The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| We can sink Bale and company, says Galatasaray striker Drogba Posted: 16 Sep 2013 08:50 AM PDT Galatasaray have made a mediocre start to the season but striker Didier Drogba believes they can repeat April's victory over Real Madrid in tomorrow's Champions League Group B opener. Although his team have begun the Turkish championship with three draws and one win from four games, the former Chelsea player is convinced Galatasaray can upset Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and company. "It's a new season and we know we can beat them again," Drogba told a news conference today. "The best thing to do is play good football and give 100 per cent to win. Once again we are going to face the top clubs of Europe this season and I think we have a good chance to qualify (for the knockout stages)." Galatasaray went out 5-3 on aggregate despite beating Real 3-2 in their quarter-final second leg in Istanbul five months ago. "No team comes to Istanbul comfortably. We believe we can challenge any team," said coach Fatih Terim. Real, seeking their 10th European crown, signed Bale for a world record fee earlier this month and it will be tough for Galatasaray to keep the Wales winger and dynamic Portugal forward Ronaldo quiet. "The Real Madrid team consist of stars of incredible quality in every position. They have made important transfers but they had one of the best teams in the world anyway," Terim said. Terim, now in his third spell at the club, was behind Galatasaray's 2000 UEFA Cup title triumph and led Turkey to the semi-finals of Euro 2008. He has taken on an extra burden this season, assuming a temporary role as coach of the national team in their uphill battle to qualify for next year's World Cup. – Reuters, September 16, 2013. |
| Man City must not take Plzen lightly, says Pellegrini Posted: 16 Sep 2013 07:51 AM PDT Big-spending Manchester City must not underestimate little-known Czech opponents Viktoria Plzen in tomorrow's Champions League opener, said manager Manuel Pellegrini. The Chilean, who led debutants Malaga to the quarter-finals earlier this year, is in his first campaign at the Etihad Stadium and wants to improve on last season's performance by City who failed to reach the knockout stages. "It would be a big mistake to think that playing a team with less history in Europe would be easier to play," Pellegrini told the club's website (www.mcfc.co.uk) on the eve of the Group D fixture against the Czech league winners in Plzen. "Last season when the draw took place AC Milan and Zenit St Petersburg were happy to be drawn against Malaga and they felt they'd already qualified for the next round." Pellegrini, who also led Villarreal to the semi-finals in 2006, was given some words of advice by former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes at the weekend. Hughes, now in charge of Stoke City, said if his old club failed to progress in Europe it would be a "stick that people can use to hit them over the head with". The other teams in Manchester City's group are holders Bayern Munich and CSKA Moscow. "This is my fifth year in the Champions League and I am very happy about my last campaigns," said Pellegrini. "It is not easy to reach the semi-finals with a team like Villarreal, or to make it to a quarter-final." – Reuters, September 16, 2013. |
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