Ozil out of Arsenal’s clash against Bayern Munich

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil will miss Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayern Munich after illness, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said.

Ozil was absent from Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday and although the German star has returned to training, Wenger doesn’t believe he is ready to face Bayern.

Losing the World Cup winner for the Emirates Stadium showdown is another blow for Arsenal, who face the daunting task of having to overturn a 5-1 deficit from the first leg.

“He had only one session yesterday. I don’t think he is ready physically to be in the squad.

“He should be ready for the weekend (for the FA Cup quarter-final against Lincoln).”

 

Source: The Guardian

No excuses after Munich “nightmare” – Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted his side had “collapsed mentally” in their 5-1 Champions League rout by Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The under-pressure Frenchman said there were no excuses as the Gunners faced a seventh successive last-16 exit after their latest mauling.

“We conceded the second goal and then the most important thing was that we lost Laurent Koscielny (to injury). We collapsed mentally,” said Wenger who will now face fresh calls for his resignation.

Wenger’s post-match press conference lasted barely five minutes and was cut short after he answered just a few questions.”I am not looking for excuses. Overall I must say they were a better team than us, they played very well in the second half and we dropped our level,” he added.

“They were better than us, well done to Bayern. Their third goal was a killer — we had no response.” It is a shock of course to lose at this level.”

Wenger refused to discuss his personal mood after the match.

“How I feel I don’t think is the most important but of course it is disappointing,” he said although pundits thought otherwise.

“He looked particularly wounded. I feel for him — he almost needs to be protected from himself,” former Arsenal defender Martin Keown told BT Sport.

“This is a massive low point for him. This brings forward the change that looks likely at the end of the season.”

Arjen Robben opened the scoring after just 11 minutes at the Allianz Arena when the Dutchman beat Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina with a fine left-foot strike into the top corner.

Chile international Alexis Sanchez levelled for Arsenal on the half-hour, hitting in a rebound at the second attempt after he had a controversial penalty saved by Manuel Neuer.

But Robert Lewandowski restored the German side’s lead after 53 minutes, heading in a cross from Philipp Lahm with Thiago Alcantara adding a third just three minutes later.

Thiago piled on the misery for Arsene Wenger’s men with his second and Bayern’s fourth just after the hour with substitute Thomas Mueller adding a fifth two minutes from time.

Wenger said the loss of Koscielny just after the break — with the scores at 1-1 — turned the game.

“It was a strange game because we played quite well in the first half, we then conceded goals in quick succession,” said Wenger.

“I’d have loved to have kept Laurent on the pitch and it’s difficult to measure the impact, but the fact is we have to cope with the result. We had an extremely bad result tonight.

“It was difficult to shake off the two goals in quick succession — we lost our organisation and our centre back.”

The Frenchman said his side lost their composure after Lewandowski’s powerful header from a cross and suffered a “nightmare” final 25 minutes.

“We were badly done for the second goal and the real problems came after the third goal, because we lost our organisation,” he added.

“We were very jaded and vulnerable from that moment on. The last 25 minutes were a nightmare for us, because we had no response.”

Man City Is Guardiola’s Biggest Challenge – Puyol

The former Barcelona captain believes the Spaniard will “change football in England” and that he isn’t afraid to play direct football despite a penchant for a passing style

Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol believes Pep Guardiola has taken on his greatest challenge in the Manchester City job.

Puyol enjoyed four successful seasons under Guardiola at Camp Nou, winning three LaLiga titles and the Champions League in 2009 and 2011.

Guardiola then went on to enjoy further success with Bayern Munich, lifting the Bundesliga trophy in each of his three seasons, although glory on the European stage eluded him.

 

Now at City, Guardiola has made a strong start to his tenure, winning his first 10 matches in all competitions before a 3-3 Champions League draw at Celtic preceded a 2-0 loss at title rivals Tottenham.

After dominating in Spain and Germany, Puyol says Guardiola has his work cut out to repeat the feat in the Premier League but backed his former coach to oversee a cultural change in English football.

“It’s the biggest challenge for Guardiola but I think he will change football in England,” he said.

“A lot of people say football is different in England to other countries but the way Guardiola works and puts pressure on his players will change football here a bit.

“His biggest challenge is to change the direct style of football. Now in England the football is more direct, with big centre-backs. I couldn’t play there because I’m too small.

“Guardiola wants to start playing from the back with intelligent play from the goalkeeper. It doesn’t mean he won’t play long like against Manchester United when they scored a goal with three touches, but it’s the whole style. He is based on ball possession and playing from the back.

“I have seen his influence on the team very quickly. He is doing very well, he has very clear ideas which he tries to transmit to the players. He is the best coach I ever worked with and I’m pleased to see him in England.

“There are a lot of coaches worse than him. He puts a lot of pressure on the players but the players feel free under Guardiola. It’s tough but I understand football like that, I enjoy it.

“Guardiola thinks everyone can improve and play at a higher level – and every player improves with him. It also motivates the players to improve.”

“Arsenal Are Better Off Without Champions League Football” – Ian Wright

Ahead of the clash with Bayern Munich, the Gunners legend claims an early European exit would allow Arsenal to concentrate on the Premier League title race

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes an early elimination from the Champions League would give the Gunners the edge in the Premier League title race.

Arsene Wenger’s side find themselves in a difficult position in Group F with no points from two games after defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos, and a double header against leaders Bayern Munich looming.

Domestically, however, Arsenal are on sizzling form and currently sit in second place, two points behind early Premier League pace-setters Manchester City, following Sunday’s 3-0 win at Watford.

Wright claims it would not necessarily be a disaster if his former club don’t make it out of their Champions League group, as it would give them an advantage of their domestic title rivals.

“We all saw with Liverpool a couple of seasons ago how not being in Europe at all can really boost your chances,” Wright wrote in his column for The Sun.

Guardiola Walks Out Of Bayern Munich Press Conference

The 44-year-old, whose contract expires next summer, has been linked with the England job but is currently reviewing an offer to remain with the Bundesliga champions

Pep Guardiola walked out of his Bayern Munich press conference on Friday after a reporter asked whether he could become England’s next manager.

An article in The Sun has claimed that the Football Association are targeting the 44-year-old as a potential successor for Roy Hodgson, who could leave his role after Euro 2016 if England’s campaign is a failure.

Guardiola’s future at Bayern has also been the subject of constant speculation as his contract with the Bundesliga champions expires at the end of the season.

But when asked if he would consider the role with England, Guardiola replied before leaving the room: “Come on, next question. Next question, please. No. I am the coach at Bayern Munich. Thank you.”

Earlier this week, Bayern’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed Guardiola is currently considering a “great offer” to stay with the club.

“I am optimistic about Pep’s renewal. We have a great offer on the table, which you cannot just shove aside,” Rummenigge told Bild.

“We have a first-class team, a fantastic club, a great stadium and a wonderful city to offer. We will have a serious conversation with Pep in the upcoming weeks and we will see what comes from that.

“I want to win the Champions League again – with Guardiola in charge.”

Guardiola: Bayern Were In Control… Then Messi Showed His Class

Lionel Messi‘s class was the difference between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the German champions’ 3-0 defeat on Wednesday, according to Pep Guardiola.

The Argentine – who shot to worldwide prominence while Guardiola was in charge of Barcelona – put the Bavarians to the sword with a late double which turned the well-balanced Champions League semi-final tie on its head at Camp Nou.

Neymar added insult to injury with a stoppage-time strike, avenging the three-goal triumph secured by Bayern on their last trip to Catalunya in 2013 and leaving the German champions with an almost impossible task in the second leg.

“Bayern did well for a long time,” Guardiola, whose side restricted Barca to their lowest possession in a Champions League game since 2006, told reporters. “But then Messi showed his class. Barca aren’t just him, though – they’re a strong team, with other top individuals like Luis Suarez and Neymar.

“Barca are so good that they find spaces wherever they want to. It’s the talent of their team that left us on the losing end, playing at Camp Nou is so hard.

“However, I think we actually controlled the game until the first Barca goal. We lost our grip after that, though, but I won’t blame any of my players. The team have gone through a lot of difficult situations this season.”

Guardiola was unremittingly bleak when assessing the Bundesliga champions’ chances of reaching the final in Berlin on June 6, adding: “You can turn around a one or two-goal deficit, but three goals is tough.”

Bayern now host Augsburg on Saturday – when they are almost certain to field a second-string side, having already wrapped up the league title last month – before playing host to the Catalans next Tuesday.

The winner of this semi-final will face either Real Madrid or Juventus, with the Italians holding a 2-1 advantage after the first leg on Tuesday in Turin.

Champions League Draw: Barcelona Face Bayern Munich, Real Madrid Take On Juventus

Barcelona will take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals while Real Madrid have drawn Juventus.

Luis Enrique’s side defeated Paris Saint-Germain 5-1 to progress to the last four, but they will not face their fierce rivals, who ran out 1-0 winners over fellow La Liga club Atletico thanks to a late Javier Hernandez goal.

Barca will instead take on Bayern, with Pep Guardiola set to return to the Camp Nou for the first time since leaving the club to go on sabbatical, and the Spanish side will be out to avenge their 7-0 aggregate defeat to the German giants in 2013.

Bayern defeated Porto 7-4 over two legs to progress to the semi-finals, while Juventus beat Monaco to earn their clash with the current Champions League holders.

The draw throws up the possibility of an all-Spanish final for the second successive year, with Real defeating Atletico after extra-time last season.

Bayern last reached the showpiece in 2013, when they beat Borussia Dortmund, while Barcelona defeated Manchester United in 2011. Juventus, meanwhile, have not reached the final since 2003, when they beat AC Milan on penalties at Old Trafford.