Fenerbahce 1 Benfica 0 – Europa League semi-final first leg match report: Egeman Korkmaz scores

Posted on April 26, 2013 by adminsports

Fenerbahce 1 Benfica 0: Korkmaz strike leaves semi-final in the balance as Chelsea await winners

By
Graeme Yorke

PUBLISHED:

20:59 GMT, 25 April 2013

UPDATED:

21:17 GMT, 25 April 2013

Egeman Korkmaz scored the only goal as Fenerbahce won the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Newcastle's conquerors Benfica in Istanbul.

The result leaves the match evenly poised heading into next week's second leg.

The winner will face either Chelsea or Basle in the final.

Winner: Egemen Korkmaz celebrates his second-half strike

MATCH FACTS

Fenerbahce: Demirel, Gonul, Yobo, Korkmaz, Ziegler, Meireles (Ucan 64), Topal, Kuyt, Cristian (Sahin 86), Sow (Krasic 87), Webo.

Subs Not Used: Gunok, Irtegun, Senturk, Topuz.

Booked: Cristian, Topal, Webo.

Goals: Korkmaz 72.

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Jardel, Garay, Melgarejo, Gomes (Carlos Martins 81), Aimar (Gaitan 46), Matic, John (Rodrigo 64), Cardozo, Salvio.

Subs Not Used: Paulo Lopes, Roderick Miranda, Lima, Urreta.

Booked: Gomes, Aimar, Maxi Pereira, John.

Attendance: 51,000

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).

More to follow…

Jesus walks: Benfica coach Jorge Jesus heads out onto the pitch before kick-off

Familiar faces: Ex-Liverpool duo Raul Meireles (left) and Dirk Kuyt (right) both played for Fenerbahce

Paying the penalty: Cristian's strike is saved by Artur

Turkish delight: Korkmaz is mobbed after his goal

Plenty to ponder: Jesus will hope to resurrect Benfica's hopes next week

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (3-1 agg): Frank Lampard and Raul Meireles

Posted on April 5, 2012 by adminsports

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (3-1 agg): Lampard and Meireles set up Barcelona showdown

UPDATED:

20:52 GMT, 4 April 2012

Chelsea had controversial referee Damir Skomina and goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank tonight as they clung on against 10-man Benfica to set up a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

Card-crazy Skomina, whose performance in Arsenal's last-16 exit against AC Milan led to a three-match ban for Arsene Wenger, was at it again at Stamford Bridge as the Blues reached the last four for the sixth time in nine seasons.

Frank Lampard opened the scoring after Skomina awarded a hotly-disputed penalty, one of several debatable decisions that included the first-half dismissal of Benfica captain Maxi Pereira.

Blue is the colour: Chelsea will play Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry (Cahill 59), Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Torres (Drogba 88), Mata (Meireles 79). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Essien, Ferreira, Sturridge.

Booked: Ivanovic, Ramires, Mikel.

Goals: Lampard 21 pen, Meireles 90.

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Javi Garcia, Emerson, Capdevila, Witsel, Matic, Bruno Cesar (Rodrigo Moreno 72), Aimar, Cardozo (Nelson Oliveira 57), Gaitan (Djalo 61). Subs Not Used: Eduardo, Nolito, Saviola, Andre Almeida.

Sent Off: Maxi Pereira (40).

Booked: Cardozo, Maxi Pereira, Bruno Cesar, Aimar.

Goals: Javi Garcia 85.

Att: 37,264

Ref: Damir Skomina (Slovenia).

The depleted visitors laid siege to
the Chelsea goal at times and Javi Garcia set nerves jangling with an
85th-minute equaliser, but substitute Raul Meireles blasted home on the
breakaway to seal a barely deserved home win in what was arguably the
Blues' worst performance under Roberto Di Matteo.

They gave away the ball so often, it
was almost as if they were practising for being without it for the
upcoming clash against Barca.

Chelsea have been a bogey team for
the European champions down the years, but Pep Guardiola's
all-conquering side will hardly be concerned about facing them again on
the basis of tonight's performance.

After winning 1-0 in Lisbon last week, the Blues' task looked all more simple after captain Luisao and Jardel were ruled out for the visitors, who were forced to play Javi Garcia and Emerson as makeshift centre-backs.

But despite caretaker manager Di
Matteo warning of complacency, Chelsea made the most sluggish of starts
and needed desperate blocks from Lampard and John Terry to keep their
opponents at bay.

Spot on: Frank Lampard was the match-winner with a penalty in the first half

They finally got going and Joan
Capdevila had to put his own body on the line after an eighth-minute
corner fell to David Luiz, who had shaken off an ankle injury to start.

Terry vented his fury at more slack
Chelsea play as Benfica continued to perform like the side that had
caused Manchester United so many problems in the group stage.

But after Oscar Cardozo was booked for going through the back of Luiz, Chelsea were gifted a penalty midway through the half.

Helping hand: Maxi Pereira was dismissed for two silly yellow cards - one for decent

Helping hand: Maxi Pereira was dismissed for two silly yellow cards – one for decent

Ashley Cole beat Garcia to a long
ball forward and went down after a legal-looking shoulder challenge from
the Benfica man, Skomina immediately pointing to the spot and booking
Perreira and Bruno Cesar for protesting.

Artur got a hand to Lampard's penalty but could not keep it out.

Pablo Aimar joined Cardozo in the
book before the latter almost equalised on the half-hour mark, Terry
clearing his half-volley off the line after a superbly-worked free-kick
routine.

Commiserations: Maxi Pereira was comforted by former team-mate David Luiz as he left the pitch

Branislav Ivanovic was the latest
player cautioned for tripping Nicolas Gaitan, and when Skomina got his
yellow card out again for Pereira's foul on John Obi Mikel, a red
followed.

Ramires incredibly became the seventh
player cautioned before the end of the first half, which finished with
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus almost confronting the referee on the pitch.

On the spot: John Terry showed quick thinking in the first half to clear one off the line

The visitors were predictably fired
up at the start of the second half and only a superb Petr Cech save from
Cardozo's first-time shot kept Chelsea ahead.

It should have been 2-0 in the 50th
minute when Ramires somehow let Salomon Kalou's cross run under his foot
with an empty net gaping.

Close, but no cigar: Juan Mata had one ruled out for offside, which was the right decision

Emerson got a block on Torres' finish
after being bamboozled by the rejuvenated striker, who then flicked a
rebound wide after Artur saved from Mata.

Cardozo was withdrawn for Nelson Oliveira, with Terry soon following for Gary Cahill and Gaitan for Yannick Djalo.

Blotch: Terry was forced off in the second half and headed straight down the tunnel

Djalo soon had what looked a
goalbound shot blocked behind, while Kalou shot straight at Artur on the
break as an increasingly-irate Jesus was ordered to calm down by
Skomina.

The Benfica fans, who were ironically
chanting the name of UEFA president Michel Platini, were almost
silenced when Mata drilled wide.

Battle: Chelsea had to scrap for their lives at times, especially at the end after Javi Garcia's goal

Djalo nodded over after Cesar was replaced by Rodrigo, Kalou fired another shot wide and Oliveira shot straight at Cech.

Mikel was the first player booked in the second half after tripping Rodrigo before Raul Meireles came on for Mata.

Getting the jitters: Javi Garcia gave Benfica a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes

Cech came to the rescue again to tip
Djalo's header behind but was completely powerless to prevent a
completely unmarked Garcia heading in Aimar's corner.

Benfica poured forward and Oliveira
wasted a great chance to dump Chelsea out before Didier Drogba came on
for Torres to help see the game out, which Di Matteo's men did in
stoppage-time when Meireles ran 40 yards and drilled home, the visitors'
bench already on their feet in collective fury.

Dynamite: Raul Meireles settled the tie beyond all doubt with a thunderous strike into the top corner

Chelsea v Benfica live

Posted on April 4, 2012 by adminsports

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE: Chelsea v Benfica – the action from Stamford Bridge as it happens

UPDATED:

19:03 GMT, 4 April 2012

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Champions League as Chelsea host Benfica at Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their quarter-final. The Blues only need a draw to progress to the last four after a Salomon Kalou strike in Portugal handed them a 1-0 lead in the first leg. Email me your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk or contact me @Ripinho.

Chelsea 0-0 Benfica (7.45pm)
Aggregate: 1-0

Click here for the live goals as they go in

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry,
Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Torres, Mata. Subs: Turnbull,
Essien, Drogba, Meireles, Ferreira, Sturridge, Cahill.

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira,
Javi Garcia, Emerson, Capdevila, Witsel, Matic, Bruno Cesar, Aimar,
Cardozo, Gaitan.
Subs: Eduardo, Nolito, Djalo, Nelson Oliveira, Rodrigo
Moreno, Saviola, Andre Almeida.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

All the latest from Real Madrid v APOEL

17min: Bruno Cesar is down receiving treatment after being on the end of a crunching, but fair, Ashley Cole tackle. He should be okay to continue.

15min: Terry brings down Aimar for a free-kick 35 yards out and you would have to say so far the visitors have found it very easy to carve through Chelsea's midfield. John Mikel Obi especially is struggling to track Aimar.

12min: Lovely finish from Mata to tuck away in the bottom corner from inside the box. The only problem is he is flagged for being a couple of yards offside.

At the other end, Aimar isn't so accurate as he blasts miles over, but it forces Terry to sound a wake up call to his team-mates.

11min: Strangely Chelsea are playing like the away team. Again they counter a Benfica attack but Mata's through ball is just too heavy for Torres to run on to as Artur Moraes clears on the edge of his box.

8min: First corner falls for Chelsea and they nearly score. A floated ball to the back post finds David Luiz, whose drive is blocked by Joan Capdevila.

Benfica had everyone back for that but still nobody picked up the defender.

7min: From InfostradaLive:

Chelsea aim for 6th semifinal berth in 9 years. #FCBarcelona are the only team to have reached the semis 6x in the last 9 years incl. 2011/12

5min: John Terry has to throw his body to block a Pablo Aimar shot, but the Blues manage to counter attack through Ramires.

The Brazilian plays a one-two with Juan Mata before feeding Fernando Torres who is dispossessed on the edge of the box.

3min: Benfica are forcing the issue in the early minutes.

Nicolas Gaitan has already attempted a couple of crosses from the left and the Blues are on the back foot.

Kick-off: The Blues get us going.

19.42: Here come the players then. It's a fantastic atmosphere inside the ground with the Benfica faithful having no problem filling the away end.

19.40: The winners at Stamford Bridge will progress to meet Barcelona in the semi-finals.

Both would be underdogs, but to be the best you have to beat the best.

19.37: From InfostradaLive:

Real Madrid have won all 5 of their matches against Cypriotic clubs, outscoring the opposition 29-1

You have been warned if you're about to bet against Jose Mourinho's side…

19.35: Weather wise it's been a miserable day in London with the usual April showers, but it hasn't dampened the home fans who are once again flying flags in unison to build atmosphere.

19.32: From InfostradaLive:

Benfica have scored in every away game this CL campaign (6 matches incl. Qual.) & have scored twice in their last 3 CL away matches.

19.27: Some more reading for you now from Sportsmail's Matt Lawton, who tells us why Di Matteo is the ideal man to lead Chelsea into the last four.

19.24: Full team news from the Bernabeu:

Real Madrid v Apoel Nicosia
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo, Sahin, Granero, Altintop, Kaka, Ronaldo, Higuain. Subs: Adan, Benzema, Ozil, Alonso, Albiol, Callejon, Di Maria.

Apoel Nicosia: Urko, Poursaitides, Paulo Jorge, Kaka, Boaventura, Morais, Pinto, Charalambidis, Marcinho, Manduca, Almeida. Subs: Chiotis, Solari, Satsias, Elia, Adorno, Alexandrou, Helder Sousa.

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

19.21: There is one other tie tonight in the Champions League…well I call it a tie.

APOEL travel to Real Madrid in the hope of turning around a 3-0 scoreline from the first leg.

Where are we looking at in terms of the biggest shocks of all-time if the Cypriot side progress this evening

I'm going biggest ever in the Champions League, and that is the very least.

19.18: Looking at Benfica's domestic form is another reason to suggest why this tie is far from complete for Chelsea.

They currently sit just one point behind Porto in the Portuguese top flight, racking up over two goals a game on average. They don't look particularly shot shy.

Right combination: Fernando Torres and Salomon Kalou (21) will again lead Chelsea's attack

19.15: Full line-ups from Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea v Benfica
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Torres, Mata. Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Drogba, Meireles, Ferreira, Sturridge, Cahill.

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Javi Garcia, Emerson, Capdevila, Witsel, Matic, Bruno Cesar, Aimar, Cardozo, Gaitan. Subs: Eduardo, Nolito, Djalo, Nelson Oliveira, Rodrigo Moreno, Saviola, Andre Almeida.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

19.10: Interesting point on Oscar Cardozo from Keown as well. Not only did he give John Terry problems last week but he was a menace against Manchester United in the group stages.

Just as well the Portuguese side don't have Nuno Gomes anymore either – 35-years-old or not, the Braga striker is still lethal inside the box.

19.08: Need some pre-match thoughts to get you warmed up Check out Sportsmail's Martin Keown, who gives us his thoughts on tonight's game.

19.05: David Luiz overcomes an ankle injury to start Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Benfica tonight.

The west Londoners make two changes from the 1-0 victory in the first leg in Portugal, with Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic coming in.

Benfica are without first-choice centre-backs Jardel and captain Luisao, so are forced to play midfielder Javi Garcia as a makeshift defender.

19.00: I have to admit that is an intriguing team selection from Roberto Di Matteo. Salomon Kalou and Fernando Torres got the job done in the first leg though so who am I to question the madness to the Italian's methods.

18.55: Chelsea starting XI:

Cech; Ivanovic, David Luiz, John Terry, Cole, Obi, Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Kalou, Torres.

18.50: A few weeks back we were worried we wouldn't have a British club in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 1996.

Now we are tantalisingly close to having one in the last four as Chelsea continue to fly the flag for Premier League sides in Europe. A draw tonight and Munich is one step closer for the Blues. On paper it sounds so simple. Team news coming up.

Pulling the strings: Juan Mata will hope to provide the creative force for Chelsea

Benfica v Chelsea live

Posted on March 27, 2012 by adminsports

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE: Benfica v Chelsea – the action from the Estadio da Luz as it happens

UPDATED:

18:51 GMT, 27 March 2012

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Champions League as Chelsea travel to Benfica for the first leg of their quarter-final. The Blues are the last British side left in Europe and will be buoyed after their dramatic win over Napoli in the previous round.

Let me know what you think about the matches via Twitter @DMworldfootball

MATCH FACTS

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Jardel, Emerson, Aimar, Javi Garcia, Bruno Cesar, Witsel, Gaitan, Cardozo. Subs: Eduardo, Nolito, Nelson Oliveira, Rodrigo Moreno, Matic, Miguel Vitor, Saviola.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Meireles, Mata, Mikel, Kalou, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Lampard, Drogba, Bosingwa, Sturridge, Cahill.

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)

19.49 From the most recent of those free-kicks, Jardel sneaks clear at the back post and directs a side-foot volley back across goal. None of his team-mates appear even remotely interested, though.

19.48 Bold start from Chelsea. It is they who launch the first attack through Kalou – although it comes to nothing – and there is plenty of energy about the way in which they are closing down the spaces all over the pitch. A couple of free-kicks given already.

19.45 And we are underway….

19.43 A an interesting note from out friends at @Infostradalive. They say this is only the third time in Champions League history that a team fields two more players from the country of the club they were facing.

It happened in 2006 when Jonathan Woodgate and David Beckham played against an Arsenal team without any English players, and in 2009 when Liverpool started five Spanish players against Real Madrid's three.

19.40 In his final interview before the match, Roberto di Matteo has admitted an away goal is his sole target tonight. I hardly radiated confidence, and the curious team selection seems to bear that out.

He said: 'I wanted to freshen up my team because I'm expecting a hi-tempo game. I've picked some of the players who know the atmosphere here and are familiar with the club.'

19.35 My favourite stat of the night comes from Cypus, where the Real Madrid captain and goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, is making his 119th Champions League game, one more than the entire APOEL team put together.

19.30 Oscar Cardozo singled out by Roberto di Matteo in his pre-match interview as the one to watch – hardly surprising considering his four goals in the competition.

He doesn't, though, mention Pablo Aimar, who scored at Old Trafford. The world's best player, Lionel Messi, has had his say, though.

He says: 'Aimar was, and is, my idol. I really like to watch him play and I have followed his career since the beginning at River Plate.'

19.20 Have to say the Chelsea team looks flimsy, and while Jose Boswingwa has been hopeless this season, it seems nonsensical to field someone with such little football under his belt like Ferreira, himself hardly impressive for a number of years now. Branislav Ivanovic is, of course, out injured with a thigh strain.

Up front, too, why Torres Drogba was the catalyst for that stunning comeback against Napoli and has four goals in four Champions League games this season. The Spaniard who replaces him has managed just two in 10, and they were both Genk.

19.15 Elsewhere in Europe, that sole representative of Cyprus are taking on the mighty Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have twice played on the island, and boast an aggregate score of 14-0, beating Apollon Limassol 6-0 in 1968, and Olympiakos Nikosia 8-0 in 1969.

APOEL: Chiotis, Poursaitides, Marcelo Oliveira, Paulo Jorge, Boaventura, Morais, Pinto, Charalambidis, Trickovski, Alexandrou, Almeida. Subs: Urko, Kaka, Solari, Adorno, Helder Sousa, Solomou, Marcinho.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao, Khedira, Sahin, Benzema, Ozil, Ronaldo, Higuain. Subs: Adan, Kaka, Granero, Marcelo, Altintop, Albiol, Varane.

Anticipation: APOEL supporters cheer their team ahead of the clash with Real Madrid

19.10 The big news from Portugal is that Fernando Torres is handed a start ahead of Didier Drogba, with the Ivorian joined on the bench by Michael Essien and Frank Lampard, among others.

David Luiz and Ramires both make their first appearances against the club they left for Stamford Bridge, while Salomon Kalou makes his first start in the Champions League this season. Paulo Ferreira, meanwhile, is making only his third start of the season.

19.00 So here we are, last man standing. Who would have thought that only one English team would remain in the Champions League come the quarter-finals The same amount as Cyprus, no less.

But Chelsea are here, flying the flag after the most unlikely of comebacks against Italian side Napoli in the last round. Tonight they face Benfica, who took four points of Manchester United in the group stage, winning here at the Estadio da Luz.

Benfica team news: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Jardel, Emerson, Aimar, Javi Garcia, Bruno Cesar, Witsel, Gaitan, Cardozo. Subs: Eduardo, Nolito, Nelson Oliveira, Rodrigo Moreno, Matic, Miguel Vitor, Saviola.

Chelsea team news: Cech, Ferreira, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Meireles, Mata, Mikel, Kalou, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Lampard, Drogba, Bosingwa, Sturridge, Cahill.

Ready to go: Experienced striker Didier Drogba will hope to lead Chelsea's attack

Benfica scouting report: Portuguese side prepare for Chelsea with goalless draw

Posted on March 27, 2012 by adminsports

Benfica scouting report: Portuguese side prepare for Chelsea with goalless draw

UPDATED:

00:01 GMT, 27 March 2012

Benfica travelled to the Algarve on Friday night where they were held to a 0-0 draw by Olhanense — a club with a budget said to be the size of Scunthorpe’s.

But Olhanense are seventh in the Portuguese league and it would be unhelpful to think Benfica’s performance was poor.

It was a high-tempo game, particularly in the first half, that would have sat easily in the Premier League.

Class act: Nicolas Gaitan shines for Benfica

Olhanense are hard to beat as their lack of defeats show and though a reading of the game was skewed by substitute Pablo Aimar’s 63rd-minute red card, it could be argued this was as vigorous a 0-0 warm-up for Benfica as Chelsea’s was against Tottenham.

Seven of the Benfica team who started in the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, in November’s group game, started at Olhanense. Aimar’s introduction made it eight participants from that game.

Defence:

Luisao is Benfica’s defensive leader. He was in charge on Friday night, rattling into tackles, and into his full backs. Chelsea’s scout will have noted their vulnerability as opposed to the captain’s strength.

Leader: Luisao is Benfica's main man at the back

Midfield:

The highly-rated Belgian Axel Witsel was anonymous and Aimar replaced the toiling Nolito at half-time. But the 24-year-old Argentinian Nicolas Gaitan showed some of the footwork that makes him wanted across Europe.

Similar to Samir Nasri in stature and movement, Gaitan was Benfica’s most creative and dangerous player. A few touches were exquisite, though he faded once Benfica were down to 10 men. If Chelsea nullify Gaitan, they have an advantage.

Attack:

Oscar Cardozo scored the opener against Manchester United in the 1-1 draw in September at Estadio Da Luz.

He has 22 goals this season, though he didn’t get a sniff on Friday until the 85th minute, when he missed. Chelsea’s assessment of Cardozo will be based on previous displays.

In the goals: Oscar Cardozo has scored 22 times this season

Verdict:

Benfica are good enough to beat Chelsea narrowly this evening.The same can be said of Chelsea in the return at Stamford Bridge. It should be tight.

Roberto Di Matteo won"t get carried away after Chelsea"s Champions League draw

Posted on March 17, 2012 by adminsports

Roberto Di Matteo won't get carried away after Chelsea's Champions League draw

UPDATED:

23:13 GMT, 16 March 2012

Roberto Di Matteo had let his emotions get the better of him once already this week and he was not about to let it happen again.

Having found himself the target for some good-natured ribbing since his euphoric pitch invasion after Chelsea’s epic Champions League victory over Napoli, Di Matteo had recovered his cool in time for Friday’s quarter-final draw.

‘Are you writing off AC Milan, the leaders of Serie A, as easy as that’ Chelsea’s interim manager asked those anxious to leap beyond Benfica and discuss the prospect of meeting Lionel Messi in the semis or Jose Mourinho in the final.

Playing it safe: Roberto Di Matteo won't get carried away with Chelsea's Champions League chances

‘You’re well ahead in the future. You speculate if you want. I’m not. When you get to the last eight every draw is difficult.

‘Benfica have good players like Gaitan and Luisao but they’re a good unit. They won Manchester United’s group.’

Benfica is a decent draw but Di Matteo will not get ahead of himself. As a player, he plunged from scoring an FA Cup winning goal at Wembley to a career-ending leg break in four months; as West Bromwich Albion manager, from promotion to the sack in eight.

This attitude will serve him well in his new role as interim manager — something of an unnecessary title given Chelsea’s revolving door policy —and the Napoli experience will boost his self-belief as the Italian turns his attention to his specialist subject.

Danger man: Benfica's Argentinian forward Nicolas Gaita

Beat Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-final tomorrow and Di Matteo will be Wembley-bound for the first time since scoring the only goal of the 2000 FA Cup final against Aston Villa.

Two years later, a few weeks after confirming he would retire, he was leading out the Chelsea team for an FA Cup final against Arsenal in Cardiff, at the behest of Claudio Ranieri.

‘That was a nice gesture by the club and manager,’ said Di Matteo. ‘But I thought, because we lost, it meant my managerial career was gone, over after one game. It was the end of my career and it felt like that was it for me.’

Doing the impossible: Chelsea came from 3-1 down to win the second leg 4-1 and progress

Busy blues

When Albion sacked him last year it might have seemed like the end again. Di Matteo was rejected by clubs in the Championship and League One but suddenly presides over one of the biggest in Europe, in the quarter-finals of two competitions, fifth in the Barclays Premier League.

‘Interesting,’ was the word he chose when asked to describe how it feels to be in charge at Chelsea but he stressed he had no issue with captain John Terry barking instructions from the bench after being substituted against Napoli.

‘I expect all my players to reinforce the messages I give before and during the game,’ he said. ‘That’s what happened. It was not just him. We are lucky to have some leaders and I expect them to reinforce the message.

Giving orders: John Terry gives his defence instructions as Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo watches on

‘My job is to get the best out of them. We need to have a spirit of sacrifice for each other and passion for the team.

‘I’ve been in a dressing room. I know what it’s like and I’m not intimidated by anyone. You don’t have to put your medals on the table. You don’t have to be an ex-player to be successful — look at Arrigo Sacchi or Jose or AVB — but it means you can understand how the players are thinking.’

Terry has ambitions to manage Chelsea one day but his latest manager believes the 31-year-old should not wish away his playing days.

Route to the final

‘He is too young,’ said Di Matteo. ‘I can help him with his coaching badges but I would recommend players play for as long as they can. That’s the best part of your football career.’

Terry and David Luiz, injured against Napoli, are fit to face Leicester but Di Matteo plans to make changes with a congested schedule looming.

They play eight games in 23 days — nine if an FA Cup replay is needed — including Premier League games against Manchester City and Spurs and two Champions League legs against Benfica.

Manchester United monitor Real Madrid"s Sami Khedira and Benfica"s Nicolas Gaitan and Javi Garcia

Posted on February 15, 2012 by adminsports

United monitoring Khedira at Madrid plus Benfica duo Gaitan and Garcia

Out of favour: Khedira

Manchester United are maintaining their interest in Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.

The Germany international, 24, has been in and out of the starting line-up and United are weighing up their options.

United are also keen on Benfica pair Nicolas Gaitan and Javi Garcia, who is wanted by Liverpool.

Manchester United want Cheik Tiote

Posted on December 20, 2011 by adminsports

Race for Tiote hots up as United join chase for Newcastle midfielder

Manchester United scouts watched Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote at the weekend.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is weighing up various midfield targets including Benfica’s Nicolas Gaitan, Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Gotze and Christian Eriksen of Ajax.

And United are the latest club to be linked with Ivory Coast hardman Tiote.

In demand: Cheik Tiote (right) is wanted by a host of clubs

Liverpool have also expressed an interest in the 25 million-rated Tiote while Chelsea are long-standing admirers.

Newcastle have denied they will sell their star player in the January transfer window but the club have a history of doing just that after Andy Carroll joined Liverpool earlier this year.

On Eriksen, United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen said: “This is a player that is on our radar.

Shining: Christian Eriksen (left) is one of world football

Shining: Christian Eriksen (left) is one of world football”s rising stars

“But that is to be expected. If people weren”t looking, no-one would ever have an opinion on these players.

“It is true that a player like Eriksen would fit our transfer policy.

“He is being strongly linked with us, but to suggest that we are about to make a move is not true.”

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Tag Archives: gaitan

Fenerbahce 1 Benfica 0 – Europa League semi-final first leg match report: Egeman Korkmaz scores

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (3-1 agg): Frank Lampard and Raul Meireles

Chelsea v Benfica live

Benfica v Chelsea live

Benfica scouting report: Portuguese side prepare for Chelsea with goalless draw

Roberto Di Matteo won"t get carried away after Chelsea"s Champions League draw

Manchester United monitor Real Madrid"s Sami Khedira and Benfica"s Nicolas Gaitan and Javi Garcia

Manchester United want Cheik Tiote