TITANIC TUSSLE

The Blues are set to face loan star Thibaut Courtois and summer transfer target Diego Costa, while Pep Guardiola's holders will take on Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.

Chelsea face Atletico Madrid, while Real Madrid will meet Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals.

Jose Mourinho's men have been drawn against Diego Simeone's surprise packages, who boast Blues loanee Thibaut Courtois and summer transfer target Diego Costa.

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, will resume hostilities with the club he battled against for four seasons as Barcelona manager when his Bayern Munich side take on Real Madrid.

Bayern are hoping to become the first club to retain the Champions League in the tournament's modern format, but will face a tough examination from a team boasting Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are looking to regain the trophy they won in miraculous circumstances against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in May 2012.

Both semi-final first legs will take place in the Spanish capital on April 22 and April 23, with the return matches to take place a week later.

Courtois cleared to play against Chelsea as UEFA warn Blues £5m Atletico demand would violate rules

Thibaut Courtois has been given the green light to face Chelsea after UEFA warned the Blues their demand of £5million from Atletico Madrid to play the on-loan goalkeeper was against the rules.
UEFA have acted quickly to block off the Stamford Bridge club's move, which could have seen the Spanish club's star keeper ruled out of the match if they were drawn against each other in the Champions League semi-finals. 
Cash-strapped Atletico would have struggled to find the money for the fee, but this has now been ruled out by the governing body.

A statement from UEFA said: 'The integrity of sporting competition is a fundamental principle for UEFA. Both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match.
'It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as UEFA is concerned.
'Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly.

The Chelsea keeper has been on loan at Atletico for three seasons but the Madrid club’s president, Enrique Cerezo, told Spanish radio after the quarter-final triumph over Barcelona they would be 'unable to pay' the added fees which were part of the loan agreement.

Courtois, 21, who will represent Belgium at the summer World Cup, has yet to play for Chelsea, although he has been earmarked as Petr Cech’s successor. 

He has impressed in Atletico’s bid for a  Champions League and La Liga double after joining Chelsea from Belgian club Genk in 2011 when just 18.

The other two teams in Friday’s Champions League semi-final draw are Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. 

Jose Mourinho will wait for the FA’s written reasons before deciding whether or not to appeal against an £8,000 fine imposed yesterday for improper conduct.

The Chelsea manager was sent off by referee Chris Foy after encroaching on to the field of play during his side’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa last month.
Mourinho demanded to speak with Foy during the chaotic scenes after Ramires was sent off late in the game.
A group of Chelsea fans said there would be a bucket collection before Sunday afternoon’s clash at Swansea to help Mourinho pay for the ‘injustice’

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (agg: 2-1): Messi and Neymar fail to fire as Barca stunned by Koke strike

Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid, who reached the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.
It was the first time in seven years that Barça had not reached the last four of the Champions League.
The Spanish giants had complained 24 hours before kick-off at the length of the grass on the pitch but on the night they could have no complaints.
Atletico are set to leave their famous Vicente Calderon stadium at the end of next season but even supporters who remember their league and cup double in which coach Diego Simeone played and the 1974 side that reached the European Cup final, will struggle to remember a more incredible night.









For Barca the league is now the focus; that and wondering how they will shore up their shaky defence without the use of the next two transfer windows. 
'The story is not over yet,' said coach Diego Simeone. 'There was a lot of happiness in the dressing room after the game but it doesn’t finish here.'
He was also bullish when asked about the ability to keep players such as Diego Costa at the end of the season.
'We can’t compete financially with many of the other teams but from a competitive point of view we are a match for anyone.'
Tata Martino looked like a beaten man as he fielded questions about Messi’s no show.
'The team is very down right now but we have to pick ourselves because we have a league to win,' said Barcelona coach.
His side play Atletico Madrid for a sixth time, on the last day of the season. In the five games played so far they are yet to win and it never looked like doing so on Wednesday night.

Diego Simeone’s side were dealt a blow before kick-off with Chelsea target Diego Costa failing a late fitness test. That meant Adrian started in his place. He had scored only two goals all season but coach Simeone promised he would let no-one down.
True to his manager’s word Adrian hit the post in the fifth minute and then, from the rebound, crossed for Koke to score. It was no more than Atletico deserved.
Lionel Messi had the first shot of the game but it was the last anyone saw of Barcleona’s attack for the next ten minutes as the home side laid siege.
All fears that they would be toothless with the injured Costa proved to be unfounded.
Led by David Villa, who played with all this World Cup pedigree and the legs of a man five years younger, they carried the game to Barcelona whose goalkeeper Juan Pinto watched two Villa shots crash off his woodwork and fumbled an unwanted backpass as Barca struggled to stay in the game in the first half. 

 
The Vicente Calderon had been going up through the decibels long before kick-off and with Barcelona rattled, midfielder Sergi Busquets was booked just before half-time as the noise seemed to get ever louder.
This was Barcelona gunning for a seventh consecutive semi-final place against an Atletico Madrid side who had not made it to the last four for 40 years but it was the home side who looked to have the recent Champions League pedigree.
Their pre-match mosaic had spelled out ‘win, win, and win again’. It was one of former Atletico Madrid and Spain coach Luis Aragones’ favourite phrases. The last time they were in a European Cup semi-final he was in the team.

A shell-shocked Barca finally came into the match with Messi heading wide and then shooting even wider from a Neymar pass.
Iniesta got his first shot on target but Courtois saved comfortably. Referee Howard Webb then waved away penalty appeals at both ends with Adrian and Fabregas going down in respective areas.
The second half began with Courtois diving brilliantly at the feet of Neymar to take the ball off the Brazilian’s toe. The ball ran to Xavi but he couldn’t finish.
The fear for Atletico was that Pedro and Alexis would inject late pace and do for their tired legs but Alexis’ introduction did nothing to change the game and it was Villa’s legs that seemed fresher than anyone’s.

Villa had given young central defender Marc Bartra a torrid time throughout and when he sent Gabi down the left the midfielder should have given him the ball back to him to finish but instead he shot straight at Pinto.
Villa then went down in the box and had his appeals for a penalty were turned down but despite decisions going against them and posts denying them there was no way they were not going through.
The stadium was still full ten minutes after Webb had blown his final whistle.
Atletico Madrid’s players came back out on to the pitch to soak up an atmosphere that showed no signs of subsiding and Barcelona’s 2,000 travelling support got to its feet as one to salute the team that had taken their team’s place at the top table of European football.

Bayern Munich 3-1 Man United (agg 4-2): Ecstasy to agony for Moyes as ruthless Germans put visitors to the sword

Gone in 22 seconds. That was Manchester United’s lead in Munich. Less than 10 minutes later they were gone from the Champions League completely, for close to 18 months at least.
To a club in seventh position, leaving Europe’s greatest tournament is not simply a matter of bidding adieu.
It will be September 2015 at best before United pass this way again and who knows what the team, and bench, will look like by then?
Certainly, many of the playing personnel will have changed, but what of the manager? Might this also be David Moyes’ last Champions League match in charge of Manchester United? If so, he went out with more of a whimper than a bang.
United made something of a stand by opening the scoring, but their hold on the advantage was so temporary as to be almost ephemeral.

Blink, and you would have missed it. In all, there were six passes between Patrice Evra’s fantastic shot into the Bayern goal and Mario Mandzukic’s soft header past David de Gea.
Scoring proved almost the worst thing United could have done. In the first half Bayern Munich did not have a shot on target. Once Evra scored they woke up and applied some directness to their play.
There were 17 minutes between 1-1 and 3-1. Job done, Munich hit the snooze button again.
It was as if they had been waiting for their motivation to arrive for the best part of two matches.
Not that this was their best game, more that they had toyed with victory up to that point, enjoying the lion’s share of possession with little return.
Suddenly, they knew they had 32 minutes to win this tie, and needed little over half that. United trooped off the pitch and, for many in this team, it will be the last they see of the Allianz Arena and nights like this. A run of 18 consecutive campaigns has come to an end.
The next United team to compete in the Champions League will be transformed; and it will need to be


Evra encapsulated the problem for United in the Moyes era. His goal showed a willingness to embrace the big European occasion, his reaction to Munich’s fightback the reluctance to assume the responsibility that goes with it.
United’s best performances have come in the Champions League this season — the thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen, the fightback against Olympiacos, the resilience against Bayern Munich, the champions.
Yet when it mattered Evra was not interested enough in the defensive side of his game to see his team through.
Some blamed him for all three goals; certainly he could have done better in two. ‘He’s a defender who’s not interested in defending any more,’ a respected former international told me on the eve of this match. It seemed harsh; but fair comment given the evidence. 

It would have been nice to let them enjoy it a little longer. This was the equivalent of winning the lottery and, two minutes later, getting a knock at the door and a tax demand for precisely the same amount.
Yet before the second was scored and United’s fate sealed, the visitors had their best chance of the night. It came after a pass from Welbeck found Wayne Rooney, whose finish was uncommonly lame. If this was evidence of the injury he carried into the game, he might have been better off as a spectator. A fit striker would have tested Manuel Neuer at least.
If the equaliser found a United team still returning from cloud nine, there was no such excuse for the second. A cross from Arjen Robben that should have been cut out by Evra, Thomas Muller in front of Nemanja Vidic, the ball scrambled past De Gea from close range.

Even so, at this stage the demand for United remained the same. A 2-2 draw would have seen United through. A single goal would still have done it.
This came, but at the wrong end, Munich’s third giving the scoreline an emphatic feel and underlining the Germans’ superiority over two legs. Robben raced into the area, Evra beaten too easily again, and a shot that deflected off Vidic defeated De Gea. United’s race was run.
Where from here for Moyes and his men? Well, for Rooney, a period of rest between now and the end of the season wouldn’t go amiss. He looks at best exhausted and at worst struggling with a combination of fatigue and injury.

Those bemoaning his performance last night forget how much he has given to Moyes’ season. A few more like him and this defeat would not have felt so final, so much like the true end of an era.
The team requires major surgery, though, because this Bayern team can be beaten.
It will be interesting to see what Chelsea make of them, if the semi-final draw throws that up, or Atletico Madrid, conquerors of Barcelona.


Certainly Rooney’s second-half chance could have made for an interesting final 30 minutes; he had a glimpse of goal in the first-half, too.
Yet it is the soft equaliser that will most trouble Moyes, the way his players reacted to a very decent break. One cannot help but think that some United minds were already elsewhere. Now they will have time to reflect; too much time in some cases, one imagines.

Toni Kroos' Agent Addresses talk About the transfer

Toni Kroos' agent believes his client is set to remain with Bayern Munich into 2015 despite strong interest from Manchester United and talk of a summer transfer.

The midfielder's current deal with Bayern Munich runs out in the summer of 2015 and thus far he has been unable to agree an extension, with talks now on hold until after the World Cup.

Manchester United's interest is well known, but Bayern Munich are keen to keep hold of Kroos, with coach Pep Guardiola and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge each insisting he will not be sold this summer.

And that is Kroos' agent Volker Struth's understanding too.

"We have been faced with various rumours for several months, but we are not going to comment on them", Struth explained to German daily Bild.

"Currently, I believe that Toni will play with Bayern until at least 2015."

Kroos will be bidding to knock suitors Manchester United out of the Champions League this evening when Bayern Munich take on the Red Devils in the second leg of their quarter-final tie. 

The first leg finished 1-1 at Old Trafford.

Is Wenger's era on its last legs? Arsenal have not won since THAT selfie at Spurs... and failure to reach Champions League could end manager's 18-year reign

May 1997. A month notable for Tony Blair’s Labour government coming to power and the UK last winning the Eurovision Song Contest. It is also the last time Arsene Wenger and Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League.
The Gunners finished third behind Newcastle on goal difference in Wenger’s first season in charge and had to be content with a place in the UEFA Cup. It has not happened since. Arsenal have taken their place among Europe’s elite for 16 years in a row.
That record is under serious threat in the wake of Sunday’s lame surrender at Everton, Arsenal’s only remaining challengers for fourth spot. His title hopes long since disappeared, Wenger is now clinging on to Champions League qualification by his fingertips.
 
Falling apart: Arsenal were comprehensively beaten by Everton on Sunday
Everton have a harder run-in but they will go two points clear of Arsenal if they beat bottom-of-the-table Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next weekend while Wenger’s side are playing their FA Cup semi-final against Wigan at Wembley – a game that offers the Frenchman his last chance of lifting a trophy for the first time in nine years.
That record is simply not good enough for many Arsenal fans. Their patience with Wenger has been stretched to the limit. They have put up with excuses about the financial constraints brought on by moving to the Emirates while their rivals have spent big and reaped the rewards.
They have waited for their beautiful tippy-tappy football to win more than just admirers. And they have watched this season while Wenger has played peek-a-boo with the club over signing a new contract.
The question is whether that offer should even remain on the table if they fail to deliver Champions League football again? That, after winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, it will be time for Wenger to go?
A poll of more than 8,000 Arsenal fans last week revealed that nearly half think that the 64-year-old should leave if he does not win the FA Cup and finish in the top four this season.
After another chastening away day for Wenger and his players at Goodison Park, Arsenal legend Ian Wright – a long-time supporter of his old manager – was publicly championing Roberto Martinez as his successor.
It was the manner of the 3-0 defeat that will concern supporters most. Everton were not only better, they simply wanted it more than Arsenal. The first and third goals came from home players reacting more quickly to a loose ball, while the Gunners gave Romelu Lukaku the freedom of Goodison to score the third.
It was the first time Everton had beaten Arsenal there in seven years, and only the second time they had scored three goals against them in the Premier League era.
‘It is a massive worry to lose a game like this,’ admitted Wenger. ‘We have to come back with a different attitude.’
It is not as though it was a one-off, an aberration, either. Arsenal’s last visit to Merseyside in February had ended with the then Premier League leaders being thumped 5-1 by Liverpool. It has been largely downhill since.
‘From the top to the defence, everywhere we were beaten,’ said Wenger at the time. ‘Only our fans were at the races today, unfortunately we were not. We have to analyse what happened. You can’t go into big games and be as passive on the concentration as were today.’
In March, Arsenal were hit for six at Chelsea – just as they had been at Manchester City earlier in the season. ‘I take full responsibility,’ was Wenger’s take on that one. ‘We were not at the level today and after 20 minutes it was game over.
'It becomes a nightmare then. It’s my job and despite the vast experience I have, when you don’t turn up in a game like that it’s your responsibility.’
There are many who feel that Wenger is running out of excuses as fast as his team appear to be running out of ideas. Arsenal have not tasted victory since winning the north London derby at Tottenham five games ago.
You wonder if goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny might be regretting that ‘selfie’ on the pitch at White Hart Lane now.
 
Helpless: Wenger watches on as his team fail another huge test against Chelsea

There is still time to turn it around. Five remaining Premier League games against West Ham, Hull, Newcastle, West Brom and Norwich should yield a significant amount of points, while Everton still have to face both Manchester clubs and a difficult trip to Southampton.
The semi-final with Wigan and prospect of facing Hull or Sheffield United in the FA Cup final could not give Wenger a better opportunity of ending the long wait for a trophy.
Worryingly, though, the margin of defeat at Goodison on Sunday has also given Everton the advantage on goal difference. Could history be about to repeat itself?
Blair had a good run in power, while Katrina and the Waves lasted another two years after winning the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest. It comes to us all in the end.
And maybe Arsene Wenger’s time is finally up. 
 

United send scouts to watch Fiorentina winger Cuadrado as Arsenal and Bayern target scores against Udinese

Manchester United scouts were present at Fiorentina against Udinese at the weekend to monitor Juan Cuadrado.
The Colombia international has been converted from a right winger to right wing-back and is flourishing in his role.
His versatility is attractive to United as is his speed, dribbling ability and anticipation in defence.
Glad you came: Cuadrado (left) celebrates scoring Fiorentina's opening goal of the game
United are short of quality options on the right hand side with David Moyes using natural winger Antonio Valencia to similar effect.
Moyes wants his full-backs to play and develop in the same attacking manner as Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman at Everton.
The search for a new model to replace Patrice Evra is well known but Moyes wants to challenge Rafael also. He has looked at options in England but Cuadrado is an interesting option.
He scored as Fiorentina won 2-1 against Udinese and has also been watched by the likes of Bayern Munich and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Fiorentina are ready to sell but the complication is he is co-owned by Udinese who also want to buy him.

 

Tottenham boss Sherwood to be replaced in the summer with Van Gaal in pole position to take over

Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood will be replaced at the end of the season - with Louis Van Gaal their No 1 choice to take over.
Sherwood took over from Andre Villas-Boas in December and had signed an 18-month contract with the club, but will step down as they look for other options.
The 45-year-old told Sky Sports: 'I can't say much right now. What I can say is tonight (Monday) is business as usual. 
 
Replaced: Tottenham have announced that Tim Sherwood will not be manager next season
'I'm setting this team up to win a football match for the benefit of the club and the 35,000 Spurs fans who will come and watch.
'I'll speak at a later stage.'
Holland coach Louis van Gaal is the leading candidate to replace the 45-year-old, although the Tottenham board are also considering a move for Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino and Carlo Ancelotti if he leaves Real Madrid
Sherwood will reportedly still be offered a coaching role under the next manager but it isn't yet known whether the former Blackburn captain will accept that.
Van Gaal looks the most likely candidate for the job as the Dutchman is due to step down from international management after the 2014 World Cup.
The 62-year-old leads chairman Daniel Levy's list of names to become the club's next boss and has made no secret of his desire to work in England.
Pochettino is also in the frame after an impressive season in charge of Southampton
The news comes just hours before Tottenham's Premier League clash against Sunderland on Monday night.
 

Liverpool to battle with Chelsea for Benfica star as Arsenal, Man United and Man City look at Spanish defender

LIVERPOOL and Chelsea are currently locked in the battle for the Premier League title, but it appears they are also in competition off the pitch.
With the opening of the transfer window drawing ever nearer, it appears the duo could lock horns over targets this summer.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will be in need of strengthening this summer, and have this morning been linked with a Spaniard.
Liverpool are ready to challenge Chelsea for the signing of Benfica forward Lazar Markovic. (Metro)
Spanish defender Alberto Moreno is a target of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. (Metro)
Former Sunderland loanee Sulley Muntari has caught the attention of West Ham United and Hull City. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United duo Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand could both head back to West Ham. (Caught Offside)
Chelsea scouts watched Toulouse defender Serge Aurier at the weekend, although the player has his sights set on a move to Arsenal. (Inside Futbol)
Southampton left-back Luke Shaw is being eyed by Real Madrid. (Marca)
Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul is at the centre of a transfer battle between Juventus and Napoli, with Juve ready to table a £10m bid. (Tuttosport)
Chelsea want £24m for striker Romelu Lukaku, with Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid interested. (Bild)

Man Utd in pole position to sign Dortmund star

Manchester United are apparently considered front-runners to sign Borussia Dortmund midfield star Ilkay Gundogan in the summer.

La Liga giants Barcelona who were initially regarded as possible destination for the talented German international, have been recently punished with a year-long transfer embargo for breaching regulations regarding the recruitment of young players.

According to The Daily Star, the Red Devils are now favourites to land the former Real Madrid man during the summer transfer window, with his future at BVB in doubt beyond the current campaign.

The 23-year-old has not featured for Dortmund since August 2013 due to a back injury.