History repeats for Mourinho, Man United with loss at Basel
Allegri pleased with Juve attitude despite statement
BASEL, Switzerland, Nov 23, (Agencies): Jose Mourinho brought his team to Basel in the Champions League for the first time in four years. And lost again.
Manchester United came to Basel in the Champions League for the first time in six years. And lost again.
History repeated itself Wednesday when Basel struck in the 89th minute to beat Mourinho’s United 1-0, spoiling his team’s previously perfect record in Group A, and putting an expected Round of 16 place on hold with one game left.
Recent Champions League seasons have taught that Basel is especially tough against English opponents at noisy, vibrant St Jakob Park.
United learned its lesson for failing to finish its clear scoring chances when dominating the game.
“In the first half we should be winning 5 or 6-0,” Mourinho said. “The game was easy to win.”
In a wildly different second half, there seemed only one team likely to win long before Michael Lang’s goal. The Switzerland international arrived at
SOCCER
the far post to slot in a low shot from fellow wingback Raoul Petretta’s pass across the goalmouth.
There were echoes of Mourinho’s visit here in November 2013 — an 87th-minute goal and a 1-0 loss for Chelsea.
“In that match I don’t think we had one shot on target. We played really bad,” Mourinho said of that previous defeat. “Today it was not the case. Today in the first half I think we were really, really good.”
At least United has one more game to clinch its expected place in the knockout rounds. There was no second chance when a United team coached by Alex Ferguson lost 2-1 in Basel in December 2011 and was eliminated.
Mourinho’s easy-going attitude 20 minutes after the final whistle can also be explained by the mathematics of the Group A table.
United leads by three points from Basel and CSKA Moscow, and can only be eliminated in a tiebreaker on Dec 5. That would need Basel to win at Benfica plus an improbable seven-goal loss at Old Trafford against a Russian team it has already beaten 4-1 in Moscow.
Still, Mourinho went easier on his team than some television analysts. Lacking discipline in the second half, according to Rio Ferdinand, who lifted the trophy when United won the last of its three titles as European champion in 2008.
Meanwhile, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri praised his side’s attitude against Barcelona despite a 0-0 draw in Turin stalling last year’s finalists’ path to the Champions League last 16.
Five-time European champions Barcelona advanced to the knockout rounds and clinched top spot in Group D after the Turin stalemate.
But Juventus remain second in the group, a point ahead of third-place Sporting Lisbon, and need to secure their qualification at Olympiakos next month.
“It’s an important point and means we’ll go to Athens knowing a draw may not be enough and that we need to win,” said Allegri.
“The boys did really well. We made it difficult for Barcelona to play through our defence. It’s not easy to play Barca and we had a positive attitude.
“It’s not shameful to defend. Tonight we did it well. It was a really good game from a tactical perspective and our first 0-0 of the season.
“We found some space in the first half but struggled a bit in the second, though we did manage to create some chances through Douglas Costa and (Paulo) Dybala. “Not conceding a goal gives you confidence.” Argentina star Lionel Messi started on the bench for Barcelona as Allegri recalled veteran duo Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Barzagli after they were left out for Sunday’s defeat at Sampdoria following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
In Madrid, Diego Simeone refused to be downhearted by Atletico Madrid’s slim chances of making the Champions League last 16 after Antoine Griezmann returned to form with a stunning overhead kick and assist for Kevin Gameiro to beat Roma 2-0 on Wednesday.
Twice finalists in the past four seasons, Simeone’s men still need a minor miracle in the final two games in Group C on December 5 to progress as Atletico need to win away to Chelsea and hope Roma drop points at home to Qarabag.
“There is still one game to go and, until the 90 minutes are over, we can’t think negatively,” said Simeone.
“I always have confidence because I know my players and they will give their maximum until the situation leaves us with no chance.”
Chelsea swept aside 10-man Qarabag 4-0 in Baku on Wednesday to secure their place in the knockout phase and move ahead of Roma into pole position to win the group.
However, having been held twice by the Azerbaijani champions, Simeone believes they can cause an upset in the Italian capital. “You can’t underestimate anyone,” added Simeone. “Football is marvellous. Sometimes the ball wants to go in and sometimes not.
“Today Chelsea attacked once in the first half and it was a penalty and a sending-off.”