"We have to win because, when you lose too much, it's the end of the world for me also." Louis van Gaal
Showing posts with label UEFA Champions League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UEFA Champions League. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Mes Que un Club - Luis Enrique
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| Getty Images |
Luis Enrique, remains convinced his faltering team will end their winless run and retain the La Liga title after seeing their treble dreams dashed.
They have surrendered a nine-point lead over second-placed Atlético Madrid after losing their last three games and are now above them only thanks to a superior head-to-head record. Barça, whose Champions League defence was ended by Atlético in the Champions League quarter-finals last week, are also just one point in front of Real Madrid.
However, Luis Enrique remained positive before the trip to Deportivo La Coruña on Wednesday, after which they will have just four games left in the title race.
“I’m convinced we’re going to win the league, if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be sat here,” he said. “I like adversity, that’s how I am. I want to turn this around, win tomorrow and put on a show. I want to delight the fans who are behind us and can’t explain this situation.
Luis Enrique did not give any reasons for the dramatic loss of form, which has seen his side go from 39 games unbeaten in all competitions to losing four of their last five games.
“We are on a negative run but we don’t need to exaggerate. If it’s due to psychology, then we have the best psychologist around [at the club],” he added.
“We’re clinging on to our players and their attitude and their way of competing. We have had moments like this before, we know how to cope with pressure. But we’re playing against teams that can punish us with few chances.
“If the teams with the best players always won, football would be boring.”
Luis Enrique was also unapologetic for deriding a reporter who had asked him about the team’s fitness levels after Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat by Valencia.
"I have nothing to apologise for. I didn’t show anyone a lack of respect,” he said. “Journalists have also shown me a lack of respect. This is my style, I don’t care if you don’t like it.”
Barcelona, who had hoped to repeat the treble they won last season, will be without influential centre-back Gerard Piqué at Deportivo through suspension. He is set to be replaced by Marc Bartra, who has made just three league starts this season.
Monday, 4 April 2016
Wambach Apologises for DUI Arrest
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| Abby Wambach |
Retired U.S. soccer champ was arrested late Saturday night for driving under the influence in Portland, Oregon, authorities said.
Wambach, 35, was charged with a misdemeanour's and released on her own recognisance, jail records show.
In a statement, Portland Police said that Wambach was pulled over shortly after 11 p.m. when a police officer saw her drive through a red light. After failing a sobriety test, she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, the statement said.
In a note posted on her Facebook page, Wambach apologised and said that she was arrested after having dinner at a friend's house.
"Those that know me, know that I have always demanded excellence from myself. I have let myself and others down," she wrote. "I take full responsibility for my actions. This is all on me. I promise that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that my horrible mistake is never repeated."
Wambach added: "I am so sorry to my family, friends, fans and those that look to follow a better example."
In a statement, one of Wambach's sponsors, the car brand Mini, said it was pulling ads that feature her.
"We're obviously concerned about the alleged DUI attributed to Abby Wambach," the statement said. "This behaviour is against the values we promote as an organisation and the safety of everyone on the road is a priority here at MINI. Because of this, we are re-evaluating her association with the brand and are pulling content that individually features Abby from our marketing."
Some sponsors, including Nike, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Gatorade, citing Wambach's "heartfelt" Facebook post, said it "has no further comment at this time."
Wambach, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, retired last October, just three months after she played on the U.S. women's team that beat Japan 5-2 in the World Cup finals.
Since retiring, Wambach has actively campaigned for Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton and pushed FIFA, the international soccer association that has been under fire over allegations of widespread corruption, to include more women on its executive committee.
Wambach's arrest comes three days after several of her former team-mates announced that they were filing a wage-discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that will seek pay that equals male players
Friday, 1 April 2016
Barcelona Cruyff Tribute for El Clasico
Barcelona will pay further tribute to Johan Cruyff by wearing a shirt with the words ‘Gràcies Johan’ on their shirts for Saturday’s clásico against Real Madrid.
A mosaic with the same slogan will also be displayed by supporters across all four sides of Camp Nou before kick-off, while a minute’s silence and a video of Cruyff’s best moments will be played prior to the La Liga fixture.
Cruyff, a three-time world player of the year and pioneer of total football, died last week at the age of 68 having been diagnosed with lung cancer in October.
Barça lead third-placed Real by 10 points and could extend their unbeaten run to 40 games.
Atlético are currently second, nine points behind Luis Enrique’s team, and travel to the Camp Nou on Tuesday for the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final.
Friday, 25 March 2016
Jordi Expresses Thanks for Cruijff Tributes
Jordi Cruyff has expressed thanks for the tributes to his father, Dutch footballing great Johan Cruyff.
The former Barcelona and Ajax forward died of cancer, aged 68, on Thursday.
His family say they will hold a private funeral for the three-time European Footballer of the Year, while a public memorial will also be organised.
"It has touched us deeply that Johan was such an inspiration to many of you," said ex-Manchester United midfielder Jordi in a statement.
"On behalf of my mother, sisters and the rest of the family I would like to say thank you for all the love, kind words and memories that have been shared with us, since yesterday but also over the past months," added the 42-year-old, who played under his father at Barcelona.
Cruyff, who led Barca to their first European Cup in 1992 and also managed Ajax, is widely considered to be one of the world's greatest ever players.
Figures from the world of football, Dutch politicians and royalty were among those to
pay tribute on Thursday.
Earlier in the week Jordi said: "There are times when you're young, you see everybody coming up to your father and you don't know why. Of course now I look back and see what an amazing legend he is. They admire him, they respect him, they love him. It gives me a super-proud feeling. The ways he plays football, you still see a lot of football nowadays partly based on the idea he brought in 30 years ago as a coach. The national team was also known as the team of 'Total Football'. It's a legacy.
"In football, you have the mortals, which is 99.9 percent, and the immortals, the small percentage who will always be remembered. He's a legend. I can only be proud of that."
Friday, 18 March 2016
Bale Out of Wales Friendly Squad
Gareth Bale has been left out of Wales' squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Northern Ireland and Ukraine.
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey and West Ham defender James Collins are also absent from Chris Coleman's squad.
Coleman said Bale's absence was a joint decision between the Football Association of Wales and Real Madrid.
Wales host Northern Ireland in Cardiff on 24 March before travelling to Ukraine four days later.
Bale was also absent from the Wales squad that lost to the Netherlands in November, following correspondence with Madrid.
His availability for March was thought to depend on the impending birth of his second child.
Midfielder Andy King is also absent after missing Leicester City's win over Newcastle on Monday because of illness.
But Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies is included despite suffering a head injury in Thursday's Europa League loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Davies joined Spurs from Swansea City in July, 2014
Fulham defender Ashley Richards comes into the squad in place of Newcastle's Paul Dummett, who picked up a hamstring problem in January.
Richards' Fulham teammate George Williams also comes into midfield in the absence of King and Wolves' David Edwards - who required surgery on a foot injury.
The other changes from Coleman's 24-man squad in November see Southampton's George Isgrove, Brighton's Andrew Crofts, Reading Hal Robson-Kanu and Birmingham City's David Cotterill all recalled to a now-26-man squad.
Coleman on Bale: "It was a joint decision. Real Madrid have been absolutely first class all the way along.
"They have never ever put an obstacles in our way, so equally we have to recognise that, if you look at the last couple of months, they have been tough for Gareth fitness-wise.
"And looking at the bigger picture it is all about the summer, making sure we have our strongest squad going into the tournament and, of course, he is part of that.
"So at this moment in time it suits both parties that he does not come. It is not just the games, it will be the travelling as well."
"Both parties feel it is right he stays where he is, works there, gets treatment, does everything he needs to do there. I think he will benefit from that between now and the end of the season."
Coleman on the relationship with Real Madrid: "We have worked as hard with Real Madrid as with any other club. Internationals do not belong to us. I have said that before.
"We have to make sure we look after them when we get them and we treat them properly because if you do not, you gamble with their fitness and down the line you are going to be punished for that.
"You cannot blame clubs for reacting if their player has been pushed too much and you have gambled with him if he is carrying an injury, he goes back to his club and he can't play for three or four weeks.
"We have never ever done that. We have never gambled,
"But to be fair to Madrid, myself and Osian Roberts, we went out there spent a few days there. I think they appreciated that. We certainly did."
Full Wales squad
Goalkeepers: Hennessey, Ward, Fon Williams.
Defenders: A Williams (c), Chester, Davies, Gunter, Matthews, Taylor, Henley, Richards.
Midfielders: Ledley, Allen, Vaughan, Huws, J Williams, MacDonald, G Williams, Isgrove, Crofts.
Forwards: Cotterill, Robson-Kanu, Lawrence, Church, Vokes, Bradshaw.
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Football Legends - Ruud Krol
Rudolf Jozef “Ruud” Krol, born in Amsterdam, played most of his career for his hometown club Ajax.
He was only 20 when he was called up to the national team squad for the first time and stayed there for the next fourteen years. With Ajax, he was part of some of the best clubteams European football has ever seen. Three straight European Cups were won in the early seventies and many of his colleagues in Ajax, for instance Johann Cruyff, were also key-players for Holland.
Krol was a versatile defender who could play anywhere that was required. He was a great reader of the game which also made him successful as a sweeper in the 1978 World Cup. Four years earlier he had been equally successful at left-back.
The Dutch team of 1974 is always mentioned when people talk about great teams that never won the World Cup. Krol played in every minute in all seven games and also scored a goal, a cracking shot against Argentina in the 4-0 second phase win.
Krol was made captain by coach Ernst Happel for the 1978 World Cup and Holland advanced through the rounds much thanks to Krol’s presence. The team suffered from the lack of Cruyff in a creative midfield role, but neither Italy or West Germany could prevent Holland from reaching a second World Cup final in a row.
Holland and Krol, once again an ever-present, could not stop Argentina and Kempes in extra-time as the hosts ran out 3-1 winners.
Ruud moved to Canada to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1980. He returned back to Europe the following year to play four seasons for Napoli and later for Cannes in the French second division where he also ended his career.
He was capped 83 times for Holland, a record until Aron Winter broke it during Euro 2000.
Ruud Krol is currently manager of Raja Casablanca in Morocco
Ramos Reacts to Ronaldo Real Boos
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| Getty Images |
Real Madrid fans who jeered Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League win over Roma should "think a little first", says captain Sergio Ramos.
Ronaldo scored one and set up the other, but also missed several chances, as Real progressed with a 2-0 win.
The 31-year-old appeared to criticise some of his team-mates in February, although he claimed he was misquoted.
"I respect the fans but when things don't go well they should support their players," said defender Ramos.
"I would tell the fans to think a little first. We all want the best for Real Madrid," he told Spanish newspaper Marca.
Ramos, 29, added however that he could understand why a section of Real's fans criticised the club's all-time top scorer.
"When the fans at the Bernabeu boo you it is because they want to transmit their demands to you, they want to push us and see the best performance from us," said the Spain international.
Coach Zinedine Zidane told Spanish television that the jeers would "only motivate" Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, who scored his 40th goal of the season as Real made the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-0 aggregate win, questioned whether Real's squad had enough quality last month.
Picking out France forward Karim Benzema, Wales attacker Gareth Bale and Brazil full-back Marcelo as team-mates he particularly enjoyed playing with, Ronaldo claimed that if all of his colleagues were at his level "maybe we would be leaders".
Ronaldo has now scored 40 or more goals in six successive seasons at Real Madrid
Winger Lucas Vazquez, forward Jese and midfielder Mateo Kovacic were three players Ronaldo claimed were "not the same" as his preferred line-up.
Real Madrid are third in La Liga, 12 points behind Barcelona and four off Atletico Madrid.
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
WhatsApp Cristiano
Cristiano Ronaldo has apologised to his Real Madrid team-mates for claiming they are not at his level, according to reports in Spain.
Following Real’s 1-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid at the weekend, a result that leaves them third in La Liga, four points behind their city rivals and 12 points off leaders Barcelona, Ronaldo was quoted by the Press Association as saying: “If we were all at my level, maybe we would be leaders.
“I don’t want to disrespect anyone, but when the best players aren’t available it’s harder to win. I like to play with Karim [Benzema], with [Gareth] Bale, with Marcelo. I’m not saying the others like Lucas Vazquez, Jesé [Rodriguez] and Mateo Kovacic are not good players. They are very good players, but it’s not the same.”
Real centre-back Sergio Ramos defended his team-mate soon after the comments were made, saying: “I know Cristiano well and I don’t think he was trying to shift the blame onto any of his team-mates,” and the player himself has now also apparently moved to ease any offence his colleagues may have taken from his assessment of their abilities.
According to El Mundo, Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates via WhatsApp, and in an interview with Marca, the 31-year-old is reported as saying: “I was referring to the physical level, not level of play. I am not better than any of my team-mates.”
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