchester United Starting Line-up

Romero
Darmian
Smalling
Rojo
Blind
Herrera
Fellaini
Lingard
Pogba
Martial
Lukaku​

 

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Basel match eka win karanna hoda fight ekak denna wenawa

Good Luck Manchester United!
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Half Time

Basel 0 Vs 0 Manchester United

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Full Time

Basel 1 Vs 0 Manchester United

Basel Goal(s)

M.Lang 89'
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[achalar]

kava friend

 

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Aparade dinaganna thibba match ekak miss karagatthe1st half Manchester United performance patta.godak hodata attack ekak thibbaath score karanna thibba chances godak miss karagattha & 2nd half thanikarama wage attack ekak thibbe Basel lagen.

Dan ithin matchday 6 eken thamai last 16 place eka secure karaganna wenne.

Good luck for the next match Manchester United
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kava friend

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Anderlecht 1 Bayern Munich 2: Lewandowski and Tolisso give visitors win

Goals from Robert Lewandowski and Corentin Tolisso were enough to give a below-par Bayern Munich a 2-1 win over Anderlecht in the Champions League on Wednesday.The hosts had the better of the chances at the Constant Vanden Stockstadion, but their first goal in the competition this season would ultimately count for little.

Sofiane Hanni cancelled out Lewandowski's well-worked opener, but Anderlecht could not keep the pressure on and Tolisso turned from provider to scorer as he netted a 77th-minute winner.



Bayern lost Thiago Alcantara and Arjen Robben to injury, with Arturo Vidal grimacing as he was withdrawn late on, but Jupp Heynckes' men retain a slim hope of topping Group B on the final matchday.

The Bundesliga champions must beat Unai Emery's goal-crazy side, who thrashed Celtic 7-1 elsewhere in the group, by more than three goals if they are to usurp the French superstars.

Anderlecht, meanwhile, are still without a point in this year's tournament and will take on Celtic in Glasgow needing a big win to secure third place and a Europa League spot.


The hosts left top scorer Henry Onyekuru on the bench but had the better of the first half and will have been frustrated not to have been ahead at the interval against a disjointed Bayern.

Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich was forced into action after just eight minutes, blocking Lukasz Teodorczyk's shot and then saving comfortably from Hanni on the follow-up.

Dennis Appiah then tested Ulreich at his near post with a well-struck effort before Anderlecht's best chance of the first half arrived in the 30th minute. Teodorczyk was found completely unmarked and with only the goalkeeper to beat but could only scuff his shot wide.Teodorczyk had another opportunity at the end of the half, after more poor defending, but again he could not beat Ulreich before Bayern survived a late penalty shout after Pieter Gerkens went down under pressure from Niklas Sule.

Heynckes sent on James Rodriguez after Thiago was hurt in a seemingly innocuous challenge and the coach was also forced into another change as Robben had to be replaced by Javi Martinez shortly after the break.

The visitors suddenly looked a different side, though, and went ahead on 51 minutes, James finding Tolisso who squared for Lewandowski to tap home.Yet Anderlecht continued to press and levelled just after the hour mark, Teodorczyk heading on for Hanni to slot home from close range, Anderlecht's first Champions League goal this season.



Bayern had a good chance to restore their lead, Matz Sels blocking Lewandowski but Teodorczyk also curled one just wide in an evenly contested second half.
The hosts also sent on Onyekuru as they searched for the second goal but it was Bayern who had the extra quality in attack when it mattered.

With a little over 10 minutes to go, Joshua Kimmich raced down the right and crossed for Tolisso who headed past a helpless Sels to make it 2-1 and hand Bayern all three points.

 

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Atletico Madrid 2 Roma 0: Griezmann returns to form with wondergoal

Antoine Griezmann kept Atletico Madrid's slight hopes of Champions League qualification alive with a sensational scissor-kick volley and a sublime assist to down 10-man Roma 2-0 on Wednesday.

The Atleti talisman had not scored in his last eight matches in all competitions, but broke the deadlock in style at the Wanda Metropolitano to keep Atletico in the competition.Substitute Angel Correa performed miracles to keep the ball in at the byline, his cross hung up for Griezmann to launch himself into an unstoppable flying volley.



Roma, who headed to the Spanish capital on the back of six straight wins in all competitions, knew a draw would send them through to the knockout rounds and set up cautiously as a result.

It was therefore always likely to require something brilliant to break Roma down and Griezmann's magical impact provided the spark Atleti needed, the striker then sliding Kevin Gameiro through to double the lead after defender Bruno Peres saw red.

Atletico have to win at already qualified Chelsea on matchday six to have any hope of qualifying, with Roma still in pole position ahead of their clash with Group C whipping boys Qarabag.


Fernando Torres, making his first Champions League start of the season, had an early chance to break clear of the Roma defence but got the ball stuck under his feet, then Yannick Carrasco made a fine block to deny Lorenzo Pellegrini in a high-tempo opening.With Roma content to sit deep and play on the break, Carrasco rippled the side netting after 19 minutes before Koke headed a Filipe Luis cross straight at goalkeeper Alisson.

Carrasco's low left-wing centre somehow eluded both Griezmann and Torres in the box and the out-of-form France forward fired wide from 25 yards after bursting through the Roma midfield.

Atletico had the ball in the net after 40 minutes, Augusto's 25-yard drive deflecting in, but the midfielder controlled the ball with his arm and referee Bjorn Kuipers had already blown for a foul.Diego Simeone sent for Correa and Gabi early in the second half, with the Liga side seeking a goal to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

Roma were yet to record a shot on target but almost took the lead in freak circumstances after 63 minutes, a mishit cross from Radja Nainggolan crashing back off the post with Jan Oblak beaten.Atleti finally carved out a clear sight of goal for Torres but the striker dragged his shot wide, with the hosts increasingly desperate to break the deadlock.

But when the goal finally arrived after 69 minutes, it proved to be well worth the wait.Correa's energy from the bench proved key as the forward kept the ball in acrobatically at the byline, hanging up a cross that found Griezmann in a pocket of space in the box.

Griezmann could have brought the ball down and fired at goal but instead showed a confidence that belied his recent complete lack of form, throwing himself into a tremendous acrobatic strike that flashed past Alisson before the Roma goalkeeper could move.

And after Peres was dismissed, the Roma man receiving his second yellow card for a rash foul on Filipe Luis, Griezmann and Gameiro combined in stunning fashion, the former sending his compatriot clear to beat Alisson from a tight angle to give Atleti their first European win at their new home, and a glimmer of hope they can make the last 16.

 

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Basel 1 Manchester United 0: Late Lang goal leaves Mourinho's men with work to do

Manchester United passed up the opportunity to secure progression to the Champions League knockout phase, as Michael Lang's late winner clinched a 1-0 victory for Basel and put the Swiss side in the driving seat to finish second behind their visitors in Group A.

Jose Mourinho's side needed only a point to win the group and looked as though they would cruise to victory during a first half in which they controlled, but Basel rallied brilliantly after the break and stole a deserved winner right at the end.United were absolutely dominant in the first half and created a host of fine opportunities.



But they were left frustrated, with Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marouane Fellaini and Marcos Rojo all going close – the latter pair denied by the frame of the goal.

United's frustration in front of goal showed no sign of subsiding after the break, as they struggled to craft chances against a Basel side who made a marked improvement and even hit the crossbar through Lang.

The visitors appeared to have done enough to claim the point they needed to wrap up qualification, but Lang decisively struck in the 89th minute, moving them above CSKA Moscow due to a better head-to-head record, while United are left still needing a point against the Russian side to be absolutely sure of progression.


Basel's dynamic front trio kept United's defence – which included Rojo for the first time since April – busy during the early stages, but the visitors quickly got to grips and began to command proceedings.

Their first chance came in the 11th minute and it should have been the opening goal, as Lukaku was played through on goal by a fine Paul Pogba pass and saw his effort saved by Tomas Vaclik.United went even closer a few moments later, with Manuel Akanji heading off the line after Fellaini had appeared to nod in from a corner.

Fellaini saw another header go close in the 16th minute, diverting Daley Blind's free-kick delivery agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.United were kept at arm's length for the next 25 minutes, but then three chances came in quick succession.

The first fell to Fellaini, as the Belgian's header came back off the post, before Vaclik denied Anthony Martial after a brilliant run and then the crossbar kept Rojo's deflected 35-yard effort out.

Basel looked rather more purposeful at the start of the second period and Geoffrey Serey Die was not far off putting them ahead in the 51st minute, seeing a rasping effort fly just wide of Sergio Romero's left-hand post.

The lively Renato Steffen was causing Blind no end of problems and the winger almost scored a fine goal just after the hour mark, cutting in from the right and seeing a left-footed drive fly just past the far post.

Mourinho responded by introducing Marcus Rashford almost straight away, but his impact was minimal, with Basel remaining on top and hitting the bar through a Lang header 23 minutes from the end.Zlatan Ibrahimovic's introduction from the bench did little to inspire a United improvement and they were made to pay for their awful second-half decline late on.

Raoul Petretta charged up the left flank and played a low ball across the face of goal for Lang to sweep home from close range, meaning United need to avoid defeat at home to CSKA in a match sandwiched between crucial Premier League clashes with Arsenal and Manchester City at the start of December.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 7 Celtic 1: Cavani and Neymar score braces in sparkling win

Edinson Cavani and Neymar both scored braces as Paris Saint-Germain registered a thumping 7-1 Champions League win over Celtic at Parc des Princes.

The Scottish side were on the end of a 5-0 humbling in the reverse fixture two months ago, but might have allowed themselves to dream of a more memorable evening when Moussa Dembele gave them a shock lead after just 56 seconds.

That early goal only served to spark PSG's heralded attacking triumvirate into life, though, as Cavani, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe scored four first-half goals to leave Brendan Rodgers' side shell-shocked, effectively settling the game before the interval.



PSG eased up for most of the second half before a stunning late salvo added a deserved gloss to the scoreline. Marco Verratti added a fifth with a cool finish before Cavani bagged his second with a superb back-post volley, aided by a deflection off Kieran Tierney. The final word went to Dani Alves - the Brazilian firing home a stunning strike from 25 yards that crashed in off the post.

PSG are three points ahead of Bayern Munich at the summit of Group B and a draw against the Germans next month will be enough to top the group ahead of the last 16 stage.


Celtic's trip to Paris had started so well and they took an improbable lead inside the opening minute with a goal that was made in France.

Frenchman Olivier Ntcham's cleverly disguised corner was met just inside the penalty area by his compatriot Dembele, whose deflected shot flew past Alphonse Areola to send the visiting support into raptures.Their joy was short-lived, however, as the world's most expensive footballer delivered a finish of typical precision to pull Unai Emery's side level after nine minutes.

Adrien Rabiot jinked his way through the Celtic half before playing in Neymar down the left, where he was able to drill a low shot past Craig Gordon and into the far corner.

Moments after Ntcham had drilled a powerful strike just wide for Celtic, PSG took the lead, as some clever interplay between Neymar and Verratti released the Brazilian inside the area and, in an almost carbon copy of his opener, he stroked into Gordon's far corner.

Neymar then turned provider for the third in the 28th minute, getting his shoulder to Alves' looping cross to tee up Cavani inside the six-yard box for the Uruguayan's 150th PSG goal.

The hosts' fourth arrived 10 minutes before the break as Mbappe took full advantage of some reckless defending from a free-kick to power home for his seventh goal for the club since his move from Monaco.Mbappe was denied a second when his scuffed shot was saved by Gordon before Verratti grabbed a fifth with a drilled finish into the bottom corner with 15 minutes remaining.

Cavani added his second with a well-controlled back-post volley in the 79th minute, Tierney inadvertently steering the ball past the helpless Gordon.The final act was reserved for Alves, whose swerving long-range strike just a minute later cannoned in off the post to put PSG in seventh heaven.

 

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Juventus 0 Barcelona 0: Messi benched but Valverde's men in last 16

Barcelona benched Lionel Messi but sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League regardless with a 0-0 draw at Juventus.The LaLiga leaders were largely untroubled by last season's beaten finalists at the Allianz Stadium as they claimed a result that guarantees they go through to the knockout phase as winners of Group D.

Head coach Ernesto Valverde sprung a shock before the match by naming Messi among the substitutes, with Paulinho selected in the number 10 role in a robust-looking system.



Barca official Guillermo Amor explained pre-match that Messi was simply being rested before the weekend clash with LaLiga's second-placed side Valencia, and his absence did little to upset Barca's rhythm as they controlled the game for long spells in Turin, albeit without troubling Gianluigi Buffon too often.

Messi came on in the second half to try to unlock a Juve defence that was without the injured Giorgio Chiellini, but there was no way through against the Serie A champions, who are a point above third-place Sporting CP in the group ahead of the final matchday.For Barca, attention can now turn to the top-of-the-table clash at Mestalla on Sunday, with their knockout spot secure.


Douglas Costa shot straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen from inside the penalty area after only two minutes but Barcelona were largely in control of the first half-hour, the midfield quartet of Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Paulinho dictating the play well.

It was Rakitic who came closest to a first-half breakthrough, sending a deep free-kick off the right-hand post, before Paulinho failed to turn the rebound on target.
Barca had shouts for a penalty in the 30th minute when Paulinho went over a challenge from Miralem Pjanic, but the referee showed a deserved yellow card to the Brazilian for a fairly blatant dive.

Paulo Dybala had struggled to get involved in the first 45 minutes but he came close to giving Juve the lead just before the break, collecting Alex Sandro's pass on the break before surging into the box and firing narrowly over the crossbar.

Barca resumed their control of proceedings after the break, with Luis Suarez going close with a free-kick, but Valverde nonetheless introduced Messi for Gerard Deulofeu in the 55th minute.

Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain lashed half-chances wide but Barca's control of possession was almost unchallenged, with Juve apparently content to sit deep and hold on for the draw.Messi almost provided the killer pass to give Barca the breakthrough, with Juan Cuadrado messing up his attempt to head the Argentine's long pass back to Buffon, but Lucas Digne failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

Juve showed more attacking endeavour in the closing stages and Ter Stegen made a fine low save to deny Dybala in stoppage time, but the draw means Massimiliano Allegri's side must beat Olympiacos on December 5 to ensure they stay above Sporting and reach the last 16.

 

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CSKA Moscow 2 Benfica 0: Goncharenko's men boost progression hopes

Georgy Schennikov's first-half strike and a Jardel own goal earned CSKA Moscow a 2-0 win over Benfica on Wednesday, keeping the Russian side's hopes of Champions League progression alive.

With nine points on the board, CSKA travel to Old Trafford next month to take on Group A leaders Manchester United knowing their fate is in their own hands, although they will be without key players Bibras Natcho and Pontus Wernbloom through suspension.

Benfica's rotten campaign continues with another defeat and the Portuguese side are guaranteed to finish bottom of the pool, having been beaten in all five of their games, scoring just one goal, after suffering the ignominy of having CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev record his first clean sheet in the Champions League proper since November 2006 - 43 appearances ago - against them.



After losing their previous two Champions League home games, CSKA were desperate for an improved performance in front of their own fans at VEB Arena and they opened the scoring after 13 minutes.A deflection off Benfica defender Eliseu fell kindly for Natcho to slot a pass through to Schennikov, who finished well but may have been offside when the ball was played.

Another ricochet gave CSKA their decisive second goal, Vitinho's attempted cross turned into his own goal by unlucky Benfica centre-back Jardel, whose side exit Europe entirely as a result of their latest loss.CSKA had a golden opportunity in the fourth minute when Wernbloom laid the ball off for Vitinho, but his placed 20-yard strike bent well wide of the post.

Sustained pressure from the Russian side soon led to the opener, Natcho slipping in Schennikov to compose himself and beat Bruno Varela, although the rampaging wing-back may have been marginally offside.


Benfica should have equalised immediately, a cute header back into the box from Diogo Goncalves finding an unmarked Jonas, who cushioned a presentable volley well wide.

But it was CSKA who continued to make the running, Varela making a superb save to his left to keep out a fizzing half-volley from Alan Dzagoev after 26 minutes.Benfica's first shot on target came just before the interval via Eliseu's hopeful 30-yard drive, but Akinfeev made a comfortable save.

Wernbloom wasted a great chance to tee up Dzagoev after 54 minutes, with CSKA beginning to feel the pressure, before Akinfeev had to make a decent stop to deny Andre Almeida.

And CSKA then wrapped up the points thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Jardel.The defender lunged in to try and block a cross from Vitinho, but could only turn the ball past the helpless Varela.CSKA should have extended their lead further, but Vitinho lashed into the side netting from a tight angle after 66 minutes with Dzagoev well-placed for a pass in the middle of the box.

Although Benfica coach Rui Vitoria made a raft of attacking changes, his side were resigned to their fate and Russia international Akinfeev was left virtually untested as he ended his 11-year wait for a Champions League shutout.

 

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Qarabag 0 Chelsea 4: Hazard, Willian lead Blues into last 16

Chelsea booked their place in the Champions League's round of 16 with a comfortable 4-0 win over 10-man Qarabag on Wednesday.Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and a double from Willian sealed the three points for Antonio Conte's side in Baku and ensure they will progress to the knockout phase of the competition.

Qarabag, thrashed 6-0 in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge in September, started well in front of their noisy home support but were left facing a huge challenge when captain Rasad Sadiqov was sent off for bringing down Willian in the penalty area.



Hazard, starting as a false nine as Conte left Alvaro Morata on the bench, tucked home the spot-kick for his third goal in the group stage and produced a clever assist for Willian to make it 2-0 15 minutes later.

The remainder of the match was played at a procession pace, as Chelsea looked to conserve energy for Saturday's Premier League clash with Liverpool, but Fabregas added a third with 17 minutes left to play courtesy of another precise effort from 12 yards before Willian lashed home a fine fourth.

The result sends the English champions through and puts them two points clear at the top of Group C ahead of Atletico Madrid's clash with Roma, while Qarabag must hope for a favour from the Italians to preserve their hopes of snatching a Europa League spot on matchday six.


A lively start from Qarabag seemed to have Chelsea unsettled and they were fortunate not to be 1-0 down inside 13 minutes, with Michel rattling the crossbar from inside the penalty area after a one-two between Maksim Medvedev and Dino Ndlovu.

The home fans were in fine spirits but their mood changed completely with 19 minutes played, when Sadiqov was adjudged to have deliberately pulled Willian down by his arm as he attempted to get free in the penalty area.The captain was duly given a straight red card and Hazard made no mistake from the penalty spot, rolling the ball into the bottom corner as goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic went the wrong way.

It might have been a controversial way to break the deadlock but there was nothing questionable about Chelsea's second. Pedro, Willian and Hazard combined following a Cesc Fabregas ball forward, the move ending with Hazard backheeling into Willian's path, and the Brazilian made no mistake with a low finish from just inside the area.

Conte resisted the temptation to make changes at half-time but Chelsea looked keen to kill off the contest as soon as possible, with Sehic making a good save to deny Pedro one-on-one after a fine lofted pass from Fabregas.

Hazard was then denied by a fine one-handed save before he departed to a rousing reception from the travelling Chelsea fans, as Conte opted to give Morata a 25-minute run-out.

The Spain striker missed a great chance to get on the scoresheet, dragging a shot inches wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the six-yard box, and he was denied by the offside flag barely a minute later after tapping in Cesar Azpilicueta 's lay-off.Fabregas did manage to get Chelsea a third goal, though, to cap an efficient outing from Conte's side.

Referee Jorge Sousa adjudged Medvedev to have pulled Willian's shirt into the penalty area, despite the full-back's protests that contact stopped before they crossed the 18-yard line, allowing the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder to sweep the ball into the bottom corner after his first effort was ruled out for encroachment.

Willian completed a superb individual display with his second goal five minutes from the end of normal time, collecting Pedro's pass before lashing beyond Sehic from 20 yards to send Chelsea through with a little bit of swagger.

 

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Hazard: I admire Madrid, but I'm happy at Chelsea


Chelsea star Eden Hazard insists he is happy at the Premier League club, but again admitted that he admires Real Madrid.

Hazard, 26, is often linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, where he arrived from Lille in 2012.The Belgium international has previously spoken about his admiration for Madrid and their coach Zinedine Zidane.

Hazard, who has recaptured some of his best form with six goals and five assists in 15 games in all competitions this season, said he was still happy at Chelsea.

"I am always very fine at this club. I still have two years of contract

. When I feel the desire to leave, I'll leave. But, for now, I'm a Blue," he told Canal+.
"We know the admiration that I have for Real, but I'm at Chelsea. Every year, things were said about me but I stayed.

"In Lille, I was announced in Paris, but I stayed. And in Chelsea, people always said that I'm leaving, but I'm still here."

Chelsea took a 4-0 win over Qarabağ in the Champions League this week, while the club face a tough Premier League clash against Liverpool at the weekend.
Madrid, meanwhile, took a 6-0 win over APOEL to seal their spot in the Champions League knockout rounds.​

 

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Simeone hoping for 'alliance with the goal' after Griezmann breaks drought


Diego Simeone hopes Atletico Madrid's 2-0 Champions League victory over Roma gives his side a renewed confidence in front of goal after Antoine Griezmann broke his duck in sensational style.

Griezmann had gone eight games with a goal for Atleti - his worst run for the club - but broke the deadlock after 69 tense minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday.

Angel Correa did superbly to keep the ball in at the byline and his cross was hammered in by Griezmann's stupendous scissor-kick volley.

After Bruno Peres saw red for a second yellow card, Griezmann then slipped Kevin Gameiro clear to add a second and ensure Atletico will travel to already qualified Chelsea on matchday six with some hope of qualification.
Atletico have struggled for goals of late and the defeat of Roma was the first time in 11 matches in all competitions that Simeone's side have scored more than once.
"This team has a lot of heart. We had a responsibility to win and we managed it," Simeone told beIN SPORTS.

"It was an extraordinary goal, with a good attacking involvement of the whole team. Hopefully this is the beginning of an alliance with the goal!"We have a obligation to beat Chelsea in London but Roma also have Qarabag on their own pitch.

"We have allowed ourselves the possibility of continuing to have the chance to progress. It's down to us first, winning our match - and then fate will take us where it will."

Although Roma's six-game winning streak in all competitions ended at the Wanda Metropolitano, coach Eusebio Di Francesco claimed the Serie A side can learn from their performance.

"Euphoria is good, but arrogance isn't. We need to realise that," Di Francesco said. "We're going through a process of development and it's better if you don't lose, but you need to be intelligent about your defeats and work on your mistakes."Given the team we have, we made too many technical mistakes tonight, but we can't forget that Atletico cause problems for everyone they face.

"It was very even. We've shown we can go toe to toe with anyone and proved we have bags of character."Let's not forget who we've been up against tonight. They're all quality players. We matched them until they scored, but we lacked precision when we won the ball in the first half - there were at least 11 or 12 times we lost the ball in their half of the field.

"We needed to be more decisive with the final ball and go in search of the goal. They didn't create very much at all in the first 45 minutes, but after the break they showed more hunger and desire."

 

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Griezmann ge goal eka patta