The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| We only have ourselves to blame, says Chelsea manager Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:49 PM PST LONDON, Dec 6 — Chelsea only have themselves to blame if they suffer an early Champions League exit today, manager Andre Villas-Boas said on the eve of their final Group E match against Valencia.  Villas-Boas at the media conference at Stamford Bridge, December 5, 2011: Determined — initiative, as always. — Reuters pic "We just have ourselves to blame," Villas-Boas, whose team have three times given away points when they had led the game in this European campaign, told a news conference yesterday. "During this campaign of five games we have done pretty well in terms of performances but the small details have run away from us in the last few minutes ... and if that had not happened it would have been different." Valencia are one of the teams to have profited from Chelsea's carelessness, converting an 87th-minute penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla in September. Bayer Leverkusen grabbed a 90th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory last month that put the German side through to the next stage, and the Premier League team also let Racing Genk equalise in Belgium. Villas-Boas said his team would be thinking only of a win at Stamford Bridge. "People have seen us play enough now to be sure we always take the initiative in games," he said. "We know that Valencia want to get something because a goal for them makes the game even more difficult for us, but we won't change our strategy just because it is an important game." The Portuguese manager's future has been the subject of much media speculation, with his side having lost three of their past four home matches, and it is only likely to pick up pace if Chelsea fail to book a ninth successive last-16 spot. "We cannot speak about going out. Tomorrow we just have to focus on the game," Villas-Boas said. "I have not thought about it and what it would mean to the club. Our focus is on tomorrow's game." He urged the Stamford Bridge crowd, who he says have been noticeably anxious of late, to recreate the atmosphere of previous big European occasions, such as the 2005 last-16 second-leg victory over Barcelona, to help out the players. "We face Valencia in one of their most impressive moments of the season, different from when we faced them last time," he said. "Our fans can have a massive impact and I have good memories of top European nights in this club. "I know the atmosphere can be raised and if the fans can replay the type of atmosphere they had in the 4-2 win over Barcelona then we have the right ambience to take on Valencia." — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Late Dempsey goal gives Fulham win over 10-man Liverpool Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:31 PM PST LONDON, Dec 6 — Clint Dempsey pounced for an 85th-minute winner as Fulham beat Liverpool 1-0 in a dramatic Premier League match at Craven Cottage yesterday after a rare mistake from keeper Pepe Reina.  Clint Dempsey (centre) celebrates his late winner after a rare Pepe Reina fumble. — Reuters pic Fulham, outplayed in the first half, came back strongly in the second but Liverpool were on the wrong end of three decisions that might have helped them win the game. Fulham defender Philippe Senderos was lucky not to concede a penalty after 59 minutes when he clattered into Charlie Adam inside the box. The officials also ruled that Luis Suarez was offside putting the ball in the Fulham net when he looked level with the last defender, and Spearing was shown a red card for a foul on Moussa Dembele when he caught the Fulham player with his trailing leg after playing the ball first. Liverpool, unbeaten in their previous 11 matches in all competitions, came to Craven Cottage seeking to equal a club record run of seven successive away wins, which included two at neighbouring Chelsea in the Premier League and League Cup. In contrast, Fulham were looking to improve on a poor home record in the league in which they had won just one of eight matches since Liverpool won 5-2 at Craven Cottage at the end of last season. Liverpool went closest to a goal after 28 minutes when a lofted shot from Jordan Henderson beat Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer before hitting the inside of the post and bouncing away. Substitute Stewart Downing also hit the post for Liverpool in the second half and Dempsey struck the crossbar before scoring. The win lifted Fulham to 13th in the table on 15 points from 14 games while Liverpool stayed seventh on 23 points, three behind Newcastle United. Manchester City lead the standings with 38 points. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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