Champions League quarter-finals draw.
| Chelsea |
v |
Barcelona
April, 5, 18 |
| Valencia |
v |
Lazio April
April 5, 18 |
| Real Madrid |
v |
Man Utd April
4, 19 |
| Porto |
v |
Bayern Munich April
4,19 |
Reactions
Kenneth MERRETT, Manchester United FC secretary:
"I am delighted with the draw. We have a special relationship with Real
Madrid. We played them in 1968 in the semi-final of the European Champion Clubs'
Cup and Bobby Charlton will be ecstatic witht the prospects of facing them
again. We have great memories of that occasion . I think it's great that we can
meet again and I am happy that we have reached this stage of the competition,
since we have had a lot of games - especially in March. But perhaps the English
teams are used to the busy schedule."
Fernando SANZ, Real Madrid CF president:
"All teams are good at this level. Anyway you cannot choose who you want to
play and you have to take what you get. The fact that the last two title holders
of the competition face each other in the next round spices up the tournament. I
believe that we have a good chance against Manchester and I also think we can
beat Bayern, if we reach the next stage, which will allow us to take revenge for
the double defeat in the second group stage. I am happy that a final between
Barcelona and Real Madrid is still a possibility."
Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE, FC Bayern München
vice-president:
"We are content with the draw. There are no easy teams at this late stage
of the competition and I think that we should be happy to play FC Porto. At one
time, it looked like we would be paired against Chelsea but due to the special
organisation of the draw, we ended up with the Portugese. It's a task that we
will look forward to with great anticipation.
"For 13 years we have waited to get revenge against them, since we lost in
the European Champion Clubs' Cup competition through that fantastic back-heel
goal scored by Madjer. I played myself in that final and it's was one of the
most dissapointing moments of my career. If we want to proceed to the
semi-finals, we have to be at the top of our game. With 60,000 supporters at Das
Antas behind them, we will have a monumentous task in front of us. They are
possibly technically better than us, but I think we have a more balanced side. I
hope that we will be able to get our team rested for these matches even though
we have a tough programme in the Bundesliga. Bayer 04 Leverkusen is starting to
catch up with us and this means that we have extra pressure on us. But after 30
years in the top of European football, we know how to cope with that now."
Colin HUTCHINSON, Chelsea FC managing director:
"First we were drawn against Bayern - and that looked bad - but due to the
regulations of the draw we ended up against Barcelona, and that was perhaps even
worse. This proves that it doesn't really matter who you get. It will always be
very hard opposition.
"There are no easy games and we will obviously start
as the underdogs, but we're looking forward to it immensely. We are
having a good season and can still reach a position in the FA Premiership which
will qualify us for the UEFA Champions League. We are still in the FA Cup, and
will now play in the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Champions League, so I don't
think we can do much better."
Massimo CRAGNOTTI, S.S. Lazio vice-president:
"The draw is not that bad for us. Valencia is a very good team, and they
have proved that in the first two group phases. However, I am sure that we can
make it. If we reach the Semi-Finals, we will meet either Chelsea or Barcelona.
This will certainly be a very tough task. As far as Claudio López, who we have
recently signed, is concerned, I can only say that we won't only play against
Claudio López but against 11 good players."
Jesus BARRACHUNA LUNA, Valencia CF board member:
"It will be very difficult. At this stage of the competition there are no
bad teams. We will have to wait to see if the Spanish sides will prevail in the
quarter-finals. Life will be very hard for all the Spanish teams that are left
in the competition. We are very happy that we weren't paired against FC
Barcelona, but we knew that any opponent would have been difficult. Now that the
group stage is over and the knock-out stages begin, there are bound to be some
surprises."
Amador BERNABEU, Valencia CF director of external relations:
"It was important that we didn't draw another Spanish team. Against Chelsea
it will be very hard for us, since they are a great team. I don't want to
comment on a possible semi-final because now we have to focus on Chelsea and
then we will see. Anyway, Lazio or Valencia will both be very difficult. It's
nice to see that we can still have an all-Spanish finalbut it could also be an
all-English final."
