London, United Kingdom | AFP | Had their first experiences in English football gone as they would have wished, Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne could have been teammates rather than on a collision course for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final clash between Liverpool and Manchester City. How Chelsea fans must …
Read More »Functional Barcelona to play Conte’s Chelsea at their own game
Barcelona, SPAIN | AFP | Antonio Conte’s Chelsea will aim to frustrate Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday but they may find an opponent less expansive than they expect. Barca have set the standard in recent years for the most glittering style of …
Read More »Mourinho under fire after Man Utd’s meek Euro exit
Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho was condemned for his negative tactics after Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League to Sevilla, with Alexis Sanchez anonymous and Paul Pogba’s confidence apparently in tatters. United, riding high in the Premier League, started the second leg of their last-16 …
Read More »Barca will make late call on Iniesta before Chelsea – Valverde
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona will make a late decision on whether captain Andres Iniesta is fit to face Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, coach Ernesto Valverde has confirmed. Iniesta sustained a hamstring injury against Atletico Madrid on March 4 but the midfielder took part in a …
Read More »Dzeko strikes to take Roma into Champions League last eight
Rome, Italy | AFP | Roma reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 10 years as Edin Dzeko edged them past Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday and allowed the Italians to win the tie on away goals. The Bosnian striker’s 52nd-minute goal proved …
Read More »Champions League heartache not new for United, insists Mourinho
Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insisted European disappointment is nothing new for the English giants after losing 2-1 to Sevilla at Old Trafford to crash out of the Champions League by the same scoreline on aggregate. Wissam Ben Yedder struck twice in four second-half …
Read More »Pogba misses out again as Fellaini starts for Man Utd
Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho left Paul Pogba on the bench once more for Tuesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg against Sevilla with Marouane Fellaini making a surprise return instead. Pogba, who joined United for a then world record £89 million ($116 million) …
Read More »Defiant Pochettino proud of Spurs despite Juve collapse
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Mauricio Pochettino insisted Tottenham had nothing to be ashamed of after three minutes of madness ended their Champions League challenge in a painful 2-1 defeat against Juventus. Tottenham were on course to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011 when Son Heung-Min …
Read More »PSG project called into question after latest European let-down
Paris, France | AFP | After an honourable defeat to Barcelona on away goals in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013, Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated the club’s objective was to win the competition “in the next five years”. That deadline expired with Tuesday’s limp defeat to holders …
Read More »Klopp targets more after Liverpool end long wait for last eight
Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted the Champions League quarter-finals is where his side belong after ending a nine-year wait to reach the last eight on Tuesday. Despite settling for a goalless draw in an uninspiring last 16, second leg at Anfield, Liverpool eased past …
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