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Barcelona don't have unlimited resources like Manchester City & PSG, says Bartomeu
By Stefan Coerts
Mar 11, 2014 11:41:00 AM
The Blaugrana supremo has conceded that their European rivals' financial might could leave the Spanish giants trailing in their wake in the coming years
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has admitted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the reigning Spanish champions to compete with the financial might of clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Catalan giants have been one of the dominant forces in Europe in the 21st century, while City have struggled to make an impact in the Champions League despite massive investment from their Qatari owners.
However, the Barca chief believes the situation could well change over the coming years as City and PSG continue to draw on their "unlimited resources."
"The emergence of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain has made things more difficult," Bartomeu told BBC.
"In the last few years some clubs appear that are owned by one person that sometimes have unlimited resources and at Barca we don't have unlimited sources.
"Of course we are a very big club. We are the biggest club in the world but when we compete with unlimited resources we have to find other ways, other strategies."
Barcelona defend a 2-0 lead in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Manchester City at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
PSG, meanwhile, are on the verge of booking their ticket for the last eight after their 4-0 first-leg win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Trailing Paris Saint-Germain 4-0, Sami Hyypiä asked Bayer 04 Leverkusen to show no fear while Laurent Blanc is urging his charges to "remain vigilant" despite their lead.
His Bayer 04 Leverkusen side may trail Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 but Sami Hyypiä is hopeful an improved round of 16 second-leg showing at the Parc des Princes can give the German club something to build on for the remainder of the season. For Paris coach Laurent Blanc, meanwhile, Wednesday is a chance to prove the "richness of our squad" and that Paris are genuine contenders for a first-ever European Cup.
Paris
Laurent Blanc, coach
We don't necessarily fear anything about this match – we prepare for every fixture to win it. We respect these opponents, just like we respect every opponent. Each Champions League game requires thorough preparation. We're playing at home, so we'll have to take the game to them like we did in the away leg.
What can we achieve in this competition? I won't comment on the media's observations, as they regularly change their mind over us. What we can say is that we want to go as far as possible in this competition. I said earlier that we have nothing to fear from this match and that is true, but we'll have to remain vigilant as they lost 4-0 at home in the first leg [and will want to avenge that defeat].
Everybody knows the biggest contenders for the title – some have a greater history and tradition than Paris, but it's our aim to try and catch up, and match the club's ambitions.
Weekend result
Saturday: SC Bastia 0-3 Paris (Ibrahimović 6, Lavezzi 19 88)
Sirigu; Van der Wiel, Alex, Marquinhos, Maxwell; Verratti (Cabaye 65), Thiago Motta, Rabiot (Matuidi 65); Lucas (Pastore 80), Lavezzi; Ibrahimović.
• Zlatan Ibrahimović's opener, which lifted him to sixth on the club's all-time top scorers' list, was Paris's 100th goal of the season in all competitions.
Team news
Blanc says he "may have to rest" Ibrahimović despite the improving condition of his back injury. The coach also confirmed that Marco Verratti, Gregory van der Wiel, Blaise Matuidi, Hervin Ongenda and Kingsley Coman would not be involved against Leverkusen as he seeks to "rotate the squad because of the busy schedule". Jérémy Menez, who has started just one Ligue 1 game in 2014, did not travel to Bastia because of a calf complaint, while Zoumana Camara has been sidelined with a similar problem.
Leverkusen
Sami Hyypiä, coach
We won't have any motivation problems: this is a Champions League game and you don't need to motivate your players. We have played three very high-profile matches this season in the competition, two against Manchester United [FC] and the home leg versus Paris. Each time, we played with a bit of fear, so we need to approach this match better.
This is a new experience for me and I'm trying to learn as much as I can from every situation, this one included. It's not easy to have an influence on the game from the bench. The team needs to build confidence and self-belief, and one way to do so could be with a good performance here. The most important thing is we need to find some stability defensively, especially now that we're going through difficult times. I'll naturally ask my players to attack, even though we won't throw ourselves into all-out attack – we mainly have to improve our defensive play. And if we manage to deliver a good performance, it could help us for the rest of the season.
I've never known such comebacks [as the one required to qualify], neither as a coach nor as a player. I will not say we're going to win 4-0 or 5-0, but let's focus on delivering a good performance, both offensively and defensively. We will play to win, and aim to play without fear and impose our game. Of course it'll be very hard to win, but our goal is at least to deliver a good performance.
• The Werkself have lost eight of their 11 matches since the end of the group stage, including five of the last six. Bernd Leno made his fifth penalty save of the campaign during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Hannover 96.
Team news
Jens Hegeler tore a ligament in his right ankle on Saturday and is likely to sit out the rest of the campaign. Lars Bender missed the Hannover game due to thigh problems while Stefan Reinartz (heel) and Ömer Toprak (ankle) have also been struggling – although both trained on Tuesday. "Bender and Toprak are very uncertain and we will delay our decision on Reinartz until after training," said Hyypiä.
Match fact
• It is five years since a Paris side including Camara won their only previous two-legged tie against Bundesliga opposition, 5-1 on aggregate against VfL Wolfsburg in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup round of 32.
Gerardo Martino says FC Barcelona must avoid the mistakes they made on Saturday as they defend a 2-0 lead against a Manchester City FC team also beaten at the weekend.
by Lucy Turner
from Barcelona
FC Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino hopes his team can put domestic disappointments to one side and pick up where they left off against Manchester City FC in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 decider.
Barcelona's visitors also suffered a surprise defeat at the weekend, but Rubén Cousillas – who will deputise for suspended City manager Manuel Pellegrini – says the frustration felt after their FA Cup elimination is "forgotten" as they seek to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit away to "the best team in the world".
Barcelona
Gerardo Martino, coach
After the match in Valladolid I said we made mistakes but under different circumstances – because all our defeats this season have been different. There's not a specific reason for us being inconsistent. We need to be more consistent at this stage of the season to maintain our chances of winning all three competitions [Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League].
We have talked a lot individually and as a group, but this is a different competition, we have a positive result behind us and we played well in Manchester.
I don't think the players are not motivated. Every season the players know they have to fight to win a trophy – they know the club and they know what's expected, so I don't need to give them extra motivation. We made lots of mistakes against Valladolid and that isn't normal for this team.
We have to think that ten or 12 days ago, we played a very good match against Manchester City. I don't see why we can't do the same tomorrow and I'm sure we will play well. We have to separate the league from the Champions League and we are at an advantage, so Valladolid has to be put to one side.
• Third-placed Barcelona fell four points behind leaders Real Madrid CF after their second Spanish Liga defeat in three games.
Team news
Jonathan Dos Santos (knee) remains sidelined. José Manuel Pinto has been included in the squad following a bout of lumbago.
Manchester City
Rubén Cousillas, assistant manager
It's difficult to say when we will score a goal because Barcelona are the best team in the world with the best players in the world. All clubs go through tough times at some point in the season, but I don't think that will be a determining factor tomorrow.
The decisions are taken by [Manuel] Pellegrini. I have worked with him for 13 years and I know what he wants. Tomorrow he can't be on the bench [because of suspension] so it's up to me to make substitutions, etc.
We had a big sense of frustration because we wanted to be back at Wembley and win another cup, but Wigan surprised us. We have turned the page and we have experienced and quality players, which means we are more united than ever and we have forgotten everything in preparation for tomorrow.
We were the only [English] team to be alive in four competitions until Sunday. We are still standing in three competitions and we will fight until the last moment and won't settle for a defeat tomorrow.
We don't listen to what's said about Barcelona being in crisis. They are the best team and players are human beings who can have a low moment – but we have to respect the quality they have.
Weekend result
Sunday: Manchester City 1-2 Wigan Athletic FC (Nasri 68; Gómez 27pen, Perch 47)
Pantilimon, Richards, Demichelis, Lescott, Clichy; Navas (Milner 53), Touré (Silva 53), Garcia, Nasri; Negredo (Džeko 53), Aguero.
• City's FA Cup hopes were ended by holders Wigan in the quarter-finals, in a repeat of last year's final when City went down 1-0. Wigan are managed by former City striker Uwe Rösler.
Team news
Stevan Jovetić has a hamstring injury, while Matija Nastasić is out with a knee problem.
Match fact
• Barcelona have progressed 32 out of the 34 times they won the away first leg in UEFA competition, most recently against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 2011/12 round of 16. They have let a two-goal advantage slip, however, their 4-2 win at FC Metz preceding a 4-1 home reverse in the 1984/85 European Cup Winners' Cup first round.
UEFA Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain 2 Bayer Leverkusen 1 (6-1 agg)
12 March 2014
There was no UEFA Champions League miracle at the Parc des Princes as Bayer Leverkusen crashed out 6-1 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain.
Trailing 4-0 from a catastrophic first leg at the BayArena, the Bundesliga outfit were afforded no chance of progressing on Wednesday, even after Sidney Sam opened the scoring with a close-range header just five minutes in.
Their faint hopes were dashed soon after when defender Marquinhos registered his third goal in the competition this term to level the scores after 13 minutes - with Simon Rolfes' saved penalty signalling it was not to be for Sami Hyypia's men.
PSG have lost only once at home in all competitions since November 2012 and Ezequiel Lavezzi kept that record safe when he put the hosts in front with a cool finish from inside the area nine minutes after the break.
Leverkusen applied plenty of pressure on PSG in the second half, but the dismissal of Emre Can took away the chance to salvage pride, as the Ligue 1 champions eased into the quarter-finals.
Can had forced Salvatore Sirigu into an early stop, curling an effort on target after just three minutes, and Leverkusen's hopes of a comeback were given an early boost when Sam got on the end of Giulio Donati's cross from the right.
It was nothing more than their positive start deserved but the hosts were level shortly after when Marquinhos rose highest in the penalty area to head home Yohan Cabaye's corner.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose first-leg brace helped put Leverkusen to the sword in Germany, almost doubled the hosts' advantage with a dinked effort that struck the crossbar before captain Rolfes wasted a glorious opportunity from 12 yards to rekindle hopes of a recovery.
After Eren Derdiyok was hauled down by Christophe Jallet, Rolfes saw his penalty saved by Sirigu as the skipper spurned the chance to keep some pressure on their French opponents.
PSG then got back on the front foot before the break, Cavani swivelling well in the box before firing straight at Bernd Leno, with Lavezzi putting PSG ahead for the first time early in the second half.
Digne's cutback was met by Lavezzi who made no mistake in tucking the ball past Leno - maintaining their impressive record at the Parc des Princes.
With nothing to play for, Leverkusen continued to play with freedom - Omer Toprak and Gonzalo Castro both testing Sirigu - while at the other end a strangely out-of-sorts Ibrahimovic ballooned an effort over the crossbar.
However Can's second yellow card midway through the second half hampered Hyypia's side further while home boss Laurent Blanc was able to take off Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic and Cavani ahead of a tough Ligue 1 test against Saint-Etienne at the weekend.
UEFA Champions League: Barcelona 2 Manchester City 1 (4-1 agg)
12 March 2014
Lionel Messi and Dani Alves were on target again as Barcelona beat Manchester City 2-1 to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Messi's 28th goal of the season put Barca in front at Camp Nou, but Vincent Kompany looked to have denied the Spanish champions victory on the night when he equalised a minute from time.
Messi and Alves had scored in a 2-0 first-leg victory at the Etihad Stadium and Brazil full-back Alves popped up again with a late goal to seal the victory for the Spanish giants in time added on, as Barca progressed 4-1 on aggregate.
It could even have been more comfortable, as Messi was unfortunate not to be awarded a first-half penalty following a challenge from Joleon Lescott and then struck a post in the second half.
Neymar had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside as Barca coasted into the last eight to ease the pressure on coach Gerardo Martino, who was given a vote of confidence this week after Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Real Valladolid.
City had Pablo Zabaleta sent off for a second bookable offence after he showed dissent 12 minutes from time after referee Stephane Lannoy had somehow failed to award a penalty when Edin Dzeko was brought down by Gerard Pique, as they crashed out of the competition three days after losing to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup quarter-final.
Martino made two changes to the Barca side beaten by Valladolid on Saturday, with Jordi Alba and Andres Iniesta replacing Adriano and Pedro.
Lescott, Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero were the only City players to retain their starting places following Sunday's shock FA Cup defeat.
City were aggrieved with a penalty awarded to Messi in the first leg, but they got lucky when the Argentina forward appeared to be caught by Lescott just eight minutes in and referee Lannoy saw nothing untoward.
The Premier League side were fortunate once again 17 minutes in, when Neymar had the ball in the back of the net, but marauding full-back Alba was adjudged to be offside, despite appearing to have timed his run to perfection.
The Brazil forward then fired into the side-netting before Joe Hart denied Xavi and Nasri spurned City's best chance of the first half when he shot straight at Victor Valdes from inside the penalty area after a fine move.
City were indebted to Fernandinho a minute before the break when he headed Neymar's shot off the line to ensure that the first half ended goalless.
Aguero was withdrawn at the break due to a hamstring injury and his replacement, Dzeko, took just a minute to test Valdes with a right-foot strike.
Lescott breathed a sigh of relief when he gave the ball away and Messi ended a trademark run with a measured left-foot shot that struck the post five minutes after the break.
City needed a minor miracle, but they looked far more threatening in the opening stages of the second half - Valdes producing an outstanding reflex save to keep out a Dzeko header that looked destined for the top corner of the net.
Zabaleta then sliced a left-footed shot just wide.
Messi finally eased Barca's nerves after 66 minutes though, coolly finishing with the outside of his left foot after Lescott had clumsily failed to deal with Cesc Fabregas' attempted throughball.
City ought to have had a spot-kick 12 minutes from time when Pique brought down Dzeko, but the French official waved play on and then sent off Zabaleta for his protests.
Kompany did give them something to shout about when he turned in from close range a minute from time.
But Alves had the final say, as he calmly slotted home a minute into stoppage time after good work from Iniesta to set the seal on the victory.
UEFA are investigating Bayern Munich over the conduct of their supporters during Tuesday's Champions League clash with Arsenal.
Reigning champions Bayern progressed to the quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate victory, but two banners displayed by home fans at the Allianz Arena could land the club in hot water.
One crudely made banner depicted a man in an Arsenal away strip bent over in front of a cannon and was emblazoned with the words "Gay Gunners", while another read "Say no to racism, say yes to Kosovo" in reference to a campaign to have the territory officially recognised by FIFA.
The European governing body are also looking into the late kick-off of Tuesday's second-leg clash.
In a statement, UEFA said: "Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against FC Bayern Munchen for discriminatory behaviour of their supporters (art. 14 DR), display of an illicit banner (art. 16 (2) (e) DR), and late kick-off (art. 11 (2) (g) DR) at their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against Arsenal FC (1-1), which was played in Germany on Tuesday.
"The case will be dealt with by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on 20 March."
Celtic were fined €50,000 in December for the display of "illicit" banners in their home tie with Milan.
Ajax were also fined €10,000 by UEFA last season for displaying a banner referencing Manchester City's ownership when facing the Premier League club.
Ozil hits back at criticism after Bayern Munich defeat
By James Goldman
Mar 13, 2014 4:00:00 PM
The German midfielder has claimed that he had to play through the pain for 43 minutes at the Allianz Arena before finally being forced off
Mesut Ozil has responded to criticism of his performance against Bayern Munich by revealing he suffered a hamstring injury in just the second minute of Arsenal’s clash with the German champions.
The former Real Madrid playmaker was painted as the scapegoat as the Gunners failed to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit, eventually losing 3-1 on aggregate despite earning a creditable draw at the Allianz Arena.
Ozil struggled to make an impact in the opening 45 minutes and was withdrawn at half-time with a hamstring injury that will rule him out of this weekend’s north London derby.
“Now it's clear: during the Champions League match against FC Bayern I suffered a muscle injury in the second minute,” he wrote on his official Facebook page.
“I tried to give my best and played until the end of the first half. Rest assured that I'll be back even stronger!”
Ozil is yet to receive the results of scans that will reveal whether or not he will be able to return in time to make a significant impact during Arsenal’s testing run-in which sees them host Manchester City as well as travel to Chelsea and Everton, while they are also due to face Wigan at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final next month.
Next up for Arsenal, meanwhile, is the north London derby against Tottenham and Goal understands the Gunners will also be without Aaron Ramsey for the trip to White Hart Lane.
The Wales international is believed to be progressing slower than expected from a thigh injury and is not now expected to return to action until Arsenal's Premier League clash with Chelsea.
Real Madrid-Schalke Preview: Hosts on the brink of the last eight
Carlo Ancelotti's side hold a 6-1 first-leg lead and the Gelsenkirchen outfit will need a minor miracle to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals
By Matthew Rogerson
Real Madrid celebrate a Karim Benzema goal against Schalke. Getty
Schalke must overcome Real Madrid, a five-goal deficit and the history books if they are to seal a Champions League quarter-final spot.
Carlo Ancelotti's side ran riot in the first leg in Gelsenkirchen last month, with braces from Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale helping the visitors to a 6-1 win.
That scoreline all but confirms Madrid's presence in the last eight of Europe's premier club competition, with Schalke unlikely to produce a rare comeback on Tuesday at the Bernabeu.
In European competition, Jens Keller's men have been beaten in all three ties where they lost at home in the first leg and will need a minor miracle if they are to arrest that run against the Spanish table-toppers.
Real have scored 26 goals in the Champions League this season and remain on course for a treble due to impressive performances in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Ancelotti's side have won their last 16 home games in all competitions and have conceded only twice at the Bernabeu since the turn of the year.
Madrid maintained their three-point lead in the Spanish top flight at the weekend thanks to a 1-0 win over Malaga, sealed by Ronaldo.
While Ancelotti's side are in fine fettle domestically, Schalke have also been in impressive form themselves since returning from Germany's mid-season break.
Keller's men have lost once twice in all competitions in 2014 - the drubbing at the hands of los Blancos and an equally comprehensive 5-1 defeat to runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
While they will most likely see their European campaign ended on Tuesday in Madrid, the form of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has helped put Schalke in with a great chance of Champions League qualification for next season.
The former Madrid striker has eight goals in nine games since returning from a knee injury, helping them to third in the German top flight and Schalke will need him to produce on Tuesday if they are to achieve the impossible in the Spanish capital.
Captain Benedikt Howedes acknowledged the dream of European glory is over for another season but explained his team-mates will give it their all regardless.
"We want to sign off from Europe on a high note. Unfortunately, losing 6-1 to Madrid brought a good Champions League season to an end," he told the club's official website.
"What's more important now is that the last impression we leave in this year's competition is positive for us and the club."
Midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng added: "We want to get stuck into things again, even if we know it's impossible to progress. We're not going to Madrid to see the sights. We want to put in a good performance."
Benzema (thigh) is a worry for Ancelotti after limping off in Saturday's win over Malaga while Jefferson Farfan may not feature for the visitors due to a knee complaint.
Chelsea - Galatasaray Preview: Drogba returns to Stamford Bridge
The striker's last act for the Blues was to score the winning penalty in the Champions League final in 2012 - and will now look to knock them out on his homecoming
By Dom Farrell
Coaches with contrasting fortunes in the Champions League meet again on Tuesday as Chelsea and Galatasaray seek a quarter-final place.
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea took an early lead during the first leg of the last-16 tie in Istanbul through Fernando Torres.
Mourinho is a two-time winner of European football's major prize, with Porto and Inter in 2004 and 2010 respectively, and is looking to become the first manager to lift the trophy with three different clubs.
However, a shrewd tactical change by Galatasaray coach Roberto Mancini brought his side back into the contest and Aurelien Chedjou found the net from close range to earn a deserved 1-1 draw.
Mancini's successful reshuffle marked a rare moment of Champions League inspiration for the Italian, a winner of multiple domestic league titles who has failed to translate such a decorated CV into continental success.
Last May, Mancini - who led Inter to three successive Serie A crowns - was sacked by Manchester City a year to the day after delivering the club's first English title for 44 years.
A failure to progress from the group stages in two successive Champions League campaigns appeared a significant factor in City's decision, but Mancini can make a statement by guiding Galatasaray into the last eight.
Defensive midfielder Yekta Kurtulus could have a vital role to play for Galatasaray, who must stem the creative talents of the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar to overcome an outfit that have displayed imposing form at Stamford Bridge.
In seven home European knockout matches since a 1-0 loss to Manchester United in 2011, Chelsea have recorded six wins and one draw.
Mancini appeared to overplay his hand with a four-pronged attack in the first leg, but the decision to replace Izet Hajrovic with Kurtulus enabled Galatasaray to gain a measure of control.
An engine room also likely to boast the combative qualities of Felipe Melo and Selcuk Inan could hold the key to the contest.
However, it is Galatasaray's attacking figurehead who will receive the most attention.
Didier Drogba was a talismanic presence across eight seasons with Chelsea, netting the decisive penalty as they claimed Champions League glory on his final appearance in 2012.
The veteran Ivory Coast striker is unsure of exactly how he will react to an emotional homecoming.
"I had mixed feelings," he told UEFA.com when asked about being drawn against Chelsea.
"First of all I was happy to play against my ex-club, against my friends. But at the same time it is a very special moment because I do not know what my reaction will be.
"You know that I spent eight years at Chelsea, so I really don't know. I am quite apprehensive about it."
Mar 16, 2014 2:05:00 PM
The Italian fired a jibe at his counterpart as their feud rumbles on ahead of Galatasaray's visit to Chelsea, while praising Antonio Conte's Juventus
Roberto Mancini says he and Jose Mourinho are not close and claimed that the Chelsea manager does not even like having friends.
The Italian stoked the flames ahead of Galatasaray's Champions League first-leg tie with Chelsea last month by saying that he built the Inter team that won the treble under Mourinho in 2009-10.
But the former Manchester City boss insisted that they were fair comments and that Mourinho took them to heart as Chelsea and Mancini's Galatasaray prepare to clash again in the return game at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday with the last-16 tie finely balanced at 1-1.
"I said some perfectly normal things," he told La Repubblica newspaper, "but someone stirred it up into controversy and he really did get offended.
"In Istanbul we saw each other and only said 'hello'. We certainly aren't friends.
"I don't think Mourinho wants to have friends, or maybe that's just the way he likes to appear."
Mancini was more complimentary about Antonio Conte's Juventus side, saying that the runaway Serie A leaders evoked memories of the Inter team he was in charge of between 2004 and 2008.
"I think Juventus can reach 100 points this season," he said. "We nearly did it seven years ago with Inter.
"This Juve really reminds me of our Inter, as we were just too strong for the rest.
"We had Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Julio Cesar and Maicon, who I had sought out, then Hernan Crespo, Luis Figo, Dejan Stankovic.
"Juve have the best players, but that's not enough to win, as you need the right attitude. In that sense, Conte's done a great job."
Drogba warns he will afford Chelsea no favours at Stamford Bridge
Former Blues hero makes it clear his allegiance is to his Turkish masters as he returns to the ground where he forged his reputation
Didier Drogba has friends at Chelsea, such as Branislav Ivanovic. Photo: AP
Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba has warned Chelsea not to expect any favours when he makes an emotional return to his old club for a decisive Champions League last-16 encounter on Tuesday night.
Jose Mourinho's side are reeling after a tempestuous 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday ended their 14-match unbeaten run in the Premier League and cast doubt on their ability to cope with the pressure of the title race.
The Blues imploded in spectacular fashion as Willian and Ramires were sent off, while Mourinho also got his marching orders from referee Chris Foy after stepping on to the pitch to protest during the row that followed Ramires' dismissal.
The FA was due to examine Foy's match report before deciding whether to charge Mourinho, but there was no escaping the sense that Chelsea need to quickly recover their equilibrium to stop a promising season going up in smoke.
Mourinho's men remain four points clear at the top of the table, but they have less margin for error in the Champions League, where, following a 1-1 draw between the sides in Istanbul last month, a win or high-scoring draw for Galatasaray at Stamford Bridge would send the Turks into the quarter-finals.
In the circumstances, it will be something of a bittersweet reunion with Drogba, who is certain to be greeted as a returning hero by Chelsea fans before the match but could end up shattering their European dreams by the end of the night.
Drogba, who remains close to Mourinho and is reportedly considering an offer to return to Chelsea as a striker coach next season, won every major prize during a glorious eight-year stay in west London.
He was the hero of the club's 2012 Champions League final victory against Bayern Munich, scoring a late equaliser and then netting the winning penalty in the shoot-out to seal Chelsea's first-ever European Cup.
On the eve of his first appearance at Stamford Bridge since his departure immediately after that unforgettable night in Munich, Drogba admitted he is somewhat nervous about how he will react to being the centre of attention on the field.
"First of all I was happy to play against my ex-club, against my friends. But at the same time it is a very special moment because I do not know what my reaction will be," Drogba said.
"You know that I spent eight years at Chelsea, so I really don't know. I am quite apprehensive about it.
"It's the club where I experienced everything. It allowed me to get closer to the best players in the world."
Drogba makes no attempt to hide his love for Chelsea, but he would relish another run to the latter stages of the competition, even if it comes at the expense of his old friends.
"I hope that Galatasaray qualify. It will be difficult, but I think that regarding the welcome, I think I'm allowed to say that I will receive a warm welcome, because I know Chelsea's fans and our relationship is really special," Drogba said.
"It will be great to see them again. I am looking forward to it."
There was one piece of good news for Mourinho after the Villa match as it emerged that Samuel Eto'o is expected to be fit for the Galatasaray tie.
Eto'o sat out the Villa game, but Fernando Torres gave a lacklustre performance in his place and Mourinho is likely to throw the Cameroon striker back into the fray.
Despite Saturday's troubling defeat, Chelsea are still firm favourites to advance to the last eight in Europe, which would be a welcome tonic for Mourinho, who has never hidden his dislike for Galatasaray coach Roberto Mancini.
"In Istanbul we saw each other and only said, 'Hello'. We certainly aren't friends," Mancini was quoted as telling Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
"I don't think Mourinho wants to have friends, or maybe that's just the way he likes to appear."
In Tuesday's other last-16 encounter, Real Madrid welcome Schalke to the Bernabeu holding an insurmountable 6-1 advantage from the first leg in Germany three weeks ago.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti is likely to rest a number of first-team regulars, ahead of Sunday's La Liga clash with Barcelona. Squad players Isco, Asier Illarramendi and Jese Rodriguez are all expected to play.
Real misfit Isco could get starring role against Schalke
By Tim Hanlon
BARCELONA Mon Mar 17, 2014 2:18am GMT
Real Madrid's Isco is congratulated by his coach Carlo Ancelotti after he was substituted during their Spanish First Division soccer match against Malaga at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga March 15, 2014. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
(Reuters) - Real Madrid, who have all but sealed a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after their 6-1 first-leg away victory over Schalke, could hand Isco another opportunity to prove his worth in the return on Tuesday.
The playmaker has not been able to hold down a regular place in Carlo Ancelotti's side since his big-money move from Malaga.
Isco was one of the hottest properties on the market at the end of last season after a starring role for Malaga as they progressed to the last eight of the Champions League.
He was among yet another generation of young Spanish players who had come off the conveyer belt and his success with the Spain Under-21 side meant that a place in this year's World Cup squad was on the cards.
His strong technique, awareness and astute passes playing behind the forward line led to admiring glances from Europe's top sides but it was Real that beat the rest to his signature for a figure believed to be around 27 million euros.
Since then, however, it has not gone according to plan for Isco who has not been able to find a role in Real's expensively assembled squad.
He has been tried on the wings, in attack and a deeper role in midfield but
Part of the reason is that after a slow start to the season, the Italian has found success with a 4-3-3 formation that does not ideally suit Isco's attributes of picking the passes behind the forwards.
Still, Ancelotti has far from given up on the player and believes that Isco can adapt to a new position, comparing him to Dutchman Clarence Seedorf.
"He is pushing for a starting place. I have complete confidence in him. In the past I had a similar situation with Seedorf and plugging away he was able to become a key player for Milan," Ancelotti said earlier this month.
Isco was given the chance in midfield against Malaga at the weekend with Angel Di Maria left on the bench as he was only a booking away from a suspension.
He struggled to get involved in the game, though, and was taken off after an hour in the 1-0 win. But striker Karim Benzema's thigh injury, picked up in a collision with Cristiano Ronaldo, could give him a chance in attack against Schalke.
"When Isco was playing in midfield he did well and later he had to change position due to the knock for Benzema and he can do that role without any problems," said Ancelotti.
Benzema has undergone tests to establish the extent of the injury and while it is not thought to be serious he is unlikely to be ready to face Schalke.
His target will be the crunch match with Barca in La Liga at the weekend with Real holding a four point lead at the top over their bitter rivals.
Keller: Schalke must not fear 'amazing' Real Madrid
By Myfanwy Garman
Mar 17, 2014 5:58:00 PM
The 43-year-old feels that los Blancos are one of the two best teams in Europe, alongside Bayern Munich, but he is demanding a better performance from his side at the Bernabeu
Jens Keller has challenged his Schalke side to play the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid without the "fear" they exhibited in Gelsenkirchen.
The German outfit lost 6-1 at the Veltins-Arena and there are concerns that the Bundesliga outfit could suffer further embarrassment at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Keller is hopeful that his players will rise to the challenge this time around, even though he feels that they are going up against one of the two best teams in Europe.
“We have a young team and this match can be a good experience process,” the Schalke boss told reporters. “We have to do better than in the home match.
“We must be more compact and not let the opponent grow. Fear is not an acceptable word in football. We are going to try to do our best.
“Maybe players with small problems or injuries will not play. I do not have many options but we will try to play with our young players.
“Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are the strongest teams in the world.
“Bayer Leverkusen played bravely against PSG in Paris and we want to do the same. We must to be realistic; Real Madrid are an amazing team and when you lose 6-1 in the first leg it is not easy to reach the quarter-finals.”
Schalke are currently sat third in the Bundesliga, 24 points off league leaders Bayern.
Factfile on Real Madrid and Schalke 04 ahead of the Champions League last 16, second leg tie between the clubs on Tuesday:
Form: Real's below par performance in their away win over struggling Malaga on Saturday still saw them win 1-0 and extend their unbeaten run to 30. Schalke travel more in hope than expectation after the 6-1 hammering in the first leg but at least Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is in fine form having scored five goals in his last two Bundesliga appearances -- including a double in Friday's 2-1 win over Augsburg that saw them move up to third in the table -- and will want to make a point against a team with whom he never produced his best.
Coaches:
Real Madrid - Carlo Ancelotti (ITA) -- 54 yrs
Schalke - Jens Keller (GER) -- 43 yrs
Leading scorers in all competitions:
Real Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo (39 goals)
Schalke - Jefferson Farfan, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (both 11 goals)
Domestic league performance:
Real Madrid - Top of La Liga, three points clear of Atletico Madrid and four ahead of Barcelona
Schalke - Third in the Bundesliga, 24 points off leaders Bayern Munich but on course for another Champions League campaign next season.
Group stage performances:
Real Madrid - Winners of Group B ahead of Galatasaray
Schalke - Second in Group E behind Chelsea
European Cup/Champions League best performances:
Real Madrid - winners 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002
Schalke - semi-finals 2010/11
Other honours:
Real Madrid - 32 x Spanish champions, 18 x Copa del Rey winners, 2 x UEFA Cup winners, 1 x European Super Cup winners, 3 x Intercontinental Cup winners
Schalke - 7 x German champions (none in Bundesliga era), 5 x German Cup winners, 1 x UEFA Cup winners
Previous meetings:
Schalke 1 Real Madrid 6 -- 2013/14 Champions League last 16 first leg
With four already through, UEFA eyes the second legs, with positive omens for Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester United FC needing a famous comeback.
While Chelsea lost only one round of 16 tie between 2005/06 and 2011/12, Galatasaray have not won in eight visits to English clubs, drawing three and losing five. Overall their record against English opponents is W3 D8 L7.
Real Madrid CF (6) v FC Schalke 04 (1)
Madrid have lost just twice on the 25 occasions they have hosted German visitors in the Spanish capital, with 19 victories and four draws. The first-leg reverse means Schalke have won only two of their last 14 encounters with Spanish clubs, suffering seven defeats. In 12 away games against Liga sides their record is W2 D5 L5.
Borussia Dortmund (4) v FC Zenit (2)
Zenit have lost all three ties in which they succumbed at home in the first leg, each in the UEFA Cup: against 1. FC Dynamo Dresden in the 1981/82 first round (1-2 home, 1-4 away), VfB Stuttgart in the 1989/90 second round (0-1 home, 0-5 away) and Bologna FC in the 1999/2000 first round (0-3 home, 2-2 away).
Manchester United FC (0) v Olympiacos FC (2)
The English title holders have won all their previous home matches against Greek teams, while Olympiacos have fallen on every one of their 11 trips to England. However, United have mounted a successful fightback just once after a first-leg defeat in the UEFA Champions League. That came when they overwhelmed AS Roma 7-1 after a 2-1 reverse in Italy in the 2006/07 quarter-finals. Furthermore, they have lost the away first leg 16 times in UEFA competition, and on only six of those occasions have they come back to win the tie. When facing a two-goal deficit at Old Trafford they have won three ties and lost four.
Schalke aim to give Madrid sterner second-leg test
Published: Monday 17 March 2014, 18.36CET
Having suffered a 6-1 first-leg defeat, FC Schalke 04 must follow Bayer 04 Leverkusen's example and salvage some pride at Real Madrid CF according to Jens Keller.
by Marcos Prieto
from Madrid
Like domestic rivals Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Schalke 04 approach the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie heavily in arrears following a sizeable home defeat.
A 6-1 loss to Real Madrid CF last month means the Royal Blues are essentially playing for pride against a side 30 games unbeaten, so coach Jens Keller wants his team to show the same tenacity Leverkusen displayed in narrowly succumbing 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain last week. Keller's counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti, will make changes, but recognises the value of maintaining Madrid's "good form" heading into this weekend's showdown with FC Barcelona.
Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti, coach
We will make some changes because some players are physically tired. The Málaga match was tough and we had to travel.
I have coached many teams with a lot of quality, so it's hard to say which one is the best. This squad has everything; it has character, experience and youth. I'm doing the best I can for this club and I'm very happy to be here.
In the Liga, we have a small lead, but it's different in the UEFA Champions League or Copa del Rey. We have to play a good game tomorrow because it's an important UEFA Champions League match and we must keep our good form going. We have to respect our work, the competition and our opponents.
Weekend result
Saturday: Málaga CF 0-1 Madrid (Ronaldo 23)
Diego López; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Modrić (Illarramendi 90), Alonso, Isco (Jesé 63); Bale, Benzema (Di María 32), Ronaldo.
• Madrid are 30 games unbeaten, winning 25, the longest run without defeat in Ancelotti's coaching career. They have won 18 of their last 20 matches.
Team news
Isco, Jesé, Álvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo will all start against Schalke but Ancelotti says Karim Benzema is out with a thigh injury sustained at the weekend. He is confident the striker will return for Sunday's Liga meeting with Barcelona.
Schalke
Jens Keller, coach
We have a young team and this match can be a good experience. We have to do better than in the home game. We must be more compact and not let our opponents grow. We are going to try to do our best. Maybe players with small problems or injuries won't play. I don't have many options, but we will try to play our young players.
Real Madrid and Bayern München are the strongest teams in the world. Bayer Leverkusen played bravely against PSG in Paris and we want to do the same. We must be realistic – Real Madrid are an amazing team and when you lose 6-1 in the first leg it is not easy to reach the quarter-finals.
• Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has scored eight goals in nine games since returning from long-term injury. Schalke have lost just one of their last ten Bundesliga fixtures.
Team news
Christian Fuchs underwent surgery on his right knee on 11 March, while Felipe Santana has not played since the first leg because of a thigh problem. Jefferson Farfán has missed the last two games with a knee injury.
Match fact
• Madrid have lost only twice on the 25 occasions they have hosted German visitors in the Spanish capital, recording 19 wins and four draws.
Chelsea FC's second leg against Galatasaray AŞ will come down to fine margins according to José Mourinho, and Roberto Mancini is urging the visitors to "believe".
After Cimbom came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw in the Istanbul opener, Mourinho envisages another closely-fought encounter at Stamford Bridge. He reserved lavish praise for former Blues favourite Drogba and hailed Wesley Sneijder as one of the world's finest No10s. As for Roberto Mancini – back in England for the first time since departing Manchester City FC in 2013 – he is not expecting miracles, but said "anything can happen if you believe in yourself."
Chelsea
José Mourinho, manager
If you look at the result – 1-1 – and if you look at the game, one team was better in the first half, another was better in the second. It's the kind of match that could go to the wire. I very much doubt the game will be decided by half-time.
[Drogba] is one of the most important players in Chelsea's history. There is no doubt about that and it's something all Chelsea supporters would agree on. Is he at the same level as he was at 26? Nobody is, but he is one of the best strikers in the world. Tomorrow is a big game but I am not feeling any pressure. Sneijder is one of the best in his position in the world. It is as simple as that.
Weekend result
Saturday: Aston Villa FC 1-0 Chelsea (Delph 82)
Čech; Ivanović, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matić, Ramires; Hazard, Willian, Oscar (Schürrle 67), Torres (Ba 67).
• Chelsea were on a 14-match unbeaten run in the Premier League before Saturday. They had Willian (68) and Ramires (90+4) dismissed. Mourinho, who was sent to the stands, has never won a league game at Villa Park.
Team news
Marco van Ginkel is back in training after six months out with knee ligament damage, suffered on 24 September. Ashley Cole (knee) and David Luiz (muscle strain) have missed the last two games.
Galatasaray
Roberto Mancini, coach
We showed a lot of respect for them [Chelsea] in the first 20 minutes [of the first leg], probably because we were nervous. The mentality is important – the attitude that we have when we start this game. It's a good occasion for me because I have good memories of England. I did a very good job with Manchester City and I'm very happy to be back and in London in the Champions League.
It's difficult to replace Drogba. He's a fantastic man and a fantastic player. We produced a miracle in the group because it was a very tough section. Now we are here and we know it will be really difficult because Chelsea are one of the best teams in Europe. But in football you never say never. Anything can happen if you believe in yourself.
We know it will be very tough but we want to do our best. The game will be difficult for both teams, but Chelsea have a small advantage. I don't know if it will be enough to score one goal but we'll see what happens.
Weekend result
Friday: Kardemir Karabükspor 0-0 Galatasaray
Muslera; Sabri Sarıoğlu, Semih Kaya (Chedjou 46), Hakan Balta, Alex Telles; Yekta Kurtuluş (Umut Bulut 76), Felipe Melo, Selçuk İnan, Sneijder; Drogba (Ceyhun Gülselam 89), Burak.
• Galatasaray have lost only one of their last 23 games in all competitions but have won just four of 19 away fixtures all season.
Team news
Aydın Yılmaz (broken ankle), Gökhan Zan (hamstring) and Emre Çolak (knee) are all ruled out through injury.
Match fact
• Galatasaray have not won in eight visits to English clubs, drawing three and losing five. Overall their record is W3 D8 L7.
Acting Zenit head coach Sergei Semak faces a stiff task to overturn a 4-2 deficit against Borussia Dortmund in his first European game.
Semak was handed control of first-team affairs at Zenit last week following the departure of Luciano Spalletti and will oversee his first UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday at Signal Iduna Park.
However, it could well be his last for some time with Andre Villas-Boas strongly tipped to be announced as Spalletti's long-term successor and Dortmund strong favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.
Things could be much worse for Zenit, given that Dortmund - last seasons's Champions League runners-up - moved two goals ahead inside six minutes in the first leg of their last-16 tie, which took place in Russia last month.
However, Jurgen Klopp's side will have to suffer an unlikely collapse on home turf if Zenit are to progress.
Dortmund have won eight of their last nine Champions League home games, with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in this season's group stage the only setback.
Zenit, meanwhile, head into Wednesday's game having triumphed in just one of their last seven Russian Premier League matches.
Spalletti's exit followed a goalless draw with Tom Tomsk and Zenit then suffered a 1-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow at the weekend in Semak's first game at the helm.
Belgian defender Nicolas Lombaerts says he and his team-mates must take responsibility for the club's poor form.
"If the coach is fired, the players should take a look at themselves. In the end, if he was fired, then we're one of the main causes," Lombaerts told the club's official website.
"But unfortunately that's the life of a head coach, and we have to move on. We're playing for Zenit, so we have to do everything to get back on top."
While Dortmund slipped up with defeat at the weekend, they are still a point ahead of third-placed Schalke in the Bundesliga - with the two sides due to meet next Tuesday.
They also remain in contention for the DFB-Pokal and history suggests they will progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League as well.
In the 12 UEFA competition ties where Dortmund have won the first leg away from home, they have triumphed on aggregate 11 times.
Striker Robert Lewandowski has underlined the team's eagerness to bounce back after the loss to Monchengladbach.
"Of course we can play better. In the end, a draw would have been fair. Now we need to check off the defeat quickly and focus on Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday," he told Dortmund's official website.
Klopp could be without Marco Reus, who has missed Dortmund's last three games with a muscle problem, while Zenit's Aleksandr Ryazantsev, a January signing from Rubin Kazan, is not registered for the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United-Olympiakos Preview: Under-fire Moyes looking to turn tide with Champions League comeback
The Red Devils must overturn a two-goal deficit to see off the Greek champions, advance to the last eight of the competition and ease the pressure on their manager
By Peter Hanson
Olympiakos can deliver another hammer blow to an ailing Manchester United when the two sides meet at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The Premier League holders welcome the Greek club - who secured their fourth straight league title on Saturday - for the second leg of their last-16 tie, desperate to overturn a 2-0 deficit.
United manager David Moyes has come increasing pressure at Old Trafford following a disappointing maiden campaign and he spent Monday locked in crisis talks with his backroom team after Sunday's 3-0 humiliation at the hands of bitter rivals Liverpool.
A pair of penalties from Steven Gerrard helped to inflict a fifth home league defeat of the campaign on United but perhaps more worrying for Moyes was the way in which his side were comprehensively outplayed on their own pitch by Brendan Rodgers's men.
With United trailing Premier League leaders Chelsea by 18 points, the Champions League provides an unlikely last chance of silverware this season.
To progress to the quarter-finals, though, the Red Devils would have to erase Olympiakos's two-goal cushion, gained through strikes from Alejandro Dominguez and on-loan Arsenal forward Joel Campbell.
Moyes has vowed that United will turn the tie on its head, acknowledging the need to start Wednesday's game well.
"We have to go for the throat to get the win," he told reporters. "We won't be gung-ho but we will certainly go with a mindset to overhaul the deficit as quickly as we can.
"We won't be reckless as we could find ourselves with a bigger mountain to climb, but we can be forceful. We have to be if we're to keep ourselves in the Champions League."
Olympiakos have lost on all of their previous 11 visits to England but travel to Old Trafford on the back of lifting a 41st Greek title with five matches to spare, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Panthrakikos.
Furthermore, Michel's men showed that they are more than capable of competing against United in the first leg at the Karaiskakis Stadium and they will look to pounce on any mental fragility that the hosts show following the Liverpool defeat.
United head into the match without Jonny Evans (calf), while Michael Olaitan has not played for Olympiakos since collapsing against Panathinaikos at the beginning of March. Ivan Marcano (groin) and Javier Saviola (quadriceps) are doubts for the visitors, while Dominguez, Kostas Manolas and Diego Fuster are all one booking away from a suspension that would rule them out of a quarter-final tie.
