Thursday, 12 December 2013

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Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

James Milner's mastery for Manchester City makes mockery of mediocre image

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

The versatile midfielder was more sharp sword than sturdy shield in masterminding the 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich

When Manchester City went 2-0 down after 12 minutes on Tuesday night away to Bayern Munich – champions of Europe, 7-0 winners in their previous match and all set to put on a swaggeringly pointed display of beefed-up Bavarian tiki-taka – you could hear the doom-laden epitaphs being clattered out ahead of time in the Allianz Arena press box.

With this in mind it is worth setting out again exactly what happened next. James Milner provided the pass for David Silva to pull one back. James Milner won a penalty that levelled the scores. James Milner then scored a brilliant winning goal. Over 90 minutes Bayern's domineering right flank was decisively outmanoeuvred and out-thought in its own stadium by James Milner. Yes: that James Milner.

There were plenty of unlikely subplots from City's superbly resilient 3-2 victory. With luck – and it will take some – the memory of Manuel Pellegrini's mathematical shortcomings will be submerged by a favourable draw in the next stage. Milner's performance, though, is a thing to be treasured.

There are players who tend to draw a disproportionate degree of hostility from football's critical periphery. Milner is undoubtedly one, guyed relentlessly with the national team as a kind of mannequin of mediocrity, a player for whom even virtues – stamina, diligence, understated craft – are represented as a footballing shade of beige made flesh. This has always been misguided. Perhaps after Munich it might even be time to lay the caricature to rest.

The anti-Milner bile has tended to be based on his performances-to-order for England in a rigid shuttle-running position on the right flank. But against Bayern, operating from the more fluid role on the left of City's midfield that uses his relentless movement as a sword as well as a shield, this was a display of Total Milner. When City began their counterattack Milner's steadiness made him an excellent counterpart to the high speed straight lines of Jesús Navas on the opposite flank. As they began to dictate play he was an intelligent, probing presence, evading Philipp Lahm three times to create City's goals and even showing in the finish for the winner a hint of un-Milner-ish arrogance, producing a beautifully cushioned pass into the corner that had a touch of the Agüeros about it.

Even on a night when his influence is tangible Milner tends to fall between the gaps when it comes to match stats, just as City's 42% possession scarcely reflects a well-deserved victory. He had two shots on target, committed two fouls and attempted 39 passes, 77% of them successful, a better ratio than any other City midfielder. Milner's own reaction to a career-high European performance was similarly understated.

"I'd have thought it has to be up there," he said. "The reigning champions and the manner in which we won and the way the game went with us being 2-0 down, starting pretty poorly and the character we showed to turn that around. It was pleasing to be part of that."

If there is confidence to be taken from this victory, for Milner it is as ever something to be filtered around the team. "It is a big boost for us to be able to come here and win our game and score three goals because it's important you can score goals in the knockout stages.

"They're obviously one of the top teams and have been the last few years, so to be able to come here and win is pleasing and hopefully shows the quality we have and gives us a big confidence boost going forward."

Although both sides had already qualified for the knockout phase, this still felt like a landmark victory not just for an unexpected man of the match, but also for City's own European aspirations. As Milner pointed out: "We'll take anyone in the next round now."

Barney Ronay

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Young admits to diving reputation

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

• 'I know of my reputation but officials made correct decisions'
• Young aims for regular start and England World Cup place

Ashley Young understands why he has a reputation for diving but the Manchester United winger has offered no apology for the high-profile incidents in which he has been accused of cheating. Instead, the 28-year-old says that referees have the responsibility to make correct decisions.

Young has been embroiled in several controversial diving episodes during his United career, with the former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, accepting that the winger can go down too easily.

This season, during the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in September, Young was booked for diving in the area by Jon Moss before the official later adjudged he was fouled by Kagisho Dikgacoi, who was sent off as United won a penalty. Last month David Moyes said he would speak to Young – as he also stated following the match against Palace – after he won a penalty when playing against Real Sociedad, taking a tumble in the area from a faint tug by Markel Bergara.

Asked if he realises he has attracted a reputation for diving, Young said: "Of course I understand what you're saying and everyone is going to have their say on it, but I've spoken to the previous manager and current manager, the referees are giving decisions and that is where I think it lies. It's been talked about [to me] but that's in-house. I'm not going to comment on what's been said.

"I think it's one to ask the referees – they're the ones who are giving free-kicks and penalties. I remember getting booked against Palace and then won a penalty. Against Real Sociedad it was another penalty that was given. Referees have got tough decisions to make, they have a tough time out there making decisions, but they have made the right decisions, I think."

Young denied being affected by negative publicity. "I don't take notice of the headlines or the debates," he said. "That's obviously for the media to debate and people to have their say on it and everyone is entitled to have their say on it. For me, the referees have made decisions and that's it."

So far, Young's season has been uneven, with him not always being selected by Moyes but after starting Tuesday's 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, which confirmed United as Group A winners before next week's knockout stage draw, he is determined to find consistent form that would also secure a place in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the 2014 World Cup.

"You always want to play in the biggest tournaments, whether that's at club level or international level," said Young. "So of course I want to be on that plane. Right now I'm not thinking about the World Cup, I'm thinking about playing for United. Obviously, it's been disappointing I've not been involved as much as I would have liked. Every player in the squad wants to play and I'm no different to that but it's up to the manager, so I've just got to keep doing the things that are right in training and take my chances when I'm given them – we'll have to see if the manager picks me again."

United travel to Young's previous club, Aston Villa, on Sunday, with the champions 13 points behind the leaders, Arsenal, and seven from a Champions League berth. Having lost their last two league games 1-0, Young is conscious the side have to refocus. He said: "We want to build some momentum, we're going into an important part of the season at Christmas and new year, which are full of games. We have got plenty of points to pick up so I think if we can build on this result we could keep the momentum going all the way through to the new year."

He is expecting a hostile reaction at Villa Park. "Yeah, of course I am. I don't mind a bit of stick when I go back there but I'm delighted with how [the Shakhtar match has] gone and we'll build on the result and look forward to Sunday's game," he said.

Jamie Jackson

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Barcelona 6-1 Celtic

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:09 PM PST

Neil Lennon described some of his players as "weak" and lacking "bravery" after Celtic's Champions League campaign ended in jolting fashion with a comprehensive 6-1 defeat by Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

The Brazil star Neymar scored a hat-trick as the visitors slumped to their heaviest defeat in Europe since they lost 5-0 away to Artmedia in a Champions League qualifier in 2005 and the result confirmed the Hoops' status as the bottom side in Group H with three points from six games.

The Barça defender Gerard Piqué opened the scoring from close range in the seventh minute before Pedro Rodríguez and Neymar added a second and third before the interval.

Neymar scored his second two minutes after the break before grabbing his hat-trick and substitute Cristian Tello got in on the act in the 71st minute when his drive was heavily deflected past Fraser Forster by the Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk for number six before Georgios Samaras grabbed a late consolation for the Scottish champions.

An "angry and disappointed" Lennon said: "Barcelona were fantastic as we expected them to be but we were very poor. I wouldn't say some players gave up but it certainly looked that way at times.

"I would never accuse a player of doing that but there were a lot of half-hearted performances and as a manager that was the most disappointing aspect of the whole game. There was no bravery on the ball tonight, we started off nervously and it looked like our heads went down at 2-0.

"We were weak and that has not been like us, that is something I have to address going forward. It is a sore one and I am hurting a little bit as are the players. It was unacceptable from some of the players, nowhere near the performances against Barcelona recently so that was very disappointing, obviously.

"There were only two or three players who showed anything, Virgil van Dijk, Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig and I excuse the goalkeeper [Fraser Forster] but the rest of the team were very very poor, well below the standards set in the last few years.

"It was really tough to take. We were playing a great side but we were better than that. We will have to analyse it and look at the character which was there tonight."

Lennon explained what had looked like some bold changes to his starting eleven. The top scorer Kris Commons, with seven goals in his last four games, stalwart Charlie Mulgrew, and striker Anthony Stokes were dropped to the bench as Matthews returned after a 10-game absence following shoulder surgery.

Lennon said: "Charlie wasn't 100% fit, he had a groin problem and didn't train so we felt he wasn't ready to start and in terms of Kris, we just wanted pace down the flanks with Teemu Pukki up top to stop the full-backs getting forward but we didn't achieve that. The players didn't do their jobs they were assigned to do."

On Neymar's scintillating performance, Lennon added: "I was impressed with him at Celtic Park, he is a talent and has a great future in the game."

The Barça manager Gerardo Martino was delighted with his side's emphatic victory, describing it as the "most complete match of the season" and is confident there is more to come from his players in the weeks and months ahead.

"I am very happy with the quality of the performance tonight," he said. "Our play is improving all the time and I expect better by the end of the year.

"There is always room for improvement and that is what we are striving for. We have a bunch of players playing brilliant football and have been doing so for a long time. Hopefully this is the breakthrough moment this season."


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Austria Vienna 4-1 Zenit St Petersburg | Champions League match report

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:08 PM PST

Zenit St Petersburg created Champions League history by becoming the first team to qualify for the knockout stages with only six points from six matches after a 4-1 defeat at Austria Vienna on Wednesday.

The Russian side went through thanks to Porto's 2-0 defeat at Group G table-toppers Atlético Madrid, who finished on 16 points.

Zenit dominated most of the match but the Vienna keeper, Heinz Lindner, was in great form, saving three times in quick succession in the first half to deny Hulk, twice, and then Cristian Ansaldi.

Zenit deservedly went ahead on 35 minutes when a fine through-ball from Hulk found Aleksandr Kerzhakov, who rounded Lindner for his seventh goal of the season.

A minute before half-time, Vienna were level when Philipp Hosiner collected the ball on the edge of the box and hit a low right-foot drive past Yuri Lodygin.

Tomas Jun made it 2-1 after 48 minutes when he got on the end of a great cross from Markus Suttner, tucking it away from close range. Three minutes later it was 3-1; Hosiner was quickest to react when Yuri Lodygin pushed out an effort from Florian Mader.

Romain Kienast made it 4-1 in stoppage-time for Vienna's first Champions League win in their debut season.

Porto and Vienna finished on five points but Porto ended third because of a better head-to-head record against the Austrians.


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Milan 0-0 Ajax | Champions League match report

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:08 PM PST

Milan squeezed into the Champions League knockout phase after a battling 0-0 draw with Ajax at the San Siro on Wednesday despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men following Riccardo Montolivo's sending off.

But the match was overshadowed by violence beforehand during which three Ajax supporters were stabbed. One was wounded in the stomach and the others in the buttock and leg. "The one with the stomach wound is clearly the most serious but as far as I understand it's not life threatening," a police spokesman said.

The match itself was dominated by Ajax even before Montolivo was shown a red card in the 22nd minute for a reckless challenge on Christian Poulsen. But Massimiliano Allegri's side held on to secure their place in the last 16.

They finish second in Group H with nine points, a point ahead of Ajax and four behind group winners Barcelona, who beat Celtic 6-1 at the Nou Camp.

Poulsen hit the post for Ajax after five minutes and the Milan goalkeeper, Christian Abbiati, was forced into a number of saves, but the Dutch side could not capitalise on their territorial and numerical advantage and now go into the Europa League.

Frank De Boer's side were, if anything, better when both sides had 11 players, pinning Milan back in their own half with aggressive pressing and slick passing that culminated in Abbiati making a smart save from a powerful Davy Klaassen header in the 19th minute.

Yet their enterprising play stopped almost immediately after Montolivo left the field, perplexed at referee Howard Webb's decision, and the game settled into a scrappy affair in which the Milan striker Mario Balotelli led his side from the front with a strong, hard-working performance.

The Milan fans pelted Webb and Poulsen with abuse and the home side came out of their shell, but they struggled to create any goalscoring opportunities.

As the clock ran down Ajax hemmed Milan in their own area with high crosses, and in the final minute of stoppage time Klaassen was presented with an opportunity to snatch qualification, but he could only slice a bicycle kick wide and the San Siro breathed a sigh of relief.

Earlier in the day, Ajax fans fought with both opposing supporters and Italians demonstrating against Enrico Letta's government in running battles.

As well as the three Ajax fans, a street salesman suffered a minor knife wound. Three Ajax supporters were arrested in a separate incident for trying to rob a street kiosk.


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Marseille 1-2 Borussia Dortmund | Champions League match report

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:06 PM PST

Borussia Dortmund beat 10-man Marseille 2-1 with a late goal from Kevin Grosskreutz on Wednesday to advance to the Champions League knockout stage.

Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski beat the offside trap to open the scoring for last season's runners-up with a chip in the fourth minute but the Marseille forward Souleymane Diawara headed in a rebound to equalise in the 14th.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute when Dimitri Payet was shown a second yellow card for diving inside the area. Dortmund capitalised on their numerical superiority in the second half and Grosskreutz scored the winner with an off-balance strike into the bottom corner in the 87th minute.

Marseille became the first French club to finish the group stage of the Champions League with zero points. In the group's other match, Napoli beat Arsenal 2-0. The English side finished level on points with Napoli but took second place because of a better head-to-head record.

Dortmund, who beat Marseille 3-0 two months ago in Germany, converted their first scoring chance when Lewandowski collected a long ball from Marco Reus and held off a challenge from Lucas Mendes to beat the home team's goalkeeper, Steve Mandanda.

Marseille replied 10 minutes later when Saber Khalifa headed a free kick from Payet against the bar and, Diawara followed up to score into an empty net.

Dortmund stepped up the pressure with a long-range strike from Grosskreutz straight into Mandanda's arms in the 29th minute and a cutback from Lewandowski for Reus, who fired over the bar in the 31st.

Payet then put Marseille in trouble by first receiving a yellow card for a foul on Jakub Blaszczykowski in the 32nd minute and then getting a second one for simulation two minutes later.

In the second half Mandanda cleared a header off the line from Blaszczykowski in the 57th minute and was lucky to see Reus strike the near post a few seconds later.

The German side were again let down by their finishing in the 67th minute when Lewandowski intercepted Diawara's backpass for Mandanda but missed the target.

It took a charge from Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the left flank three minutes from time to send Dortmund into the last 16. Julian Schieber took the Armenia forward's pass to set up Grosskreutz for the winner.


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Napoli 2-0 Arsenal

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:01 PM PST

• All the best images from Naples

Arsenal got the job done. It was not particularly pretty and it was a little bit nervous towards the end when Gonzalo Higuaín, predictably, scored against the club that tried to sign him in the summer and Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal captain, was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 77th minute. There was even a further wobble when José Callejon scored with the final kick of the tie.

But Arsène Wenger's team are in the knockout phase of the Champions League for the 14th season in succession and, in truth, their progress was never in doubt. They would have had to lose by three goals at this crackling venue and despite the late drama, that never looked likely.

There was, however, a sting for both of these teams and if it was felt rather more keenly by Rafael Benítez and Napoli, it was not the greatest news for Arsenal either. Napoli had needed to better Dortmund's result at Marseille and they had looked set to do so. But, with two minutes remaining here, the news of Dortmund's winning goal came through, cutting through the tension to bring deflation. The Napoli support barely celebrated Callejon's goal. It was a little surreal.

For Arsenal, it meant that Dortmund jumped above them to top the group and cast them into the second pot of seeds for Monday's last 16 draw. They will almost certainly face an extremely daunting assignment.

Benítez knows a thing or two about heroic three-goal Champions League fightbacks but Napoli's task had seemed hopeless at the outset. Eyes were kept on mobile phones for updates from France, where Neapolitan prayers were for a Marseille result against Dortmund.

There was frustration for hundreds of travelling supporters when the coaches that Arsenal had provided to transport them to the stadium departed late and did not arrive in time for kick-off. The club had wanted to ensure their safety amid fears of further fan violence involving Napoli's ultras. Once finally inside, however, they felt this arena's raw passion. The place is vast and yet the noise is not lost. When Arsenal attempted to draw the sting from the tie with patient possession, they succeeded only in aggravating the home crowd. The whistles were piercing, even though it was only two-thirds full.

Napoli started brightly, pressing with urgency and attempting to hustle Arsenal from their stride. This was a time for Wenger's team to keep their defensive shape and concentration; for players like Arteta and Mathieu Flamini to impart calmness. Dries Mertens, who started on the Napoli right, probed with menace and Arsenal dared not take their eyes off Higuaín.

Goran Pandev worked Wojciech Szczesny in the opening exchanges from Mertens' crossfield pass and there were loud shouts for an Arsenal handball after Pandev unloaded another shot. The referee, Viktor Kassai, was unmoved. Per Mertesacker also made important interventions.

Arsenal had travelled with a confidence befitting of England's team of the early season and one that had shown rock solid defence over recent weeks. The self-assurance was reflected in Santi Cazorla's willingness to attempt to beat his man inside his own half, not to mention Laurent Koscielny's composure when bringing the ball out of defence. Flamini was typically snappy in the challenge.

The visitors absorbed Napoli's early pressure and they grew comfortably into the game, even if Szczesny showed flashes of too much comfort. He rushed, ill-advisedly, from his line and was fortunate that Christian Maggio's lob was too high, while the goalkeeper's attempted clearance for Koscielny went straight at Higuaín, who, instinctively, directed a header at goal. It went wide.

Arsenal, though, created the first half's clearest chance on 23 minutes. After a lovely first-time touch from Flamini, towards the end of a slick Arsenal move, Olivier Giroud shot for the far corner only for Rafael, in for the injured Pepé Reina, to save. Mesut Özil addressed the rebound but, under pressure, he could not put his shot away.

Napoli's defensive record over recent weeks had not inspired confidence among their supporters but it was in the final third where they needed to force the issue. Arsenal simply chalked the minutes off. They were in prime position. And as the tie became stretched, they began to threaten on the counter. Napoli lived on their nerves.

Benítez introduced Lorenzo Insigne for Pandev and the winger's first involvement was an instinctive flick that sent the left-back Pablo Armero sprinting clear of Tomas Rosicky and into the area. Faced by Szczesny, he shot with his left foot when the chance looked one for his right, and squeezed it straight at the goalkeeper.

While Dortmund were level in Marseille, Napoli could hope. One moment from them stood to change everything. Callejon fizzed a drive past the far post. The Napoli support howled. Higuaín continued to get into dangerous areas and then he got his big chance, as Arsenal fatefully gave him room.

The finish was low and unerring. Cue delirium, particularly from the PA announcer.

Arsenal did not need to panic, although their task became more difficult when Arteta nibbled at the back of Callejon and drew his second yellow card. It seemed harsh; Callejon appeared to make the most of the contact. He would stroll through to lob Szczesny but by then, the die had been cast.

David Hytner

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Chelsea weigh up £13m January bid for St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST

• Teenager currently in middle of 10-game ban for bad tackle
• Arsenal, Manchester City and Monaco also in the hunt

Chelsea are considering making a formal bid of about £13m for St Etienne's Kurt Zouma next month as they seek to deflect interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Monaco in the highly regarded teenage centre-half.

Zouma, a France junior and under-21 international, had featured heavily for St Etienne over the last two seasons but is currently in the middle of a 10-match domestic ban after his tackle on Thomas Guerbert during a goalless draw with Sochaux last month left his opponent with a broken leg. That will keep the 19-year-old out of action until well into the new year, although it has not dissuaded his suitors from the pursuit.

Arsenal and City have been monitoring his progress and were expected to bid for his services at the end of the current campaign, with representatives from Monaco having reportedly already met the defender's agent. Chelsea's instinct would have been to wait until next summer too but, aware that others have declared an interest, they are expected to bring forward an offer in the hope he can be prised early from the Ligue 1 club.

Zouma, who would be eligible for the Champions League this term, described his clash with Guerbert as "an unintentional accident" and apologised to his wounded opponent in the dressing room after the tackle. Yet the teenager's football reputation remains intact, with the France manager Didier Deschamps earlier this year earmarking him as a future captain of Les Bleus.

It remains to be seen what immediate impact, if any, his arrival might have on the likes of David Luiz or, indeed, John Terry whose contract expires next summer. José Mourinho has already indicated he expects both Terry and Ashley Cole to sign new deals at Stamford Bridge, even if no talks have, as yet, taken place.

The Chelsea manager has also stated publicly that he did not expect any major business in the January transfer window, although moves by rivals could yet force his club's hierarchy to act sooner rather than later.

Dominic Fifield

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Atlético Madrid 2-0 Porto | Champions League match report

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:58 PM PST

Porto will have to settle for a place in Europe's second-tier club competition after their Champions League campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat at the Group G winners Atlético Madrid on Wednesday.

Zenit St Petersburg lost 4-1 at Austria Vienna in the other match in the group but the Russians went through to the last 16 in second place behind Atlético.

The Portuguese side's luck deserted them at the Calderón as Josue had a penalty saved after Raúl García's 14th-minute opener and four efforts bounced away off the frame of the goal during the match.

Diego Costa made it 2-0 to Atlético in the 37th minute when he sped clear on to an Oliver Torres pass, rounded the Porto goalkeeper, Helton, and clipped the ball into the net.

Atlético have 16 points from six matches, with Zenit on seven, and Porto and Austria Vienna on five. Porto qualified for the Europa League ahead of the Austrian side due to a superior head-to-head record.


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Champions League clockwatch – live! | Tom Bryant

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:55 PM PST

Chelsea qualified from Group E as winners, but Dortmund pipped Arsenal to the top of Group F with a late winner

Tom Bryant

Schalke 2-0 Basel | Champions League match report

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:54 PM PST

Schalke powered into the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-0 win over 10-man Basel on Wednesday, helped by a fine goal from Julian Draxler and a clear offside effort from Joel Matip.

Schalke, who had not won any group game since beating Basel on matchday two, carved out their first chance in the 12th minute when Taulant Xhaka sent his clearance on to the crossbar and the teenager Max Meyer's shot on the rebound was cleared on the line. Jefferson Farfan picked up the ball in the box but sent his curling shot narrowly wide as Schalke pressed high in the Basel half.

Things took a turn for the worse in the 31st minute for the Swiss, whose last trip to Germany was a 7-0 demolition by Bayern Munich two seasons ago, when Ivan Ivanov was sent off for a foul on Adam Szalai who was charging clear at the edge of the box.

The Hungarian forward had come on seconds earlier for the injured captain Benedikt Höwedes a the coach, Jens Keller, under mounting pressure to turn things around, brought on a striker for a central defender.

The Germans, who booked their place in the last 16 for the second consecutive season, took a deserved lead in the 51st minute through the 20-year-old Draxler after dominating from the start and needing victory to advance from Group E.

They were lucky to have had their second goal count, however, with at least four Schalke players clearly in an offside position when Matip slotted in from close range to seal the win and relieve some of the pressure on Keller.

The win moved Schalke, who have dropped down to sixth in the Bundesliga, above the Swiss side into second place, with Chelsea securing top spot in the group after defeating Steaua Bucharest 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Basel will go into the Europa League.


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Chelsea 1-0 Steaua Bucharest

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:47 PM PST

• In pictures – the best images from Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have claimed this section and will return to domestic distractions with a victory to pep bruised confidence, even if edging out Steaua Bucharest did little to suggest José Mourinho's pre-match assessment that his team should not be considered contenders for this competition was misplaced. This was a humdrum occasion and, at times, a rather sloppy display. Form has been inconsistent throughout the group campaign; improvement will be needed in the knockout phase when teams of proper pedigree await.

There was little to illuminate the contest, despite one fan's efforts with a laser pen from high up in the east stand. Stewards were dispersed to identify the culprit late on, the green dot having been fixed on Mourinho to Oscar, Eden Hazard to Willian, with a warning issued over the public address system.

The supporter might have been better advised to point the way to goal given the chances passed up by the home side, even if early reward in a scrappy contest proved sufficient in the end. The hosts had considered this an opportunity to make amends. The weekend loss at the Britannia stadium, coupled with the trio of goals shipped to Sunderland last week, had undermined recent encouraging form, and Mourinho had demanded an instant improvement, even with progress already guaranteed, against Steaua. Those sentiments had been reflected in the captain's programme notes. "Saturday's result was not good enough," said John Terry. "Now we have to react in the right way." He was retained to drive them on.

Chelsea's initial urgency had exposed Bucharest's vulnerability, the lead gleaned early and the suspicion fuelled that a rout awaited if the hosts' creative talents could find their range in front of goal. Certainly Steaua found the bursts from midfield summoned by Oscar, Hazard and Willian irresistible. Yet there were still flashes of anxiety that gripped Chelsea's back-line when the visitors generated forward momentum of their own. Ashley Cole and David Luiz were featuring for their club for the first time since 2 November, with Mark Schwarzer the oldest ever Champions League debutant at 41, but the rejigged and rusty back-line strained to stay secure at times.

They should have been pierced just before the quarter-hour mark, Gabriel Iancu scuttling beyond Terry and on to Daniel Georgievski's slipped pass to gain a clear sight of goal, only to drag his shot wide of the far post. Schwarzer picked himself up to breathe a sigh of relief, but at least Chelsea already led by then, with their fifth opportunity of the opening 10 minutes having yielded reward. Oscar, Frank Lampard and David Luiz, twice, had gone close when Willian's corner was flicked on by Oscar as he darted unchecked towards the near post. The touch wrong-footed Steaua's defenders and Georgievski, with Demba Ba challenging at his back, sliced the ball beyond Ciprian Tatarusanu from close range.

Uefa ended up awarding the goal to the Senegalese – perhaps a sympathy vote given the toils endured by Chelsea's forwards this term – even though Georgievski appeared to offer the clearest touch. The full-back had scored a more humiliating own goal in Bucharest earlier in the section. At the time the ball flew in, the Australia-born 25-year-old Macedonia international was the Londoners' joint leading scorer in this competition this term.

Others should have added to their tally before the break, Branislav Ivanovic drawing a fine point-blank save from Tatarusanu as he flicked on Hazard's delivery, yet sloppiness had rather crept in and was retained thereafter. Quite how Ba managed to scoop over the impressive Willian's low centre from just inside the six-yard box remains a mystery, the striker's attempt flying into the Matthew Harding stand's lower tier. Not for the first time this season, Chelsea's slick approach play was blunted by their finishing.

In truth, this whole occasion was low key, a reflection of the scenario in the group, with Mourinho's frown in the dug-out betraying the sporadic nature of the quality on show. There was encouragement to be had in Willian's sprints both down the flank and through the centre, yet this game should have been settled long before the end. That inability to kill off opponents is infuriating the management. The deficiencies are all too familiar, recurring as they do in the Premier League with disconcerting regularity.

The sight of Hazard nodding over an open goal after the substitute André Schürrle had cut in from the left rather summed it all up. The German has grown into this campaign since excelling in the first meeting of these teams back in October, and he tore into the hapless Georgievski yet again over the latter stages, but there was to be no further reward. Ba had a goal rightly disallowed for offside, but that was the closest they came.

Dominic Fifield

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Napoli v Arsenal – live! | Scott Murray

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:44 PM PST

Arsenal lose, but make it to the second round anyway as Napoli crash out. Scott Murray was watching

Scott Murray

Two Conference South players charged in connection with alleged match-fixing

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:07 PM PST

• Pair are accused of conspiring to influence course of matches
• They are due to reappear at Birmingham crown court on Friday

Two footballers have appeared in court charged in connection with a National Crime Agency inquiry into alleged match-fixing. Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, who have been sacked by Brighton-based Whitehawk FC, are accused of taking part in a conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

The Conference South players, both 22 and from south London, were granted unconditional bail at Birmingham magistrates' court.

A court spokesman said Boateng, of Davidson Road, Croydon, and Adelakun, of Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, were both ordered to reappear at Birmingham crown court this Friday.

It is alleged that the players conspired with two other men, who have already appeared in court, to influence the course of football matches.

Chann Sankaran and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, both originally from Singapore, were remanded in custody by magistrates in Cannock, Staffordshire, on 29 November.

Ganeshan, 43, of Hougang Avenue, Singapore, and Sankaran, 33, of Hawthorn Road, Hastings, East Sussex, are also due before a judge at Birmingham crown court later this week.

The conspiracy is alleged to have taken place in Manchester and elsewhere between 1 November and 26 November this year.


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Champions League: Chelsea v Steaua Bucharest - in pictures

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:02 PM PST

All the best images from Stamford Bridge where a win will see José Mourinho's side go through to the knockout stage as group winners

Steven Bloor

Swansea City's Michel Vorm makes St Gallen trip despite knee injury

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 12:20 PM PST

• Goalkeeper Vorm requires surgery on knee injury
• Team's flight to St Gallen delayed due to fog

Michel Vorm has travelled to Switzerland for Swansea's Europa League meeting with St Gallen despite carrying a knee injury which will eventually require surgery.

Leon Britton remains on the sidelines with a broken toe but Michu is in contention again after returning from five weeks out with an ankle injury against Hull on Monday, while Angel Rangel is doubtful as he recovers from a calf problem.

Chico Flores is set to start in defence as he will miss Sunday's Premier League trip to Norwich through suspension. Swansea's preparation for their final group match against St Gallen was disrupted as their departure was severely delayed on Wednesday by fog and a technical problem with their plane. Swansea had planned a 10am departure from Cardiff Airport but fog meant that was not possible. A subsequent technical issue with the aeroplane pushed back the departure time even further.

The team were not expected to leave until 4.30pm at the earliest. That meant it was unlikely they would train in St Gallen's stadium on the eve of the Group A match. Michael Laudrup was not with the squad, having travelled independently to Zurich, meaning he would be able to fulfil pre-match media obligations. Swansea are well placed to qualify for the knock-out stage of the competition, standing second in their group, three points ahead of third-placed Kuban Krasnodar who face a difficult trip to Valencia.

Provisional squad: Vorm, Amat, Taylor, Flores, Williams, Shelvey, Michu, Bony, Hernández, Dyer, Lamah, Routledge, Tiendalli, De Guzman, Canas, Rangel, Tremmel, Pozuelo, Davies, Zabret.


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Champions League: Napoli v Arsenal - in pictures

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 12:11 PM PST

All the best images from Naples where Arsène Wenger's side face one of the defining matches of their season

Steven Bloor

Hull apply to FA for name change

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 11:44 AM PST

• Hull ask FA to ratify switch from next season
• 'If he asks us to play in pink and white, we have to do it'

Hull have formally applied to the Football Association to change their playing name to Hull Tigers from next season. The move, which is being opposed by a group of fans, has been prompted by the owner Assem Allam, who believes the new name would be more commercially successful.

A Hull spokesman said: "We have sent a letter to the Football Association this week asking for them to consider our request to change the club's playing name from next season."

Allam has already changed the company name to Hull City Tigers but he needs the permission of the FA Council to change the club's playing name, and the "City Till We Die" protest group is opposing the plans.

Allam has offered to refund any of the club's season-ticket holders who are unhappy and has previously said he considers a Tigers brand to be more marketable, and the word "City" to be "lousy" and "common".

The 74-year-old Egypt-born businessman, who moved to Hull in 1968, also caused controversy this month by saying of the critics: "They can die as soon as they want, as long as they leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football."

The Hull manager Steve Bruce believes Allam should be granted his wish. He said last month: "I can understand [the unhappiness] because in our country especially we are really big traditionalists and a lot of people have supported the club since the year dot, where it has been Hull City AFC.

"But the owner has come in and he's in a different culture and for the money he has put into the club if he thinks Hull Tigers is his way forward then we have to respect it. If he asks us to play in pink and white stripes on Saturday we have to do it because without him there wouldn't be either a Hull City or a Hull Tigers."


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Rösler looking to balance Wigan's ambitions

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 11:28 AM PST

• Return to the Premier League remains a priority for Wigan
• Wigan could reach Europa League knockout stages with win

Uwe Rösler takes charge of Wigan for the first time, vowing his players will do everything they can to try to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League. His side travel to Slovenia knowing that only victory over Maribor, coupled with defeat for Zulte Waregem against Rubin Kazan, would see them progress.

Wigan had been in a good position in their first European campaign after beating Maribor at the DW Stadium and then holding Rubin to a draw but a home defeat to Zulte two weeks ago put the Belgians in pole position. It was one of three defeats in a week for the FA Cup winners that spelled the end of Owen Coyle's reign after less than six months in charge.

The chairman, Dave Whelan, moved quickly to replace Coyle, with the former Manchester City striker Rösler leaving Brentford to take over at the DW Stadium on Saturday. He had a watching brief that day as Wigan slumped to a fifth successive defeat at Millwall, leaving them 14th in the Sky Bet Championship table and nine points off the play-off places.

Rösler has made it clear promotion back to the Premier League is the priority, but he insisted that will not be at the expense of winning on Thursday. "It's a great opportunity for me to see players in a competitive environment where they can show themselves and can impress me," he said. "Our motivation should be and will be very high. We don't have it in our own hands, we are dependent on other people, which is not the situation we want to be in."

"Both teams have to play, both teams can progress and we have to make sure we do our own work in terms of winning the game."

Rösler has left the striker Grant Holt at home to prepare for Sunday's derby against Bolton while James McClean is suspended. Iván Ramis and Will Keane are ineligible.

The 45-year-old has only been in charge for two days of training but is encouraged by what he has seen and hopes the Europa League can be a springboard to an upturn in form. He said: "Confidence only comes through winning football games. We've lost five in a row and we have to turn the corner.

"I saw in the last two days in training that everybody's focused, everybody wants to make an impression, everybody's willing to take new things on board. It's a lot of information in a very short time.

"I think not everything will be perfect, I don't expect that, but what I expect is for the team to carry on the good work they did in the last two days in terms of showing what they can do because we have a lot of good football players."

And should results fall in their favour, Rösler would not expect the knockout stages of the Europa League to prove too damaging to their Premier League ambitions.

He said: "The group stage is a massive task for any Championship team to be successful on both fronts with the intensity and the game schedule. When you get out of the group stage, I think it's possible."

The Wigan squad got their first taste of the Stadion Ljudski vrt pitch on Wednesday evening, and Rösler added: "This is a modern stadium, it's the national stadium. It's not an environment for excuses.

"We're here to do business, we mean business and we'll give it our best."

Provisional squad: Carson, Nicholls, Crainey, Shotton, Rogne, Boyce, Perch, Barnett, McCann, Watson, Gómez, McManaman, McArthur, Espinoza, Powell, Beausejour, Fortuné.


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One Direction among UK top tweeted about topics in 2013

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 11:26 AM PST

Boy band dominated debate, while Man United's 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid triggered the biggest single tweeting frenzy

Sporting events, dead celebrities and, perhaps inevitably, One Direction, dominated the national debate in Britain last year, at least on the social network Twitter, which has revealed the 10 most tweeted about topics of 2013.

Analysing tweets from 15 million active users, Twitter said Manchester United's 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid triggered the year's biggest tweeting frenzy, with fans sharing their disbelief as the club was knocked out of the champions league on 5 March. Football generated seven of the 10 busiest periods on Twitter through the year.

"Sport lends itself well to these frenzied moments when fans are sitting on their sofa at home and reach for the phone to talk about what just happened," said Lewis Wiltshire, Twitter's UK director of media partnerships.

After the tweets wishing everyone a happy new year in second place, Andy Murray's victory as the first male British singles winner at Wimbledon in 77 years created the third biggest moment on Twitter, as witnesses shared their collective disbelief and joy over the sporting milestone. One of the few music highlights in the list was Mumford and Sons' closing out of the Glastonbury festival with the Beatles classic With a Little Help From My Friends, which caused a ruckus on Twitter as fans and detractors argued about the choice of song.

Death also featured heavily in the collective conversation this year. Britons took to Twitter to remember the passing of former poet laureate Seamus Heaney, author Iain Banks, Lady Thatcher and James Gandolfini, who was best known for his leading role in the Sopranos. The recent death of former South African president Nelson Mandela caused an outpouring of emotion and mourning around the world, reflected on Twitter.

The world's most popular and retweeted message of the year goes to Glee actor Lea Michele, thanking fans for their support over the death of her co-star Cory Monteith with 408,000 retweets. Fast and Furious star Paul Walker's shock death also invoked 400,000 retweets.

The birth in July of Prince George accounted for one of the year's biggest wave of tweets in Britain, and the prize for the most global retweets is claimed by the heart-throbs of One Direction, who accounted for three of the top five most retweeted messages. A picture of a sleeping Harry Styles tweeted by bandmate Zayn Malik was retweeted 344,000 times, while Malik's further tweet thanking fans for their best wishes on his engagement was retweeted 336,000 times by fans.

But it was the band's lower profile Niall Horan who apparently captured the world's imagination with the insightful blast "Yesss! I'm 20! Wohooo ! No more teens!", which was retweeted no less than 375,000 times. A modern classic, in 140 characters.

Samuel Gibbs

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Tottenham's André Villas-Boas hopes Vlad Chiriches will face Liverpool

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 11:13 AM PST

• Defender recovering from knee injury quicker than expected
• Players rested for Europa League tie with Anzhi Makhachkala

André Villas-Boas is hopeful that Tottenham Hotspur will not have to attempt to subdue Luis Suárez with a makeshift defence when Liverpool visit White Hart Lane on Sunday as the centre-back Vlad Chiriches is recovering from knee damage more quickly than expected.

The Romanian missed last weekend's 2-1 win at Sunderland after suffering "a heavy knock" to the same knee on which he was operated before joining Spurs last summer and, with Younès Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen already sidelined, the club were forced to deploy Etienne Capoue alongside Michael Dawson in central defence on Wearside.

Spurs are not overly concerned about Chiriches missing Thursday's Europa League tie against Anzhi Makhachkala, since they have already secured first place in their group, but the prospect of confronting the Premier League's top scorer on Sunday without a pair of specialist centre-backs is not one Villas-Boas relishes.

In an effort to ensure Chiriches is ready in time, the club have used the same platelet-rich plasma (PRP) technique – also known as 'blood-spinning' – that they have previously used on Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe – and plan to use on Vertonghen – and the manager says the results are encouraging. "There's a good possibility Vlad will be available for the game against Liverpool," said Villas-Boas.

"He took a heavy knock to the knee, so it's swollen up quite lot. We've drained some blood from his knee, which was quite scary because there could have been some damage to the knee that was operated on before. We've used some PRP treatment and it has gone down."

Tottenham currently lie three points behind Liverpool in the league and Villas-Boas believes that victory on Sunday would banish any lingering gloom around White Hart Lane and prove that his revamped side is making good progress, despite the criticism he has endured.

"We have this wonderful situation against Liverpool where, if we win, we go level on points with a team that started so brilliantly in the league. You have a comparison there: from everything we've gone through to be level on points with a team who have been so magnificent shows we are not far off. It was this fixture we lost against Everton last season, so to be four points better off than last season would be a good start for us."

The match against Anzhi is expected to be relatively low key, with neither team needing any points from the game and the Russians fulfilling their last competitive fixture before a two-month winter break. Villas-Boas will rest the majority of the players he intends to start against Liverpool while reintroducing the left-back Danny Rose after more than three months out injured. The midfielder Christian Eriksen is also set to return after a month-long absence, while youngsters Ryan Fredericks, Shaquile Coulthirst and Laste Dombaxe are also in the squad.

Spurs (probable): Friedel; Naughton, Dawson, Capoué, Rose; Sandro, Fredericks; Sigurdsson, Eriksen, Lamela; Soldado.

Paul Doyle

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Manuel Pellegrini's not the only one – the gaffes that keep on giving

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:50 AM PST

After Pellegrini admits to not understanding goal difference against Bayern, here are five other blunders from managers

Manchester City produced a stunning performance at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night to beat Bayern Munich 3-2 and finish second in Group D to qualify for the Champions League knockout phases. A successful night for City was deflated only by the manager Pellegrini's admission that he had misunderstood the goal-difference rules, believing that the Blues needed five goals against Bayern to top the group, when in fact four would have been enough.

"We knew roughly," he said. "We didn't know if 4-2 would be enough or if we would need 5-2. We thought it needed to be 5-2, to be honest."

Pellegrini is not the only manager to have not fully understand the rules of the game. Here are five other examples of coaches dropping the ball …

When goal difference makes no difference

In 2011, Pitso Mosimane's South African team failed in farcical fashion to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations after misinterpreting the rules of their group. Bafana Bafana were under the impression goal difference would be the deciding factor for qualification, when in fact it was the teams' head-to-head records that would prove all important. Comfortably ahead of Sierra Leone and Niger on goal difference, South Africa decided to play for a draw. It was only after celebrating on the pitch that the news reached the jubilant players and coach that they had actually not qualified, Niger had.

"I feel like I have failed", said Mosimane, before describing Africa as "a jungle" and writing to the Confederation of African Football to try to get the rules changed.

Never trust hearsay

The 1995-1996 Premier League relegation battle was a nail-biter, with Manchester City, Southampton and Coventry City all level on 33 points, and Queens Park Rangers and Bolton certain for the drop. Alan Ball's Manchester City were occupying the final relegation place, and with a goal difference seven below the other sides. Drawing 2-2 with Liverpool on the final day of the season, City were depending on either Coventry or Southampton to lose to avoid relegation. So when the news came through that Southampton were indeed losing – 1-0 to Wimbledon – Steve Lomas was ordered to play for the draw, dragging the ball to the corner flag to waste time.

The information, however, was wrong. Southampton were not losing, and City needed a win after all. "I had gone off 15 minutes from time and was watching it on TV," said Niall Quinn. "So I had to run up the tunnel and get the message on that we needed another." They didn't get it, and City were relegated.

No direction

Last month the Milan director Umberto Gandini took responsibility for M'Baye Niang not being able to play in the Champions League after the Rossoneri became confused over players' eligibility for A lists and B lists. Niang missed out on his place on the A list to Stephan El Shaarawy, with Gandini apparently unaware that El Shaarawy, being born after January 1992, was eligible to play for the B list, thereby freeing up a spot for Niang on the A list. As it is, Niang can now not play at all, after the deadline was missed to change selection choices.

Milan issued the following statement: "Umberto Gandini regrets this error and apologises to all parties concerned, as well as professionally to the Rossoneri fans."

Confession time

In light of Pellegrini's embarrassing oversight at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night, the Scotland manager Gordon Strachan decided to come clean about his own indiscretion when it came to understanding the rules of qualification.

Strachan admitted he got it wrong in 2006 when a 1-0 victory against Manchester United in the Champions League group phase ensured his side's progression. The Scot had mistakenly thought his side were out of the competition until he was informed post match, apparently by ITV's Gabriel Clarke.

"Gotta say, I've been there," he said, speaking as an ITV pundit. "Got through with Celtic once, didn't realise we'd qualified. I think it was Gabriel who came up to me after the game and said: 'Well done, well qualified'... pardon?"

"Manchester United had beaten us 3-2 and we'd beaten them 1-0 and we went through on away goals."

Always read the small print

Three years ago Internazionale were left kicking themselves after they found out the new signing Diego Forlán, who they had hoped to include in their 25-man Champions League squad, was ineligible to play in the competition as he had already appeared for Atlético Madrid in the Europa League. The club realised when they tried to register the striker before the group phase started.

"The truth is that I did not know the rules from Uefa," Forlán said at the time. "I based myself on what I had been told, that is that I would be eligible as long as I did not play against Vitória Guimaraes. I had spoken to Atlético about not playing against Guimaraes as I knew I would be moving to Inter."

Forlán was cleared to play in the knock-out phase, however, and featured against Marseille in the last-16 ties, where his side went out.

Hannah Jane Parkinson

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Sport picture of the day: A flare for balancing

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:26 AM PST

It looks like this trio of CSKA Moscow fans are auditioning for the Moscow State Circus as they cheer on their side atop the metal fence posts in the Doosan Arena. They weren't cheering at the end: Viktoria Plzen won 2-1

Steven Bloor

Letter: 'Bill Foulkes and the other survivors ensured that Manchester Utd was still a force to be reckoned with'

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:19 AM PST

I was one of the many sports fans drawn to Manchester United by the achievement of Bill Foulkes and other survivors of the Munich air disaster of February 1958. In the crash and soon after, 23 people died, including eight United players. Together with untried youths and reserves, the survivors ensured that the club was still a force to be reckoned with.

Aged 11 at the time, I was deeply struck by the newsreel pictures of the gaunt, newly appointed captain, Foulkes, leading out the patchwork team at Old Trafford for the first match after the crash, an FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday. Newspaper photographs showed the players in the home dressing room after an astonishing 3-0 victory: Foulkes and his fellow survivor, Harry Gregg, the goalkeeper, could be seen just sitting and staring into space with a haunted look in their eyes.

After that I found myself becoming increasingly passionate in supporting United, who amazingly reached the FA Cup final less than three months after the crash. The following season, still under Foulkes's captaincy, they were runners-up in the league championship – arguably an even more astonishing achievement than the cup run.

The team often played brilliant attacking football, inspired by two more crash survivors, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Viollet, with Foulkes still at the back. Mass support for the stricken United consolidated and spread across the country. Foulkes's numerous medals and achievements will always sustain his status as a club legend, but beyond that the role he played in the late 1950s and 60s made a substantial contribution to the worldwide following that Manchester United enjoys today.

Giles Oakley

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Leighton Baines hoping for Everton return during busy festive period

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 09:57 AM PST

• England left-back has been out since late November
• Praises performances of Bryan Oviedo in his absence

The injured Everton defender Leighton Baines hopes to be fit to play some part in the busy festive schedule but accepts he is currently playing a waiting game.

The England left-back broke a toe in the 3-3 Merseyside derby draw on 23 November and the Everton manager, Roberto Martínez, said he could be sidelined for up to six weeks. That timescale would put Baines in contention for the FA Cup third-round tie at home to Queens Park Rangers but he is hopeful of featuring before that.

"The manager said early on it's quite a broad timeframe that you can be looking at," he said. "We thought about different things, injections and stuff, but we didn't know whether that would set me back further so we are just trying to let it heal naturally at the moment.

"Obviously the schedule thickens up around Christmas and new year so you like to think you would be back and available to help the team at that point, but it's just one of those things. You have to wait and see.

"I've not been able to do a lot to treat it because it's a break, so I've just sort of tried to see how it heals really and take it a day at a time.

"It's been pretty dull because you can't do a lot. There isn't that much treatment so it's just been a case of coming in and doing little bits of work in the gym and just hoping it recovers."

Baines has been a virtual ever-present in the side for the last few years and admits watching from the sidelines is tough.

"I have found it really difficult not being involved," he told evertontv. "You do miss it but I have been quite lucky the last few seasons with injuries. I am trying to use the time as best I can."

Since Baines has been out Everton have picked up seven points from a possible nine in the Premier League, with wins over Stoke and Manchester United before drawing at Arsenal last weekend.

His replacement, Bryan Oviedo, scored in those first two matches and Baines praised the Costa Rican for his performances.

"I think both [Oviedo and the team] have done brilliantly," he added. "The results we have got have been great, we couldn't have asked for much more over the three games.

"It is not an easy thing to do when you've been out the team a long time so Bryan deserves even more credit, not just for how good his performances have been but his professionalism in the way he has looked after himself.

"Thankfully it has made sure the team has got good results."


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