by MUTU » Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:54 pm
Friday 12.45, Fabio Balaudo in Milan
Inter coach Claudio Ranieri is looking forward to being reunited with Didier Deschamps having been drawn against Marseille. "It's an interesting challenge between Inter and Marseille and between me and Deschamps," he said. "He got the better of me in 2004, when he was coaching Monaco and I was at Chelsea. Now it's time to me to take revenge."
Friday 12.42, Paul Bryan in Madrid
Ahead of his team's FIFA World Club Cup final against Santos FC on Sunday, Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fàbregas gave his thoughts on Twitter on the holders' meeting with Bayer Leverkusen: "So, we're going to Germany. Bayer 04 Leverkusen have always been one of the strongest German teams. We've avoided the Russian sides: that's good."
Friday 13.40, Eugene Ravdin in Moscow
CSKA coach Leonid Slutski after his team were pitted against Liga powerhouses Real Madrid: "We are facing a meeting against a top club and I personally am looking forward to another meeting with José Mourinho. I believe we can rival Madrid. We are in for exciting and prestigious matches, both for the club and the players. We do not play one of the best teams in the world very every day."
Former Manchester United FC goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel on Twitter
@Pschmeichel1: Tough but interesting draws for all English clubs in both comps. #ChampionsLeague #EuropaLeague
Friday 13.20, Pedro Gonçalves in Lisbon
Benfica sporting director Rui Costa after being paired against Zenit. "We are very confident about our chances and we have to be optimistic," he said. "Zenit showed great value during the group stage and knocked out FC Porto. We respect our opponent, but I think Benfica has a team to go through to the next round."
Friday 13.00, John Leonidou in Nicosia
Speaking to UEFA.com, APOEL midfielder Hélio Pinto said that the Cypriot title holders remain confident after drawing Lyon. "In my opinion, it will be really great for us to play against them and we will all be looking forward to it. It is our dream to be playing in these games.
"We knew before the draw that every team we would face would be a strong opponent. We didn't have any preferences with regards to who we could face. Lyon is a fantastic team with great players, a great stadium, passionate fans and with plenty of experience in the Champions League. We all saw what they did in their group which is also consisted of Real Madrid."
Friday 13.00, UEFA.com newsdesk
UEFA's General Secretary Gianni Infantino, conducting both of today's draws, is confident the European club game is going from strength to strength.
Infantino cited the 254 goals scored in the group stage as evidence of an exciting competition. UEFA.com recaps the various records, feats and landmarks which were achieved during the group stage.
Friday 12.50, Paolo Menicucci in Milan
Napoli's Andrea Dossena, formerly of Liverpool FC, has plenty of experience of playing Chelsea. "I played against Chelsea in the quarter-finals when I was at Liverpool, a 4-4 draw away and we lost 3-1 at home . I think they were the third most difficult team to pick after the two Spanish sides. I think we play better against sides who are not just defending and Chelsea will try to attack in both legs. We struggle against smaller teams and we always give our best against the best, and Chelsea are surely among the best."
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, meanwhile, knows how tough an assignment Arsenal will be. "Arsenal did not have a great start to the season but they did recover well and I'm sure they will be very competitive in February," he said. "If we make the same mistakes we did in Prague and Minsk in the group stage, we will surely have problems. Arsenal are strong and we have to be in our best form."
@cesc4official: Woooow Arsenal vs Milan!!!! What a draw!!
@JackWilshere: Hard draw but you have to beat the best to win it! Looking forward to it! #Gooners
Friday 12.50, UEFA.com newsdesk
UEFA.com's round of 16 draw story.
Friday 12.45, Tom Kell in London
Both Premier League clubs have reacted to the draw. "It will be difficult," said Chelsea club secretary David Barnard of the Napoli tie. "It will be some occasion and it will be a lot warmer than playing a Russian team so it will be a new experience for this club. The feeling is upbeat."
Arsenal club secretary David Miles, meanwhile, is relishing the prospect of facing Milan. "We are very much looking forward to these two fixutres," he said. "When you think that being by group winners we start in the San Siro then we play a second leg at a packed stadium I think it is going to be a fantastic night of football for Arsenal Football Club. We have been on the rough end of Barcelona for two years running and it was nice knowing it was not going to happen for a third time."
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