-


Barca Fall To Premier League Curse: ANCELOTTI







The wait goes on. Twenty four teams have tried; twenty four teams have failed. As Barcelona's shock quarter-final elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid has underlined, retaining the Champions League has become football's equivalent of scaling Mount Everest. Not since Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan defeated Benfica in Vienna in 1990 has a side successfully defended the European Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti knows more than most about lifting the game's most prestigious prize - and trying to hold onto it. The former Italy international was an integral member of that majestic Milan side that won the European Cup in 1989 and 1990. He has also tasted Champions League glory three times as a coach: twice with Milan, in 2003 and 2007; and once with Real Madrid, whom he led to 'la Decima' two years ago.

In that sense, he is the ideal man to analyse precisely why holding onto the trophy has become such a treacherous proposition.

"I think it's difficult to win the Champions League because now the Champions League is more and more competitive compared to the past," he tells Goal. "When we won it in 1989 and 1990 there were not a lot of games to reach the final and to win, and not a lot of teams.

"In the past, there was only one team for each country who could play in the Champions League and now there are three or four teams from each country. Because of this, it is more competitive and more difficult to win it."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Zlatan holds back the clock but time's up for Rooney

-
Image
  The Swedish striker shows no sign of letting up despite his age but the writing is on the wall for his Old Trafford captain who is not missed in the starting XI or squad COMMENT BY LINEARSPORTS The latest signal that Wayne Rooney serves no purpose for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United came not in a game when he played badly or appeared out of his depth but one in which he was completely absent. The United squad stepped off the coach at Old Trafford for their Boxing Day fixture against Sunderland without Rooney, providing the decisive clue that he wouldn’t be involved. He had pulled up with an injury during Christmas Day training and Mourinho is already planning for Saturday's match at home to Middlesbrough without him. "Honestly I don't think so,” he said of Rooney’s chances of recovering in time. “Let's see. It's not a big deal but in four days I have my doubts." He probably wouldn’t start anyway, not the way United are p...
Read more

James Milner: From bit part at City to big shot at Liverpool

-
Image
The 30-year-old filled in at Manchester City, but he is fundamental at Anfield. He may not play in his preferred position, but he does so from one of power Jurgen Klopp had barely mapped out his way to Melwood before he first commended James Milner’s cerebral comprehension of the game.  “A complete football player, the perfect professional, a machine” was the German’s assessment after a 1-1 draw at Tottenham last October; his first fixture as Liverpool’s manager. Right at the start of his tenure, it was apparent on the training pitches at the West Derby complex that there was very little Milner could not do, and even less that he did not understand. With Zeljko Buvac, Peter Krawietz and Pep Lijnders helping Klopp bank the smallest details from every session - supported by the performance analysis team - the decision to utilise Milner as a left-back for the season was logical rather than some elaborate experiment. “It was clear that if Millie was open fo...
Read more

Leroy Sane: Who is Manchester City's new £37m signing from Schalke?

-
Image
   Sane, who played at Euro 2016, had a host of heavyweight suitors, with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also reportedly interested in him.   But City have got their man. So, how will he fit in? Here's a rundown of all you need to know... League One, Friday 5th, 11:45am Fulham v Newcastle £10 Free Bet, No Deposit Needed Sane has been with German side Schalke since 2011 Factfile Name: Leroy Sane Age: 20 Place of birth: Essen, Germany Position: Winger Club: Manchester City Last season's stats: Eight goals, six assists for Schalke in the Bundesliga Sane in action for Schalke against Bayern Munich last season Background Son of former Sengalese footballer Souley...
Read more