INTERESTING
GIGGS: BE OUR DI MATTEO, OLE STERLING HAS TO SLAM VAN NOVICE TAG IS IN THE PAST
RYAN GIGGS says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can emulate Roberto Di Matteo by winning the Champions League as a caretaker.
Manchester United l legend Giggs is delighted with the team team’s revival under Solskjaer, following Jos Jose Mourinho’s axing in December.
And, after their stun stunning comeback against PSG (with Scott Scot McTominay celebrating, above), Gig Giggs now hopes United can lift the trop trophy like Chelsea did under Di Matteo (b (below) in 2012 following Andre Villas-Boas’ Villassacking.
Giggs, 45 – a two-tim two-time Champions League winner with Un United in 1999 and 2008 – insisted: “I don’t don see why he can’t do it – not when h he’s gone to PSG with the team he’s got and won.
“There are worse tea teams that have done well and got to finals. fin They have undoubtedly got the qu quality and the confidence at the moment.
“There are still some big teams in there. It will be difficult – but not impossible.
“Comparisons to Chelsea under Di Matteo have been made, so get the same result and we’ll be happy.”
Ahead of tomorrow’s ow s FA Cup quarter-final at Wolves, ves,
Wales boss Giggs added: dded:
“It is fantastic and, as a fan and a former team-mate, it is brilliant to see Ole doing well. They are playing brilliant and the results have been amazing.” .” RAHEEM STERLING should be Footballer of the Year ahead of Champions League rival Virgil van Dijk – according to former City favourite Richard Dunne.
Van Dijk is being hotly tipped to win the prestigious award because of his outstanding season for Liverpool.
But Dunne claims Sterling (below) tops the Dutch defender because of his blistering campaign, which has seen him score 19 goals and make 11 assists for City.
“As fans and supporters of football you want to see players rs going forward, you want to see e people that entertain you, score goals and certainly Sterling has done that,” said the former Blues centre-half.
“If you’re looking at attacking ng players, I don’t think anyone has as been better than Sterling with what he brings to the team with his speed, and he’s using his intelligence to get into the right positions.
“In terms of effect on a team Van Dijk has had that more than most, but for entertainment, skill, technique and getting people off their seats Sterling is ahead of him.” Domenico Dom Tedesco has bee been sacked by Schalke tw two days after they lost 7 7-0 to City in the C Champions League.
The last-16 mauling at t the Etihad on Tuesday c completed a 10-2 ag aggregate loss. TOTTENHAM showed they are no longer Champions League novices against Borussia Dortmund.
A year after being outwitted at the last-16 stage by Juventus Spurs proved they had learned their eir lessons and now have European nous.
A 3-0 first-leg victory at Wembley put Spurs in charge of the tie. And
Harry Kane’s second-half strike in Germany killed off Dortmund’s hopes of a come comeback. The 4-0 aggregate wi win earned Spurs one of the p places in today’s draw as one of the four Premier League sides to make the quarterfinals f for just the third time.
Former striker Dimitar Ber Berbatov said: “This time last season, Spurs were knocked out by a more streetwise Juventus outfit but you always learn from your mistakes and they showed their extra experience in Germany.
“They will, however, need to cut down on the defensive mistakes in the next round – they will be facing a top team regardless of the draw.
“And you can’t always rely on the goalkeeper or last-ditch tackles to get you out of trouble.”
Berbatov sees no reason why Spurs can’t go on and win the Champions League for the first time.
Betfair Champions League ambassador Berbatov added: “A bit of luck in the draw and you never know.” Liverpool’s progression means four English sides will play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2018-19, the first time the competition has seen as many since 2008-09 (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United).
There are as many English teams in the quarter-finals this season as there were in the previous four campaigns combined (4).
There were 52 goals scored in the Last 16 of the Champions League this season – the third highest total for that round in the competition’s history after 2016-17 (62) and 2011-12 (56).
This is the first time that Spain will have just one representative in the quarterfinals since 2009-10.
There will be no German side in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2005-06.
Ajax are the first Dutch side to reach the quarter-finals since PSV managed it in 2006-07. 20
Ajax (24y 202d) have had h a younger starting XI on average in the Champions League this season s than any other side sid left in the competition. 1999-00 3 2 1 1 0 1 LIVERPOOL
Last year’s beaten finalists, fivetime winners, their victory in Munich was a result to make the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.
Jurgen Klopp
Mo Salah MANCHESTER UNITED The three-time European champions have rediscovered their Fergie spirit under Ole G Gunnar Solskjaer. With the right draw, anything is possible.
Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Star player: Paul Pogba
This is their first time in the quarters under Mauricio Pochettino, only the third time to get t thi this f far as a club and yet they have a remarkable spirit, having been near an exit in the group.
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Star player: Harry Kane
Still the team that the rest want to avoid. Lionel Messi and Co last won it in 2015, not as good dth as they were but still a fearsome opponent.
Manager: Ernesto Valverde
Star player: Lionel Messi
Their incredible last-16 win over Atletico Madrid shows what they are about: experienced campaigners, i never-say-die spirit and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manager: Max Allegri
Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo No one saw this one coming. Their incredible win over last year’s winners Real Madrid has made d everyone talk about a renaissance in Dutch football. Who knew Dusan
Tadic could be so good?
Manager: Erik ten Hag
Star player: Dusan Tadic
PORTO
They are the team that everyone wants to draw. The rank outsiders even with the Champions Ch i L League experience of
Pepe and Iker Casillas.
Sergio Conceicao
Moussa Marega