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Neymar lets himself down with his diving, says Simeone
By Miles Chambers
Apr 1, 2014 11:32:00 PM
The Argentine says that the Brazil international goes to ground too easily, but he had nothing but praise for Diego Ribas after the midfielder's stunning strike at Camp Nou
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has lashed out at Neymar, claiming that the Barcelona forward had allegedly let himself down with his theatrics in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League clash in Catalunya.
The Brazil forward netted the equaliser for the Blaugrana, calmly converting Andres Iniesta's stunning through-ball to leave the all-Spanish quarter-final clash beautifully poised ahead of next week's second leg at the Vicente Calderon.
However, while Simeone does not doubt Neymar's talent, he believes that forward is guilty of repeatedly going to ground too easily.
"Diving is his characteristic, like Alexis Sanchez did when I coached him at River Plate," he told Sky Sport. "This part of his game lets him down."
Diego Ribas had put the visitors ahead against the run of play with a thunderous effort from the edge of the box and Simeone praised the substitute before heralding the efforts of all his team in the first leg.
"Diego Ribas played a great game and I'm glad for his goal," Simeone told reporters regarding the player who replaced the injured Diego Costa a third of the way into the match. "He needed that and the team needed him.
"You see that me saying Costa was injured was not a ploy; we've had some problems with him.
"We'll see what they say after the tests to see how long we have to be without him. We will use Raul Garcia, Villa and Adrian in the meantime.
"The team did a tremendous job in a match where both teams have competed with different styles. Everyone did what was best for the club.
"I like to face Barca because we learn and improve. I'm happy with the efforts of the players and the result is good, but everything is open still. The return leg will be a very tough and exciting game."
Atletico, whose players picked up six yellow cards at Camp Nou, host Gerardo Martino's men next Wednesday.
The Spain defender landed awkwardly after winning an aerial duel with Diego Costa and is now facing a month on the sidelines
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has been ruled out for four weeks after suffering a pelvic injury in Tuesday night’s Champions League draw with Atletico Madrid.
The Spain international went down heavily after winning an aerial challenge with Diego Costa in the 10th minute of the Champions League quarter-final, first-leg clash at Camp Nou and was replaced by Marc Bartra.
Barca confirmed after the 1-1 stalemate at the Camp Nou that Pique would miss up to a month, ruling him out of the return against Atletico, the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid and at least three La Liga matches.
A club statement read: “After only 10 minutes of play Gerard Pique suffered a bad fall.
“The player asked to be subbed off after he noticed pain in his hip due a pelvic contusion.
“The medical team advise he will be out for four weeks.”
The news comes as a major blow for Tata Martino’s men, who have been without Pique’s regular central defensive partner Carles Puyol for much of the season through injury.
Bartra deputised well against Atletico and the 23-year-old will have to maintain that level of performance alongside midfielder-cum-defender Javier Mascherano over a crucial period of the season.
Ezequiel Lavezzi firmly believes that Paris Saint Germain will overcome Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final clash.
Tuesday 1st April 2014
The two capital outfits face each other in the first leg in Paris on Wednesday - a game you can see live on Sky Sports.
Whilst respecting Chelsea and their squad, Lavezzi does believe that they will the ones to progress into the last four.
"Chelsea are a big team but it did not matter who we drew: we don't fear anybody," said Lavezzi.
"We have to respect Chelsea of course because they have a successful coach and very good players but now, if you ask me who are the superior team, then I have to say PSG.
"We have built one of the strongest teams in the world and we feel that now this is our time.
"PSG has now arrived at a level where anything is possible. We are at a level where we attract the best players in the world, where we can beat any team in the world, and of course where we can win the Champions League."
"The tougher the games you play, the better you become," said Zlatan Ibrahimović as Paris Saint-Germain bid to get a measure of their European standing against Chelsea FC.
"The tougher the games you play, the better you become," shrugged Zlatan Ibrahimović as he looked forward to Paris Saint-Germain's quarter-final with Chelsea FC. "I'm here to help Paris get the football team they deserve."
The poster boy for the footballing revolution taking place at the Parc des Princes, the 32-year-old's star quality and nose for goal have propelled Laurent Blanc's side towards a second successive Ligue 1 title – and already the UEFA Champions League's last eight. However, while he is among the biggest names in European soccer, the Swedish international acknowledged that his team are greenhorns compared with José Mourinho's Chelsea.
"Chelsea are the super favourites," the forward told reporters ahead of Wednesday's first-leg visit of Chelsea. "We have nothing to lose – Chelsea are a big team. We have a project which has been going on for two years, we're having a good season and everything we achieve now is a bonus. Chelsea have been implementing their project for ten years and they have already won the [UEFA] Champions League and the [UEFA] Europa League."
Having played under Mourinho at FC Internazionale Milano, Ibrahimović said he had "a good relationship" with the coach and was excited about challenging himself against the Portuguese's charges. "This match against Chelsea is a good test for us, but this doesn't mean the other games were easy," he said. "This is the way to improve: the tougher the games you play, the better you become."
However, for all of his club's relative inexperience in European terms, Ibrahimović accepted he may never have a better opportunity to reach the final than now. "My best chance to win the competition is as a Paris player, because this will be my last big contract in Europe," he noted, adding: "This has been my best season yet. I'm enjoying my football. I'm here to help Paris get the football team they deserve."
With ten goals from the group stage onwards – in addition to 25 strikes in Ligue 1 – only Real Madrid CF's 13-goal Cristiano Ronaldo has outscored Ibrahimović this term. He would not be drawn on whether he fancied himself as a champion of Europe, but gently dismissed the idea that the fact he had never played in England was a major gap on his CV. "I don't think I'd go to an English club, especially since I don't think Paris would let me," he joked. "I'm happy with my career choices. I have great respect for the Premier League, but I won't regret not having played in it at the end of my career."
Claiming a major English scalp would go a long way towards silencing such chatter. "Games like this make strong statements as to where we are compared with the other top teams," Ibrahimović explained.
After analysing Real Madrid CF's exit to Borussia Dortmund last year, Carlo Ancelotti said they were "100% ready" to play a side Jürgen Klopp knows are facing "adversity".
Having reviewed tapes of Real Madrid CF's semi-final exit to Borussia Dortmund in last season's UEFA Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti hopes his side are ready to make amends as they meet in the 2013/14 quarter-finals, while Jürgen Klopp has asked his team to "play our game and keep our heads up".
Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti, coach
We have done well in the competition up until now, we are one of only two teams unbeaten. We are 100% ready for this match.
Dortmund are missing Robert Lewandowski which is an important loss for them. They are a compact team and have excellent transition play [from defence to attack]. They have injuries but that won't change their style. I admire their coach a lot. He has done a fantastic job there. He got to the final of the Champions League last season which is a big achievement for any coach.
I watched [Madrid's semi-final] against Dortmund from last season. They were strange matches. I thought that in the first leg Madrid had good control in the first half. The second half was incredible. In the UEFA Champions League, things like that can happen.
We are going to try to play an attacking game because we need a positive result. However, we will need to watch out for Dortmund on the counterattack.
Weekend result
Saturday: Real Madrid 5-0 Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (Ronaldo 15, Carvajal 55, Bale 68 70, Morata 78)
López; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrão; Illarramendi (Isco 62), Alonso, Di María (Casemiro 70); Bale, Benzema (Morata 73), Ronaldo.
• After two straight Liga losses against FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC, dropping them to third place, Ancelotti's side bounced back in style but they are still three points behind leaders Club Atlético de Madrid.
Team news
Marcelo will likely miss both legs with a hamstring injury, leaving Ancelotti with adjustments to make. "Fábio Coentrão is ready to come in," he said. "He is fresh and hasn't played many games. We will cover this absence well."
Dortmund
Jürgen Klopp, coach
I'm not a magician but we have had to get over much adversity this season. I have very good players and my duty is to make them better; so far we've done that very well. Our players that don't feature in every game are going to grow up in this match.
Real Madrid are more flexible now. The speed of their game is amazing. Barcelona, Madrid and Bayern are the best. We have to keep on evolving. Last year we were a barrier for Madrid and we are going to try to do that again.
Playing the second leg at home may be a slight advantage but I fear Madrid trying to settle the tie here. I have seen many of their games and they never finish a match without one scoring opportunity. They have incredible quality and we can't ignore that. If we play our game and keep our heads up, we will have chances.
This stadium is amazing and we are going to need 'cojones'. Madrid are favourites but they've also had their problems this season, although they're better now with [Gareth] Bale and with [Ángel] Di María showing all their quality. We are used to not being favourites and becoming uncomfortable opponents. Nobody should leave us spaces because we can be very dangerous.
It won't be a catastrophe if we lose. Not many teams can say they have done what we have achieved in the last ten years. Maybe we won't have possession but one-on-one duels could be decisive, although [Robert] Lewandowski's absence is a pity for us. We are not ready to play without him but we are going to do our best. Let's see what happens.
• Marco Reus scored his third Bundesliga hat-trick for a comeback win, the first time Dortmund had recovered from two down for victory since November 2003.
Team news
Lewandowski is suspended on top of injuries to Neven Subotić (knee), Marcel Schmelzer (groin), Jannick Bandowski (foot), Sven Bender (groin), İlkay Gündoğan (back) and Jakub Błaszczykowski (knee). Łukasz Piszczek suffered muscular problems in the build-up to Saturday's match and stayed on the bench for 90 minutes.
Match fact
• The sides met four times in 2012/13. In the group stage Dortmund won 2-1 at home and drew 2-2 away; in the semi-finals BVB prevailed 4-1 at home and held on in Madrid after falling 2-0 behind in the last seven minutes to Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos goals.
Published: Tuesday 1 April 2014, 18.45CET
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc hopes his side can overcome their quarter-final inexperience as Chelsea FC arrive, declaring they will "stay true to our beliefs".
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc hopes his team's lack of experience in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League will not prove too large a hindrance when Chelsea FC arrive for the first leg of their quarter-final. The former French international thinks Blues winger Eden Hazard will be the danger man at the Parc des Princes, while opposite number José Mourinho says Zlatan Ibrahimović is the biggest threat to his side, describing the forward as a player who "can make a difference".
Paris
Laurent Blanc, coach
It's very exciting for a manager to be involved in this kind of project – just as it is for any player. Everything about our development is going very fast, but we need to gain experience for Europe and that takes time. On the domestic front we have done very well: we met our targets in a very short period of time. However, in European competition we are among the least experienced clubs remaining. We will need time to be a regular player at the top level. Games like these are very important steps along the way to getting there.
Chelsea and Paris have very different styles of play – they're more inclined to counterattack while we like to keep possession. Which is more effective? We'll see after the two legs, but we'll stay true to our beliefs.
Eden Hazard has always impressed me: his playing style, the way he can beat his opponents, his pace and ability to change direction. And ever since he came to Chelsea he has been a goalscorer. When Chelsea are in difficulties, he's given total freedom to improve things. What's more, he is still young. If you ask me, he is going to be a great player.
• Edinson Cavani's pressure led to a 52nd-minute own goal in Paris's favour as they posted a club-record seventh straight league win, with only three more victories needed to retain the Ligue 1 title.
• Thiago Silva wore a mask to protect the cheekbone he injured a week ago against FC Lorient while former Chelsea defender Alex was rested.
Team news
None
Chelsea
José Mourinho, manager
[Zlatan Ibrahimović] is not a difficult player to coach. The ones hard to coach are the players who do not want to work or win enough. That is the opposite of Zlatan. He has been fantastic to coach. We are friends. We will keep like that, but tomorrow both he and I want to win. There is a passion in Paris, people love football, the Parc des Princes is already a great place to play. Paris seems to be developing a project similar to Chelsea.
Paris has a team full of fantastic attacking players, not to mention the other ones. I could speak for hours about Thiago [Motta]. The offensive players are what really make the difference at this level. Of the remaining teams in the last eight all are good, with great structures and a good philosophy. But on top of that, you have the likes of [Lionel] Messi, Zlatan [Ibrahimović], [Robert] Lewandowski, Diego Costa, [Edinson] Cavani, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi. Those are the players who make the difference, and they have a lot of them.
I watch a lot of Paris matches, and Laurent Blanc has a clear philosophy. They keep the same philosophy, even when they change three midfielders, like against Bayer Leverkusen in the [round of 16] second leg. Same goes for us; we have a philosophy and we won't change it. And we have faith in what we do. I do not think [experience] plays a big role. Maybe Paris as a club does not have the same experience as Chelsea in the past decades, but if you look closely it is a different picture. Lots of their players do have experience. It is almost the opposite for us. The club has a lot of experience, playing the Champions League each season, with Petr Čech who has 100 Champions League matches. But we also have a lot of young inexperienced players.
Weekend result
Saturday: Crystal Palace FC 1-0 Chelsea (Terry og 52)
Čech; Ivanović, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Luiz (Oscar 46), Matić; Lampard (Salah 56); Hazard; Schürrle (Ba 70), Torres, Hazard.
• Chelsea conceded the Premier League lead to Liverpool FC with this surprise reverse at lowly Palace, the first time in 54 top-flight games with the Blues, Real Madrid CF or FC Internazionale Madrid that Mourinho had lost a league match to a side promoted the previous campaign.
Team news
Ashley Cole continues his recovery from a knee ligament injury. Samuel Eto'o is sidelined with a hamstring problem. Marco van Ginkel recently returned to Under-21 action after knee surgery.
Match fact
• These teams met at the Parc des Princes in Mourinho's first UEFA Champions League fixture with Chelsea on 14 September 2004, the Londoners winning 3-0 with a John Terry header and Didier Drogba brace.
Ibra among greats without playing in best league - Mourinho
By Julien Pretot
PARIS Wed Apr 2, 2014 3:38am BST
Chelsea's Samuel Eto'o celebrates after scoring a goal against Arsenal during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London March 22, 2014. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
(Reuters) - Paris St Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be remembered as one of the game's greatest players despite never gracing the English Premier League which is the world's best, according to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho, whose team visit the Ligue 1 champions in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, managed the Sweden striker at Inter Milan where he said they "connected well" during the 2008-09 season.
Ibrahimovic's career has included spells at some of the biggest teams in Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands, but he is unlikely to set foot in the Premier League having said that Paris St Germain would be his last big club in Europe.
"The biggest possibility to win the Champions League is with Paris," Ibrahimovic, who has never won Europe's elite club competition, told a news conference. "This is my last contract in Europe and to win it I must win with Paris.
"The day I leave Paris is the day I go down a level or quit football. I have a contract until 2016."
Asked about playing in England, he said: "It's not a question that is brought up because I think first of all it's impossible to get me to England. If you ask the people behind this (PSG) project, I don't think they would let me go."
"The day I stop with football I won't look back and think I should have played in England," added Ibrahimovic. "I made stories in other countries but it's not something I regret."
WORLD CLASS
Mourinho said later on Tuesday that missing out on playing in the Premier League would not alter the Swede's status as a world class player.
"I think he has to be where he is happy," the Chelsea manager told a news conference.
"But in the meantime, I think it's a pity for him that when he finishes his career having played in the most important countries of football and won titles in the most important countries of football, he didn't play in the best league of the world.
"It's a pity but he can be considered as one of the greatest players even if he has never played in the Premier League."
Mourinho also hailed the 32-year-old Ibrahimovic as a good player to work with, even though they disagreed when the Swede left Inter for Barcelona in 2009.
"I think we connected very well, we never had a problem, the only time we disagreed was obvious because I wanted him to stay and he wanted to leave," the Portuguese said.
"The difficult persons to work with are the players who don't want to win, who don't want to be the best.
"To be his coach was fantastic, there was no problem at all,
we are friends."
BIGGEST THREAT
Their friendship will be put to one side on Wednesday as Ibrahimovic represents the French club's biggest threat at the Parc des Princes.
Mourinho, who will be without injured striker Samuel Eto'o, said PSG are favourites due to their impressive firepower.
"They have a team full of fantastic attacking players," he said.
"It's a team full of fantastic strikers and goalscorers and that is what makes the difference at this level."
Mourinho made no secret of the players he will task with keeping PSG's attacking talent under wraps, naming his back four and goalkeeper in advance.
"(Petr) Cech, (Branislav) Ivanovic, (Gary) Cahill, (John) Terry, (Cesar) Azpilicueta," he said with a big smile.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)
Manchester United need to be 'realistic' about beating Bayern, says Neville
By Alex Fisher
Apr 1, 2014 3:17:00 PM
The former Red Devils captain says the club should be "hopeful rather than confident" as they prepare to take on Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Bundesliga champions
Manchester United need to be "realistic" about their hopes of beating Bayern Munich over two legs, according to former captain Gary Neville.
The Premier League champions take on Bundesliga winners and Champions League holders Bayern in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at Old Trafford on Tuesday, with the Germans the clear favourites to progress.
Pep Guardiola's side have only lost once in all competitions this season, to Manchester City in December, and they arrive in England a week after securing their 24th domestic title.
Neville admits that facing Bayern will not be easy for an inconsistent United side, who have struggled this season under new boss David Moyes, and he has warned the fans not to expect too much.
"I'd say, going into this game, we're hopeful rather than confident," the former right-back said in United's matchday programme.
"That's just being realistic - Bayern are at the absolute top of their game.
"You're talking about a team at the absolute peak of its powers, while Manchester United is in transition.
"There's no avoiding the fact that this is the toughest draw United could have faced."
The midfielder believes it is vitally important to deny the Bundesliga outfit an away goal in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric believes it is crucial that his team do not concede against Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The two sides met at the semi-final stage last season when Dortmund ran out 4-1 winners in the first leg and 4-3 victors on aggregate over the tie, but Modric is confident his side can secure victory this season if they restric BVB's attacking intent.
"It's very important that we don't concede tomorrow," the midfielder told reporters. "It will be a difficult game.
"We played them four times last season and know how good they are on the counterattack.
"We need to be careful when we lose the ball, we will need to get back quickly in defence. We must press them well.
"If we can win by a goal or two it would be great but keeping them from scoring will be crucial.
"If we stop their best players from scoring I think that we can achieve a good result.
"They have a lot of injuries to important players but we can't think for a second that it will be easy."
The 28-year-old also dismissed claims that his team-mates were tired following two defeats in their last three matches in La Liga.
"I don't think we are tired," the Croatia international added. "We had a bad spell and lost two games. We need to react to that. We need to stay together and maintain our confidence. We have had a great season so far.
"We are fighting for three trophies and aren't giving up in our chase for any of them. Bad times happen in football, that's normal.
"I have to say that we have been playing like a great team, apart from the those two games [defeats by Barcelona and Sevilla]. We are the same team now as before those defeats.
"It's normal that there are moments in the season when you are not [in form]. We are continuing to work to get past those bad games.
"We are focused on tomorrow's match. We haven't lost confidence and tomorrow we'll do our best to win."
Only Real Madrid and Barcelona can challenge Bayern, claims Dominguez
Apr 1, 2014 2:26:00 PM
The defender is confident the Bundesliga champions can repeat their treble success from last season and believes Atletico Madrid can triumph over Gerardo Martino's men
By Alberto Pinero
Borussia Monchengladbach defender Alvaro Dominguez believes that fellow Bundesliga side Bayern Munich are the best team in Europe and have the quality to win the treble again this season.
Bayern won the Bundesliga title in record time after beating Hertha Berlin 3-1 last week and Dominguez believes that only Real Madrid or Barcelona can challenge die Roten for the Champions League trophy this term.
"Bayern are now the best team in Europe," Dominguez told Goal. "It's hard to stand up unless you are Real Madrid or Barcelona. Last year they won league, cup and Champions League very easily and this year they are on the same path."
The 24-year-old has also been impressed by Liga leaders Atletico Madrid this season - the club where he began his career - and believes they have the quality to edge out Barca in their quarter-final showdown.
"I see Barcelona as the favourites, but not too much the favourites, really," Dominguez said. "Perhaps, they are only favourites because of their international experience, but do not rule out Atletico. They compete very well.
"Atletico are having a great season. Simeone is a great coach and he is showing it. I wish I could have played in this Atletico team."
Dominguez was also critical of Borussia Dortmund and has claimed that failure to replace Mario Gotze and the injured Ilkay Gundogan has resulted in a disappointing season for Jurgen Klopp's team.
"They haven't managed to replace Mario Gotze or Ilkay Gundogan, who gave the game fluency," he said, before claiming that the Robert Lewandowski's suspension could cost BVB dearly against Real Madrid.
"The absence of Lewandowski in the first leg will also be noted by Real Madrid. With six or seven important players missing, the team has to notice that they are not the same."
Bayern hopeful of last four spot even without Schweini
By Karolos Grohmann
Wed Apr 2, 2014 8:35am BST
Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger gestures to Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (R) after fouling him during their Champions League quarter-final first leg match at Old Trafford in Manchester, April 1, 2014. REUTERS/Michael Dalder
(Reuters) - Bayern Munich are confident they will compensate for the absences of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez when they meet Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-final second leg and book their spot in the next round.
Midfielder Schweinsteiger, who scored the equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Manchester on Tuesday was sent off in the last minute with a second yellow card following a hard tackle on Wayne Rooney.
Fellow holding midfielder Martinez was also booked in the game and has been ruled out of the return leg in Munich next week.
"The 1-1 is a good result and we will happily take that with us," said winger Arjen Robben.
"In a week we have to finish the job. Every player suspended will be missed and without Schweinsteiger and Javi we will have to up our performances," said the Dutchman.
Coach Pep Guardiola is also missing midfielder Thiago Alcantara through injury, leaving a gaping hole in his midfield for the return leg.
His options for the holding midfield positions have now been reduced to captain Philipp Lahm and attacking midfielder Toni Kroos.
Guardiola, however, will have Brazil central defender Dante, who was suspended for Tuesday's encounter, back for the return leg.
Dante's return should help seal Bayern's defence, vulnerable on Tuesday against United's quick counter-attacks that could have seen them take a lead late in the first half.
"We will have Dante back and with him we will manage to reach the next round," Robben said.
The five-time European champions, who have already clinched the Bundesliga title with seven games to spare, are chasing their second straight Champions League crown, a feat not accomplished by any team.
With the German Cup still up for grabs as well, Bayern are also eyeing an unprecedented back-to-back treble.
Their away goal may prove crucial given their strength at home, Gaurdiola said.
"That away goal is extremely important," said Guardiola, angry that United's Antonio Valencia escaped a second booking for a similar challenge like Schweinsteiger.
"Obviously a 1-1 is a dangerous result but I have full confidence in my players."
"We will have eleven players on the pitch next week. This can happen and we will solve this issue (with suspensions)," Guardiola added.
The 46-year-old feels the Ecuadorian should have received the same treatment as Bastian Schweinsteiger and insists Tuesday's match was always going to be tough
Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer feels Manchester United's Antonio Valencia should have been sent off in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford.
Already on a booking, the Ecuadorian winger threw himself into a challenge with Jerome Boateng during Bayern's 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Tuesday night.
He escaped punishment from referee Carlos Velasco, although the official later sent off Bayern goalscorer Bastian Schweinsteiger after the midfielder picked up a second caution for a foul on Wayne Rooney.
"If you apply the same standards then I don't know how Valencia stays on," Sammer told Sky.
"If the referee has a policy, then he must go through with it.
"There's no question that what Schweinsteiger did was a foul, but with Valencia, there were also several fouls, including his outstretched leg against Jerome Boateng. At this level, you have to apply the same standards."
Many thought holders Bayern would brush aside a faltering United in the first leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday, but David Moyes' men held their own to remain in with a chance heading to Munich next week.
Despite the two sides' differing fortunes so far this season - Bayern have already retained their Bundesliga title, while United sit seventh in the Premier League - Sammer insists he knew the tie would be no straightforward task.
"We sounded a warning ahead of the game in Manchester but people turn a deaf ear at times," he added.
"They played just as we expected. They were very strong physically, organised and they tried to play on the counter.
"They managed that really well and they made life difficult for us.
"But that’s what you expect in the Champions League - it's the top level of the game. So we accept it and we’re happy with the result."
Neymar can turn a game with one move, says Iniesta
By Stefan Coerts
Apr 2, 2014 9:11:00 AM
The Spain international has hailed his team-mate's ability to open up a game and is confident the Catalans will reach the semi-finals of the Champions League
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has praised Neymar in the wake of his side's 1-1 Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou.
The former Santos star levelled the scoring with a fine finish after Diego had previously gifted Atletico the lead and Iniesta - who set up Neymar for his goal with a superb through pass - has hailed the attacker's ability to create something out of nothing.
"As far as our goal is concerned, Neymar has that talent, that quality. With just one moment, one move, he can turn the game and the result," Iniesta told reporters.
"We are delighted with his goal and now we have to ensure that it becomes significant in turning the tie our way."
The attacking midfielder then went on to stress that Barcelona remain optimistic about their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
"None of us has any doubts about our capacity to win there, any doubts about our style of play or about our team.
"Now the tie remains open and we will travel to Madrid with our thoughts focused on making it to the semi-finals.
"That it will be difficult, we know. But we will go to Madrid with every confidence of making it through."
Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Chelsea: Late Pastore strike leaves Mourinho's men on the brink
A fine display from Ezequiel Lavezzi was the catalyst for a confident performance from the hosts, with Eden Hazard's first-half penalty providing a glimmer of hope for the Blues
Chelsea face an uphill battle to reach the Champions League semi-finals after losing 3-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
The French champions showed the full array of the attacking flair that has put them on the verge of defending their Ligue 1 crown this term to claim a healthy advantage on Wednesday, leaving Chelsea with plenty to do in the return clash at Stamford Bridge next week.
Ezequiel Lavezzi - a constant menace to the Londoners' defence - put the hosts ahead inside the opening four minutes of the encounter at the Parc des Princes with an effort from 12 yards.
But Chelsea were back on level terms shortly before the half-hour mark when Eden Hazard converted from the penalty spot after Thiago Silva had carelessly felled Oscar in the box.
Hazard then hit the post before the end of the first half as Chelsea pushed for the lead, but David Luiz found his own net - after giving away a cheap free kick - to restore PSG's lead.
PSG talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic was worryingly withdrawn in the second half, appearing to be nursing a hamstring injury.
But the French side soon forgot about that blow when substitute Javier Pastore - a late replacement for Lavezzi - added a superb third in injury time to give his side a two-goal margin.
Chelsea opted to start without a recognised striker, leaving Fernando Torres and Demba Ba on the bench, while PSG boasted one of the most recognisable of them all in Ibrahimovic, who this week appeared to rule out a future move to the Premier League.
While Jose Mourinho's men will have been suitably prepared to deal with the Swedish frontman's capabilities, it was Lavezzi who struck the first blow four minutes in.
The Argentine superbly controlled a weak headed clearance from John Terry on his chest, before allowing the ball to bounce and firing a left-footed effort into the top corner of the net from the centre of the penalty area.
Lavezzi continued to pose a threat to the Chelsea goal, sending an attempt into the side netting after 25 minutes, but a clumsy challenge on Oscar by masked captain Thiago Silva – recovering from a fractured cheekbone – offered the Premier League outfit a way back into the clash just two minutes later.
Referee Milorad Mazic pointed to the spot and Hazard made no mistake in rolling the ball beyond Salvatore Sirigu, who leapt the wrong way.
Hazard – back in the country where he cut his teeth as a player with Lille – almost doubled his tally five minutes before the break, striking the right-hand post with a volley from a chipped Willian cross.
There were strong shouts for a penalty at the other before the players returned to the changing rooms, but the referee waved play on after Edinson Cavani fell to the ground under the challenge of Gary Cahill.
As in the first half, PSG started brightly once again after the interval, Lavezzi heading narrowly over from a Blaise Matuidi cross when unmarked in the box.
And they were back in front just after the hour, when Luiz inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net from a teasing Lavezzi free kick.
However, there were worrying scenes for the hosts in the 68th minute, when Ibrahimovic, who was quiet for much of the encounter, pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring strain.
Cavani's late curling effort whistled just wide of the right-hand upright, but Pastore forced his way into the penalty area in stoppage time to drive home from a tight angle and compound Chelsea’s misery.
Real Madrid 3-0 Dortmund: Bale, Isco and Ronaldo dispatch BVB
Jurgen Klopp's side had no answer to the attacking trio and face a near impossible task to reach the semi-finals of the competition after a devastating first-leg defeat
Real Madrid sent a warning to the rest of Europe as goals from Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo dispatched Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Dortmund knocked Real out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage last season, but Carlo Ancelotti's side are on course to exact revenge over the Bundesliga side after sweeping them aside in a clinical first-leg display.
World-record signing Gareth Bale put them in front just two minutes in and Isco doubled their advantage before half-time as Jurgen Klopp's charges had no answer to Real's attacking threat.
Ronaldo then took centre stage after the break, scoring his 14th Champions League goal of another outstanding season to equal the record set by Barcelona forward Lionel Messi two years ago.
Robert Lewandowski scored all four goals when Dortmund beat Madrid 4-1 in the semi-final first leg at the Westfalenstadion last season and Klopp could do with a repeat performance from the Poland striker in the second leg next week when he returns after sitting out the first leg due to suspension.
Left-back Fabio Coentrao made a rare start for Real in the absence of Marcelo (hamstring), while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was charged with the considerable task of replacing Dortmund's talismanic striker Lewandowski.
Coach Ancelotti vowed to take the game to the visitors and his positive approach was rewarded when Bale put Real ahead.
Karim Benzema had a big hand in the goal as he picked out Daniel Carvajal and the marauding right-back provided a perfectly weighted pass for the onrushing Bale, who burst into the penalty area before taking a touch then poking the ball past Roman Weidenfeller with his left foot.
Ancelotti urged the Bernabeu faithful to get behind his side after turning on Ronaldo at the weekend and they were on their feet for a second time in the 27th minute when Isco produced a clinical finish from the edge of the box.
Dortmund were struggling to live with the home side and Weidenfeller pulled off another fine save to keep out Bale's dangerous free-kick after midfielder Sebastian Kehl was shown a yellow card that will keep him out of the second leg.
Having struck early in the first half, Bale almost caught Dortmund out again two minutes after the break when he raced into the box but this time a tame finish left-foot finish with the outside of his left foot was saved.
Aubameyang could have made him pay for that miss a minute later, but the Gabon international fired a shot wide of the far post from a tight angle.
Ronaldo then took the game beyond Dortmund with his 45th goal of the season after 54 minutes. Luka Modric was the provider, picking him out in the area, and he rounded Weidenfeller before tucking the ball into the empty net.
Dortmund were still causing problems of their own and it needed a timely block from Pepe to thwart Henrikh Mkhitaryan, then the busy Weidenfeller produced another great stop to deny Benzema.
Bale could have added a fourth goal seven minutes from time, but blazed over the bar after embarking on a trademark run.
Klopp had conceded that Dortmund were underdogs for the tie and they looked every inch that as Real stayed on course to be crowned European champions for a 10th time.
Late Pastore goal a 'devastating blow' for Chelsea, says Cahill
By Jamie Dunn
Apr 2, 2014 10:57:00 PM
Jose Mourinho's side are chasing a two-goal deficit in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge after conceding in stoppage time at Parc des Princes
Gary Cahill admitted the late Javier Pastore goal in Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain is a "devastating" blow.
PSG took the lead at Parc des Princes through Ezequiel Lavezzi, only for the visitors to pull level through an Eden Hazard penalty.
But a David Luiz own goal put the hosts back in front, before Pastore beat Petr Cech at his near post at the death to give his side a huge boost ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge.
"[It was a] horrible time to concede then, a sloppy goal, unlike us and it was a big blow at 2-1," Cahill told Sky Sports.
"Obviously it was difficult to come here. 2-1 would have been okay going back to Stamford Bridge I suppose, but the blow at the end is devastating."
Cahill remains optimistic that Chelsea can still win the tie at Stamford Bridge, despite the two-goal deficit.
He added: "It will be tough but we're at home at Stamford Bridge and we've been playing well there.
"We need to, we've got a big task ahead of us and we need to approach it in the right manner and be on the front foot, but obviously it's a disappointing night for us."
Mourinho blasts 'ridiculous' defending after PSG loss
By Stephen Darwin
Apr 2, 2014 11:04:00 PM
The Blues boss defended his decision to start with Andre Schurrle and suggests that he expected more from Fernando Torres when he introduced him as a second-half substitute
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho criticised his side's "ridiculous" defending following their 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Mourinho's side were level at half-time in the first leg, with Eden Hazard's penalty having secured a crucial away goal after Ezequiel Lavezzi had struck to give the hosts the lead at Parc des Princes.
But the visitors paid for some slack defending in the second half, with first David Luiz scoring an own goal before Javier Pastore ghosted in from the touchline to sneak home a third at Petr Cech's near post.
And Mourinho struggled to put into words his frustration at his side's lapse in concentration, telling Sky Sports: "It's ridiculous [the defending for the third PSG goal].
"Don't ask me to tell you that [what I plan to say to the players]. I can't do that. I have to do it inside not outside.
"But we played against a great team full of good players, especially their attacking players are fantastic. You would expect them to score fantastic goals. You don't expect them to score the goals they scored.
"The first goal was a ball in an easy position. After the cross comes in we assist the striker and nobody fought the second ball in a crucial position.
"The second goal it was one of my players on his own goalline but that's obviously unlucky.
"But the way the team was positioned defensively was not the correct one. The third goal was even more sloppy; ridiculous."
The Chelsea boss concedes his side will now have a mountain to climb to reach the semi-finals but is adamant that the tie is not yet over. He added: "It's a difficult job [to reach the semi-finals] but not impossible.
"They are the kind of team that with the players they have that out of nothing they can score goals. So we don't have an easy job. We are not a team full of talent to score lots of goals especially at this level but we never know. We have to try. We have to go with everything.
"I changed at 1-1 because I thought that Fernando [Torres] could give us more depth than Andre [Schurrle]. The team was comfortable with Andre, had good control of the game, good ball possession, Andre was working back. I thought Fernando could give us a bit more."
