Monday, December 16, 2013

Champions League last-16 draw

Champions League last-16 draw

Arsenal's failure to finish top of their group proves costly as they will now face the European champions. 
Manchester City v Barcelona,
Olympiakos v Manchester United,
AC Milan v Atletico Madrid,
Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St-Germain,
Galatasaray vChelsea,
Schalke v Real Madrid,
Zenit St Petersburg v Borussia Dortmund and
Arsenal v Bayern Munich.

It's a Manchester United dream draw; Chelsea's emotional return for Didlier Drogba. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that a Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona should hold no fears for his players.

"I think Barcelona will be very concerned that they have drawn us," he said. "They are not the team of two years ago."

Manchester City's director of football Txiki Begiristain tells Sky Sports: "It's very tough, but we are happy because we are here and we will fight for the trophy.

"It's a wonderful draw and these are two big teams so it's going to be great, great matches.

"The last game we played in Munich, winning against the champions of Europe [Bayern Munich] and that has given us a lot of confidence. We have shown we can score in all matches."

"Arsene Wenger and the players knew that, whoever they got, it was going to be tough. It's a repeat of last year when they got taught a lesson at the Emirates and the tie was effectively over. So many of the players that Bayern have got can hurt you. They are the reigning champions and Pep Guardiola is under pressure, not only to retain the trophy as nobody has done, but to do it in a different way and to stamp his imprint on the team. How do you stop them? I don't know, but Arsenal at their best can score goals against most sides and I hope they can do it against Bayern.

Alan Smith and Jamie Redknapp believe that Arsenal have been handed the toughest possible tie against Bayern Munich.


"I think Jose Mourinho quite enjoys these games. There will be plenty of talk beforehand on his part, I'm sure. We are still waiting for this Chelsea side to settle down under Mourinho and for it to become a side in his image. The consistency we've always seen from his sides, we haven't had it and you don't quite know what to expect from them. Come February, things might be a little different but as things stand going into the tie you think they should win it but who knows?

"David Moyes can't have any complaints. It looked as if they would get a favourable draw when you saw the teams that were going to be in their pot, so it's an opportunity for him to move forward and the club to feel better about themselves in the New Year. It's not the best Manchester United side we've seen, far from it, but it is certainly one that is capable of beating this Olympiakos side."
So what do you think of the draw?

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