They could both be forgiven for dreaming of more lucrative adventures in the UEFA Champions League next season, but today Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have their eyes focused on a place in the Europa League semi-finals.
Both must put thoughts of the Champions League aside at least for 90 minutes as they prepare to meet Steaua Bucharest and Inter respectively.
Spurs, twice winners of the Europa League’s predecessor tournament, the UEFA Cup, would have been competing in the Champions League this season had Chelsea’s triumph in the final over Bayern Munich not torpedoed those ambitions, but the Blues themselves suffered the heartache of being dumped into the Europa League melting pot when they became the first Champions League winners to exit in the group stage.
Photo: Reuters
Much water has flowed under Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge since they saw off Bayern, with Champions League-winning coach Roberto di Matteo unceremoniously sacked and Rafa Benitez installed as an interim measure — to the dismay of many of the club’s supporters.
Yet Benitez, while recognizing that Champions League qualification is the overriding goal, would happily lift a trophy which would enable Chelsea to complete the set of European Cup, the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup and also the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League.
To date, only Bayern, Ajax and Juventus have managed to win all three.
Benitez has to juggle with the additional burden of a top-four league finish with next weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United also looming.
“We have to go to Bucharest before we can concentrate on [the United] game,” Benitez said.
Benitez has a selection dilemma regarding skipper John Terry, who is returning from a knee injury, while Gary Cahill is getting over a virus, leaving Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz as the central defensive partnership.
The former Liverpool boss, who won the Champions League at Anfield and the UEFA Cup with Valencia, said of Terry: “He’s training. Match fitness and training sessions are two different things, and he’s improving.”
Spurs counterpart Andre Villas-Boas can be satisfied that his side are on a roll after they beat Arsenal on Sunday to move third.
The tie will have a job to reach the thrill levels of the Champions League group matches against Inter two seasons ago, when Gareth Bale hit a hat-trick at the San Siro, only to finish on the losing side, before Spurs won the return.
Teammate Michael Dawson says with Bale around, anything is possible.
“He’s one of the best players in the world at the moment and probably the best in the world for me right now,” Dawson said.
Villas-Boas has already won the tournament with Porto, two years ago, before his ill-fated spell at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs have twice lifted the UEFA Cup, which Inter have themselves won on three occasions, and the hosts will beware of a side which can boast five wins in six matches on their European travels this season.
Newcastle United complete the English contingent, but, in the absence of injured skipper Fabricio Coloccini, face a trip into the unknown when they take on Guus Hiddink’s Anji Makhachkala of Russia in Moscow.
Makhachkala have won all their “home” games to date, including a group success over Liverpool. The Caucasus-based side play their home matches in Moscow as their home republic of Dagestan is deemed too dangerous.
“It would be massive if we could beat this team. They are a really strong side,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said. “Particularly as they include former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o.”
Other ties see former European champions SL Benfica host Girondins de Bordeaux and VfB Stuttgart take on SS Lazio, who have to play two home European matches behind closed doors for their fans’ racist behavior.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely