Courtois : Ronaldo is great but so am I

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has insisted he does not fear Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid.

The Portugal international has been in sublime form in Europe so far this season, netting 16 goals in 10 appearances, but Courtois is confident he has what it takes to deny the prolific attacker in this weekend's showpiece in Lisbon.

"I will not prepare in some special way for Ronaldo. I do not have any fear for him," Courtois was quoted as saying by Sport Bild.

"Of course, he is a great player, but I am a great goalkeeper as well..."

Courtois then went on to stress that Atletico cannot afford to make the same mistakes Bayern Munich made in the semi-finals against Madrid and feels they should aim to put in a performance similar to that of Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals.

"We should learn from Dortmund's second-leg display against Madrid. They showed how it's done.

"Bayern's tactics were silly. They copied Barcelona's style of play and Madrid know all about this philosophy.

"Their players only need a few seconds to cross the entire pitch. They have the perfect weapon against possession-based football."

Atletico and Real Madrid have met four times so far this season, with Diego Simeone's men winning once, losing twice and drawing the remaining game.

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Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Match Preview

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

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Benzema: I'd rather face Chelsea

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema says he would rather face Chelsea in the Champions League final than Atletico Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti's side booked their place in the showpiece for the first time in 12 years with a spectacular 5-0 victory over Bayern Munich over two legs.

And Benzema is eager to avoid a Madrid derby in the final, with Diego Simeone's side leading La Liga with just three games left.

"We have to win this final," he told reporters. "I'd prefer Chelsea but we'll see."

Reflecting on the match, Benzema says he was proud of how hard his team-mates worked to defeat the European champions.

"They tried to attack, but they left space and we are very strong on counterattacks and we used them well.

"The team played well. We stayed calm and that makes us happy. Bayern got upset about many things."

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Ronaldo: Madrid will show we're best in Europe

Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to show Real Madrid are the best team in Europe in the Champions League final after thrashing holders Bayern Munich 5-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the competition.

Madrid recorded a 4-0 win at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday after previously winning the first leg 1-0, with the Portuguese attacker scoring twice after Sergio Ramos' four-minute double propelled the Blancos to a healthy 2-0 second-leg lead.

The former Manchester United man said it was a monkey off the back of the Madrid club, who had fallen at the semi-final hurdle in the past three European cups, and is determined to go all the way now.

"We deserve to be in the final and everyone - the coach and all his staff - deserve to be congratulated because we played very well. Now we're going to enjoy the final and try to win," Ronaldo told the official Uefa website.

"We have to show that we're the favourites out on the pitch. It's always 50-50 going into a final anyway, irrespective of who the teams are, so we're going do our best and prove we're the best team in Europe.

"As I said at the very start of the Champions League, we have to take it step by step and game by game because we know that whoever we meet in the final will be a very tough opponent. I don't care who we face in the final. It will be in my country and I want to win the Champions League."

Ronaldo broke the record for most goals in a European cup campaign, with his double on Tuesday taking him to 16, and he praised team-mate Gareth Bale for providing him with a slice of history.

"I was looking for it and I knew I needed one goal but I was not going to be mad if it didn't happen," he added. "It was a great ball from Bale. The whole team helped me.

"I'm really happy to break the Champions League record but what I want is to win it and we're very excited."

Madrid will either meet Atletico Madrid or Chelsea in next month's showpiece in Lisbon.

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Suarez: Chelsea can't match Atletico's desire

Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez has insisted that Chelsea cannot match his side's desire ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge.

The Liga leaders head to London on Wednesday with plenty of confidence despite being held to a scoreless draw in the first leg in Madrid last week and Suarez, who is set to replace suspended captain Gabi in defensive midfield, has made it clear that Atletico cannot wait to take on Jose Mourinho's men again.

"We feel good, we're very up for this game," the 27-year-old told reporters.

"We've earned the right to be here. We feel very motivated.

"No one can beat us in terms of desire and, if we do things well, we feel we have a good chance."

Mourinho has come in for plenty of criticism over the way his team focused on defence in both their semi-final first leg in Madrid and against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, but Suarez does not expect the Chelsea manager's tactics to change too much at home.

"We expect them to be similar; they won't go crazy, although they'll probably be out to attack a bit more because they need a goal.

"But we know they'll look for their opponent to make mistakes. We need to do things well, try to take our chances."

Atleti last qualified for the final of the European Cup in 1974 when they lost to Bayern Munich.

This time around, local rivals Real Madrid await Diego Simeone's men if they manage to overcome Chelsea.

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Guardiola : My mistake cost Bayern

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says he made a mistake in his side's Champions League semi-final loss to Real Madrid on Tuesday and apologised to the club's fans.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos struck braces in Real's 4-0 second-leg thrashing of the Bundesliga champions at the Allianz Arena, completing a 5-0 aggregate victory.

And Guardiola admitted it was his error that led to Bayern's humiliating defeat, but insisted it's impossible for the team to win every title.

"We played badly when we had the ball. That's my responsibility. I made a mistake," the Spaniard told reporters.

"I was wrong on some tactical issues. It’s my responsibility. When you don’t play well, these things happen against great rivals, but I’m disappointed.

"This team has to win everything so that people are happy. Sometime it’s not possible. I’m sorry for the disappointment of not playing well.

"Three years ago Bayern won zero titles in a season. If you win the league it may be enough but we knew that this year could only equal the past. We won’t but that’s the sport.

"Today there has been a team that has been better. I still have the impression we’ve had a good Champions League campaign but Real Madrid had the quality and the first-half won it for them."

"It’s difficult for me and my players. I’m still proud of them.

"The reason for the defeat isn’t related to the possession. Football is played with the ball and then there are other things.

"It was a bit better in the first-leg, but congratulations to Real Madrid."

Guardiola lamented his side's defending from set-pieces, with Ramos heading in a corner and free-kick in the first half.

Ronaldo netted on the counter-attack before half-time and completed the scoring with a cheeky free-kick which went under a jumping Bayern defensive wall.

"We have to carry on now. If you don't play well and you defend set-pieces badly, that's just how it is. You are being punished," Guardiola said.

"We are at the highest level in Europe; such mistakes are punished right away."

Guardiola said he had been hopeful Bayern could reproduce the performances they put in against Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United earlier in the knockout stages.

"What we did against Arsenal and Manchester [United] did not work today," he said.

"Also in the first-leg in Madrid we had more control than today and at least a couple of chances. Today, just a few. That's why we have lost the semi-final.

"You play with the ball and if you don't have it that doesn't work."

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Chelsea - Atletico Madrid Match Preview

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Lahm blames tactics for Real defeat

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm was full of regret after his side's devastating 4-0 Champions League semi-final second-leg defeat to Real Madrid.

The reigning champions only lost 1-0 in the Bernabeu but were annihilated in front of stunned home fans at the Allianz Arena as Real raced into a 3-0 first-half lead.

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed his second of the night in the dying stages to add further emphasis to the scoreline - but Lahm was adamant the sloppy defending that allowed Sergio Ramos to score twice in the first 20 minutes was to blame.

The Germany full-back told the Bayern website: "We're very disappointed because we set our sights high, but suddenly we were 2-0 down after 20 minutes from two set-pieces.

"That really leaves a bitter taste. I don't think we played well tactically in the first half. The game was too open.

"It was the opposite of the first leg when we controlled the play. I know they hit us on the break last week, but (on Tuesday) it was end-to-end stuff in the first half.

"That's fundamentally not the way we play our football, but it's what Real really like. It totally played into their hands."

Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was equally disappointed, adding: "We didn't have quite enough passion to cause our opponents serious problems.

"We were obviously unlucky to go two goals behind to set-plays. After that it was obvious Real would make the final.

"Real have a magnificent team at the moment and our limitations have been exposed to a certain extent.

"You get games like these, but we need to hold our nerve. We've been a little spoiled because we made the final twice in a row, and three times in the last four years.

"Despite the anger you feel welling up inside, I think on days like these you have to stay calm, go home and try to do things better as of tomorrow."

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Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

PROBABLE LINEUPS

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Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea Lineups

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Guardiola: Defeat vs Manchester United is unthinkable

With their FC Hollywood swagger, Bayern Munich are not the sort of club you would associate with self-doubt and fragility, especially after a season of setting record-breaking benchmarks of excellence.

Yet for all that, there were a few hints of nervousness flitting around the Allianz Arena here as coach Pep Guardiola conceded that if Bayern fail to overcome Manchester United it would be too much to bear for Germany’s powerhouse champions.

“If we are not in the semi-finals, it is a huge mistake for us, for me, the new manager,” Guardiola conceded, with typical candour before resuming his quest to emulate the treble-winning season last year of predecessor Jupp Heynckes. “I know if we are not in the Champions League final, this club cannot deal with that. It’s very important me, for the team and I knew that before I came here. I knew right from the start that I have got to be in the situation so I can also get this treble. If I don’t do that, then, hey, it’s not so good! I have to accept this.”

In other words, Guardiola accepts that if Bayern slip he will be perceived to have failed, something to which he is not accustomed. Being the outstanding pass master he is, though, he is adamant that his side will find a way to breach the massed “eight or nine” man defence, which he is convinced will again be David Moyes’s modus operandi, and move ever closer to becoming the first team to defend successfully the Champions League.

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Bayern Munich vs Manchester United Lineups

Bayern Munich possible XI

Manchester United possible XI

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Manchester United v Bayern Munich / Lineups

Man Utd 4-2-3-1De Gea, Jones, Vidic, Smalling, Buttner, Carrick, Giggs, Fellaini, Kagawa, Valencia, Rooney

Bayern Munich 4-5-1 [4-3-3]Neuer, Rafinha, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Muller, Ribery, Mandzukic

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Moyes: We're good enough to beat Bayern

David Moyes says Manchester United should consider themselves on a level playing field as Champions League quarter-final opponents Bayern Munich.

The manager has been criticised recently for suggesting Liverpool and Manchester City were favourites for their matches, but he was in tubthumping mood before the home game with the European champions on Tuesday night.

"We know that on our day we're as good a side as any but we have to show it more often," Moyes said.
"I've got great belief in the players and I've said that from day one - that hasn't changed. I get the feeling the players all want to play, I can tell that from their attitude in training.

"They all want to play in the big games, that's what the players here have wanted to do over the years."
United, seventh in the Premier League, are the longest odds they have ever been for a match at Old Trafford, but Moyes says he has no fear of facing Pep Guardiola in the opposite dugout.

"I'm really looking forward to coming up against him," Moyes said. "I've no doubt I'll be doing it plenty of times in the future."

Asked why Guardiola has had so much more success, having already won the Bundesliga title, he said: "He had a year to get himself ready for the Bayern job."

Sitting alongside Moyes at the official press conference, Ryan Giggs took up the theme. "As players, we don't see ourselves as underdogs," the player-coach said. "We see ourselves as Manchester United, playing in the Champions League. It's two huge clubs, two great histories, two teams who play football the right way."

Moyes has injury problems in his backline with full-backs Rafael and Alexander Buttner now doubtful to feature while Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans work their way back to full fitness. "We have defensive issues undoubtedly so we will have to make one or two changes."

Shinji Kagawa, who has played Bayern Munich four times, winning all four, could retain his place in the side having started against Aston Villa on Saturday. "It's something we seriously consider. He is in our thoughts for tomorrow," said Moyes.

Moyes added that a degree of caution is required in the first leg. "We have to make sure both games are important but we'd love to go to Germany with a win under our belt."

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Ibrahimovic: I'll never move to England

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ruled out moving to England and insists he will retire with no regrets over never playing in the Premier League.

Striker Ibrahimovic has played in Sweden, Holland, Italy, Spain and now France with Paris Saint-Germain.

But ahead of facing Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with PSG, 32-year-old Ibrahimovic dismissed the prospect of adding England to his list of countries.
“To come to England today is not a question that is brought up,” said Ibrahimovic. “I think, first of all, it's impossible to get me to England. If you ask the people behind this project, I don't think they'd let me go.

“And with my own thinking, when I went to Milan I was speaking to some English clubs, but it didn't end up with me coming to England. The day I stop football, I won't look back and think maybe I should have played in England.

“I have respect for the Premier League, a great competition with good individual players and I haven't been part of it... I've made stories in other countries. It's nothing that I regret.

“This is my last contract in Europe, so to win it I have to win the Champions League with Paris. The day I leave Paris, I either go down a level or quit football. I'm very happy.
“I have a contract until 2016 and, after that, I don't know the future. Maybe my mind is old. Maybe I'm tired. I don't know. It's far away from today.

“I'm very happy with this situation, how it is here. The club is doing an amazing job to become like the other European top clubs. I've seen big changes in the two years, developments on and off the field that I haven't seen elsewhere.

“The people behind this project aren't aiming low or medium. These people aim more than high. I'm happy to be part of this project and this development.”

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Thiago Alcantara will miss Manchester United game

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara will miss the Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United after suffering a knee injury.

The club confirmed the Spaniard will miss both quarter-final games against Manchester United and the semi-finals should Bayern progress.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said: "It's bad news. We're going to miss him a lot."

Thiago suffered the injury in the first half of Bayern's 3-3 draw at home with Hoffenheim.

An MRI scan late on Saturday by team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt confirmed the extent of the injury.

Team-mate Thomas Muller said: "It's very bitter and comes at a catastrophic time, just before the important games."

Bayern clinched the Bundesliga in record time on Tuesday and hope to defend their Champions League crown.

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Muller: Bayern won't be complacent against Arsenal

Thomas Muller has insisted Bayern Munich will not show any complacency when they face Arsenal for the second-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

The reigning European champions head into the clash at the Allianz Arena with a two-goal advantage over Arsene Wenger's side.

But despite the Germans' lead, the 24-year-old is adamant that Bayern will respect their opponents and go into the match with the intention of putting the game to bed.

"Thinking about the character of our team, we have won our last 16 games in the Bundesliga," the Germany international told reporters.

"We always turn up - everybody always wants to win. We are not careless or arrogant. We always concentrate and want to win.

"We respect all opponents in the Champions League. I have learned how to have respect. Talking about Arsenal or other teams who are in the European elite, you have to have respect."
Muller has been playing in more advanced areas in recent weeks under Pep Guardiola and he insists he is settling in well, having scored twice in Saturday's 6-1 win over Wolfsburg, but he admits he is happy to fill any position in the Bayern squad.

"I've been playing up front a lot and I am getting used to it. I got two goals against Wolfsburg. But I do not have any preferences. I am just a player who plays with movement, I will play where the coach wants me to play.

"The way we are playing has changed a little bit [under Guardiola]. We play more in the opposition half, now we have the ball in the middle rather than on the wing. We find space for players. But it is very similar to last year. Guardiola does not make compromises – he wants to inspire the team."

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Robben: Wenger is a bad loser

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has accused Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger of being a bad loser.

The Dutch attacker remains upset that the French coach alleged that he had dived to win the penalty that resulted in Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny being dismissed in the first half of the Bavarians' Champions League victory at the Emirates last month.

Indeed, Robben has not only denied that he was guilty of playacting, he has also claimed that he was lucky to have avoided "serious injury".

"Shivers went down my spine when I saw footage of the foul again. Things could have gone horribly wrong. I have been quite lucky," the former Chelsea winger told De Telegraaf.

"Wenger's comments are typical for a losing coach. I don't care much about it, because it's not the first time he acts like this.

"It was a pretty scary moment for me. I picked up a serious injury in December after a similar foul from Augsburg's goalkeeper."

The second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie between Bayern and Arsenal is scheduled to take place at the Allianz Arena on March 12.

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Balotelli: AC Milan showed character against Ajax

Mario Balotelli hailed AC Milan's character after they battled their way to a 0-0 draw with Ajax on Wednesday evening that earned the Italian outfit a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Rossoneri were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Riccardo Montolivo received his marching orders for a reckless tackle on Christian Poulsen, but Massimiliano Allegri's men managed to hold on to claim the point they needed to reach the next round at their opponents' expense.

"We had to go through a lot, especially after the sending-off. We had to defend and we showed great character," Balotelli told reporters.

"It was difficult to score and the only way to get the result was to defend well. It depends from game to game, but Wednesday we were forced to defend with 10 men.

"We are a good group and we are showing it in every game. It was a very good duel against Ajax."

Balotelli then stressed that Milan now need to address their dismal Serie A form, with the Rossoneri currently ninth in the standings after a dreadful start to the season.

"We have done well in Europe but now we must do well in the domestic league," the former Manchester City forward declared.

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Benitez 'proud' despite Champions League exit

Rafa Benitez insists he remains proud of his players, even though they failed to advance into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Partenopei defeated Arsenal 2-0 in their final Group F fixture but despite finishing level on points with both Borussia Dortmund and the Gunners, they became the first team in the history of the tournament to bow out having amassed 12 points.

Consequently, Benitez says his side have no reason to feel ashamed of their early elimination from Europe's premier club cup competition.

"We picked up 12 points, beat Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund but still didn't qualify," the 53-year-old told Sky Sports.

"But everyone should be proud of these guys, we have put in a tremendous effort.

"Today we have seen on the pitch that there is a project going on here, and this team is growing."

The Spaniard also said he would be keen to see some new faces arrive during the January transfer window.

"We want to strengthen over time, so we will be looking at players of a particular age and ability that fit in with what we are trying to create," the former Liverpool boss explained.

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