Champions League: Wenger slams sloppy Arsenal after Euro meltdown
The Gunners gave away 3-0 lead in the last 29 minutes to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht
LONDON:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger launched a scathing attack on his Arsenal flops after they blew a three-goal lead in a 3-3 draw against Anderlecht that left them still waiting to book their place in the Champions League last 16.
Wenger's side were on course to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition for the 15th successive season after Mikel Arteta's penalty and fine strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put them in complete control by the 58th minute.
But the Gunners' creaky defence was brutally exposed by Anderlecht in a remarkable finale that saw the unheralded Belgians score three times in the last 29 minutes through Anthony vanden Borre's double and Aleksandar Mitrovic's stoppage-time header.
"We had a poor defensive performance from the first until the last minute,” said Wenger. “We never looked comfortable and we got punished.”
The woeful meltdown leaves Arsenal with virtually no chance of finishing top of Group D and instead they face a fraught fight just to reach the knockout stages.
Rodgers defends controversial line-up
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers defended his controversial starting line-up after a battling performance by the Reds in a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
Rodgers controversially dropped captain Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli and Raheem Sterling to the bench amongst seven changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Newcastle on Saturday.
Karim Benzema's first-half goal was enough for the European champions to seal their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions.
"Tonight gives me great food for thought. It wasn't players rested as such, we played the team we thought could get the result," said Rodgers.
"We haven't been consistent enough for too many players to be in the team as guaranteed starters.”
Liverpool travel to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets next time out and Rodgers is hoping to set up a winner takes all clash with Basel at Anfield on matchday six.
Dortmund need Euro form in Bundesliga: Klopp
Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp says his team must use their dazzling Champions League displays to fix their nightmare Bundesliga form after reaching the last 16 in Europe on Tuesday.
Dortmund brushed off five consecutive defeats in Germany’s top flight to romp to a 4-1 Champions League win at home to Galatasaray on Tuesday to go five points clear at the top of Group D.
Alongside Real Madrid, they are one of the first teams into the Champions League's knock-out stage despite the worst start to a Bundesliga season in the club's history.
"I told the lads to enjoy this as it's important," said Klopp. "We've got to feel the good things from this win, there are five days until the next game."
RESULTS
Zenit 1 - 2 Leverkusen
Arsenal 3 - 3 Anderlecht
Basel 4 - 0 Ludogorets
Benfica 1 - 0 Monaco
Dortmund 4 - 1 Galatasaray
Juventus 3 - 2 Olympiakos
Malmo 0 - 2 Atletico
Real 1 - 0 Liverpool
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger launched a scathing attack on his Arsenal flops after they blew a three-goal lead in a 3-3 draw against Anderlecht that left them still waiting to book their place in the Champions League last 16.
Wenger's side were on course to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition for the 15th successive season after Mikel Arteta's penalty and fine strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put them in complete control by the 58th minute.
But the Gunners' creaky defence was brutally exposed by Anderlecht in a remarkable finale that saw the unheralded Belgians score three times in the last 29 minutes through Anthony vanden Borre's double and Aleksandar Mitrovic's stoppage-time header.
"We had a poor defensive performance from the first until the last minute,” said Wenger. “We never looked comfortable and we got punished.”
The woeful meltdown leaves Arsenal with virtually no chance of finishing top of Group D and instead they face a fraught fight just to reach the knockout stages.
Rodgers defends controversial line-up
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers defended his controversial starting line-up after a battling performance by the Reds in a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
Rodgers controversially dropped captain Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli and Raheem Sterling to the bench amongst seven changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Newcastle on Saturday.
Karim Benzema's first-half goal was enough for the European champions to seal their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions.
"Tonight gives me great food for thought. It wasn't players rested as such, we played the team we thought could get the result," said Rodgers.
"We haven't been consistent enough for too many players to be in the team as guaranteed starters.”
Liverpool travel to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets next time out and Rodgers is hoping to set up a winner takes all clash with Basel at Anfield on matchday six.
Dortmund need Euro form in Bundesliga: Klopp
Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp says his team must use their dazzling Champions League displays to fix their nightmare Bundesliga form after reaching the last 16 in Europe on Tuesday.
Dortmund brushed off five consecutive defeats in Germany’s top flight to romp to a 4-1 Champions League win at home to Galatasaray on Tuesday to go five points clear at the top of Group D.
Alongside Real Madrid, they are one of the first teams into the Champions League's knock-out stage despite the worst start to a Bundesliga season in the club's history.
"I told the lads to enjoy this as it's important," said Klopp. "We've got to feel the good things from this win, there are five days until the next game."
RESULTS
Zenit 1 - 2 Leverkusen
Arsenal 3 - 3 Anderlecht
Basel 4 - 0 Ludogorets
Benfica 1 - 0 Monaco
Dortmund 4 - 1 Galatasaray
Juventus 3 - 2 Olympiakos
Malmo 0 - 2 Atletico
Real 1 - 0 Liverpool