No way for Jose as Real dumped out by Bayern April 25, 2012 REAL MADRID 2 vs BAYERN MUNICH 1 3-3 ON AGG AET, BAYERN WIN 3-1 ON PENS BAYERN Munich dramatically rewrote the Champions League script by eliminating Real Madrid on penalties to deny Jose Mourinho an emotional final against former club Chelsea. Two goals in the opening 14 minutes from Cristiano Ronaldo gave Real a commanding [...]
Conquest of Camp Nou proves Blues could go distance this year April 25, 2012 ENGLISH clubs have enjoyed some breathtaking nights in Champions League history, such as Manchester United’s last-gasp 1999 triumph and Liverpool’s incredible comeback in the 2005 final. Chelsea’s backs-to-the-wall victory over Barcelona, however, deserves to be mentioned in the same breath, albeit for different reasons. Tuesday’s remarkable scenes at Camp Nou were the product of a [...]
ENGLAND’S GREATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NIGHTS April 25, 2012 1999: Man Utd Just seconds from a disappointing Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich, substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the latest of goals at Camp Nou to win 2-1 and round off Manchester United’s famous treble in the most dramatic fashion 2005: Liverpool A Steven Gerrard-inspired Liverpool achieved the unthinkable when [...]
Give Robbie job, Grant tells Roman April 25, 2012 FORMER Chelsea manager Avram Grant has urged Blues owner Roman Abramovich to hand interim boss Roberto di Matteo the job on a permanent basis, after the Italian led them to the Champions League final. But Grant admits even reaching the most prestigious match in club football might not be enough for Abramovich, as the Israeli [...]
Catalan press rail over “unjust, cruel” Barca defeat April 25, 2012 WHILE the British press was unanimous in its praise for Chelsea’s heroics in Barcelona, Spanish media swung from bemoaning the holders’ bad luck to pondering whether coach Pep Guardiola’s time might be up. The Catalan press mixed wailing with defiance, with Sport calling the Blues’ 3-2 aggregate victory “unjust, cruel, horrible, unmerited”, adding: “Any adjective [...]
Quins marry grace and grit, says Greenwood April 25, 2012 EX-HARLEQUINS and England centre Will Greenwood insists his former club are a different prospect to years past as their bid to reach the Aviva Premiership final edges closer. Quins have been superb this season and top the Premiership with their semi-final position already secured, despite last weekend’s 43-33 defeat to nearest challengers Leicester. Though often [...]
New financial model braces Championship clubs for fines April 25, 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP clubs run the risk of receiving damaging fines or being placed under a transfer embargo under new financial regulations to be imposed from next season. The financial model, based on Uefa’s financial fair play regulations, was voted for by 21 of the Championship’s 24 clubs and means that any team that records total losses [...]
Tindall ready for France in mass exodus April 25, 2012 FORMER England captain Mike Tindall looks set to move to France after Gloucester confirmed he is to leave the club at the end of the season. Following Tindall out of Kingsholm in thr summer are Eliota Fuimano-Sapulo, Luke Narraway, Alasdair Strokosch, Rory Lawson, Scott Lawson, Brett Deacon, Matias Cortese, Rory Lawson and Tom Voyce. Head [...]
Wiggins continues Team Sky success April 25, 2012 ■ CYCLING: British rider Bradley Wiggins leads the Tour de Romandie after overcoming a puncture to win the first road stage yesterday. His victory followed Team Sky colleague Geraint Thomas’s success in the prologue.
Brit bobsleigh athlete fails test April 25, 2012 ■ WINTER SPORTS: A British bobsleigh athlete is facing a two-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance. The competitor, who has not been named, has been informed and suspended, pending a hearing.