Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Mourinho: It doesn't matter if Chelsea draw Real Madrid
By Liam Twomey at Stamford Bridge
Apr 9, 2014 7:55:00 AM
The outcome of Tuesday's quarter-final ties raises the mouth-watering prospect of the 'Special One' facing the club he left in acrimonious circumstances last summer
Jose Mourinho insists he is unperturbed by the possibility of Chelsea being pitted against former club Real Madrid in Friday's Champions League semi-final draw in Nyon.
The Blues booked their place in the last four of Europe's elite club competition in dramatic fashion on Tuesday evening, with Demba Ba poking in an 87th-minute goal to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain and eliminate the Ligue 1 champions on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
Both results set up the mouth-watering prospect of Mourinho facing the club which he left in acrimonious circumstances to rejoin Chelsea last summer, with a Champions League final place at stake.
But the 'Special One' is adamant that facing Madrid would carry no greater significance for him than taking on any of the other elite teams left in the competition.
"No," he replied when the subject of being drawn against Madrid was raised. "It doesn’t matter. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico [Madrid], Bayern [Munich], Manchester [United] ... it doesn’t matter.
"We are in the semi-finals. If the quarter-finals had eight fantastic teams, imagine the four that will reach the semi-finals. Anything can happen.
"A big opponent is waiting for us in the semi-final but it doesn’t matter who. They know we are a team with a special spirit even if we are not in the maximum of our potential."
Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson will take charge of the second leg of Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
Monday 7th April 2014
Eriksson was the referee who earned the wrath of Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini for his decision-making in City's 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the last-16 first leg in February.
Pellegrini was particularly unhappy that Eriksson awarded a penalty to Barcelona for a foul by Martin Demichelis on Lionel Messi that was shown to be outside the box, while he felt there was a foul on Jesus Navas in the build-up.
Pellegrini said: "From the beginning I felt the referee was not impartial to both teams so he decided the game with a foul that he didn't whistle against and a penalty with Demichelis that was not a penalty - it was outside the box.
"He did not have any control of the game. He was on the side of Barcelona from the beginning until the end.
"I think it was not a good idea to put a referee from Sweden in charge of such an important match, especially a referee who has made an important mistake against Barcelona in a previous match."
Pellegrini appeared to be referring to the 2012 Champions League quarter-final when Eriksson was criticised by then-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola for failing to award his side two penalties against AC Milan in the goalless first leg at the San Siro.
Pellegrini apologised for his comments later the same week, claiming he did not intend to accuse the referee of bias or disparage Sweden.
His apology was not enough to save Pellegrini from a UEFA sanction, with the governing body handing him a three-match touchline ban, one of which was suspended.
Eriksson, 40, has been a professional referee for 20 years and has been selected for this summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.
United and Bayern drew 1-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford last week, with Nemanja Vidic and Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was later sent off, scoring the goals.
Sweating on the fitness of Diego Costa, Club Atlético de Madrid's very own "Messi or Ronaldo", Diego Simeone is relying on the energy of the crowd against FC Barcelona.
by Marcos Prieto
from Estadio Vicente Calderón
Club Atlético de Madrid head into one of their biggest UEFA Champions League matches of recent years sweating on the fitness of talismanic striker Diego Costa – a player that Rojiblancos coach Diego Simeone says "is like [Lionel] Messi for Barcelona or Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid".
Atlético – Spanish Liga leaders with six games remaining – welcome FC Barcelona to the Spanish capital having secured a 1-1 draw in last week's quarter-final first leg. Simeone has his fingers crossed that the Estadio Vicente Calderón crowd can make the difference on Wednesday, while Azulgrana counterpart Gerardo Martino is hopeful his side can do what they have failed to do in any of the teams' four meetings this season – score first.
Atlético
Diego Simeone, coach
"There are some special stadiums and this is one of them. Fans can't score a goal but they have energy". I am sure they are going to support us from the start of the match and we will try to respond on the pitch. This will be a passionate game – one of the biggest in the UEFA Champions League – between two teams with different styles.
The result [of the first leg] doesn't mean anything. Barcelona always play offensively and this is a perfect match for them with [potentially] 120 minutes to play. They scored four goals at the Santiago Bernabéu recently and I don't think the pressure is going to affect them. We are going to come up against the best Barcelona players of recent times. These games are special for them and they are used to playing them.
If Diego Costa is fit, he plays. If he is a little less than 100%, he will be on the bench. Otherwise he'll be out. We will have a look at [him] in training. If he doesn't make it, Adrián López will play – if Adrián plays, I'm sure he will have a great game for us.
We have rotated some players in recent matches, which is important to keep the team fresh. We have been doing a great deal of physical work in order to allow us to be competitive at this stage of the season.
Weekend result
Saturday: Atlético 1-0 Villarreal CF (Raúl García 14)
Courtois; Juanfran, Alderweireld, Godín, Filipe Luís; Raúl García, Mario Suárez, Koke, Cristian Rodríguez (Tiago 57); Diego (Sosa 70), Villa (Adrián 61).
• Atlético moved onto 79 points as a result of their weekend victory, meaning they surpassed their tally for the whole of last season (76). The last time they registered more in a Liga campaign they won the title – 87 points in 1995/96.
Team news
Diego Costa limped off 30 minutes into the first leg with a thigh problem; the forward is included in Atleti's matchday squad but Arda Turan misses out with a groin complaint. Javi Manquillo is poised for a comeback after four weeks out with a neck injury.
Barcelona
Gerardo Martino, coach
I don't like to predict what the result might be. What we need to do is to play better than Atlético and to win the game. These teams know each other very well, and they play with completely different styles. All I know is that Barcelona haven't gone ahead in any of the meetings this season. We need to see if we can do that and to try to control the match. Atlético are not the type of team who will allow us to control the game for the entire 90 minutes, but we'll try to do that as it is how we like to play.
We have to prepare thinking that all of Atlético's players will play. Diego Costa is one of those players that coaches like to wait until the last minute to see whether or not they are available.
Lionel Messi is used to competing at the maximum level in every game so when people believe he doesn't, it attracts a lot of attention. When there are several games against the same opponent in which he doesn't score, that can surprise people. Messi has been very important for us in the past four months; he will always be decisive for Barcelona. Opponents always get worried when he is at his best and that's why they do their best to stop him.
The games between the sides have been very even, though we have tended to be superior in the second halves. It won't be easy but if we try to control the game, and score first, then maybe the outcome will be different. There wasn't that much difference between the Barcelona that beat Real Madrid and the one that competed against Atlético last week. The main difference was that we won one of those games and drew the other.
Weekend result
Saturday: Barcelona 3-1 Real Betis Balompié (Messi 15pen 86, Jordi og 67; Rubén Castro 68)
Pinto; Alves, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano; Xavi (Song 88), Busquets, Iniesta (Fàbregas 79); Alexis Sánchez, Messi, Pedro Rodríguez (Neymar 79).
• Barcelona are seven matches unbeaten, winning six, including Saturday's 3-1 Liga home success in which they missed the suspended Jordi Alba.
Team news
Víctor Valdés is sidelined for the season after tearing knee ligaments and Gerard Piqué suffered a hip fissure in the first leg. Carles Puyol is in Barça's squad despite not yet getting the all-clear to play following a knee issue. Andrés Iniesta is poised to make his 500th appearance for the club.
Match fact
• Atlético have hosted Barcelona 106 times in all competitions with a record of 50 home wins, 33 Barcelona victories and 23 draws.
After FC Bayern München's 18-month unbeaten league run ended at the weekend, Josep Guardiola wants no repeat against a Manchester United FC side in good heart.
by Daniel Lerche
from Munich
UEFA Champions League holders FC Bayern München may have the upper hand as they go into the home leg of their quarter-final at 1-1 with Manchester United FC but Josep Guardiola, his team depleted by injury and suspensions and coming off a first league loss in 54 games, knows they have to be at their very best against opponents who have won on their last two visits to Germany. David Moyes, who could have Wayne Rooney available, expects a "better showing" than in last week's opener – and acknowledges that will be essential.
Bayern
Josep Guardiola, coach
One-all is a risky scoreline, we could not win in Manchester. But I am sure we will go through. We need a good performance and we want to win the game.
It is a different competition to the Bundesliga. We have already won the Bundesliga. Of course I am sad for the team that we lost in Augsburg, but our focus in recent weeks was this game against United.
We have to make sure we keep our form, we can't allow to happen what happened in Manchester, we must not concede a goal. We spoke with the team about what to do to win. We have to attack very well. They will wait until we lose the ball and then they will try to counterattack. So we have to be very focused. We had some good chances in Manchester, they just had one.
I know exactly how we have to play. For tomorrow I have two doubts. We have only got 14 players to pick from. Where [Philipp] Lahm will play depends on the situation, on the other players available, on the opposition.
In a quarter-final you never have a second chance. The pressure is high and we have always done well in this situation. It is all about small tactical details. Our players know after the experience in Manchester how United play. My players know their strengths and weaknesses. United are a very big team. Before the first game, everybody was just talking about Bayern. But now people know that United can win in Munich too. But we will play at home, with our fans we can win this game.
• Bayern's 53-match Bundesliga unbeaten run, stretching back to October 2012, was ended on Saturday, the first time in 65 league fixtures – and 60 games in all competitions – they had not found the net.
Team news
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martínez are suspended. Thiago Alcántara is expected to be missing with a knee complaint until the end of April. Diego Contento suffered a foot injury before the first leg while Xherdan Shaqiri went off at half-time in Augsburg with a torn muscle in his right thigh.
Second-choice goalkeeper Tom Starke sustained an elbow problem in training on Friday and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. Third-choice Lucas Raeder is also injured, so 19-year-old Leopold Zingerle, normally the reserve keeper for the Under-23s in the fourth-tier Regionalliga, will be on the bench against United.
United
David Moyes, manager
I'm looking forward to the game. It's a second leg with the opportunity to go through, and we'll do everything we can to reach the final. This is the hardest level of the competition so far.
I'd like to have more possession and have a bigger effect on the game. The quality of the opponent is great. I expect us to play better than in the first leg – and I believe we can. To get through, we'll have to. My focus is on getting through. The players are ready and focused. We're relishing it.
We'll need a good performance from everybody. We can't have any passengers. All my players are well prepared. We did all we can to prepare properly for this game. We will have to win this 'final' to get to the next stage. It is like a cup final, even if it is just the second leg.
My focus is this game now. We have a good record in this competition, it's one we want to stay in. We need to score a goal and we'll need to play with the same spirit we showed in the first game. We'll have to play well.
We'll do everything we can [to get Wayne Rooney fit]. He's happy to take an injection to play in the game and that tells you about his feeling for the club and the game. Wayne is a character and he is determined to play. If he's determined to play we'd be mad not to give him that opportunity.
Weekend result
Saturday: Newcastle United FC 0-4 Manchester United (Mata 39 50, Hernández 64, Januzaj 90+3)
Lindergaard; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Evra (Büttner 64); Young (Januzaj 18), Fletcher, Fellaini (Nani 70), Kagawa; Mata; Hernández.
• United recorded a third successive away win in all competitions on Saturday.
Team news
Rooney sat out the Newcastle match having suffered a toe injury in the first leg and Ashley Young had to be replaced after 18 minutes on Saturday having torn ligaments in his hand; both trained on Tuesday, unlike Rafael and Marouane Fellaini. Robin van Persie is absent until the end of April with the left knee injury sustained in the 3-0 victory over Olympiacos FC last month.
Match fact
• For all the impressive statistics surrounding Bayern, they have failed to win any of their last four fixtures against English sides in Munich.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (agg: 2-1): Messi and Neymar fail to fire as Barca stunned by Koke strike
By Pete Jenson
Published: 15:35 EST, 9 April 2014 | Updated: 01:33 EST, 10 April 2014
Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid, who reached the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.
It was the first time in seven years that Barça had not reached the last four of the Champions League.
The Spanish giants had complained 24 hours before kick-off at the length of the grass on the pitch but on the night they could have no complaints.
Atletico are set to leave their famous Vicente Calderon stadium at the end of next season but even supporters who remember their league and cup double in which coach Diego Simeone played and the 1974 side that reached the European Cup final, will struggle to remember a more incredible night.
Delight: Koke of Atletico Madrid celebrates scoring the only goal of the night against Barcelona
MATCH FACTS
Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Godin, Filipe Luis, Juanfran, Miranda, Tiago, Koke, Raul Garcia, Gabi, Adrian (Diego 61), Villa (Rodriguez 79). Subs Not Used: Aranzubia, Mario Suarez, Alderweireld, Insua, Sosa.
For Barca the league is now the focus; that and wondering how they will shore up their shaky defence without the use of the next two transfer windows.
'The story is not over yet,' said coach Diego Simeone. 'There was a lot of happiness in the dressing room after the game but it doesn’t finish here.'
He was also bullish when asked about the ability to keep players such as Diego Costa at the end of the season.
'We can’t compete financially with many of the other teams but from a competitive point of view we are a match for anyone.'
Tata Martino looked like a beaten man as he fielded questions about Messi’s no show.
'The team is very down right now but we have to pick ourselves because we have a league to win,' said Barcelona coach.
His side play Atletico Madrid for a sixth time, on the last day of the season. In the five games played so far they are yet to win and it never looked like doing so on Wednesday night.
Simeone: Like many wars in history sometimes the best do not win
Early strike: Unmarked Koke scores for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona
Mad for it: Koke celebrates his early strike with David Villa
Diego Simeone’s side were dealt a blow before kick-off with Chelsea target Diego Costa failing a late fitness test. That meant Adrian started in his place. He had scored only two goals all season but coach Simeone promised he would let no-one down.
True to his manager’s word Adrian hit the post in the fifth minute and then, from the rebound, crossed for Koke to score. It was no more than Atletico deserved.
Lionel Messi had the first shot of the game but it was the last anyone saw of Barcleona’s attack for the next ten minutes as the home side laid siege.
All fears that they would be toothless with the injured Costa proved to be unfounded.
Led by David Villa, who played with all this World Cup pedigree and the legs of a man five years younger, they carried the game to Barcelona whose goalkeeper Juan Pinto watched two Villa shots crash off his woodwork and fumbled an unwanted backpass as Barca struggled to stay in the game in the first half.
Martino: We're still in three competitions with 40 days to go
Happy days: Atletico fans go wild after Koke scores against Barcelona
Downcast: Barcelona's Neymar feels the pain against Atletico Madrid
Agony: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi can't hide his disappointment
Despair: Barcelona ace Neymar has head in his hands
High ball: Barcelona's Neymar heads the ball at the Vicente Calderon
Chasing tails: Barcelona's Lionel Messi attempts to control the ball in mid-air
The Vicente Calderon had been going up through the decibels long before kick-off and with Barcelona rattled, midfielder Sergi Busquets was booked just before half-time as the noise seemed to get ever louder.
This was Barcelona gunning for a seventh consecutive semi-final place against an Atletico Madrid side who had not made it to the last four for 40 years but it was the home side who looked to have the recent Champions League pedigree.
Their pre-match mosaic had spelled out ‘win, win, and win again’. It was one of former Atletico Madrid and Spain coach Luis Aragones’ favourite phrases. The last time they were in a European Cup semi-final he was in the team.
Tussle: Atletico's Koke, left, fights for the ball with Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez
Up for it: Barcelona's Xav tackles Koke of Atletico
High jump: Atletico's Diego Godin jumps for the ball with team-mate Adrian Lopez
Safe hands: Barcelona keeper Jose Pinto collects the ball against Atletico Madrid
No way: Barcelona's Lionel Messi has a free kick blocked by Atletico wall
Clash: Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez has words with referee Howard Webb
A shell-shocked Barca finally came into the match with Messi heading wide and then shooting even wider from a Neymar pass.
Iniesta got his first shot on target but Courtois saved comfortably. Referee Howard Webb then waved away penalty appeals at both ends with Adrian and Fabregas going down in respective areas.
The second half began with Courtois diving brilliantly at the feet of Neymar to take the ball off the Brazilian’s toe. The ball ran to Xavi but he couldn’t finish.
The fear for Atletico was that Pedro and Alexis would inject late pace and do for their tired legs but Alexis’ introduction did nothing to change the game and it was Villa’s legs that seemed fresher than anyone’s.
Hands up: Atletico players celebrate their victory over Barcelona
Cheers: Atletico captain Gabi savours memorable victory over Barcelona
Dejected: Marc Bartra of Barcelona sits on the pitch after defeat
Down and out: Barcelona's Neymar, left, leaves the pitch as Atletico celebrate
Group hug: Atletico Madrid celebrate reaching the semi-finals of Champions League
Inspired: Diego Simeone had worked wonders at Atletico Madrid
Villa had given young central defender Marc Bartra a torrid time throughout and when he sent Gabi down the left the midfielder should have given him the ball back to him to finish but instead he shot straight at Pinto.
Villa then went down in the box and had his appeals for a penalty were turned down but despite decisions going against them and posts denying them there was no way they were not going through.
The stadium was still full ten minutes after Webb had blown his final whistle.
Atletico Madrid’s players came back out on to the pitch to soak up an atmosphere that showed no signs of subsiding and Barcelona’s 2,000 travelling support got to its feet as one to salute the team that had taken their team’s place at the top table of European football.
Bayern Munich 3-1 Man United (agg 4-2): Ecstasy to agony for Moyes as ruthless Germans put visitors to the sword
By Martin Samuel
Published: 15:35 EST, 9 April 2014 | Updated: 17:19 EST, 9 April 2014
Gone in 22 seconds. That was Manchester United’s lead in Munich. Less than 10 minutes later they were gone from the Champions League completely, for close to 18 months at least.
To a club in seventh position, leaving Europe’s greatest tournament is not simply a matter of bidding adieu.
It will be September 2015 at best before United pass this way again and who knows what the team, and bench, will look like by then?
Certainly, many of the playing personnel will have changed, but what of the manager? Might this also be David Moyes’ last Champions League match in charge of Manchester United? If so, he went out with more of a whimper than a bang.
United made something of a stand by opening the scoring, but their hold on the advantage was so temporary as to be almost ephemeral.
Over and out: Manchester United players trudge back to the centre circle after conceding
Party time: Bayern Munich's stars roar after the final whistle brings the game to an end
Dancers: Jerome Boateng (right) and David Alaba show off their moves after the game
Me again: Arjen Robben wheels away after scoring Bayern Munich's third goal of the evening
Clinical: Robben meandered across the United box before firing low into the back of David de Gea's goal
Big-game player: Robben basks in the glory in front of Bayern's raucous home support
Hushed: Mario Mandzukic wheels away after equalising for Bayern Munich just seconds after Patrice Evra netted
Agonising: David de Gea is helpless to keep out Mandzukic's header to put the score at 1-1
Manchester United: De Gea 6, Jones 7, Evra 6, Smalling 6.5, Vidic 7, Carrick 7, Valencia 6.5, Fletcher 7 (Hernandez 74, 6), Kagawa 6, Rooney 6, Welbeck 7 (Januzaj 81)
Manager: David Moyes 5.5
Subs not used: Ferdinand, Giggs, Lindegaard, Young, Buttner
Booked: Vidic, Evra
Goal: Evra 58
Referee: Jonas Eriksson
Blink, and you would have missed it. In all, there were six passes between Patrice Evra’s fantastic shot into the Bayern goal and Mario Mandzukic’s soft header past David de Gea.
Scoring proved almost the worst thing United could have done. In the first half Bayern Munich did not have a shot on target. Once Evra scored they woke up and applied some directness to their play.
There were 17 minutes between 1-1 and 3-1. Job done, Munich hit the snooze button again.
It was as if they had been waiting for their motivation to arrive for the best part of two matches.
Not that this was their best game, more that they had toyed with victory up to that point, enjoying the lion’s share of possession with little return.
Suddenly, they knew they had 32 minutes to win this tie, and needed little over half that. United trooped off the pitch and, for many in this team, it will be the last they see of the Allianz Arena and nights like this. A run of 18 consecutive campaigns has come to an end.
The next United team to compete in the Champions League will be transformed; and it will need to be.
Turnaround: Thomas Muller scored Bayern's second goal of the night as the match was turned on its head
Clinical: Muller (No 25) finished off a neat Bayern team move from the edge of the six-yard box
Overwhelmed: Nemanja Vidic laments after seeing Mandzukic's goal go in
Another angle: United's players hopefully look over to the linesman as Muller roars
Out of ideas: By the end United were outclassed by the German giants in Bavaria
Evra encapsulated the problem for United in the Moyes era. His goal showed a willingness to embrace the big European occasion, his reaction to Munich’s fightback the reluctance to assume the responsibility that goes with it.
United’s best performances have come in the Champions League this season — the thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen, the fightback against Olympiacos, the resilience against Bayern Munich, the champions.
Yet when it mattered Evra was not interested enough in the defensive side of his game to see his team through.
Some blamed him for all three goals; certainly he could have done better in two. ‘He’s a defender who’s not interested in defending any more,’ a respected former international told me on the eve of this match. It seemed harsh; but fair comment given the evidence.
Juxtaposition: De Gea has his hands on his hips as Franck Ribery and Robben walk back to the centre circle
Game over: David Moyes turns away from the action with his head in his hands
This will be scant consolation, but United did at least score one of the goals of the season in the competition. It came after 58 minutes once Antonio Valencia had broken down the right and hit an outswinging cross, which Danny Welbeck knocked into the path of Evra.
The left-back was running on to the ball at pace and the moment he connected it looked a goal. In it went, hitting the underside of the crossbar and bouncing down, like the most dramatic shots do.
Unfortunately, it was a strike that only served to awaken a giant. Munich had previously tried to walk the ball into the net; suddenly they were alive to more earthbound possibilities.
Theirs was the simplest of responses and one that will have Moyes privately seething: a straightforward cross from Franck Ribery, a routine header from Mario Mandzukic, the ball in the net almost before the small travelling contingent high on the top tier had tired of celebrating.
Ecstasy: David Moyes and Phil Neville leap off the bench after Evra opened the scoring
Stunner: Evra netted a sublime goal that went into the net off the crossbar
Pocket rocket: Evra's strike bounced off the bar and over Manuel Neuer's line to stun the hosts
It would have been nice to let them enjoy it a little longer. This was the equivalent of winning the lottery and, two minutes later, getting a knock at the door and a tax demand for precisely the same amount.
Yet before the second was scored and United’s fate sealed, the visitors had their best chance of the night. It came after a pass from Welbeck found Wayne Rooney, whose finish was uncommonly lame. If this was evidence of the injury he carried into the game, he might have been better off as a spectator. A fit striker would have tested Manuel Neuer at least.
If the equaliser found a United team still returning from cloud nine, there was no such excuse for the second. A cross from Arjen Robben that should have been cut out by Evra, Thomas Muller in front of Nemanja Vidic, the ball scrambled past De Gea from close range.
Red alert: Phil Jones climbs above David Alaba to get his attempt towards Neuer's goal
Champions: Bayern supporters were keen to get across to the opposition who won the competition last year
Even so, at this stage the demand for United remained the same. A 2-2 draw would have seen United through. A single goal would still have done it.
This came, but at the wrong end, Munich’s third giving the scoreline an emphatic feel and underlining the Germans’ superiority over two legs. Robben raced into the area, Evra beaten too easily again, and a shot that deflected off Vidic defeated De Gea. United’s race was run.
Where from here for Moyes and his men? Well, for Rooney, a period of rest between now and the end of the season wouldn’t go amiss. He looks at best exhausted and at worst struggling with a combination of fatigue and injury.
Contrast: Guardiola (left) urges his players on as David Moyes cuts a frustrated figure on the sidelines
Under the lights: Wayne Rooney was booed by Bayern Munich fans as he struggled to impact the game
Those bemoaning his performance last night forget how much he has given to Moyes’ season. A few more like him and this defeat would not have felt so final, so much like the true end of an era.
The team requires major surgery, though, because this Bayern team can be beaten.
It will be interesting to see what Chelsea make of them, if the semi-final draw throws that up, or Atletico Madrid, conquerors of Barcelona.
Plotting: Wayne Rooney (right) and Patrice Evra talk tactics as the play breaks down
Appeal: Manuel Neuer watches the ball cross the line but Antonio Valencia is ruled offside early in the game
In the spotlight: Swede Jonas Eriksson, who was blasted by Manuel Pellegrini, took charge of the match
No deal: Shinji Kagawa laments after Antonio Valencia's goal is chalked off
Scramble: David de Gea barks orders at his defenders as they try to clear a Bayern Munich corner
Focus: Phil Jones keeps his eye on the ball to stave off the threat of Mario Mandzukic
Head and shoulders above: Danny Welbeck rises to head the ball above Robben and Lahm
Certainly Rooney’s second-half chance could have made for an interesting final 30 minutes; he had a glimpse of goal in the first-half, too.
Yet it is the soft equaliser that will most trouble Moyes, the way his players reacted to a very decent break. One cannot help but think that some United minds were already elsewhere. Now they will have time to reflect; too much time in some cases, one imagines.
So we meet again: David Moyes and Pepe Guardiola share a word before the proceedings begin
Up for it: Patrice Evra (right) prevents Bayern forward Thomas Muller getting through on goal
Thorn in the side: Arjen Robben (right) eases the ball past the pursuing Darren Fletcher
Painful: Dante holds his head after coming off worse in an aerial challenge
One for the team: Moyes takes a ball in the stomach after it ricochets off the pitch
Easy decision: Antonio Valencia is felled by Mario Mandzukic as the Bayern striker tracks back
Eyes wide shut: Rooney and Dante (right) jump for the same ball during the first half
Early doors: Moyes watches as his side settle into the match in the early stages
Relaxed: Bayern stars Rafinha, Claudio Pizarro and Mitchell Weiser (right) pose for pictures before the match
Confused: Muller remonstrates with officials after play is stopped in the first half
Remember this? Evra's last Champions League goal was against Roma in the 7-1 win back in 2007
ALLIANZ ARENA MATCH ZONE
Play you cards right, Bayern
Bayern Munich love an orchestrated fan welcome on a Champions League night, the home end of supporters having been organised to hold up red and white cards reading: ‘Kings of the Cup.’
It just all seems a little lame after their ultimate hubris, when their fans displayed the message: ‘Our city, our stadium, our cup!’ on that famous night in 2012 when Chelsea gatecrashed their party to win the Champions League here on penalties.
Lahm's a pop-up player
Philipp Lahm (below) is a conundrum. Does he play left back, right back or holding midfield? On Wednesday night he was a more familiar right full back, after his conversion this season to holding midfielder by Pep Guardiola.
But so versatile is Lahm, that he would pop up in central midfield, right wing and, of course, at full back. He is the prototype for the modern footballer.
Peter Schmeichel complained on Twitter that United were defending too deep— another echo of that 2012 Chelsea final. But it felt like a match in which David Moyes would be at his best: defending deep, playing on the counter with few expecting him to win. Arena respects banner ban
Where had all the fans gone? Bayern had to leave 700 seats free last night as punishment for the homophobic banner that their fans had displayed at the Arsenal game last month.
The banner also attracted an £8,000 fine from UEFA. It meant there was a conspicuous block of grey seats in the Allianz Arena (below) which was draped instead with UEFA’s anti-racism banners and the word ‘Respect’, presumably to remind Bayern fans of the message of equality.
Moyes hints at transfer agreements following Manchester United's Champions League elimination
By Sam Lee
Apr 9, 2014 10:15:00 PM
The Scot says his focus is to rebuild the squad and qualify for the Champions League next season, and suggested that players have already said they will move to Old Trafford
Manchester United manager David Moyes has hinted that agreements are already in place to bring new players to Old Trafford.
Moyes denied his job was on the line after the Red Devils were knocked out the Champions League by Bayern Munich, and suggested he already knows that players will want to join the club even without top-level European football.
"That's not a question for me because my job is to get on and do the job," he told Sky Sports. "My focus is to get a side which gets us back into the Champions League and that's the objective.
"The club have never had any problem [about the Champions League], they've always been looking to spend the right money on the right players if they are available, it had nothing to do with Champions League football, and any players we've quietly dicussed with are more than happy to join Manchester United.
"As I say, I think there are ones who have quietly... somebody might have had a word in their ear, they've all been keen to come here because [the European hiatus] will be a short thing, not a long thing, and they're all very keen to join such a great club."
United took the lead at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night through a Patrice Evra thunderbolt, but conceded just 22 seconds later and eventually lost the match 3-1, 4-2 on aggregate.
With the club currently seventh in the Premier League table it looks unlikely they will qualify for the Champions League next season, but Moyes is confident that he can rebuild his squad and make a comeback in 2015-16.
"We've not got Champions League football, that's the way it looks," he added. "I believe that it's not far away, hopefully it'll be one year where we go to rebuild.
"Our focus now is getting a team which can make sure we are back in this competition, because it's a great competition, we've really enjoyed it, there's no shame in going out in the quarter-finals to Bayern Munich, because they are a good side.
"The players have played really well, it shows the quality of the players we've got. We'll regroup and we'll start building towards being in the competition again."
Moyes rues 'schoolboy defending' after Champions League exit
Apr 9, 2014 11:38:00 PM
The Red Devils boss was unhappy with the way his side surrendered the lead given to them by Patrice Evra at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening
David Moyes rued a "schoolboy" error after Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
United took the lead in their quarter-final second leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday through Patrice Evra's thunderbolt, a goal that gave Moyes' men the lead on aggregate and cancelled out Bayern's away goal from the first leg.
But Bayern responded within 22 seconds of the restart to level through Mario Mandzukic, the Croatian getting ahead of Evra to head home Franck Ribery's cross.
That was the impetus the defending champions needed and Pep Guardiola's side went on to secure a 3-1 win on the night, 4-2 on aggregate, as Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller added the second and third.
And while Moyes was proud of his team's performance, he conceded that allowing Bayern to equalise so quickly was a costly error.
"I am pleased with their (the players') performance, but a couple of small errors cost us in the end," he told reporters.
"The 30 seconds after we scored the first goal were poor, as a schoolboy you are told not to concede a goal straight away after scoring.
"We conceded too quickly. It's always going to be tough, but after the first goal you need to give five or 10 minutes (without conceding).
"I don't know if the concentration went after the goal, but we had enough experience on the pitch to do that.
"I never thought we were out of the game, we needed to score one more goal but obviously the third one killed us."
Moyes, however, is confident United will soon return to Europe's premier club competition, despite having little chance of qualifying through the Premier League this season.
"We've not got (the) Champions League (next season) but I believe it is not far away," he added. "Hopefully it will only be one year (away) where we have to rebuild.
"My focus now is on getting this team back in the competition.
"There is no shame in losing to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. We played really well and showed the qualities we've got."
Carrick after Champions League exit: We'll be back
By Stephen Darwin
Apr 9, 2014 10:05:00 PM
Manchester United were dumped out of the competition by Bayern Munich on Wednesday but the England midfielder is convinced that they will soon return to Europe's elite competition
Michael Carrick has vowed Manchester United will return to the Champions League following Wednesday's defeat to Bayern Munich.
Goals from Mario Mandzukic, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben secured a 3-1 win on the night for Pep Guardiola's side, who recovered from going behind to a stunning Patrice Evra strike to dump United out of Europe.
The Red Devils are all but out of contention to qualify for next season's competition, with David Moyes's side currently seven points behind fourth-placed Arsenal in the Premier League table, but Carrick is adamant they will return to Europe's top table.
He told Sky Sports: "It's not good enough. We've said that over the last few weeks. This club should be in the Champions League.
"It was always going to be tough tonight, we knew that, but the reason we're not going to be in the Champions League is our league form throughout the season. We take responsibility for that, we've had too many bad results and ultimately we've paid for that.
"We pick ourselves up, we finish the season as well as we can and we start again next year, believing we can challenge for the title again. That's all that matters now.
"This [the Champions League] is where we want to be, this where we've been for a long time and this is where we'll be back, I'm sure, in the not too distant future."
We didn't give Xavi or Iniesta time to think - Simeone
By Joe Wright
Apr 10, 2014 12:00:00 AM
The Atletico Madrid boss was delighted with his side's persistent pressing as they beat Barcelona 1-0 on Wednesday to seal their place in the Champions League semi-finals
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone hailed his side's relentless running and pressing during Wednesday's 1-0 (Agg 2-1) win over Barcelona.
Koke's early strike was enough to send the Catalans crashing out of Europe and that strike could also have a telling impact in La Liga, with the two sides battling it out for the league title.
Simeone was delighted with the consistent effort shown by his players - particularly forward Adrian Lopez, who replaced the injured Diego Costa - claiming they did not allow Barca's midfield stars Xavi or Andres Iniesta time to think when in possession.
"We are so happy to beat a wonderful team. We now have time to recover and think about Sunday's match," he told Canal Plus.
"We played an "area match", letting Barcelona control the ball in midfield but pressing them hard. We worked hard when we lost the ball, pressing Xavi or Iniesta and not letting them think. The first 20 minutes were excellent, then Barcelona grew into it.
"My players were so happy, we beat a great team. Adrian played an impressive match. pressing and helping in every moment. I am happy to have him back."
Martino: Atletico stopped us from playing as we wanted
By Joe Wright
Apr 9, 2014 11:24:00 PM
The Barcelona boss believes his side could have changed the course of the match with more care in front of goal following their Champions League exit to Diego Simeone's men
Barcelona head coach Gerardo Martino was frustrated with the way Atletico Madrid stopped his side from finding their rhythm in Wednesday's Champions League defeat.
An early goal from Koke sent Diego Simeone's side into the semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win, as Barca failed to capitalise on clear-cut chances for Lionel Messi in the first half.
Martino - who has failed to beat Atletico in five meetings in all competitions this season - feels more ruthlessness in front of goal could have swung the tie in his team's favour, but admits the Blaugrana struggled to settle into their usual style against a spirited home side.
"Results happen for a reason. When Atletico were the better side, they scored their goal. We also had opportunities and just one goal from us would have changed the course of the game," he is quoted as saying by Uefa.com.
"At certain points, we couldn't do the things [we wanted] because of how our opponents played. Atletico kept a lot of players near their penalty area – they did that very well and that made it hard for us to find any space.
"This environment [the home fans at the Vicente Calderon] is difficult to find in Europe, but it's more common in Argentina. We have to keep fighting in the two competitions that remain for us now: the league and the Copa del Rey."
The veteran believes his side should have converted a handful of chances at the Vicente Calderon after Atletico Madrid booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals
Barcelona midfielder Xavi was left frustrated with his side's poor finishing as Atletico Madrid sent the Catalans crashing out of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-0 (Agg 2-1) win on Wednesday.
Koke's goal early in the first half was enough to settle the encounter, though Barca spurned a number of chances during the match, with Lionel Messi guilty of missing two clear opportunities in the first 45 minutes.
Xavi believes Barca would never normally display such a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and feels his side deserved to at least send the tie into extra time.
"I do not know if Atletico deserved this win," he was quoted as saying by Uefa.com after the match.
"We have had several chances to get the draw, we had four or five chances that usually we score. I think we deserved the draw, sending the game into extra time."
Atletico join Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Friday's semi-final draw following the holders' 4-2 aggregate win over Manchester United.
I've been practising crossing with my right foot, says Bayern hero Robben
By Joe Wright
Apr 9, 2014 11:00:00 PM
The Dutchman, who set up Thomas Muller for his side's second goal against Manchester United, was left to revel in the "pure fun" of the holders' progression to the last four
Arjen Robben has revealed he spent Wednesday's training session working on crossing with his weaker right foot after he fired Bayern Munich into the Champions League semi-finals.
The holders were stunned in the second half at the Allianz Arena as Patrice Evra's wonder strike put Manchester United in front, but Robben inspired his side to a 3-1 win, setting up Thomas Muller's goal before drilling home a third after Mario Mandzkuic had levelled on the night.
Robben crossed to Muller with his right foot for Bayern's second, and the Netherlands international told Sky after the match that he had practised the skill at the end of training earlier in the day.
"This morning after the last training we joked around on the pitch for 10 minutes and I practised crosses with my right foot. And it helped, it was a pretty good cross," he said.
"These are the evenings you sacrifice everything for, you do all the training for. These nights are pure fun."
Robben admitted he enjoyed a more productive evening at the Allianz Arena after being frustrated by United in the first leg, but warned that a potential semi-final showdown with old club Chelsea could be even more difficult for his side.
"The first half was pretty good, I had some space on the right wing. It was the same as always: we had to move the ball quickly and then get into one-on-one situations. It will not be easier if we play against Chelsea. It will be even worse."
Bayern head into Friday's draw alongside Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Barcelona didn't know how to trouble Atletico - Alba
By Enis Koylu
Apr 10, 2014 7:27:00 AM
The Blaugrana defender has admitted that his team-mates did not know how to break down Diego Simeone's resolute defence but is eager to move on from the defeat
Barcelona defender Jordi Alba has admitted that his side were at a loss as to how to unlock Atletico Madrid's defence on Wednesday.
The Blaugrana crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage after Koke's early goal gave Diego Simeone's side a 2-1 aggregate win.
Lionel Messi missed two clear-cut early chances and Neymar was thwarted by Thibaut Courtois, but Barca struggled throughout to break down a resolute home side, and Alba concedes they ran out of ideas.
"They were the better team in the opening minutes and after that we took control of the match, but we didn't know how to get into their area," he is quoted as saying by the club's official website.
"It's very difficult to beat a rival who play this way. It's hard to beat Atletico because of how they play. After 20 minutes, the intensity was the same for both teams.
"We have to forget about this game and start over. We don't like to lose these games, especially in a competition like this one."
Barca are still in the hunt to win the Primera Division and face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final next week and Alba is eager to seal a domestic double.
He added: "Now we have to win the Liga and the Copa del Rey."
Koke and 7-up: Barcelona must rethink their tiki-taka philosophy
Apr 9, 2014 10:15:00 PM
The Blaugrana were sent packing from the Champions League by a more robust, more physical outfit on Wednesday night, but it is hardly the first time
By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent
For the first time since 2007, there will be no Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final draw. Their 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night will have startled many casual observers, but most will have felt a sense of déjà vu as the Catalans trudged from the field at full-time.
Atleti may have gained their first win in five attempts against them this season, but the manner of Barca’s elimination was nothing new. The Blaugrana didn’t just lose, they were well beaten.
Playing without the trio of Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique in a Champions League game for the first time since 2002, they were as ill-equipped defensively as they have been in a long time, and they were made to pay dearly.
Just as in the Supercopa de Espana in August, Diego Simeone’s side launched an athletic assault on the Spanish champions, put the pinch on Barca’s attacking unit and hit them successfully on the break.
It was Atletico Madrid 2014, but it could so easily have been Chelsea 2012 or Bayern Munich 2013.
The tide was relentless in the opening 20 minutes, and Tata Martino’s men all but gave up swimming against it. Adrian Lopez hit a stinging effort against the woodwork from which the Catalans never quite recovered, with Koke turning home the loose ball for what proved to be the winning goal. It didn’t stop there though.
David Villa twice struck the frame of the goal thereafter, while other chances came and went. The only question was whether Atletico would put the game beyond doubt long before Barca could catch their breath.
As it was, they had to spend the last three-quarters of the game hanging tightly onto their narrow lead, despite Gabi, Diego and Cristian Rodriguez all having great opportunities to finish the tie and when David Villa was pushed in the back by Javier Mascherano, Howard Webb should have awarded Atleti a penalty.
In the end, the Rojiblancos got the win they so richly deserved, and they did so by knocking Barca out of their stride from the opening moments. They had seen it done before in major European fixtures, and they had achieved it themselves before domestically. But this time they were able to create the perfect storm.
For Martino and his side there must now come the dawning realisation that this cannot keep happening to them. Once more, they have been outmuscled, outrun, out-enthused into a Champions League exit. But this year it may also cost them domestically.
Lionel Messi was nowhere to be seen, crowded out of effective territory by a magnificently-prepared opposition. It used to come as a surprise, but more coaches are cottoning on. Football changes, and if Barca don’t change with it then they could well be set for further disappointments such as this one.
"I don’t know if they deserved to win," Xavi told Canal+ after the game. "We had four or five clear chances and they took their only goal in the first 15 minutes. We deserved at least extra-time." But despite the bravado of the skipper, such straw-clutching will only result in the club continuing to go around in circles.
They are as lacking defensively now as they were 12 months ago when they were hammered by Bayern. They are as dependent on Messi as they were against Chelsea a year previous to that. They are as married to the idea of passing opponents to death as they have ever been, despite gathering evidence that that is not always the right way to play in the modern game.
Barcelona have allowed history to repeat itself and look no better equipped – no better prepared – to deal with the changing times than they were in 2012.
There is a school of thought around football that you learn more in defeat than in victory, but Barcelona are the proof that that is not always the case.
Champions League wide open as Pep's Bayern struggle again
Apr 9, 2014 10:00:00 PM
The Bundesliga champions reached the semi-finals at the expense of Manchester United, but the unstoppable machine from the start of the season is slowing down
By Stefan Coerts
Although no team has won back-to-back Champions League titles since the rebranding of the competition in 1992, title-holders Bayern Munich started the season as red-hot favourites to retain their trophy.
The Bundesliga giants quickly affirmed their status as Europe’s standout team with some indomitable performances in the group stages, most notably in the 3-1 away victory at Manchester City, but they have been struggling to live up to the high expectations in the knockout stages.
After failing to impress against Arsenal in the round of 16, they were caused even more problems in the quarter-finals by a Manchester United side at their lowest ebb for a quarter of a century.
Pep Guardiola’s men came away from Old Trafford with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg and fared little better at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, despite eventually recording a relatively comfortable 3-1 win.
Very much like last week, Bayern dominated possession but failed to create any chances of note until Patrice Evra’s opener just shy of the hour mark shook them into life.
"The first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half were a disaster. We were so slow and you can't do that in the Champions League because you will be punished - and we were. The goal was a wake-up call, because we went on to score three goals," commented Arjen Robben on Wednesday's win.
While they did display remarkable mental strength as Mario Mandzukic immediately restored parity before Thomas Muller and Robben put the tie to bed, Bayern no longer look unbeatable.
Sigh of relief | Bayern were made to work hard for their semi-final berth
The Bavarians looked short on ideas against the Premier League strugglers and the remaining teams in the Champions League will have noticed how United’s ultra-defensive game-plan frustrated Guardiola’s side.
Atletico Madrid showed against Barcelona that they have the potential to trouble any team and will fancy their chances against Bayern, too. The Vicente Calderon side have impressed throughout the competition with their dogged discipline and lethal counterattacks and should no longer be considered underdogs.
Tuesday’s ties, meanwhile, illustrated that Real Madrid - second favourites prior to this week - and Chelsea are far from invincible, too. The Santiago Bernabeu outfit were fortunate to progress to the semi-finals as Dortmund spurned numerous chances to turn around a 3-0 deficit in the second leg, while Jose Mourinho’s men needed a late Demba Ba goal to shake off Paris Saint-Germain on the away goals rule.
Bayern will still enter Friday's semi-final draw as favourites to win the competition, but the gap between them and their rivals has closed dramatically. The Champions League is wide open.
