The Official 14/15 UEFA Champion's League and International Club News Thread

[sadora]

Good job on Juve to go through. With Pirlo considering retirement this will be a great way for him to go out.

Hope it's a great final!

[Bagor]

Watching Real press and create no real chances in the last 20 minutes with zero creativity reminded me that was the sort of play that Moyes got crucified for whilst at Utd. All pressure with no ideas.

Ancelloti is done there.

Gonna be a few high profile managers up for grabs in the summer. Him, Klopp, Pep?

I was looking for an El Classico final but at the same time looking forward to seeing Paddy and Chiellini against bitey.

Chompions League it is.

[sadora]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Watching Real press and create no real chances in the last 20 minutes with zero creativity reminded me that was the sort of play that Moyes got crucified for whilst at Utd. All pressure with no ideas.

Ancelloti is done there.

Gonna be a few high profile managers up for grabs in the summer. Him, Klopp, Pep?

I was looking for an El Classico final but at the same time looking forward to seeing Paddy and Chiellini against bitey.

Chompions League it is.

Even if Pep became available...he would never manage Madrid. I think if he did in fact leave Bayern at the end of this season Klopp would probably take over in Bayern. I'd like to see Pep take over for Vicente del Bosque as the Spanish National squad's manager, but who knows what will happen

I'm hoping that Juve & Barca will put on a good final, and here's hoping for another Barca Treble season!

[GirlySports]

for you Gunners, if Barca wins, Arsenal gets $4 million more in the Vermaelen deal

[browna]

Over the last few decades, if there are incidents of attacking refs, flares thrown on the field, incidents in the crowd to disrupt matches, or pitch invasions, it's a good chance one or all are happening at a Copa Libertadores knockout stage match.

Tonight, no exception. Round of 16 match abadoned as River Plate players were sprayed by some sort of irritant by Boca Junior fans on way back to the field for the second half.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/3297/...after-apparent

[GirlySports]

Boca and River Plate playing 3 times in 10 days is just too much.

[browna]

Boca now punted out of the competition. Fined half a million $, and forced to play 4 home games to an empty stadium and 4 away games without support.

[sadora]

Barcelona win La Liga on the second last matchday of the season. 93 points to Madrid's 89. Copa del Rey final on the 30th of this month and the Champions League final on June 6th for another possible treble!

Forca Barca!!!

[Locke]

So it looks like Ancelotti is leaving Real Madrid in favour of AC Milan and that Rafa Benitez is the front-runner to take over?

Has Benitez been doing that well with Napoli to be considered for the big job?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by sadora

Barcelona win La Liga on the second last matchday of the season. 93 points to Madrid's 89. Copa del Rey final on the 30th of this month and the Champions League final on June 6th for another possible treble!

Forca Barca!!!

If they can win the Copa del Rey it will be treble vs treble.

Juve already locked down Serie A, and the Italian Cup so they have that opportunity as well.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

So it looks like Ancelotti is leaving Real Madrid in favour of AC Milan and that Rafa Benitez is the front-runner to take over?

Has Benitez been doing that well with Napoli to be considered for the big job?

4th in the league, although with the Roster they had, and with the two Milan teams underachieving that may even be a bit of a disappointment.

They have been alright, but nothing overly remarkable that you would expect a team like Madrid to come calling.

The one thing he does have in his career is a decent record in the two european competitions.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

4th in the league, although with the Roster they had, and with the two Milan teams underachieving that may even be a bit of a disappointment.

They have been alright, but nothing overly remarkable that you would expect a team like Madrid to come calling.

The one thing he does have in his career is a decent record in the two european competitions.

I god damn well hope Benitez goes to Real. Match made in heaven.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I god damn well hope Benitez goes to Real. Match made in heaven.

Not sure if serious. Benitez back in Spain with a blank chequebook could be trouble. I'm much happier watching Madrid fail.

[d_phaneuf]

Rafa won the league twice with Valencia

he knows Spain

[GirlySports]

Benitez sucks. Who loses to Dnipro?

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by girlysports

benitez sucks.

fact!

[Locke]

I dont like this and I hope it doesnt happen in the EPL.

The French Football League (LFP) has taken the radical step of reducing the number of teams relegated from Ligue 1 next season from three to two in order to give investors "more security."

"Investors need a little more security," LFP president Frederic Thiriez argued in L'Equipe on Friday. "Three up, three down is too many. Those who invest in football must be less subject to the permanent threat of relegation. Two down out of 20 clubs is good."

http://www.espnfc.com/french-ligue-1...n-spots-to-two

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont like this and I hope it doesnt happen in the EPL.

I agree 100%. The owners own a football club, not a franchise. Also, risk is part and parcel of a market.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Addick

I agree 100%. The owners own a football club, not a franchise. Also, risk is part and parcel of a market.

And the relegation battle is absolutely riveting stuff.

[SuperMatt18]

It doesn't make sense in the in the EPL, with the massive TV deals and good value there doesn't seem to be an issue with attracting investors for the top two leagues.

In France, and some where like Italy, it makes a little more sense.

The market is bad and teams are struggling to find investors for the mid to low tier teams.

A little more certainty that you will have a chance to stay in the top tier might help with investment (although the counter to that is less investment in the second league because lower chance of moving up).