Champions League

MANCHESTER UNITED could have all their worst dreams come true when the Champions League draw is made tomorrow.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will be in Pot 2 alongside fellow English teams Man City and Chelsea.

Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool are in the top seeded group.
And it is from Pot 1 that United and their dodgy defence could face the thrilling attacking force of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and ex-Red Angel Di Maria.
The Ligue 1 trio – part of the team that lost last season’s Champions League final to Bayern Munich – score goals for fun.
Although, to be fair, even Brighton looked like doing that in their recent 3-2 loss to United.

But would you fancy Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Co being able to thwart the Parisian triple threat?
United got the better of PSG on away goals when they met two seasons ago with a memorable 3-1 win in the French capital.
They might need something similarly miraculous this time.
Frighteningly, some might argue PSG aren’t even the toughest side, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus also sitting in Pot 1, alongside reigning champions Bayern Munich.

Sevilla, Real Madrid and Zenit St Petersburg are also possible top-seed opponents.

Below them, United could be given a nightmarish draw with Inter Milan from Pot 3 and Monchengladbach from Pot 4.
Romelu Lukaku has so far proved for Antonio Conte the goalscoring machine United hoped he would be.
And the attacking prowess of former United captain Ashley Young plus Ivan Perisic and Christian Eriksen could give Solskjaer huge cause for concern.

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As for Monchengladbach in Pot 4, they look to be improving under Marco Rose and could spring a major surprise.
The Champions League does not start until October 20 as a result of the pandemic and delayed season starts across Europe.
But teams are set to have to play six fiercely competitive European ties during the most congested season in history – possibly complicating their Premier League ambitions as well.

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CHELSEA could be handed a nightmare ‘group of death’ when the Champions League draw is made tomorrow.
Frank Lampard’s side are with Man Utd and Man City in Pot 2 while Premier League champions Liverpool fill out the English contingent in the top group.

And it is from Pot 1 where the Blues will be looking to avoid one team in particular.
Chelsea have good memories of beating Bayern Munich on their own turf to lift the European title in 2012.
But surely no one would fancy taking on the reigning champs in their current rampant form.
The 8-2 demolition job of Barcelona – over one leg, remember – in the summer is still fresh in everyone’s memory.

And though that came against a club in crisis, the threat Robert Lewandowski – surely robbed of the Ballon d’Or this year – and Thomas Muller perpetually pose makes them the ones to avoid.
Further down in Pot 3, Inter Milan’s team of stars under Antonio Conte – up against his old club – could prove difficult.
And below them again in the bottom pot lie current Ligue 1 leaders Rennes.
The French team’s ex-goalkeeper Edouard Mendy recently joined Lampard’s side so he should know how to handle them.

Saying that though, Rennes have started off unbeaten this season with four wins from five games and 12 goals scored already.
This season will test teams’ fitness levels and squad depth like never before.
So it’s a good job Lampard has been so busy this summer, signing seven players in all.
The Champions League does not start until October 20 as a result of the pandemic and delayed season starts across Europe.
But teams are set to have to play six fiercely competitive European ties during the most congested season in history – possibly complicating their Premier League ambitions as well.

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JOSE MOURINHO has revealed the only time he shed tears after a defeat was when Real Madrid lost on penalties to Bayern Munich back in 2012.
The Portuguese had already steered Los Blancos to a record-setting year in LaLiga but was denied the chance to make it a Champions League double against the Germans.

Jose Mourinho admitted he cried after Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions League against Bayern MunichCredit: Action Images – Reuters

Madrid were the heavy favourites for Europe’s top competition having overhauled Barcelona domestically with the most points, goals and home wins.
But Mourinho, who had already lifted the Champions League twice with Porto and Inter Milan, missed out on a three-piece at the Bernabeu.
The Special One saw Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Sergio Ramos miss from the spot as Madrid fell to Bayern on penalties in the 2012 semi-finals.
He would have met his former side Chelsea in the final, who in turn, bested the Bundesliga side in a shootout to win their first-ever Champions League on penalties.

That night is the only time in my career as a coach that I’ve cried after a defeat. It was very hard because we were the best that season
Jose Mourinho

And speaking to Spanish outlet MARCA, Mourinho admitted he found it hard losing the chance to play for La Decima and was reduced to tears.
He said: “Unfortunately, that’s football. Cristiano, Kaka, Sergio Ramos… three complete monsters of football, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re also human.
“That night is the only time in my career as a coach that I’ve cried after a defeat. I remember it well… Aitor [Karanka] and I pulled up in front of my house, in the car, crying…
“It was very hard because we were the best that season.”

Cristiano Ronaldo was denied from the spot as Los Blancos suffered defeat at the BernabeuCredit: AFP
Opening up about the incident further in an interview with Portuguese TV channel Sic, Mourinho admitted it was still the saddest moment of his career.
He said: “If I have to choose the worst moment, it’s that elimination with Real Madrid.
“We were the best team in Europe, without a doubt, we won LaLiga smashing all the records for points and goals and we would’ve won that final, I don’t have any doubt.
“What was most cruel for me was that in the shoot-out we chose Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Sergio Ramos, they were dead certs from the penalty spot and the guys who missed were those who never miss, it sunk me.”

SunSport previously revealed that it was the Chelsea dressing room who broke down in tears after Mourinho was sacked in 2007.
Club captain John Terry said he and his team-mates were so devastated and shocked they approached the Blues board to reverse their decision.
The former England skipper would be reunited Mourinho in 2013 with the pair winning the Premier League for a third time two years later.

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LIONEL MESSI and Cristiano Ronaldo have missed out on the shortlist for the Uefa Men’s Player Of The Year crown for the first time in its history.
On Wednesday, the three finalists were confirmed with Kevin de Bruyne joining Bayern Munich stars Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer.

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Cristiano Ronaldo only finished tenth in voting despite another league title for JuventusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Lionel Messi paid the price for his trophyless campaign with fourth place in the longlistCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Polish forward Lewandowski is the hot favourite for the award, smashing 55 goals in all competitions from 47 appearances.
Those goals helped Bayern to a stunning treble despite having to sack coach Niko Kovac in November.
Vying for the honour with the Bavarian pair is de Bruyne, who won the PFA’s Premier League Player of the Year gong for 2019-20.
But the absence of either Ronaldo or Messi from the announcement was a first for the competition, which was created in 2011.

No player has won the Uefa trophy more than Ronaldo, honoured for 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2016-17 with nominations in six other years.
Messi, meanwhile, claimed the 2010-11 and 2014-15 crowns alongside his six Ballon d’Or wins.

Both men won the Uefa Club Footballer of the Year award that preceded this prize on one occasion.
Although Barcelona failed to win a trophy last season, the Argentine was on the verge of a nomination with the fourth-most votes.

Votes were cast by the 80 coaches in charge of Champions League and Europa League group stage sides, along with 55 top journalists representing each nation.
Level with Messi in fourth was Champions League finalist Neymar, who entered the top ten for only the second time.

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Robert Lewandowski is expected to pick up the prize for his amazing goalscoring exploitsCredit: Reuters

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Premier League award winner Kevin de Bruyne will hope to put up a fight for the crownCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Bayern dominated the top ten with Thomas Muller, Thiago Alcantara and Joshua Kimmich accruing a decent number of votes.
Kylian Mbappe took seventh with 39 votes, leaving Ronaldo in tenth after leading Juventus to another Scudetto.
Uefa’s award will be handed out on October 1, during the Champions League group stage draw.

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