Archive for the ‘Sporting Lisbon’ Category
Football: Man Utd And Chelsea Looking At Italian Job
NYON, Switzerland : Holders Manchester United and fellow 2008 finalists Chelsea will have to battle their way to potential Champions League glory after being paired with Inter Milan and Juventus respectively on Friday.
But in a draw for the first knockout round that produced some mouth-watering fixtures between European football’s big guns United and Premier League rivals Chelsea were not alone in facing tough opposition.
Liverpool, winners in 2005, are also assured a tough passage to the quarter-finals of the competition after being drawn with nine-times champions Real Madrid.
Arsenal will look favourably on the task that awaits them after being drawn with Roma, whose Olympic stadium will host the final in May 2009.
However seven-times French champions Lyon face a tough task overcoming an on-form Barcelona, European champions in 2006, over two legs.
Elsewhere Spanish side Villarreal drew Panathinaikos of Greece in what must be regarded as a good outcome for both clubs, while Bayern Munich will surely be happy having drawn Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.
On-form Atletico Madrid meanwhile drew 2004 champions FC Porto.
The outcome of the draw means two former Chelsea coaches will find themselves back in England.
United will welcome back to Old Trafford former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, while Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri will return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2004.
Draw for the last 16, knockout round of the Champions League:
Match 1
Chelsea (ENG) v Juventus (ITA)
Match 2
Villarreal (ESP) v Panathinaikos (GRE)
Match 3
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Match 4
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v FC Porto (POR)
Match 5
Lyon (FRA) v Barcelona (ESP)
Match 6
Real Madrid (ESP) v Liverpool (ENG)
Match 7
Arsenal (ENG) v Roma (ITA)
Match 8
Inter Milan (ITA) v Manchester United (ENG)
- AFP/vm
Channel News Asia
Football: Ronaldo Vows To Hit New Heights After Ballon D’Or Triumph
LONDON: As Cristiano Ronaldo contemplated a year that has brought him enough silverware to last a lifetime, the Manchester United winger could have been forgiven for resting on his laurels.
But the Portuguese playmaker is determined to make his star shine even brighter in 2009 after beating Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres to the Ballon d’Or this week.
The award is given to Europe’s top footballer and, on the back of a phenomenal 2007-08 season in which he scored 42 goals for his Premier League and Champions League-winning club, there is little doubt that Ronaldo deserved the prize, yet he believes he can get even better.
“I always play with pressure because people always expect a lot from me and I don’t think that will change,” Ronaldo told United’s website, www.manutd.com.
“Winning this award makes me feel very happy inside because it’s one of the best days of my life.
“But my responsibilities are still the same; I want to continue to play well for my club and my country and try to do as well as last season.
“Of course I can improve - there are many things I still need to learn.
“You can never let yourself think you know everything. I am still very ambitious and I will continue to work very hard every day. I know it will be very hard to better last season, but I will try - if you don’t try you win nothing. A new season means a new challenge and I want to help the team win more trophies.”
Ronaldo becomes the first United player to win the award since the late George Best in 1968. Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton were also honoured in the 60s and the Portuguese winger was proud to follow in the footsteps of three of Old Trafford’s all-time greats.
“It’s amazing that only four players in the club’s history have won it, I didn’t know that until yesterday,” Ronaldo said.
“So it’s special for the club and obviously for me and I feel very proud to be part of the history of the Ballon D’Or and the history of this club. You work hard to win team awards and personal awards, but to win this one is very special.”
Ronaldo’s success is also a triumph for Ferguson, who gambled 12 million pounds on the Portuguese, then a precocious teenager with Sporting Lisbon, after he ran rings around United in a friendly.
“We are very proud. Manchester United had been waiting for this for 40 years,” Ferguson said.
“His award is beyond all possible dispute. He is only 23 years old. His best years are ahead of him.”
Ferguson’s assistant for much of Ronaldo’s time at Old Trafford was his fellow Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, now manager of the Portugual national team.
“As someone who was responsible for his training and preparation at Manchester United, I am really proud for his achievement, which was his dream and ambition,” Queiroz said.
“This award is also a challenge for him to keeping working as he has been doing so far in order to remain at the top and progress even further.”
AC Milan’s Kaka won the award last year and his coach at the Serie A, Carlo Ancelotti, admitted Ronaldo was a worthy successor.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best and most spectacular players in the world,” Ancelotti said.
The only dissenting voice came from across Milan, where Jose Mourinho, who had several run-ins with Ronaldo during his time at Chelsea, claimed the award should have gone to one of his Inter Milan stars.
“I have no praise for Ronaldo,” Mourinho said: “I would have preferred one of my own foreign players to have won the Ballon d’Or.”
- AFP/yb
Channel News Asia
Sentuhan Messi Ditagih
MADRID: Pendahulu Liga Sepanyol, Barcelona memburu prestasi cemerlang ketika menyingkirkan Sporting Lisbon daripada Liga Juara-Juara Eropah menjelang kunjungan ke Sevilla, hari ini.
Sentuhan hebat Lionel Messi yang menjadi kunci kemenangan, 5-2 di Portugal, untuk mengesahkan tempat pasukannya ke pusingan kalah mati Liga Juara-Juara, memaksa Barcelona sekali lagi bergantung kepada khidmat penyerang antarabangsa Argentina itu.
Dia direhatkan minggu lalu ketika menentang Getafe dan tanpa kehadirannya, Barca seakan hilang arah dan hanya mampu mencatat keputusan seri.
Messi membarisi kesebelasan utama menentang Sporting dengan bertindak selaku penyerang tengah bersama gandingan dua lagi penyerang, tetapi bertukar ke posisi sayap selepas Barca mendahului.
“Messi bermain selaku penyerang tengah kerana Sporting menggunakan formasi berlian dan saya fikir jika dia berada di bahagian tengah, dia mampu terus melepasi kawalan pertahanan tengah.
“Bermain di posisi sayap lebih tertekan dan kami mahu melindunginya,” kata jurulatih Barca, Pep Guardiola.
Sevilla memburu peningkatan keberkesanan jentera serangan dan sekalipun mengamalkan corak permainan menyerang, mereka bergelut menjaringkan gol musim ini.
Penyerang, Luis Fabiano lulus ujian kecergasan bersama pertahanan, Sebastian Squillaci dan Julien Escude.
Real Madrid, yang turut layak ke pusingan kalah mati Liga Juara-Juara, merapatkan jurang perbezaan kepada tiga mata di belakang pendahulu hasil kemenangan kurang meyakinkan ke atas Recreativo Huelva, minggu lalu. Mereka akan berdepan Getafe dengan deretan kecederaan berpanjangan diketuai Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Namun, moral mereka sedikit meningkat apabila Arjen Robben dan Fabio Cannavaro kembali menyertai sesi latihan pasukan.
Villarreal, muncul pasukan tunggal belum tewas dalam Liga Sepanyol sebelum rekod itu dimusnahkan pembunuh pasukan gergasi, Valladolid, hujung minggu lalu.
Kini, dengan tiket ke pusingan kalah mati Liga Juara-Juara sudah berada dalam tangan, mereka berpeluang mencurah tumpuan kepada saingan liga domestik dengan lawan berikutnya, Recreativo selaku pasukan tangga tercorot yang belum menang sepanjang tempoh 11 minggu. - AFP
Harian Metro