Red Devils Back in Rome

The matches to play in the Champions League's quarter finals have been drawn, we remark the match between Manchester Utd and Roma.

The elite European football tournament has come to its final phase, and the top eight teams have now more chances to reach the trophy which is the dream of every club in Europe. There is simply no favourite team in this phase of the competition, and one of the couples drawn is more known than the rest.

ROMA – MANCHESTER UNITED

These two clubs will face each other for the sixth time in only one year. The last season, the Old Trafford saw the home team massacring Roma 7-1, and that defeat still burns so much in the hearts of Spalletti’s boys, that they do not know whether to seek revenge or simply avoid the red devils for the rest of their lives.

- Probably it is our destiny to play Manchester United. Many of us were expecting that we would play them again and I think that we are ready. They are a fantastic team, but we are playing very well this season – said Roma’s 28-year-old David Pizarro.

- Some players even wanted to be drawn with them to get our own back for that bad defeat. We knocked out Real Madrid and now we are sure we can beat anyone.

Manchester Utd is a team which strikes the opponents if they give the smallest chance. However, United got knocked out by Portsmouth in the FA cup, but probably they will not let another mistake happen.

Since last season they have bought a few players more, starting with Ronaldo, but also Anderson and Nani, who have made a lot of experience and who can always substitute untouchable Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

- It is really unbelievable that we are playing them again. It is the sixth time in one year, unbelievable. I was convinced we would get an English team. I know everything about Roma, and they know everything about us. I expect an exciting match – said United’s coach, Sir Alex Ferguson.

SCHALKE 04 – BARCELONA

For their debut in the Champions League’s quarters, German Schalke 04 will play strong Barcelona, which is aiming at its third title of best team in Europe.

Before the draws, the only Croatian representative in the Champions League finals, Ivan Rakitic, wished to face the Spanish giant, and his wish has come true, and he will have to face some of the best players such as, Ronaldinho, Henry, Eto’o, etc.

- It will be a good stimulation for us and our fans. With their great support in the first match in our stadium we can achieve a positive result, and would give us a chance in the return match in Camp Noi – said Schalke’s trainer, Mirko Slomka.

- If we could have chosen, we would have picked Schalke, but I want to stress that only great teams can get to the Champions League’s quarter finals – said Barcelona’s sports director, Beguiristain.

ARSENAL – LIVERPOOL

Of the eight clubs that will play the quarters, four are from England and before the draws were followed with great interest on the island. People wanted to know whether their clubs would play one another or each one would get a team from another country.

The draws decided: great Arsenal will face even greater Liverpool, by many considered the final before the final. It is bizarre that these to club will face each other in Premier League in the time between the two Champions League games. It will be interesting to see whether the two trainers will manage to surprise one another.

Arsene Wenger’s gunners knocked out the former Champions in the round of sixteen, Italian AC Milan, and now the have the occasion to defeat the defeated finalist, Liverpool. The gunners have already played an English quarter final in the Champions League, and that was in the 2003/04 season, when they were knocked out by another team from London, Chelsea.

- We were good against Milan and I am convinced that we will repeat that. It will be very interesting to play against the same team three times in just one week, but we will the best we can – said Arsenal’s trainer, Arsene Wenger.

In the round of sixteen, Liverpool knocked out another team from Milan, Inter, after proving many times to be experts in European matches. Now we can expect a strong push towards their sixth title of Europe.

- It is hard to play against the same team in just one week, and especially if it is a good team like Arsenal. I think it all depends on who will be more rested and ready in that moment – said Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez.

FENERBAHCE – CHELSEA

Step by step, London’s Celsea got to the final phase of the Champions League. After defeating Olympiakos in the round of sixteen, which is not considered as strong as them, Chelsea now have to face Fenerbahce, and they surely are favourites to get through to the semis.

The Turkish club is the biggest surprise of this year’s tournament. In the past round they shocked the football world by knocking out Spanish Sevilla at the penalties. Judging by their temper, it seems that the result achieved until know is not enough again.

- Before the draws I had the feeling we would play against Chelsea. I think that the other English teams are much stronger and we will do everything to defeat Chelsea. We are talented, strong and physically ready. There is no reason why we should not succeed – said Ugur Boral.

An interesting fact is that, Fenerbahce’s former attacker, Nicolas Anelka, now plays for Chelsea, and former Chelsea’s striker, Mateja Kezman now defends the colours of the Turkish club.

- There is no easy match in the Champions League’s quarter finals. Fenerbahce plays a very good football. They beat Inter; they won all the matches at home and were excellent against Sevilla, where Arsenal lost. It is not an easy match, but we only have one target, and that is the Champions League final. We have never played it and this is the only target we want to achieve as soon as possible – said Chelsea’s trainer, Avram Grant.

There is not doubt; an exciting football is ahead of us; a football which only the Champions League can offer.