Madrid Motivated By Ronaldo Suspension
Title Race Not Over Yet, Says JUVENTUS coach is a great Conte example, Antonio Conte said the title alternative. Nobody is race was far from over after his table-topping side threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Hellas Verona on Sunday. Although their nine-point lead at the top of Serie A remains intact because Roma also drew, 0-0 at Lazio, Conte feels the points lost in the 94th minute could prove costly. He urged his players to be more ruthless in seeing out games, and Gazzetta dello Sport quoted him as saying: “We could live to regret these two points lost. “The title has not been won, and we’d better get that into our heads. We switched off. Maybe we thought it was all over, and that Verona would never get back into the game. “We had already dropped our rhythm in the first half. [Luca] Toni’s goal then generated anxiety, and it’s a shame because we were controlling the game — but when your opponents are on the ground, you’ve got to kill them off sportingly. We instead helped lift
Verona up, forgetting that games last 95 minutes.” Conte called his players in for training on Monday rather than giving them their usual day off, and told them he would have no hesitation in altering his starting lineup. “I don’t know if some people feel their place in the team is certain, but I have no problems changing things if I notice they are not working,” he said. “[Claudio] Marchisio, for
certain of their place.” Carlos Tevez scored his first goals of 2014 to give Juve their two-goal cushion, but was downbeat at the final whistle, saying: It’s worthless. We can’t be happy. It’s not like Juve to play like this. “I don’t care how many goals I score, come the end of the season, I want the Scudetto. We weren’t tired, and it shouldn’t be hard to try to keep our concentration.”
Messi’s ‘Pride’ Restored, Says Barca Boss BARCELONA coach Gerardo Martino said Lionel Messi had answered his critics in the best way possible as the Argentine scored his first two goals from open play in 10 league games as Barca won 4-1 at Sevilla. Sevilla had gone ahead early evening with another sweet finish on under the torrential rain at the from Andres Iniesta’s pass 11 Sanchez Pizjuan, but Messi led minutes after the break and Cesc his side’s revival as he firstly Fabregas rounded off the scoring crossed for Alexis Sanchez to three minutes from time. bundle home the equaliser before Messi had been questioned for finishing off a fine counter-attack his poor goalscoring form since with a stunning half-volley just returning from a hamstring injury before half-time. at the start of the year, but Martino The four-time World Player of insisted it was only a matter of the Year doubled his tally for the time before he returned to form in
Benzema Happy To Match Ronaldo’s Record REAL Madrid striker Karim Benzema says he is delighted after Saturday’s brace helped him match Ronaldo’s goal tally for the club. The retired Brazilian forward scored 104 goals in 177 during his spell with the Whites and Benzema’s double during the 42 win over Villarreal saw him reaching the milestone after 215 matches. “I’m very happy to get to that level,” he told reporters. “For me, Ronaldo is the best ever. “It’s hard to score but I have the help of my teammates, so I am enjoying this moment because I scored. “But the most important thing is to win games. I see we have a good team, with a lot of depth in the squad. “We are ready to continue like this and Madrid is always one of the favourites.” Benzema also praised fellow striker Jese Rodriguez, who also found the back of the net for Madrid on Saturday, alongside Gareth Bale. “He’s in fine form. He’s a player I really like,” said Benzema. “Jese is young but he is already a good player. “This is a great team with lots of strikers, and that’s good for everyone.”
Antonio Conte
Lionel Messi
front of goal. “I always say the same with respect to Leo. I never run the risk of going over the top with him. “Those that do say something negative about him sometimes don’t realise what they are doing is affecting his pride and, when you do that to the best player in the world, this is what happens.” Victory moved Barca back to the top of La Liga on goal difference over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with all three sides tied on 57 points. The Catalans had started the weekend off top spot for the first time in 59 league matches following a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Valencia last weekend. And Martino is determined not to hand the advantage to their title rivals again in the 15 league games that remain. “To have the opportunity to recover and regain the lead just a week after losing it is reassuring. “We start again now and we will see which of the three teams make a mistake first. We hope it won’t be us again.” The game was also notable for Iniesta’s return to form. The Spanish international hadn’t played 90 minutes since the 4-0 win over Elche on
Emery Rues ‘Offside Goal’
SEVILLA coach Unai Emery believes Alexis Sanchez’ equaliser was the turning point during Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Barcelona. The Andalusian side broke the deadlock through Alberto Moreno before Sanchez scored from what looked like an offside position. However, the goal stood and the Catalans eventually ran away with the match as Lionel Messi scored on either side of the break before substitute Cesc Fabregas netted late to seal the win. “The offside goal was a very decisive moment, because we
were playing well, with a goal up; we were creating chances and the game was going in our favour,” Emery told reporters. “Then there was an action where Nico Pareja was going for the ball against Messi on the ground and I think he touched the ball. “The referee’s style undermined us because we were afraid of getting involved in duels. “Later on, the referee realised he didn’t have to be so strict and in the second half he allowed more. “After playing a great game, we lost. The penalty areas were determining factor and their
accuracy decided the match.” Despite suffering their third loss in a row, Emery praised his side for putting up a strong challenge against the defending champions and remains hopeful that they will turn the corner. “We have to keep in mind that for many of our players, this was the first time they’ve played at this level,” he added. “We need more experience to give them more confidence and to allow them to use this game to grow. “We are in a negative run of form and we need to break it with a victory, we need to find some sort of balance in the defence.”
January 5, but was undoubtedly his side’s best performer in midfield as they recovered control after a difficult opening. However, despite his own contribution, Iniesta was also keen to laud the difference made by Messi. “Leo never goes missing, he is one of the few players in the world that in a few seconds or in a few metres can turn a game. He does it all the time and he did it again today,” he told Spanish TV station Canal Plus. “It was important to win today and to return to the top of the table. We lost the leadership last week and it is good to return so quickly. The conditions weren’t the best but we managed to take the three points. “The equality between all the teams is good for everyone. We will see what happens come the end of the season.”
REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence has served as motivation for his side. The Portuguese international is currently serving a three-match suspension following his dismissal during the 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao. However, the Whites continued with their winning ways on Saturday night as they downed Villarreal 4-2 courtesy of a brace from Karim Benzema as well as a goal each from Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez. “The absence of Cristiano gave us more motivation because he is an indispensable player for us,” Ancelotti said. Without him the rest work even harder; “Bale has played well, like his teammates. “It was not an easy game. I understand that after the work we put in against Atletico Madrid it was not easy to approach this game. “But Bale scored the first goal, assisted the second and put in a good level of performance.” Ancelotti also lauded young striker Jese, who continues to find the back of the net when given a chance to play. “At the moment Jese is very good for the team and he works hard,” added Ancelotti. “He’s doing what everyone wants from him. He’s doing very well for his age and it’s a good thing for everyone.”
Tevez Praises Conte For Helping Him Settle
CARLOS Tevez brushed off further talk of Argentina by thanking Antonio Conte’s contribution for helping him settle in at Juventus. The 30-year-old netted twice for the Bianconeri on Sunday afternoon to take his League tally to 13 and, whilst it was not enough to see Juve take the three points away from Verona, it once again prompted reporters to ask the forward of his hopes of making the Argentina squad this summer. “I’m not happy with the two goals, our objective is always to win. “The World Cup? I do not want to always talk about the national team,” afterwards reflected Tevez, who has not been picked by Alejandro Sabella yet. “I’m playing well here, I am happy at Juventus, this is important, then it is down to the Coach [Sabella] to
decide. “I am settling in at Turin alright and that is the result of the work of Conte, we work and play together every day in training. “The relationship with the fans is one that I feel greatly, I try to satisfy them with what I do on the field. “Osvaldo? Since he has arrived he has been fine. He is a player who can serve us much in attack.”
Carlos Tevez