Liverpool calm and focused for Super Sunday, says Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists there are no nerves in the camp ahead of Sunday's massive clash with Manchester City at Anfield.

Leaders Liverpool are currently four points clear of the third-placed visitors, who have a pair of games in hand, meaning Sunday's result will have a huge impact on the title race.

But the Reds boss says that, far from being nervous, his side are looking forward to the occasion.

"It's a significant game, there is no doubt about that," he said.

"It's two teams who have done extremely well this season in their own different ways and it should be a fantastic game of football.

Rodgers ready for great game

"We are really looking forward to it. The team is confident and it should be fantastic.

"We are really looking forward to it. The team is confident and it should be fantastic.

"We are enjoying it and the players are very focused. We are calm and the training this week has been outstanding, so there have certainly been no nerves.

"There is talk about pressure and different types of words to describe it but, for us, it is exciting. We are really enjoying where we are.

"It is not by accident. Over the last 20 months we have been building to arrive at what we have and we are looking to try and sustain that over a longer period."

"We are really looking forward to it. The team is confident and it should be fantastic.

"We are enjoying it and the players are very focused. We are calm and the training this week has been outstanding, so there have certainly been no nerves.

"There is talk about pressure and different types of words to describe it but, for us, it is exciting. We are really enjoying where we are.

"It is not by accident. Over the last 20 months we have been building to arrive at what we have and we are looking to try and sustain that over a longer period."

Rodgers stressed that his side must keep their composure during what is likely to be a raucous occasion.

"It is vitally important," he said. "And I think we showed that last weekend during the game against West Ham.

"We knew that was going to be a tough game for us and we went 1-0 up, then had the disappointment of the goal that was given against us.

"But, in the second half, we showed great composure and control in our game, had good dominance and went on to win."

This weekend will mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans were tragically killed at an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.

Rodgers said: "It gives us great commitment and motivation of course.

"Obviously, we'll get a chance to commemorate Hillsborough next week. It's going to be a great atmosphere at the weekend and, of course, the significance of Hillsborough for the world is to be marked.

"For us, we carry it every day of our lives here, as a manager, as players, as the supporters.

"Ninety-six people died and the victims of that and the families are with us every day of our lives".

"There are five games to go and, even after this one, there are still 12 points to play for."

JOSE MOURINHO GAMBLE BACKFIRE

Glenn Hoddle feels Jose Mourinho's tactical gamble backfired as Chelsea suffered a 3-1 first leg defeat in their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

With Samuel Eto’o ruled out through injury, the Blues manager opted to start Andre Schurrle

who has played in wide areas for most of the season – as a centre-forward in the Parc de Princes with Fernando Torres and Demba Ba left on the bench.

Mourinho withdrew the German after an hour and former Chelsea player and manager Hoddle says that tactical error – combined with a positive approach from PSG – saw Mourinho’s side slump to a defeat that they may struggle to recover from in next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.

“Obviously Mourinho took him off, but I think that was one where he took a risk and it didn’t work. It backfired on him and they had no focus really in the second half.

“But you’ve got to give credit to Paris Saint-Germain. They probably weren’t happy with the way they were playing after they went 1-0 up and they had a good reaction. They suddenly started playing on the front foot, pushed people forward and got their full-backs much higher when the ball was ready to come.

“Consequently Willian and Eden Hazard were forced to go even deeper and they were letting them go at times. That was the key; they really did force that issue on the two wide men for Chelsea and in the end they couldn’t get out.

“They didn’t have anyone to retain the ball in the second-half and if you do that away from home you are going to pay the price – and in the end they did.”

After an even first-half which ended 1-1, the hosts took control and enjoyed almost 67% of the possession in the second 45 minutes, scoring through a David Luiz own goal and a fine late goal from Javier Pastore.

Mourinho called Pastore’s late goal “ridiculous”, but Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp argued that the Chelsea boss must shoulder much of the blame for the defeat.

“He’ll be so disappointed because it was so un-Chelsea-like,” he said.

“That’s four of their last six away games they’ve lost now. Something is wrong there. He asked Fernando Torres to come on and make a difference, but his confidence must be on the floor.

“He put in Schurrle, who has played in wide areas all season, up front ahead of him – and then expects him to come on and make a difference.

Ronaldo catches Messi and Altafini

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his fourteenth Champions League goal of the season last night, equaling the all-time record that was previously only held by Lionel Messi (in the 2011/12 season with Barcelona) and José Altafini (with Milan in the 1962/63 season).

With his goal on the 57th minute against Borussia Dortmund, the current holder of the Ballon d'Or celebrated both reaching this record and playing in his 100th Champions League game.

The Portuguese's strike made it 3-0 for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

 Real Madrid showed an unquestionable superiority at all times over the German set-up, which had many of its key players out injured or suspended.

Reality Cech: Why it's now time for Chelsea to bring back Courtois

Contrasting performances this week from the Blues' current No.1 and his heir apparent show that Mourinho would be crazy not to start the Atletico Madrid loanee next season.

Peter Staunton   comment 

If Jose Mourinho was looking for evidence that now is the time to dispense with Petr Cech and recall Thibaut Courtois from his Atletico Madrid loan exile, then the Champions League quarter-finals will have provided plenty. 

"We had clear chances to make it 2-1, but because of Courtois we’re leaving with a draw," Barcelona defender Marc Bartra told reporters following their quarter-final first-leg against Atletico Madrid. 

Bartra had just witnessed one of the finest goalkeeping performances in Champions League history as Courtois made save after save to deny Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta,  Lionel Messi and others. He nearly got a hand to Neymar's equaliser for good measure. 

Meanwhile, Cech was being beaten at his near post in injury-time as Chelsea fell to a 3-1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in France. He was slow to Ezequiel Lavezzi's opener and uncertain under the high ball as David Luiz's own goal made it two. 

In a game of such magnitude, the goalkeeper - and moreover a senior figure - needs to be relied upon. He's no longer the type of goalkeeper who can keep Chelsea in matches they have no right to win.

COURTOIS VS CECH - HEAD TO HEAD

                             vs.    

21	AGE	31
30	LEAGUE APPEARANCES	32
20	CONCEDED	24
73.33%	SAVE PERCENTAGE	75.51%
8	EUROPEAN APPEARANCES	8
5	CONCEDED	7
80.00%	SAVE PERCENTAGE	74.07

Courtois has become far too good for Chelsea to persist with the clanger-ridden Cech. The 31-year-old's influence in the dressing room at Stamford Bridge matters no longer. The Belgian is the better man for the job. Any club in the world would have to pay €40m plus to secure the services of such a talent, but for Chelsea he would come in for nothing. Now, they must sow the seeds of change.

Cech was around the same age as Courtois when he announced himself as a rival for the established Carlo Cudicini's place in the Chelsea first team. Mourinho should set Courtois upon Cech in a similar manner. He was a confident boy in signing for the Blues, stating as a teenager that he had been bought to replace Cech - then regarded as one of the best in the world. 

Here is man who, over the course of three seasons, has helped Atletico to the Europa League, the European Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, Champions League football and into contention for La Liga. Diego Costa may provide the star quality for Diego Simeone's side but there is no doubting their MVP. For Chelsea to turn him down now would be negligent - bordering on self-sabotage. 

“I’d put the best in," former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told Sky Sports this week over Chelsea's goalkeeping puzzle. "That’s Courtois." 

Chelsea still hold all the power in regards to the Belgian's future. Atletico's president Enrique Cerezo wants Courtois to stay but the club are stony broke. Only through either Chelsea's extraordinary good will - or extraordinary stupidity  - should he be lining out at the Vicente Calderon next term. 

The 21-year-old stated last Saturday that no other club is in the picture for his signature and it's either Chelsea - for good - or Atletico for another season. "Next week it will become clear where I'm playing next season," he told Sporza after Atleti overcame Athletic Bilbao in a match in which he again excelled. 

"It's certain that it will be Chelsea or Atletico and no other club. I can't say much more about it but, in the next weeks, there will be official news." 

The player will have two more seasons remaining on his contract at the end of the campaign, having signed a five-year-deal when he joined from Genk for €8m in 2011. Mourinho is relaxed about the situation but Paul Pogba's form at Juventus after Manchester United dilly-dallied over his contract shows what happens when promising players have enough of being on the outside looking in. He will agitate to leave if he is not made first-choice. 

There is no doubt that Cech remains a quality goalkeeper. Nonetheless, he has slipped from his perch as one of the world's pre-eminent exponents of the art. In that context, he has been usurped by the young and brilliant Courtois. 

Mourinho has begun his overhaul of his loyal cadre of Chelsea lieutenants. Ashley Cole is more or less out of the picture. Frank Lampard plays less and less. The manager must now rid himself of the goalkeeper who served him well a decade ago and look to the future. 

It is time for Thibaut Courtois to come home.

Source;Goal.com

Ancelotti prepares Madrid for Dortmund reprise

Ancelotti at the Press Conference answering the media questions  
After analysing Real Madrid CF's exit to Borussia Dortmund last year, Carlo Ancelotti said they were "100% ready" to play a side Jürgen Klopp knows are facing "adversity".

Having reviewed tapes of Real Madrid CF's semi-final exit to Borussia Dortmund in last season's UEFA Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti hopes his side are ready to make amends as they meet in the 2013/14 quarter-finals, while Jürgen Klopp has asked his team to "play our game and keep our heads up".
We have done well in the competition up until now, we are one of only two teams unbeaten. We are 100% ready for this match.

Dortmund are missing Robert Lewandowski which is an important loss for them. They are a compact team and have excellent transition play [from defence to attack]. They have injuries but that won't change their style. I admire their coach a lot. He has done a fantastic job there. He got to the final of the Champions League last season which is a big achievement for any coach.

 I watched [Madrid's semi-final] against Dortmund from last season. They were strange matches. I thought that in the first leg Madrid had good control in the first half. The second half was incredible. In the UEFA Champions League, things like that can happen.

We are going to try to play an attacking game because we need a positive result. However, we will need to watch out for Dortmund on the counterattack.

López; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrão; Illarramendi (Isco 62), Alonso, Di María (Casemiro 70); Bale, Benzema (Morata 73), Ronaldo.

 After two straight Liga losses against FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC, dropping them to third place, Ancelotti's side bounced back in style but they are still three points behind leaders Club Atlético de Madrid.

Marcelo will likely miss both legs with a hamstring injury, leaving Ancelotti with adjustments to make. "Fábio Coentrão is ready to come in," he said. "He is fresh and hasn't played many games. We will cover this absence well.

Champions League: Paris St Germain host Chelsea in quarter-final first leg

Two big-spending outfits go head-to-head in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, with Paris St Germain taking on Chelsea.

A battle of the billionaire owners is set to be staged over two legs – the first of which will take place in the French capital on Wednesday.

PSG have made rapid progress since the Qatar Investment Authority took control at Parc des Princes and now feel that they are ready to stake a serious claim for continental honours.

They are the reigning Ligue 1 champions and appear to be well on course to defend that crown in 2013/14, having opened up a 13-point lead at the summit.

Led by the enigmatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and with added creativity provided by the likes of Edinson Cavani, Yohan Cabaye and Ezequiel Lavezzi, PSG have suffered just two defeats in all competitions this season.

They have won their last nine games in a row, plundering 22 goals and conceding just three.

That is the size of the task facing Chelsea as they prepare to head out on the road in Europe – to a stadium in which their opponents have been virtually untouchable this term.

Jose Mourinho is, however, a two-time Champions League winner and knows what it takes to grind out results in testing situations.

He has seen the Blues suffer a couple of domestic wobbles of late, dropping them off the top of the Premier League table, but Galatasaray were ruthlessly disposed of in the last 16 of European competition and a two-trophy haul remains very much on the cards.

Mourinho may be slightly concerned that his side have collected only one victory in their last six away games in all competitions, but heading back to west London still in a tie with in-form PSG would set things up nicely for a return date at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.

Live on Sky Sports

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• PSG v Chelsea

• April 2, 2014 7:00pm

FIFA ban Barça from signing players until June 2015

Spanish champions Barcelona have been given a 14-month transfer ban by Fifa for breaking rules on signing international players under 18. 

The Catalan club cannot buy or sell players until the summer of 2015 after the world governing body imposed a transfer ban for the next two windows.