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‘Hazard should play 90 minutes’ – Courtois surprised at Conte’s Man Utd substitution

The Chelsea goalkeeper wants to see his Belgian team-mate play the full match where possible after he was withdrawn in the second half at Old Trafford

Thibaut Courtois admits he was surprised to see Eden Hazard substituted by Antonio Conte during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United.

The Blues slipped out of the Premier League’s top four after goals from Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard earned United the points following Willian’s opener.

Lingard’s winner came two minutes after Hazard had been substituted by Conte, with Pedro coming on for the Belgium international.

Chelsea were then left without their most creative spark when chasing the game and Courtois has aired his surprise at his compatriot’s withdrawal.

“I have no explanation for the substitution,” Courtois told Belgian outlet Play Sports. “I did not expect it, but it’s the manager’s choice. He’ll explain it. I can’t look into his head.

“Of course, you want players like Eden 90 minutes on the pitch. He can always bring something extra.”

Conte has been under pressure in recent weeks, with the Blues struggling domestically. Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and 19 behind leaders Manchester City.

Speaking after the defeat at Old Trafford, Conte suggested that Hazard had failed to maintain his high standards in the second half and that his withdrawal was merely a tactical decision.

“No Hazard [is not injured], no,” he told a news conference. “It was a tactical decision.

“You have to keep the same performance for 90 minutes, we didn’t have a great balance, and every single player has to try to work with the ball, without the ball, otherwise we lose our balance.

“I think he’d finished his energy because the first half he ran a lot. The second half he started the same way, but when I see a player is a bit tired, my task is to find a different solution.”

Meanwhile, Courtois was left deflated by the defeat at United, which came on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona in the Champions League when Chelsea had also taken the lead.

“After our goal, we conceded a counter-attacking goal just like last Tuesday but in the second half we had less of the ball, but even then we should never have lost this match,” he said.

“If you do not do the small things well in top matches, you lose, which is what happened.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Eden Hazard of Chelsea walks off after being subbbed during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on January 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Source: www.goal.com

Barcelona are great even without Neymar – Willian

After helping Chelsea to a first-leg draw against Barca, the Brazilian attacker talked up the talents of the LaLiga leaders

Barcelona are still as fearsome as ever even without Neymar, according to Chelsea attacker Willian.

Willian’s 62nd-minute strike was cancelled out by Lionel Messi as the teams played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

His Brazil team-mate Neymar may have left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain last year, but Willian believes that the Spanish giants remain one of the finest teams on the planet.

“I think Barcelona are Barcelona, with or without Neymar,” Willian said.

“Of course Neymar is a great player but they have Messi, they have [Andres] Iniesta, they have [Luis] Suarez.

“They have really good players so Barcelona is always Barcelona.”

While he opened the scoring, Willian also struck the post twice during Tuesday’s clash.

And despite Chelsea’s failure to beat Barca, the 29-year-old still believes his team can reach the quarter-finals with a result at Camp Nou on March 14.

“Of course, we can go there and do a great job again. It will be a completely different game,” Willian said.

“To play there is totally different. But I think we can go there with this mentality. We can go there with great spirit and try to win the game.”

Source: www.goal.com

‘Conte one of the world’s best managers’ – Valverde defends Chelsea boss

The Blues boss continues to come under pressure after an inconsistent campaign, but the Barcelona coach has defended his opposite number

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is “one of the best managers in the world”, according to his opposite number at Barcelona, Ernesto Valverde.

The two giants of European football will face-off on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Stamford Bridge.

Despite two convincing home wins in the last seven days, the pressure remains on Conte after an indifferent defence of the Premier League title his side won last season.

The former Juventus boss continues to be linked with a move away from west London, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan all reportedly interested in his services next season.

But Valverde insists his team will not be taking the Blues lightly while leaping to the defence of Conte.

“Antonio Conte is one of the best coaches in the world,” he told a press conferene. “He’s got a fantastic CV, not just here in England after winning the league with Chelsea, but with Juve and with his national team.

“His teams are well drilled tactically. They know what to do in every moment and it’s a real challenge.

“We’re planning to change our dynamic a little bit away from home. They’re physical, they defend well. They’ve got players who can hit you well on the counterattack.”

Tuesday’s clash will mark the 13th time Barca have faced Chelsea in the Champions League, with the Premier League outfit holding the recent edge.

The Blues are unbeaten in their last seven games against the Blaugrana, though Barca have won three of the five knockout ties between the teams across two legs.

Valverde admits he is looking forward to adding another chapter to their rivalry, but took time to remind his hosts of previous results.

“History counts,” he said.

“The main players change during the game. [Lionel] Messi, [Andres] Iniesta might still be there, but I think it’s good that there’s been a little rivalry, it gives us a little bit more expectation.”

Surprisingly, Barca star Messi has never scored in 655 minutes of action against Chelsea, although Valverde knows his team will offer plenty of support to the Argentina international as he seeks to end that unhappy sequence.

“This tie is important for Leo, for me, for everyone. For Barcelona. It’ll be tough, but it’s important because we want to qualify,” he said.

“Leo perhaps hasn’t had much luck against Chelsea before, but Tuesday is a different game.”

Source: www.goal.com

Conte: Chelsea will need a ‘perfect game’ to stop Barcelona and Messi

The Italian tactician is aware of the challenge facing his side against the Spanish giants in their upcoming Champions League tie

Antonio Conte acknowledged Chelsea must produce the “perfect game” to get the better of Spanish giants Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 tie.

Premier League champions Chelsea welcome La Liga leaders Barca and Lionel Messi to Stamford Bridge for the opening leg on Tuesday.

It has been a difficult season for Conte and Chelsea amid uncertainty over the Italian’s future following back-to-back defeats in the league, though the Londoners have responded with wins over West Brom and Hull City.

Conte, however, insisted Chelsea face a huge challenge against Barca, who stayed undefeated in Spain courtesy of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Eibar , which moved Ernesto Valverde’s men 10 points clear.

“On one hand you know this team are one of the best in the world – maybe they are favourites to win this competition,” Conte said. “On the other hand we must be excited because we have a great opportunity to play a massive game against a really strong team and to show which is our level.

“For sure we are talking about one of the best teams in the world. We have to try to, I repeat, have the perfect game. The perfect game to try to make the best decisions for this type of team, because this is a different opponent. They have fantastic characteristics with the ball, but they can have weaknesses without the ball and we have to try and exploit this.”

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has led the way this season with a La Liga-high 20 goals for Barcelona.

But Conte believes it would be dangerous for Chelsea to focus solely on stopping Messi, who has never scored against the Blues.

“I hope to continue this tradition [of Messi not scoring against Chelsea] but I repeat we are talking about a fantastic player and we must have great respect,” Conte added. “But at the same time we must try to be excited to play this type of game and this challenge.

“We are talking about one of the best players in the world but, for sure, we have to work together, work with the team and not only with one player to try and stop him. Because I think that when we feel this type of challenge to man-mark [a player], Messi can become very dangerous.”

Three of the four Premier League clubs in the last 16 of the Champions League have already played, with Liverpool and Manchester City both earning impressive wins away from home while Tottenham were held to a 2-2 draw against Juventus in Turin.

Source: www.goal.com

Barcelona even stronger now without Neymar, says Ter Stegen

The German goalkeeper has hailed the signings of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele but also had words of praise for the PSG forward

Neymar’s €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain has only served to make Barcelona stronger this season, says goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The departure came at a time of perceived institutional crisis at Barca, with fan anger at the running of the club compounded by a thrashing to Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana.

However, Ernesto Valverde has led a serene march towards La Liga glory this season, and Barca are unbeaten after 24 league games – a run stretching back a club-record 31 league contests – with a healthy lead over Atletico Madrid in second.

Though Barca’s fabled ‘MSN’ strikeforce of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar has been broken up, Ter Stegen believes the squad as a whole has stepped up after the latter left, inspiring their success this term.

“The quality of Ney, you can’t explain it,” Ter Stegen told ESPN . “Because he was super important for us, as a person [and] in the team, as a footballer.

“Now, everyone needs to understand what he did because maybe he wants to win something else, also personally.

“His decision only he knows but in the end we had to compensate all this and this is not easy because he had so much quality, but we did it in a different way and now we have a very, very strong team.

“I think we’ve got some new players who have made us even stronger and hopefully they feel good and comfortable in the team and they adapt very fast.”

Two of the players drafted in to compensate for the loss of Neymar are Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho.

The pair joined in deals that could be worth over €300m, but Ter Stegen says both deserve time to show they can fill the Brazil star’s boots.

“Dembele didn’t play very often because he was injured [and] Coutinho just came,” Ter Stegen said.

“We always need to give them time and be patient because they are young and they have some great years ahead.”

Barca travel to Chelsea on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Valverde has named the strongest squad possible, with only the suspended Nelson Semedo and ineligible Coutinho missing.

Source: www.goal.com

Coutinho enjoying special union with ‘best in the world’ Messi

The Brazil international feels privileged to be playing alongside the five time Ballon d’Or winner and hopes to win silverware with the global star

Philippe Coutinho considers playing alongside Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi “very special” as he believes the Argentine to be the best in the world.

Coutinho joined Barca from Liverpool in January after a protracted transfer saga and has settled in quickly, impressing with his early performances.

The Brazilian was strongly linked with a move to Camp Nou in pre-season and was reportedly upset when it did not go through.

But after finally getting his dream switch to Barca, Coutinho has the chance to play alongside Messi every week, with the Argentina star, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta making a strong impression on the 25-year-old.

“It’s something very special [to play with Messi],” Coutinho told Mundo Deportivo. “Not everyone has the opportunity to play with the best player in the world. This makes me very happy.

“[Messi and Suarez] received me very well. They are two great idols and being part of the team with them is a very good feeling.

“But not only with them, also with Andres and with the rest. For me it’s very special to live with this squad. For me, it’s a great experience and a great opportunity to be in this club.”

Coutinho’s transfer fee of €120million, potentially rising to €160m, makes him the most expensive signing in the club’s history, but he insists that is not a cause of pressure.

“No, for me it’s an honour and gives me pride,” Coutinho added. “But it’s something I have to set aside, so I can dedicate myself to playing football and doing it the way I always did.

“I have to improve and do well on the field to help the team achieve the things that they hired me for.

“Being here gives you the opportunity to play with the best and the opportunity to win titles, which is something that motivates me a lot.

“So I am very motivated to train every day to improve and learn so that everything goes well and in the end the titles arrive.”

Source: www.goal.com

I miss Coutinho – Salah on Brazilian’s switch to Barcelona

The duo starred in the Kops’ Fab Four, but for a short while as the Brazil international got his dream transfer to the Camp Nou

Mohamed Salah has revealed that he misses his friend and former Liverpool teammate, Philippe Coutinho following his big-money move to Barcelona in January.

Salah who was signed from Roma prior to the 2017-18 season struck a good relationship with the Brazil international, whom at the back of a disappointing summer where he was denied a move to the Catalan giants continued churning out stellar performances – in tandem with the former Chelsea star, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

But a club-record £142 million deal was agreed for the ex-Inter Milan player to transfer to the Spanish giants in the winter transfer window.

And the Egypt winger, proud to have been on the same team with him, admitted that he misses his friend.

“I miss him anyway!” Salah told Marca .

“He was my friend, a very nice guy. I wish him all the best in Barcelona because he is an incredible player, with a lot of quality.

“As a person, he’s very calm. I’m proud to have played by his side.”

While Coutinho has not set the Spanish League alight as expected, his friend, Salah is still enjoying the rich vein of form he was before he left Anfield.

The 25-year-old’s brace in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday took him to 21 goals in 25 English Premier League appearances this season.

Philippe Coutinho scores first Barcelona goal in semi-final win

The Brazilian came on at half-time and made a quick impact in his fifth appearance for the Blaugrana

Philippe Coutinho has scored his first Barcelona goal, just minutes after coming on against Valencia as a half-time substitute.

The Brazilian was dropped for the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg at Mestalla on Thursday, but came on at the break for the ineffective Andre Gomes.

And the 25-year-old made an instant impact, opening his Barcelona account in the 49th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead on the night, and a 2-0 advantage on aggregate.

Luis Suarez was the architect, going on a mazy run and crossing to the back post, where Coutinho slid in and finished low across the goalkeeper into the far post.

The Uruguayan, as fate would have it, also set up Coutinho’s first goal for Liverpool back in 2013.

It was the fifth appearance with Barcelona for the €160 million signing, two of which have been starts in La Liga and three of which have been substitute appearances in the Copa de Rey.

Prior to joining Barcelona last month, Coutinho scored 12 goals in all competitions for Liverpool in the 2017-18 season.

Ivan Rakitic would go on to add another goal for Barcelona in a comfortable 2-0 win, with the Blaugrana advancing to the final via a 3-0 aggregate victory.

The win moves Barca into the final for a record fifth time running.

Barcelona will take on Sevilla, who topped Leganes in the other semi-final, in the Copa del Rey final.

Barcelona’s Dembele on track to return before Chelsea clash

Ernesto Valverde seems confident the attacker will be fully fit well before the club meet Chelsea in the Champions League

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele is expected to return to full fitness by next week, according to head coach Ernesto Valverde.

The France international suffered a hamstring injury in January and was ruled out for up to a month by club medics.

Dembele’s setback came less than two weeks after he returned to action following a more serious hamstring tear, which saw him sidelined for nearly four months after his transfer from Borussia Dortmund.

The 20-year-old will not play a part in Barca’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Valencia on Thursday but could be in line for the La Liga game against Eibar on February 17, which takes place just three days before the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Chelsea.

“He’s okay,” Valverde told a news conference when asked about Dembele. “He’s started training sessions. I hope he can come back into the squad for next week.”

Gerard Pique is another who is likely to miss Thursday’s game at Mestalla, after he picked up a knock during the 1-1 derby draw with Espanyol.

Valverde refused to rule the centre-back out of the match but suggested January signing Yerry Mina could make his debut if Pique is unavailable.

“He finished the game in discomfort, with a little injury, but as of now he’s not ruled out,” said Valverde. “We’ll see how he is today [Wednesday]. He’s going to train and we’ll see.

“Yerry is in the squad and ready to play. It depends on the coach’s thinking whether he will start.

“The fact there are players who can play in different positions is an advantage for him and for the team. We have to decide depending on the situation.

“I knew Yerry Mina from watching videos and now from him training with us, but I don’t know him in our competition. I hope he adapts well.”

Barca beat Valencia 1-0 in the first leg at Camp Nou.

Source: www.goal.com

Luis Enrique rules out mid-season Chelsea move amid Conte exit rumours

The former Barcelona head coach has been heavily linked with the Stamford Bridge hot seat but he is not expected to be interested until the summer

Despite being heavily linked with Chelsea amid reports Antonio Conte will be sacked, Luis Enrique is not interested in taking a new job until the end of the season.

Conte’s position has come under renewed scrutiny after his side’s 4-1 defeat at Watford; a result that came hot on the heels of a 3-0 home loss at the hands of Bournemouth.

Former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has been linked with the job should Conte be dismissed, although it is thought that Chelsea aren’t immediately interested in doing so.

It is understood, though, he is not interested in cutting short his year-long break from football for any position and Chelsea would likely have to hire a caretaker manager to see out the rest of the season should they opt for the 47-year-old to replace Conte.

Despite their recent poor results, Chelsea’s players have been given three days off by Conte having played twice a week non-stop for over two months, with the busy fixture list being cited for five players having picked up hamstring injuries in recent weeks.

The Blues have also been linked with Juventus’s Massimiliano Allegri and Napoli’s Maurizio Sarri while Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim is thought to be considering his options for next season.

Conte — who has been linked with returning to the Italy national team job despite Luigi Di Biagio having been placed in temporary charge on Monday — has called on the club to publicly back him after reports emerged that he is at odds with Roman Abramovich and the Blues board.

He has, though, hinted that he is unhappy with the club’s transfer policy despite signing Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley and Emerson Palmieri during the January transfer window.

Conte does, however, intend to see out his current contract in west London — which runs until the end of next season — despite claims he is set to resign.

Should Conte depart the Premier League champions, Paris Saint-Germain are likely to be interested in bringing in the ex-Juventus boss amid doubts over the suitability of Unai Emery.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are reportedly considering the future of Zinedine Zidane after the Blancos’s dramatic slump during the 2017-18 campaign, with Conte mooted as a potential replacement.Source : www.goal.com