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Post by Webster on Mar 19, 2021 18:09:37 GMT
(The Guardian) Pep Guardiola has said Erling Haaland is one of the best players in the world but he refused to discuss his interest in the striker after Manchester City landed against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final draw. Haaland is one of the names on City’s radar this summer and the other Premier League clubs still in the competition will be relieved to have avoided the 20-year-old. Chelsea will face Porto and Liverpool will be out for revenge when they meet Real Madrid, who beat them in the 2018 final. The draw threw up fascinating storylines. There will be a resumption of hostilities between Chelsea and Liverpool on the European stage if they win their respective ties, and City’s reward if they beat Dortmund will be a daunting semi-final against the holders, Bayern Munich, or Paris Saint-Germain, who met in last season’s final. First, though, City need to deal with Haaland. The Norway international, also a target for Chelsea and Manchester United, has scored 37 goals for club and country this season and his exploits for Dortmund have caught Guardiola’s eye. “The numbers speak for themselves,” City’s manager said. “He is one of the best in the world at his age. I saw a few games, seen highlights of him, and the numbers are impressive. I know the quality of him and I think everyone knows.” Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, played for City, who have never gone beyond the semi-finals of the tournament. Guardiola, though, refused to talk about signing the forward. “He’s a player for Dortmund,” he said. “I don’t like it when people talk about our players, you understand I cannot answer this question.” Liverpool, who have endured a difficult domestic campaign, will have plenty of motivation when they meet Madrid. There was controversy when Jürgen Klopp’s side lost to the Spanish champions three years ago. Mohamed Salah was injured following a strong challenge by Sergio Ramos. Salah’s substitution changed the dynamic of the match and Madrid, inspired by Gareth Bale, clinched victory in the second half. Yet Liverpool, who won the Champions League in 2019, will not be overawed about facing Zinedine Zidane’s side, who have struggled in Europe in the past two seasons. “It’s obviously a tough draw, but I am fine with it because if you look at all the other teams you think ‘Oh my god’ because they are all strong,” Klopp said. “I am really looking forward to the games. It’s only just over two years ago that we faced them and it was a tough night for us, so to get the chance to play them again is cool.” Chelsea, who reached the last eight for the first time since 2014 after beating Atlético Madrid, are favourites against Porto. Yet Thomas Tuchel is not concerned about a repeat of Chelsea’s 2005 semi-final against Liverpool, warning that Porto upset Juventus in the last round. “Many people will maybe now make us favourites against Porto,” Chelsea’s manager said. “That will not help us because you can ask in Turin their opinion about whether it helps you to be favourites.” PSG, who knocked out Barcelona in the last 16, will have their work cut out against Bayern. “Difficult draw, but surprises exist,” PSG’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, said. “We knocked out Barcelona and now we focus on Bayern.” The quarter-final ties are due to be played on 6-7 and 13-14 April, with the semi-finals later that month and in early May.
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#1979e6
MatchDay Commentator
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May 20, 2018 17:24:36 GMT
May 2018
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Post by Webster on Apr 8, 2021 23:48:50 GMT
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#1979e6
MatchDay Commentator
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May 20, 2018 17:24:36 GMT
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Post by Webster on Apr 15, 2021 18:13:59 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Apr 29, 2021 16:06:54 GMT
(BBC Sport) Chelsea produced a composed performance to secure a fully deserved draw and a crucial away goal to put themselves in a promising position after their Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid. Thomas Tuchel's side were superior on the night and might even regard themselves as unfortunate not to take an advantage into the return at Stamford Bridge in eight days' time as they set their sights on a final date against either Manchester City or Paris St-Germain in Istanbul on 29 May. Chelsea over-ran Madrid in the early stages and should have taken the lead when Timo Werner shot straight at keeper Thibaut Courtois from only six yards - but they were ahead after only 14 minutes when Christian Pulisic kept his cool to steer home a clever finish. Real were on the ropes but danger man Karim Benzema, who had glanced the outside of an upright from long range, brought them back into the game with a brilliant equaliser, cushioning the ball with a header before sending an acrobatic volley beyond Edouard Mendy in the 29th minute. Chelsea had the better of the second half but could not carve out the chance to score a potentially vital second. Manager Tuchel will still be very satisfied with both the performance and result. (BBC Sport) Manchester City produced a superb display to come from behind and take control of their Champions League semi-final with victory against Paris St-Germain in France. Pep Guardiola's side fought their way through a scintillating early PSG surge when they fell behind to Marquinhos' header, glanced in from Angel di Maria's corner after 15 minutes, to dominate after the break and turn this first leg tie in Paris on its head. City, who had threatened before the break when Phil Foden missed a great chance, were much more positive and got the reward they deserved after 64 minutes when Kevin de Bruyne's menacing cross evaded everyone in the penalty area and drifted beyond motionless PSG keeper Kaylor Navas. PSG, with Neymar fading and Kylian Mbappe subdued, were ragged and Riyad Mahrez put City in a great position to reach their first Champions League final when his left-foot free-kick went through the wall to beat Navas seven minutes later. And to complete PSG's misery, former Everton midfield man Idrissa Gueye was rightly shown a red card late on for a dreadful challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.
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#1979e6
MatchDay Commentator
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May 20, 2018 17:24:36 GMT
May 2018
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Post by Webster on May 6, 2021 18:03:14 GMT
(BBC Sport) Manchester City reached their first Champions League final as they overcame Paris St-Germain at Etihad Stadium to secure a commanding victory over two legs. In a game played in unseasonal snow, the brilliant Riyad Mahrez capped a sweeping move started by goalkeeper Ederson's 60-yard pass to extend their 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Paris. PSG suffered a serious blow before kick-off when world-class forward Kylian Mbappe was restricted to the bench because of injury. They did not lack endeavour or intent and had early hope when a penalty was awarded for a handball by Oleksandr Zinchenko before it was correctly overturned, but with Neymar subdued and City throwing bodies on the line in defence, Mauricio Pochettino's side could not find a way through. Mahrez punished them again just after the hour when he turned in Phil Foden's cross at the far post to effectively end the contest. PSG, as they did when Idrissa Gueye was sent off late in the first leg, lost their discipline and Angel di Maria was shown a red card for a senseless stamp on Fernandinho following a touchline tangle. City were in full control, avoiding further mishap to set up the Champions League final they and manager Pep Guardiola have craved, against either Chelsea or Real Madrid in Istanbul on 29 May. (BBC Sport) Chelsea will face Manchester City in the Champions League final in Istanbul after convincingly overcoming a fading Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. On a night of high tension, even behind closed doors, Chelsea fully deserved a victory that sets up an all-English final against Pep Guardiola's Premier League leaders on 29 May. Thomas Tuchel's hosts were grateful to goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for two fine first-half saves from Karim Benzema but they were able to build on the 1-1 draw they achieved in Madrid when Timo Werner headed in from almost on the goal-line in the 28th minute after Kai Havertz had lofted a finish on to the bar. It set the platform for a second half of total Chelsea domination that was nevertheless laced with anxiety as the hosts missed chance after chance to put the game to bed. Real's former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved from N'golo Kante and Havertz, who also headed against the bar, while Mason Mount shot wildly over the top when clean through. It was Mount, though, who finally sealed Chelsea's place in their first Champions League final since they won the competition in 2012. The outstanding Kante, who was also instrumental in the opening goal, fed substitute Christian Pulisic and his cross was turned in by Mount with five minutes left. The result adds another chapter to the remarkable transformation under Tuchel since he succeeded the sacked Frank Lampard in January - and gives him the chance to make amends for the 2020 Champions League final, when his Paris St-Germain side lost to Bayern Munich.
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#1979e6
MatchDay Commentator
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May 20, 2018 17:24:36 GMT
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Post by Webster on May 29, 2021 23:23:18 GMT
(BBC Sport) Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time with a fully deserved victory over Manchester City in an all-Premier League confrontation in Porto. Thomas Tuchel got the better of his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola for the third time since succeeding sacked Frank Lampard in January to bring European club football's biggest prize back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2012. Kai Havertz, blossoming after a slow start to his Chelsea career, got the winner three minutes before half-time when he collected a defence-splitting pass from Mason Mount to round City goalkeeper Ederson and score. It leaves City still searching for the Champions League, the trophy that has always eluded them, and Guardiola cannot escape scrutiny for his part in this defeat after taking a tactical gamble which backfired. Guardiola surprisingly decided against utilising either Rodri or Fernandinho as a defensive midfielder, leaving City with a muddled game plan that reduced their effectiveness and rarely presented Chelsea with any problems. Chelsea had the better opportunities throughout, Timo Werner wasting two good chances before Havertz struck and substitute Christian Pulisic squandering another in the second half. City, who lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury midway through the second half, threw on Sergio Aguero for his final appearance but there was no fairytale ending for the club's greatest goalscorer as Chelsea closed out the win. And for Tuchel it was elation after the disappointment of losing last year's final as manager of Paris St-Germain.
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