Meek surrender piles pressure on Mourinho Exit not new for United: Mourinho
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Mourinho under fire for negative tactics which led to their downfall against Sevilla in round of 16
MANCHESTER: MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insisted European disappointment is nothing new for the English giants after losing 2-1 to Sevilla at Old Trafford to crash out of the Champions League by the same scoreline on aggregate. Mourinho was on the winning side that night as Real Madrid manager and also sent United out of the last 16 when Porto boss in 2004. “I’ve sat in this chair twice before with Porto, Manchester United out, and Real Madrid, Manchester United out, so I don’t think it’s anything new for the club,” said Mourinho. “I don’t want to make a drama of it. We have no time to be sad for more than 24 hours, that’s football. It’s not the end of the world.”
DZEKO HAPPY TO PROVE HIS WORTH
ROME: From a possible sacrifice for his cash-strapped club in January, Edin Dzeko proved his worth to Roma Tuesday, sealing a first Champions League quarterfinal berth in a decade.
“I didn’t want to go in January because I want to play these kind
of games,” explained Dzeko after his 52nd-minute goal clinched a place in the last eight after a 2-1 first-leg loss in Ukraine amid scenes of euphoria in the Stadio Olympico.
Cengiz Under’s goal in the first leg last month ultimately proved crucial for Roma, but Dzeko was the hero on the night and also proved instrumental in Shakhtar defender Ivan Ordets being shown a straight red card with 12 minutes left. “We managed to do something that had been missing for 10 years,” said Dzeko. “Going forward and playing with big teams is a pride for all of us.”
Dzeko proved to be a leader on the pitch with coach Eusebio Di Francesco giving him a standing ovation at the end.
“It is not for me, but for everyone, we are deservedly in the quarterfinals,” said the Bosnian after his fourth Champions League goal, and 18th in total for the club this season.