Arsenal celebrating easy Champions League draw

• HyuugaNeji

  28 Aug 09, 00:46

  Messi!

• 1greatguy

  28 Aug 09, 00:47

  Messi gets best forward & Ronaldo face changes......

• zocoss

  28 Aug 09, 00:53

   

  Champions League draw

   

   

   

   

  Group A 

  Bayern Munich (Ger)

  Juventus (Ita)

  Bordeaux (Fra)

  Maccabi Haifa (Isr)

   

  Group B 

  Man Utd (Eng)

  CSKA Moscow (Rus)

  Besiktas (Tur)

  Wolfsburg (Ger) 

   

  Group C 

  AC Milan (Ita)

  Real Madrid (Spa) 

  Marseille (Fra)

  FC Zurich (Swi)

   

  Group D

  Chelsea (Eng) 

  Porto (Por) 

  Atletico Madrid (Spa)

  APOEL Nicosia (Cyp)

   

  Group E

  Liverpool (Eng)

  Lyon (Fra) 

  Fiorentina (Ita)

  Debreceni (Hun)

   

  Group F

  Barcelona (Spa) 

  Inter Milan (Ita)

  Dinamo Kiev (Ukr)

  Rubin Kazan (Rus)

   

  Group G

  Sevilla (Spa) 

  Rangers (Sco) 

  Stuttgart (Ger)

  Unirea Urziceni (Rom)

   

  Group H

  Arsenal (Eng)

  AZ Alkmaar (Hol)

  Olympiakos (Gre)

  Standard Liege (Bel)

   

   

• limpper

  28 Aug 09, 00:54

  he draw in full ...

  Group A: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Bordeaux , Maccabi Haifa

  Group B: Manchester United, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Wolfsburg

  Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich

  Group D: Chelsea, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Apoel FC

  Group E: Liverpool, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debreceni

  Group F: Barcelona, Internazionale, Dynamo Kiev, FC Rubin Kazan

  Group G: Sevilla, Rangers, VfB Stuttgart, Unirea Uriziceni

  Group H: Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Standard Liege

• omgukilledkenny

  28 Aug 09, 00:54

  Dang Utd got the toughest out of Pot 4.

• omgukilledkenny

  28 Aug 09, 00:57

  Heh, Real vs AC best draw la.

• Chris88110

  28 Aug 09, 01:03

  Wha Real and Barca, they really kena .....

  Arsenal have an effing walk in the park. Chelsea is gonna be abit tough for them

• Y_Shun

  28 Aug 09, 01:15

  i think chelsea one more hard....

• Shao Wei

  28 Aug 09, 07:36

  Originally posted by Y_Shun:

  i think chelsea one more hard....

  nice, mean if we win the better we are!

• limpper

  28 Aug 09, 09:20

  liverpool's grp need to fight it out also...

• limpper

  28 Aug 09, 09:27

  Liverpool boss Benitez: Champions League travelling is not too bad

  Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says the travels his team faces in the group stages of this season’s Champions League are not too bad.

  The Reds manager was relieved after the draw, saying his team would not have to face any long trips, but admitted his opponents – Lyon, Fiorentina and Debreceni - were all capable of playing good football.

  "The important thing, as always, is that the travelling isn't too bad. We don't have too far to go for any of the games. We're just looking forward to starting the competition now,” the Spaniard said.

  He added: "You know in the Champions League there will always be difficult games and tough teams to play against.

  "Lyon might not have won the league last season but before that they won it many years in a row, so we know they have lots of good players who can play good football.

  "Fiorentina are an historic club in a nice city. I know from experience they have fantastic supporters because I spent some time there when Claudio Ranieri was the coach.

  "And we have experience of Hungarian football because of our relationship with MTK, so if Debreceni have won their league then we know it means it's because they're a good side."

• limpper

  28 Aug 09, 09:29

  Man Utd boss Ferguson warns European counterparts

  Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has sent a warning to the rest of Europe that English clubs are set to again dominate the Champions League.

  After Thursday’s group stage draw, Ferguson said all four Premier League clubs were happy with the teams they drew and will all feature in the knockout rounds.

  "Over the last few years the Premier League's top four teams have competed in European Cup semi-finals and finals," said Ferguson.

  "That's a great level of performance. People recognise that in Europe and, even though they may be talking about Madrid and Barcelona dominating again, I have my doubts.

  “I think English teams will be in the semi-finals again.”

• zocoss

  28 Aug 09, 10:10

  FERGUSON EXPECTS TOUGH TEST

  

   

  Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United face a stern test in this season's Champions League after a tough-looking draw in the group stage.

  United were drawn in Group B - not so much the Group of Death as the Group of Jetlag - with the prospect of long-distance trips to Besiktas in Turkey and CSKA Moscow as well as strong opponents in German champions Wolfsburg.

  Last season's beaten finalists look to have the most daunting draw of all the British clubs, who all avoided the European heavyweights of Barcelona, Real Madrid and the Milan sides.

  Ferguson is not a fan of long away trips in Europe, and he told the club's official website: "These are difficult ties especially the trips to Russia and Turkey.

  "CSKA have developed strongly in the last few years and games in Turkey are always difficult. "We also know the quality that we're up against with Wolfsburg, with what they achieved in the Bundesliga last season."

  Ferguson's mood will not have been lightened by the knowledge that United face two major Premier League clashes after their long trips - they are at home to Manchester City after travelling to Turkey and away at Liverpool four days after their Moscow journey.

  David Gill admitted the draw could have been kinder to United. He told Sky Sports News: "I think pot four was the interesting one, I think most clubs would have preferred not to get the German champions out of that, but we got it. "But overall we have to be happy with it and look forward to starting in three weeks. Besiktas away, long trip first one, but we will see where we go from there." 

  United would have preferred to have avoided a trip to Istanbul first up, while a lengthy trek to Russia lies ahead when they face CSKA. 

  Gill, though, is adamant the Red Devils will have no problem coping with travelling to far-flung destinations and admits the club are looking forward to heading back to Moscow - the scene of their 2008 triumph. 

  "I think you can get psyched out by that sort of thing," he said. "We are in the competition and we will get on with it and I'm sure it won't affect on the games either side in the Premier League. 

  "We will look forward to going back to Moscow, after those great scenes in 2008, so we have got to be excited about." The first round of matches will be played on September 15 and 16.

• zocoss

  28 Aug 09, 10:11

  ATLETICO AND PORTO FOR CHELSEA

  

   

  Chelsea have been drawn to face Porto, Atletico Madrid and Apoel Nicosia in Group D of the Champions League.

  The Blues will be hoping to put the disappointment of last season's semi-final defeat to Barcelona behind them in Carlo Ancelotti's first season as manager. 

  Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was happy to have avoided the continental big guns.

  He said: "As a group there's not much travel and generally we have to be happy with the draw.

  "There will plenty of glamour ties once you get through this group, but we have to get through this stage first.

  "I'm sure Carlo Ancelotti will be happy - he's had a great start to the season, he's very happy with squad and we have great strength in depth so winning that final still beckons." 

  The first round of matches will be played on September 15 and 16.

• reyes

  28 Aug 09, 12:00

  arsenal seem the easier on paper.

• dukedracula

  28 Aug 09, 13:27

  looks like seeded second tier is better.......

• limpper

  28 Aug 09, 13:45

  Arsenal celebrating easy Champions League draw

  Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis admits they've earned a good draw for their Champions League group.

  The Gunners are joined by Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar, Greek side Olympiakos and Belgian title holders Standard Liege.

  Gazidis said: "A lot of people might say we are the favourites to win this group but we have not played any of these teams before and they are all champions of their respective leagues.

  "Our ambition is to become the first London club to win the Champions League. We have believed in ourselves through this close season even though we have been written off and a lot of pressure has been placed on us.

  "One of things we have this year is real focus game-to-game and I think if we can maintain that we can achieve great things."

  Former Arsenal player Charlie Nicholas said the draw could not have been better for Arsene Wenger.

  Nicholas told Sky Sports News: "It's a lovely draw for the Arsenal, there's absolutely no doubt about that.

  "After coming under a little bit of pressure against Glasgow Celtic I was sitting here looking at the prime draw and this is it. There's a little bit of travelling involved to Olympiakos, but Belgium and Holland are a little hop over the water.

  "It's an absolutely fantastic draw. I know they've not played AZ Alkmaar or Olympiakos before, but I don't think it gets much better than this.

  "You take nothing for granted at this level, but this is one where Arsenal will be able to change their team a little bit and use their squad players.

  "It's a very, very good draw for the Gunners."

• limpper

  28 Aug 09, 13:47

  Man Utd boss Ferguson: Van der Sar deserved UEFA top keeper award

  Edwin van der Sar was named UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year following his Champions League exploits last season.

  Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told manutd.com: "The award couldn't have gone to a better professional.

  "Edwin's dedication to football in the last few years has been absolutely unbelievable.

  "It's an award that is thoroughly deserved and I think everyone in football will applaud that."

• limpper

  28 Aug 09, 17:29

  Real Madrid's Kaka: AC Milan return will be very special

  Real Madrid ace Kaka has welcomed being grouped with former club AC Milan in their Champions League pool.

  Real will also face Olympique Marseille and FC Zurich and Kaka said: "Going back to Milan is something very special for me because I will face my friends and a club that I have a great affection for.

  "It will be a special qualifier for me. I expect a very good reception because I am very fond of the San Siro public.

  "I have a lot of respect not only for Milan, but also Zurich and Olympique Marseille because they are great teams. We want to do well in the European Cup and I see my teammates excited and focused to do something important.

  "The final is at home and we want to win it."