Arsenal’s proud record on the line

Gunners have reached knockouts for 15 years but must thump Olympiakos to qualify

ATHENS:

Arsenal will put one of the best Champions League records on the line when they face Olympiakos in a showdown for second spot in Group F on Wednesday.

As well as competing in the tournament for the 18th season in a row, the North London club have qualified for the second stage in each of the past 15 campaigns. But that run is in jeopardy, not so much due to a 5-1 hammering at group winners Bayern Munich but because Arsenal were beaten in their opening two games including a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Olympiakos.

Now they must reverse that scoreline or improve on it to preserve their proud record under Arsene Wenger who will be missing seven players including Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere.

“Most of the time when we have been to Olympiakos we have not had a lot to do because we had already qualified,” noted Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. “This time it is the opposite.”



For Olympiakos the match is being billed by the local media as a defining moment in a breakthrough year for Portuguese coach Marco Silva.

The 38-year-old has led the Greeks to 12 successive Super League victories since the season kicked off as they chase a host of club records.

Greece midfielder Kostas Fortounis, one of the standout players for Olympiakos this season, is relishing the game with Arsenal. “This is a showdown, no doubt about it, out of which only one team can claim qualification to the next stage,” he said.

Olympiakos are relatively injury-free but Silva must decide whether to include fit-again Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso in place of Luka Milivojevic or Pajtim Kasami.



Mourinho gets Ferguson endorsement

Jose Mourinho’s job could be on the line when Chelsea host Porto and former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has urged the Londoners not to jettison their manager even if the result goes against them.

Woefully out-of-form Chelsea have already lost 11 matches in all competitions this season but need only a draw against Porto to qualify for the knockout stages.

“It would be foolish to take that step to sack him. That would be bad management,” said Ferguson.

Defeat on Wednesday and a consequent drop into the Europa League for Chelsea would certainly test owner Roman Abramovich’s patience.



After a 1-0 home defeat by promoted Bournemouth on Saturday, Mourinho said for the first time that finishing in the top four of the Premier League to qualify for next season’s Champions League was looking unlikely.

With Dynamo Kiev expected to win at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv, who have lost all five group matches so far, a draw for Porto would eliminate the Portuguese side unless the Ukrainians fail to win.

It was at Porto that Mourinho made his reputation, winning the 2003 UEFA Cup and the 2004 Champions League. Although the Chelsea fans have remained supportive, the stadium is likely to be tense, at least until their team make a breakthrough. “It’s difficult for us to score,” said Mourinho. “Scoring goals is a lot about individuals.”

Porto, who beat Chelsea 2-1 on Matchday Two, had hoped to tie up qualification in the previous round of games but slumped to a 2-0 home defeat by Kiev.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2015.

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