UEFA Archives ⋆ Page 22 of 42 ⋆ LSU

May292022 by JBNo Comments

Carlo Ancelotti explains why Liverpool were easier to beat than Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti says Liverpool were the easiest team to prepare a gameplan for during the knockout stages of this year’s Champions League. The Real Madrid head coach etched his name further into the folklore of Europe’s premier club competition after masterminding the Spanish club’s success that culminated in last night’s 1-0 victory in Paris. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite owing their win to man of the match, Thibaut Courtois, who pulled off a number of outstanding saves, Real ultimately deserved their victory and saved their most accomplished display of the competition for the final. Real’s run to Stade de France had previously been characterised by a couple of miraculous acts of escapology against clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea...

May292022 by JBNo Comments

Why Benzema’s Champions League final goal against Liverpool was disallowed

UEFA, Premier League

A former Premier League referee has explained why Karim Benzema’s goal in the UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool was disallowed. Benzema thought he had given La Liga champions Real Madrid the lead shortly before the break but the offside flag was raised, much to the relief of Liverpool. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The in-form forward controlled a high ball into the box and then took a couple of touches before trying to round Alisson Becker. Benzema eventually lost control of the ball but Ibrahima Konate and Alisson made a mess of the clearance. Three players then challenged for the ball and it came back to Benzema who hit the ball beyond Alisson. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Though, Real Madrid’...

May282022 by JBNo Comments

Courtois fires warning to Liverpool ahead of Champions League final

UEFA, La Liga, Premier League

Thibaut Courtois has sent a warning to Liverpool ahead of the Champions League final by saying: ‘When Real Madrid play a final, they win it.’ La Liga champions Real Madrid will bid to win a record-extending 14th Champions League title when they meet Premier League team Liverpool on Saturday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Since the European Cup became the Champions League in 1992, Real Madrid have won in all seven finals they have ever played and defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the 2018 final. Courtois is aiming to win his first Champions League in Paris today, having finished on the losing side in the 2014 final when Atletico Madrid were beaten by Madrid. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Speaking at the pre-final pres...

May62022 by JBNo Comments

Mourinho interrupts interview to send class message to Real Madrid’s Ancelotti

UEFA

Jose Mourinho sent a message to Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after Roma progressed to the final of the Europa Conference League, wishing his counterpart good luck against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. The Portuguese coach watched his team overcome Leicester City in the second leg of Thursday’s semi-final game, with an early goal from Tammy Abraham setting up a 2-1 aggregate win after drawing the first leg away at King Power Stadium. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Roma will now play Feyenoord – who saw off Marseille 3-2 on aggregate – in the final in Tirana, Albania on May 25, the club’s first major European final since 1991. Three days after Mourinho tries to secure his first trophy with Roma, Ancelotti – who played 171 games for the Giallorossi –...

May52022 by JBNo Comments

Casemiro hits back at Mohamed Salah over Real Madrid revenge

UEFA

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has responded to Mohamed Salah’s revenge wishes after Manchester City win in the UEFA Champions League. The Reds have booked their place in the Champions League final after surviving a scare against Villarreal on Tuesday to win the tie 5-2 on aggregate. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After their win, and before the other semi-finals clash between Real Madrid and Man City wrapped up, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah declared his wish to play Madrid in the final. Salah said they [Liverpool] already lost a final to Real Madrid back in 2018 so he wants to play them again to settle the score. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Egyptian forward got what he wanted as Ancelotti’s side did the ne...

May52022 by JBNo Comments

Thierry Henry picks two players to win the Ballon d’Or this year

UEFA

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane are the two favourites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award. Both players are set to meet in the UEFA Champions League final at the end of May after Real Madrid and Liverpool secured their place at the showpiece this week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Jurgen Klopp's side overcame a scare against Villarreal to progress to the final, while Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid pulled off a dramatic comeback to beat Man City in the semis. Benzema scored yet another important goal for Madrid in the Champions League, netting the winning goal in extra time from the penalty spot, only a week after his Panenka past Ederson. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The 34-year-old is...

May52022 by JBNo Comments

Peter Schmeichel says Real Madrid have no right to be in the Champions League final

UEFA, La Liga

Peter Schmeichel was left surprised after watching Real Madrid pull off another superb act of escapology and reach the Champions League final. Manchester City looked home and hosed after Riyad Mahrez put them 5-3 ahead on aggregate with just 17 minutes left, but Europe’s comeback kings had other ideas. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Two goals from Rodrygo in the closing stages forced extra time, during which Karim Benzema stroked home the all important goal from the penalty spot after Ruben Dias had committed a needless foul. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will now face Liverpool in Paris later this month after an epic run to the final over the course of which they have been on the ropes against Chelsea and PSG. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle ...

May42022 by JBNo Comments

Van Dijk & Arnold reveal half-time team talk that inspired Liverpool turnaround

UEFA, Premier League

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk have credited manager Jurgen Klopp’s team talk for helping Liverpool see off Villarreal in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg. The Reds, who are pursuing the quadruple, saw their two-goal first-leg lead wiped out in the first half in Spain, with Boulaye Dia netting after only three minutes before Coquelin levelled the scores just before half-time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Liverpool looked sloppy and lacklustre in the first half but came out for the second half fired up, delivering a superb performance to book their place in the Champions League final. Fabinho fired past Geronimo Rulli’s legs to re-take the lead on the hour mark before goals from Luis Diaz and Mane sealed a 5-2 aggregate...

Apr272022 by JBNo Comments

Ancelotti reveals Real Madrid stars ignored his instructions vs Man City

UEFA, La Liga, Premier League

Carlo Ancelotti conceded his Real Madrid team failed to stick to his game plan in Tuesday's defeat by Manchester City. The Los Blancos manager was looking for his team to defend first at the Etihad, but his back four failed to turn up in the UEFA Champions League, with his strikers ensuring Madrid are still in this tie. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ancelotti was asked if he planned to go at Man City and create an open game, but he admitted this wasn't something he encouraged his players to do. "Not really, no [the plan wasn't to attack Gung-Ho]," Ancelotti said after the match. "The plan was to defend better. We started really badly and conceded two goals really early. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "But then we w...

Apr142022 by JBNo Comments

Rafael van der Vaart launches bizarre attack on Thomas Tuchel

UEFA, Premier League

Rafael van der Vaart has blasted Thomas Tuchel’s behaviour after Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid and says the German coach went down in his estimations. The Blues gave a superb display at the Bernabeu despite leaving the competition, taking a 3-0 lead only to be undone by a magical assist from Luka Modric for Rodrygo to level the scores on aggregate before Benzema netted an extra-time winner. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After the game, Tuchel directed his frustrations towards the referee and criticised Szymon Marciniak for laughing and shaking hands with Carlo Ancelotti. ‘I was disappointed that the referee had a good time with my colleague Ancelotti. I know that Carlo is a gentleman and a nice guy and when I go I see him smiling an...