Yakin praises ´disciplined´ Steaua

7 November 2013 00:19

Basel manager Murat Yakin hailed his side’s fighting spirit after they snatched a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday.

Yakin’s men fell behind 17 minutes into the UEFA Champions League Group E match when Federico Piovaccari got on the end of a fine ball from Lukasz Szukala to fire home.

Basel looked set to suffer frustration in their bid to force a leveller, but the Swiss team were rewarded for their tenacity in injury-time when substitute Giovanni Sio slotted past Ciprian Tatarusanu.

Sio’s goal, his first in the Champions League, means Basel trail second-placed Schalke by a solitary point with two matches remaining.

“It’s not undeserved that we scored the equaliser since the second half was often one-way football. We will take the positives from this game,” said Yakin.

“We fought really well and showed a lot of morale. Our chances to progress from this group are still there.”

Basel’s next group match is at home against leaders Chelsea on November 26.

Higuain: Qualification race is hotting up

7 November 2013 00:08

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain believes the race for UEFA Champions League qualification is hotting up after a 3-2 win over Marseille.

The Argentina forward netted twice in the Group F victory on Wednesday, including the winner with 15 minutes left to play.

Higuain now has three goals in as many matches in this season’s competition and his latest effort was telling, putting Napoli level on points with group leaders Arsenal with two matches left to play.

Rafael Benitez’s side are now three points ahead of the third-placed Borussia Dortmund and can seal their qualification to the round of 16 with victory in Germany on matchday five later this month.

And Higuain was under no illusions as to the value of their latest victory, with the striker also delighted to contribute so heavily to the cause with his brace.

“It was a very difficult game but we knew it from start,” he said.

“These three points are really important because this group is extremely balanced.

“We knew since the end of the draw it was going to be a tight affair.

“I’m not at my very best yet but I feel I’m improving and I’m very happy with the goals I scored tonight.”

Mourinho praises ´clever´ Eto´o

7 November 2013 00:02

Jose Mourinho took some credit for Samuel Eto’o’s bizarre opening goal in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League victory over Schalke.

Eto’o left Schalke goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand red-faced after 31 minutes at Stamford Bridge when the experienced German’s attempted clearance hit the striker and rolled into the net.

The former Valencia and Sporting Lisbon custodian took far too long to clear the ball and Schalke never recovered from his howler.

Eto’o scored his second of the night after the break and Demba Ba came off the bench to seal a 3-0 win that puts Chelsea firmly on course to progress from Group E, following their failure to reach the knockout stages last season.

Mourinho had advised Eto’o to put pressure on Hildebrand when he had the ball at his feet and the Portuguese was delighted to see his words of wisdom pay off.

The Chelsea manager said: “I told him that. I know the keeper from Portugal and Spain because he was there and we know Schalke likes to play back passes and play from the back with the keeper so Samuel was clever in the way he closed him down.”

Chelsea suffered a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday and Mourinho was pleased with his team’s response after making six changes to the starting line-up.

He added: “I think it was a good [response] but of course the first 15 minutes were difficult; we were a team without big maturity and stability after the defeat on Saturday.

“After that we played very well and kept possession in a comfortable way and after the first goal we played well.

“I know Petr Cech made a fantastic save for a possible 1-1 but everybody worked hard and made defensive work, especially the wingers against their full-backs.”

Poyet: This is just the beginning

6 November 2013 23:53

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet believes the club’s 2-1 League Cup win over Southampton is part of a new beginning.

A miserable start to the season has seen Sunderland claim just one win from 10 Premier League games.

However, they are now through to the last eight of the League Cup following second-half goals from Phil Bardsley and Sebastian Larsson against Southampton, who claimed a late consolation through Maya Yoshida.

Sunderland will face Chelsea in the quarter-finals on December 17, but Poyet hopes Wednesday’s result has a bearing on his side’s more immediate future.

“We are desperate to see the team play in a good way,” the Uruguayan told BBC Sport.

“It was important for the players. It’s a new way, a different way. We can do it. It’s just started; it’s the beginning.

“We need to make sure we are a very strong at home. You have 40,000 people behind you at home.

“We need a clean sheet now. How much we would give for a clean sheet on Sunday (in the Premier League match against Manchester City).”

Allegri eyes confidence boost despite Barca defeat

6 November 2013 23:48

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri hopes his side will take confidence from their performance in defeat against Barcelona on Wednesday.

A 3-1 loss at Camp Nou means that the Serie A side have not won in five games in all competitions, with Gerard Pique’s own goal ultimately scant consolation for Milan as Lionel Messi, with a double, and Sergio Busquets scored for the hosts.

Milan did threaten to pull level after the interval, with the introduction of Mario Balotelli a factor in their increased attacking threat, but they were killed off by a late Messi goal seven minutes from time.

However, Allegri was still pleased with his side’s overall performance and is confident that similar showings in the coming weeks will yield positive results.

“At this moment playing in Barcelona with this consistency is impressive,” he he told Sky Sport Italia. “The team showed character and hunger.

“When we get our players back from injury, we will find better performances and results.

“This performance should give us confidence, as the team kept its belief and shape even after going behind, which it did not do against Fiorentina (a 2-0 Serie A defeat).”

Allegri also explained his reasoning behind naming Balotelli on the bench, with the coach opting instead for Brazilian pair Kaka and Robinho up front.

“I chose this system to give Kaka more freedom to attack, as he worked so hard at San Siro (in the first meeting with Barca) and at times had to play as a full-back. Robinho… gives a different tempo to the side, (he) played well at San Siro and did fairly well tonight too,” Allegri continued.

“Mario had (an) injury on international duty and his recent performances were not sharp, so I preferred to start with the pairing that played in the first leg.

“People expect a lot from him, he has to improve and get accustomed to playing every three days, which he has never really done before coming to Milan. That’s tough both physically and psychologically.

“The club hierarchy knew about my choices. I spoke to the president before the game, as I always do, and told him Balotelli was not going to start. I did this for the good of the team and for the good of Balotelli too.”