The Official 2011-2012 European Football Thread.

Controversial Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli has insisted that he has no intention of leaving the club in the summer, while expressing his admiration for current manager Roberto Mancini.

- Mancini coy over Tevez future at City

Balotelli's future is never far from the agenda, but came sharply into focus after his latest indiscretion - a sending off in a dismal performance against Arsenal that left Mancini, usually his staunchest defender, acknowledging that he could be offloaded at the end of the campaign.

The Italian quickly retracted that statement, and Balotelli has now also moved to dismiss speculation linking him with a return to Italy at the next available opportunity.

"My future? Why do you always talk of Inter and Milan for me? I'm at City and I have no intention of changing shirt," Balotelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Now I am just thinking about winning the title because I am sure that United will make mistakes.

"Certainly in the match with us, then, who knows.

"[Inter owner Massimo] Moratti always speaks well of me. I enjoy it, he has known me since I was 15. I thank him for that, but I am now at Manchester City and I see no other possibilities."

Balotelli admits that moving to England has been a challenging experience for him in a number of ways, but he feels working under Mancini is the best possible situation for him to be in.

"When I was at Inter Milan I called my mother to solve every little problem. Now I have to go it alone," he noted. "First of all I need to improve as a player. I am lucky to work with Mancini. He's one of the best coaches in the world, maybe the best.

"After my red card against Arsenal he feared a long ban so he spoke about me with some harsh words.

"But we have explained things to each other. I know he believes in me, as he always has done."

Balotelli's antics - both on and off the pitch - have led some to suggest he needs psychiatric help but the 20-year-old gave such ideas short shrift, saying instead that he felt misrepresented in the media and hoped over time they would begin to judge him only on his football.

"A psychologist for me? I believe psychologists are important. Sometimes they can be very useful, but I don't need one of them," he said. "Every day there is an exaggeration about me and I would like it to stop. I want to be judged for what I do on the field.

"I am a shy and simple guy. I like to have fun with my friends and I always try not to bother anyone."

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has turned up the heat ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final with Chelsea, claiming the Premier League side play with fear and lack courage.

- Chelsea face injury problems
- Blog: Chelsea talking points

Alves opened old wounds and claimed it wasn't the four plausible penalty appeals turned down by Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo that denied Chelsea victory when the two sides met at this stage of Europe's flagship competition in 2009, but the Blues unwillingness to attack despite being 1-0 up against ten-man.

Chelsea's then-boss Guus Hiddink claimed Ovrebo's performance in that semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge was "the worst I have ever seen'' by a referee, and Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa were both sanctioned for protesting at the final whistle.

Andres Iniesta's stoppage-time strike earned Barcelona a 1-1 draw to send them through on away goals and Alves told The Guardian: "There is no doubt that was the hardest game we have played, with everything that was at stake, the moment and everything that happened.

"People say Chelsea could have won but for the referee but that is not our problem. We do not control the referees. We are there to play football, to compete and to try to reach the final. What can we do about the referee?

"Chelsea did not reach the final because of fear. The team that has got a man more, is playing at home and winning should have attacked us more. But of course, if you don't have that [attacking] concept of football that Barcelona have, you stay back and you get knocked out.

"You have to go forward. Stay back: losers. Go forward: winners. I think Chelsea lacked the courage to take a step forward and attack us. They paid for it."

Barcelona midfielder Iniesta is anticipating another tough night against Chelsea, but is hoping for a similar outcome to their last visit to Stamford Bridge.

The Spain international said: "It's painful to be knocked out so close to the final. Now we are facing each other again and undoubtedly their desire to beat us and be in the Champions League final will be significant.

"We hope that things will turn out well for us again this time.

"We are going there with the intention of winning, to have a good game and commit as few mistakes as possible, as in the Champions League they are very costly. We always go out to win. We know that it is a knock-out tie and there is a return game, but our only intention is to win.

"It will be a tough 90 minutes. Chelsea are more experienced now, inevitably, and they have also changed some players. They have Fernando (Torres), (Juan) Mata and some other young players. Chelsea were very strong that year and the will be this year as well.

"They are very dangerous, very intense, and that will by multiplied in their stadium due to the atmosphere. We are expecting a very tough tie.''

Iniesta also warned of the threat posed by some of Chelsea elder statesmen, such as Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

"They are dangerous for who they are, not because they are older or that it could be their last opportunity to win the Champions League,'' he said.

"You have to respect them because they are great players and right now are in a very good moment. I think it's going to be a very nice tie.''

northside7 wrote: »

Alves: Chelsea 'lack courage

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has turned up the heat ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final with Chelsea, claiming the Premier League side play with fear and lack courage.

- Chelsea face injury problems
- Blog: Chelsea talking points

Alves opened old wounds and claimed it wasn't the four plausible penalty appeals turned down by Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo that denied Chelsea victory when the two sides met at this stage of Europe's flagship competition in 2009, but the Blues unwillingness to attack despite being 1-0 up against ten-man.

Chelsea's then-boss Guus Hiddink claimed Ovrebo's performance in that semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge was "the worst I have ever seen'' by a referee, and Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa were both sanctioned for protesting at the final whistle.

Andres Iniesta's stoppage-time strike earned Barcelona a 1-1 draw to send them through on away goals and Alves told The Guardian: "There is no doubt that was the hardest game we have played, with everything that was at stake, the moment and everything that happened.

"People say Chelsea could have won but for the referee but that is not our problem. We do not control the referees. We are there to play football, to compete and to try to reach the final. What can we do about the referee?

"Chelsea did not reach the final because of fear. The team that has got a man more, is playing at home and winning should have attacked us more. But of course, if you don't have that [attacking] concept of football that Barcelona have, you stay back and you get knocked out.

"You have to go forward. Stay back: losers. Go forward: winners. I think Chelsea lacked the courage to take a step forward and attack us. They paid for it."

Barcelona midfielder Iniesta is anticipating another tough night against Chelsea, but is hoping for a similar outcome to their last visit to Stamford Bridge.

The Spain international said: "It's painful to be knocked out so close to the final. Now we are facing each other again and undoubtedly their desire to beat us and be in the Champions League final will be significant.

"We hope that things will turn out well for us again this time.

"We are going there with the intention of winning, to have a good game and commit as few mistakes as possible, as in the Champions League they are very costly. We always go out to win. We know that it is a knock-out tie and there is a return game, but our only intention is to win.

"It will be a tough 90 minutes. Chelsea are more experienced now, inevitably, and they have also changed some players. They have Fernando (Torres), (Juan) Mata and some other young players. Chelsea were very strong that year and the will be this year as well.

"They are very dangerous, very intense, and that will by multiplied in their stadium due to the atmosphere. We are expecting a very tough tie.''

Iniesta also warned of the threat posed by some of Chelsea elder statesmen, such as Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

"They are dangerous for who they are, not because they are older or that it could be their last opportunity to win the Champions League,'' he said.

"You have to respect them because they are great players and right now are in a very good moment. I think it's going to be a very nice tie.''

I expect back 2 back Ls for the ? ..

Romario: I was better than Messi
SAO PAULO -- Former star Romario says Brazil wouldn't get past the group stage of the World Cup if the competition were played today. What's more, he insists he's one of the three best players in soccer history.

Now a congressman, Romario used an expletive to describe what he thinks about Brazil's national team and said coach Mano Menezes needs more time to form his squad.

"If the World Cup was today, we would be eliminated in the first stage," Romario said in Tuesday's Rio de Janeiro daily O Dia. "I would pick the same players as Mano, but it's not working. One of the motives is lack of time. To prepare a national team you need time to practice."

Romario said it's a mistake to have Menezes coach Brazil during the Olympics, and he will run the risk of losing his job if Brazil fails to do well in London.

Romario said it would be better if the team were coached by Ney Franco, who is in charge of Brazil's youth squads. Brazil is under pressure to win the under-23 tournament because it's the only significant soccer competition it is yet to win.

Romario, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title in the United States, said he would like to see former South Africa coach Joel Santana in charge if Menezes is fired.

"He is the best coach I've ever played for," the 46-year-old Romario said, referring to the Brazilian.

Romario said he was "by far" better than Argentina's Lionel Messi and said he can be compared to the best players of all time, along with Pele and Diego Maradona.

"Messi is a good player, but I'm in the top three: It's me, Pele and Maradona. I would include (Zinedine) Zidane in that list, too," he said.

Romario has been heavily criticizing Brazil's preparations for the 2014 World Cup and said delays in improving urban mobility is the biggest concern.

"The rich fan who will come to the World Cup will be fine. He will arrive on a private jet, use private cars and will stay at the best hotels," Romario said. "But the poorer football fans will be left out."

northside7 wrote: »

Ramario disses Brazil national team, then Messi

Romario: I was better than Messi
SAO PAULO -- Former star Romario says Brazil wouldn't get past the group stage of the World Cup if the competition were played today. What's more, he insists he's one of the three best players in soccer history.

Now a congressman, Romario used an expletive to describe what he thinks about Brazil's national team and said coach Mano Menezes needs more time to form his squad.

"If the World Cup was today, we would be eliminated in the first stage," Romario said in Tuesday's Rio de Janeiro daily O Dia. "I would pick the same players as Mano, but it's not working. One of the motives is lack of time. To prepare a national team you need time to practice."

Romario said it's a mistake to have Menezes coach Brazil during the Olympics, and he will run the risk of losing his job if Brazil fails to do well in London.

Romario said it would be better if the team were coached by Ney Franco, who is in charge of Brazil's youth squads. Brazil is under pressure to win the under-23 tournament because it's the only significant soccer competition it is yet to win.

Romario, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title in the United States, said he would like to see former South Africa coach Joel Santana in charge if Menezes is fired.

"He is the best coach I've ever played for," the 46-year-old Romario said, referring to the Brazilian.

Romario said he was "by far" better than Argentina's Lionel Messi and said he can be compared to the best players of all time, along with Pele and Diego Maradona.

"Messi is a good player, but I'm in the top three: It's me, Pele and Maradona. I would include (Zinedine) Zidane in that list, too," he said.

Romario has been heavily criticizing Brazil's preparations for the 2014 World Cup and said delays in improving urban mobility is the biggest concern.

"The rich fan who will come to the World Cup will be fine. He will arrive on a private jet, use private cars and will stay at the best hotels," Romario said. "But the poorer football fans will be left out."