Schaaf not Cowed by Bremen Deficit

Thomas Schaaf took comfort in the knowledge that there is still "just one goal" between his Werder Bremen side and Hamburger SV after a 1-0 defeat at the Weserstadion, while visiting coach Martin Jol, proud of his side's UEFA Cup semi-final first-leg success, noted: "Not many teams win here." Piotr Trochowski headed the only goal of the game for Hamburg to leave them firmly in control of the tie ahead of next week's second leg, but Bremen are not giving up hope.

Thomas Schaaf, Bremen coach
I do not have a good explanation for why the team did not play well at the beginning. We did not attack our opponents and we did not move forward. A strong Hamburg team took advantage of our problems and took the lead. In the second half we improved but it is tough to turn around matches like that – it takes a lot of energy and we are now at the end of a long season. We got some chances in the second half but we did not have the luck to convert one of them. Still, it is just one goal and there are of course still possibilities for the second match. Hamburg now have the upper hand and we must get a bigger win in Hamburg than they did here. This will be an exciting and interesting challenge and I am sure that it will be another spectacular match.

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Martin Jol, Hamburg coach
We got ourselves into a good position for this tie today. We started very well, had a great chance in the second minute and then took a deserved lead. Smaller players such as Trochowski and [Jonathan] Pitroipa must prove themselves in the penalty area and I am happy that Piotr did this today. Altogether we did our job very well today against a strong team – not many teams win here. But in the second half we should have scored a second, as Ivica Olić and Jonathan Pitroipa had great chances. I am annoyed that José Paolo Guerrero will miss the second game because of his yellow card – this will make our task harder for sure. But we proved that we can overcome a setback like the penalty shoot-out loss against Werder Bremen in the German Cup a week ago. Our position is good and we want to reach the final.

( UEFA )

Sub-Standard Dynamo Irk Semin

Yuri Semin conceded FC Dynamo Kyiv "didn't play at their best" as they were held at home by Mircea Lucescu's FC Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Romanian pleased that a half-time ticking-off helped his side to equalise. The home side's Artem Milevskiy forced Ukrainian international team-mate Dmytro Chygrynskiy to put through his own goal for the opener, but Shakhtar's Fernandinho made it 1-1 after the break.

Yuri Semin, Dynamo coach
The game was very difficult, nervy and our players failed to stand the pressure; they didn't play at their best. After the opening goal we had chances to score again. At half-time I told my players to keep their shape and push on – they couldn't. I don't understand why we lost so much possession in the second half. Milevskiy may have had a bit of a knock but even with a little injury Milevskiy was useful on the pitch. He was pretty much the only person troubling Shakhtar's defence. We have to accept this but we have another match to make amends and try to secure the necessary result. We were in a similar situation after the first leg against Valencia and we did alright there.

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Mircea Lucescu, Shakhtar coach
This was a very difficult game for both teams. We know each other so well. We made too many errors in the first half – my players seemed burdened by the importance of the occasion. Dynamo were the better team in the first half, they used the ball well and had more possession even if their first real dangerous moment brought their goal. At half-time I told my players that they hadn't done 20 per cent of what I told them in the team talk. I reminded them that they needn't be afraid, as they were in the first half.

The second half was very different. We controlled more of the ball, kept our shape and Willian and [Olexandr] Gladkiy made good impressions as substitutes; they brought something extra. The result here is fair but it's only the first part and the second leg may be even harder because at home you have to focus on other things. Overall, though, we are satisfied with the result.

( John Atkin / UEFA )

Little Man Makes Big Hamburg Breakthrough

Bremen 0 - 1 Hamburg

Hamburger SV took a significant step towards their first appearance in a European final since winning the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1983 with a 1-0 win over Werder Bremen in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final at the Weserstadion.

Advantage Hamburg
The diminutive Piotr Trochowski headed in the precious away goal midway through the first half to spoil Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf's 48th birthday and leave Hamburg in a commanding position ahead of the second leg next Thursday. Bremen, looking to win a UEFA Cup semi-final for the first time in four attempts, might even have lost by more were it not for the excellent Tim Wiese who twice saved from Ivica Olić with the striker through on goal.

Blistering start
It was the second of four meetings between these rivals in 19 days and they tore at each other from the outset. In only the second minute Alex Silva's neat touch on the edge of the area sent Olić clear only for Wiese, Hamburg's nemesis in Bremen's German Cup victory last week, to brilliantly block the Croatian striker's low shot. Bremen responded immediately and Frank Rost was at full stretch to keep out Diego's long-range strike at the other end.

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Wiese saves
The game soon settled, with David Jarolím and Silva effectively stifling the threat of Diego and Mesut Özil in midfield, though Bremen were enjoying more of the possession. When Hamburg did press on 22 minutes Bremen had Wiese to thank again for keeping them on level terms as he tipped José Guerrero's low strike round the post.

Trochowski scores
If that was a warning it went unheeded. Five minutes later Guy Demel crossed from the right to the far post where Trochowski, the smallest player on the pitch, was given the time and space to send a header back across goal and beyond Wiese's despairing dive. Bremen's response was fitful, with Diego's promptings narrowly failing to come off until he picked out Claudio Pizarro shortly before the break, but the striker headed wide.

Almeida miss
They came closer still seven minutes into the second half when Rost's attempted clearance from a cross fell kindly for Hugo Almeida whose header back towards goal was held by the relieved Hamburg goalkeeper. It was a rare moment of hope for the Bremen fans who grew increasingly frustrated as their side struggled to convert possession into chances. When Diego's long ball did tee up Almeida in the 60th minute the Portuguese international headed wide.

Rosenberg shoots over
Bremen were almost made to pay moments later when Olić broke clear down the left but Wiese was quickly off his line to block the shot. The home goalkeeper was beaten moments later, though, as Jonathan Pitroipa deflected Olić's low cross fractionally wide. At the other end substitute Markus Rosenberg shot over on 70 minutes as Bremen stepped up the pressure in the closing stages, but though camped in the Hamburg half as the clock ticked down, they could not find a way through.

( Michael Harrold / UEFA )

Highlights :

Fernandinho Gives Shakhtar the Whip Hand

Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 1 Shakhtar

FC Shakhtar Donetsk recovered from going behind, not to mention some early nerves, to earn a 1-1 draw against FC Dynamo Kyiv that leaves them with the narrowest of away-goals advantages in this UEFA Cup semi-final tie.

Semin hoodoo
Dynamo coach Yuri Semin had appeared on course for a first victory in five attempts against the Pitmen when his dominant side forged ahead midway through the first half, Dmytro Chygrynskiy putting through his own net. Indeed, the hosts had opportunities to extend the advantage as the visitors struggled to find their shape, and were punished for their profligacy 22 minutes from time as substitute Willian's cross was bundled in by a combination of Fernandinho and Betão at the near post. Olexandr Aliyev almost restored Dynamo's lead before full time but Andriy Pyatov stood up well and so it is advantage Shakhtar going into next week's return – just.

Fractious opening
Presidents past and present were in attendance at the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium, crossing the political divide to watch a historic date for Ukrainian football. Such diplomacy was less evident on the pitch as the game got under way. Ognjen Vukojević set the tone for a fractious opening when he scythed Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna within 30 seconds of the kick-off; it was the first of 25 first-half fouls. With the game so stop-start, neither team could find a rhythm as pass after pass went astray and it was not until 20 minutes had gone that Artem Milevskiy fashioned the first opening, cleverly turning Tomáš Hübschman and poking wide.

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Breakthrough
Two minutes later Dynamo were ahead. Having already provided warning of his dead-ball prowess with a free-kick that clipped the top of the net, Aliyev drove another set-piece through a crowded box. The ball took a deflection off Ismaël Bangoura and, under pressure from Milevskiy at the far post, Chygrynskiy turned it into his own net. There were signs of hope for Shakhtar, however. Like the policeman assailed by a wayward sprinkler before kick-off, the visitors had struggled to find their footing but going behind seemed to ease nerves. It needed Stanislav Bogush's alertness to deny them an equaliser when Fernandinho and Jadson combined to put through fellow Brazilian Luiz Adriano.

Dynamo chances
It was a rare sortie into Dynamo territory and the hosts, with Aliyev pulling the strings, soon re-established their supremacy. Following a corner on the cusp of half-time, Carlos Corrêa's shot grazed the upright with the help of another deflection, and soon after the restart a fully-stretched Milevskiy failed to get enough on Aliyev's arcing free-kick with the goal at his mercy. Needing to do something to stem the tide, Mircea Lucescu brought on Willian: it proved a masterstroke. The 20-year-old scored the only goal when these sides met in November and here he turned provider, firing in the low cross that created the equaliser as Shakhtar earned an unlikely draw, their joy tempered only by a yellow card that rules defender Olexandr Kucher out of the second leg.

( John Atkin / UEFA )

Highlights :

Sir Alex Rues United's Lack of Killer Instinct

Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the holders should have made more of their chances after John O'Shea scored the only goal of a UEFA Champions League semi-final against Arsenal FC that they dominated, although he suggested keeping a clean sheet could be "key to it all". Not for the first time, the Scot was left to reflect on his team's tendency to make life hard for themselves, while his opposite number Arsène Wenger admitted his side had not been at their best. Wenger, though, remains confident the situation can be retrieved in the second leg next Tuesday, explaining: "I'm convinced you'll see a different Arsenal."

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager
Of course [I'm disappointed]. We had good chances and their goalkeeper made one or two fantastic saves. However, we said before the game to win without conceding a goal and we've achieved that. The performance level was good and we've given ourselves a good chance of going through, but of course the tie isn't over. We know we can score at their ground. We haven't lost a goal and I think that's key to it all. [Wenger] has to be confident, he'll be thinking it's a good day for him – they could have been out of the tie and they're not. Our fans are frustrated, we could be into the final and we're not, but that's the nature of the club. We did it the hard way in the last round against Porto too. Arsenal had possession but without doing anything with it. We contained them very well. I don't think that's the fault of Arsenal, that's down to our defenders. When we concentrate well, we can do that.

O'Shea took [the goal] really well, the ball deflected off one of the defenders and came off the surface quite quickly, but he controlled it well. It was a good finish. John is one of the great professionals, he never complains and is happy to play anywhere. He knows that over the years he's not always been a No1 choice but he makes a contribution we've been grateful for. He's so versatile he can play in many positions and that's of great value to us. This season he's played a lot more games because of the injuries we've had and if you asked me now if he'd be in the team for the final I'd have to say yes.

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Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager
It was a difficult game played at a high pace. United started stronger than us and if you look at the clear-cut chances of course they were on top tonight. The positive is that we're only 1-0 down, we're at home [in the second leg] and I'm convinced that you'll see a different Arsenal team and we can reverse the result. Football is like that; you can play tomorrow and see a different game. We have the quality to do that. The tie is still very open. They can have regrets because they didn't score a second goal – and it's down to us to make them regret that.

[Manuel Almunia] was excellent, top class in every sense – reading of the game, decision-making, quality, sharpness – top class in every way tonight. [Kieran] Gibbs had very good game again today, he's a very promising full-back. We were not dangerous enough offensively today. After the first 20 minutes the game was more balanced than you would think here. We were not sharp enough in the final third, defensively we were quite sharp but we were in a position where we had to come out. That meant United could play the way they love to play, on the counterattack, and that was a clear advantage for them. It's a good opportunity to show our character and our mental strength – and I'm confident you will see that. Of course [it would be Wenger's biggest win against United] because there's a final at stake – when you play at home you are up for it. I'm confident because I believe we will be on top next Tuesday and you will see a different Arsenal team.

( Andrew Haslam / UEFA )

Petrić in Doubt for Hamburg Semi-Final

Striker Mladen Petrić could miss both legs of Hamburger SV's UEFA Cup semi-final against Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen after suffering a sizeable gash to his shin when the sides met in the last four of the German Cup last night.

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Two to three weeks
The 28-year-old came off second best as he attempted to tackle Bremen defender Naldo midway through the second half at the Arena Hamburg, sustaining a deep cut to his left shin. As his team-mates went on to lose the semi-final 3-1 on penalties, Petrić travelled to hospital where he received eight stitches. The initial prognosis is that the Croatian international will be out for two to three weeks – in effect, ruling him out of the trip to Bremen next Thursday, 30 April, and leaving him highly doubtful for the return seven days later. With third-placed HSV also in the title race, Petrić could sit out as many as three Bundesliga matches, including what will be his side's fourth meeting with Werder in 19 days on 10 May.

( UEFA )

Six of The Best: Hamburg v Bremen

Destined to meet in the UEFA Cup semi-finals on 30 April and 7 May, northern German neighbours Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV contest another last-four encounter this evening when they lock horns at the Arena Hamburg for a place in the German Cup final. As well as being fierce local rivals, the two sides are among Germany's most successful teams, lying second and third on the all-time Bundesliga table with Bremen just a mere four points better off (2377 to 2373). Bremen also hold the slightest of edges in league games won, counting 29 to Hamburg's 28, with 32 drawn. We look back at six of their most memorable encounters down the years.

Bremen 6 Hamburg 0
1 May, 2004
Bundesliga, Weserstadion
The most one-sided scoreline in games between the two teams came close to the end of the 2003/04 campaign, when 42,000 spectators saw Bremen rout their visitors after an own goal from HSV striker Sergej Barbarez had opened the floodgates. One match later, Bremen were crowned German champions courtesy of another spectacular result – a 3-1 success at closest challengers FC Bayern München. "HSV would have taken great pleasure in denying us another title win but they couldn't," said general manager Klaus Allofs. "Everybody knows the rivalry between the two clubs."

Bremen 4 Hamburg 2
27 October, 1993
German Cup fourth round, Weserstadion
With 34,400 fans in attendance, Bremen reached the German Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling triumph over their northern neighbours. Austrian midfielder Andreas Herzog gave the hosts an early lead only for Hamburg to register twice after the break, but with 16 minutes remaining Bernd Hobsch levelled the scores. Goals from Frank Neubarth and Wynton Rufer in the last four minutes then sealed the win for Bremen, after HSV's Andreas Sassen had been shown a red card six minutes from time. The Weserstadion outfit would go on to lift the cup that year.

Bremen 5 Hamburg 0
29 May, 1993
Bundesliga, Weserstadion
Bremen guaranteed themselves the Bundesliga crown with a game to spare thanks to this overwhelming victory. Herzog and Rufer both struck twice as the home side celebrated their third title, eventually finishing a point ahead of Bayern, with HSV coming in eleventh. "That win was a milestone for us," commented the coach at the time, club legend Otto Rehhagel.

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Hamburg 5 Bremen 0
15 May, 1982
Bundesliga, Volksparkstadion
One of Hamburg's two highest-ever wins against their Hanseatic derby rivals came in the closing stages of the 1981/1982 campaign. A total of 53,400 spectators witnessed the home side sweep away their opponents to seal the Bundesliga title at the expense of second-placed 1. FC Köln. Current Germany Under-21 coach Horst Hrubesch helped himself to a hat-trick.

Bremen 1 Hamburg 4
5 May, 1973
Bundesliga, Weserstadion
A blistering start by the visitors all but put this match beyond doubt within the opening 13 minutes, Horst Heese grabbing a quickfire double with goals in the fifth and eighth minutes before Caspar Memering added to the damage. Werner Görts managed to pull one back for Bremen, but Hamburg never looked as if they would relinquish control on the game and finally ended any suspense when Peter Nogly made it 4-1 close to the end. Neither side enjoyed a successful season, however, with Werder finishing eleventh and HSV avoiding relegation by three points as they took 14th spot.

Hamburg 5 Bremen 2
4 September, 1968
Bundesliga, Volksparkstadion
A mere 18,000 fans were present to take in a fantastic game whose outcome long remained in doubt. Bremen gave themselves the lead through Görts after 25 minutes but they were trailing at the half following effective responses from Gert Dörfel and Robert Pötzschke. An Arnold Schütz free-kick soon after the restart put Bremen back in business before HSV legend Uwe Seeler gave his side a two-goal cushion with a double intervention, Franz-Josef Hönig then adding gloss in the final minute. The winners went on to take sixth place that year while their rivals finished ninth.

( Stephan Hartmann / UEFA )

O'Shea Gives United Slender Advantage

Man. United 1 - 0 Arsenal

John O'Shea's first-half goal gave Sir Alex Ferguson the result he had asked for as Manchester United FC beat Arsenal FC 1-0 in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Deserved victory
Sir Alex said on the eve of the game that he would be "delighted" to win 1-0 and that is exactly what he got through defender O'Shea's close-range effort after 17 minutes. It was a deserved victory for the defending champions and leaves Arsenal requiring a big improvement in the second leg next Tuesday when they must try to defeat United by two clear goals for the first time in 20 matches.

High tempo
Both these teams are renowned for their fine attacking football but it was United who took the honours here. The defending champions flew out of the blocks and inside the second minute Wayne Rooney's looping header put Manuel Almunia at full stretch to make the save. Semi-finals can be cautious affairs but United veered from the script, their early high tempo typified by Carlos Tévez, racing around like a man with a point to prove on his first European start since December.

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Reward
The hosts' urgent start earned its reward just after the quarter-hour. Moments earlier Almunia had denied Tévez at close range with a superb one-handed save when the Argentinian appeared certain to convert O'Shea's low centre. But the goalkeeper's good work went to waste from Anderson's ensuing corner. Although overhit, Michael Carrick drove the ball back in and it deflected off United old boy Mikaël Silvestre to O'Shea who crashed a first-time effort past Almunia. Evidence that things were not going Arsenal's way came soon after when Cesc Fàbregas sliced a shot out for a throw-in.

Almunia bravery
It was the Spaniard who had the visitors' best attempt of the half after 27 minutes when Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor combined to set up a shooting chance on the edge of the box, but Fàbregas fired straight at Edwin van der Sar. Urged on by the noisy home crowd, United could have had a second before the half-hour after they launched another attack down the right, Tévez running at Arsenal's 19-year-old left-back Kieran Gibbs before crossing to the far post where Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to direct his header past Almunia. Anderson – lively in an attacking midfield role – then slipped a ball forward for Tévez but Almunia saved bravely at his feet.

Giggs offside
Although Adebayor flashed a volley over the crossbar, United continued to look the likelier scorers in the second half. Rooney teed up Anderson on the edge of the box but the Brazilian miscued. Ronaldo revived memories of his long-range winner at FC Porto by leaving Almunia's crossbar trembling with a drive from 25 metres before Carrick sent a daisycutter just wide. Red shirts kept coming forward and it took a fine Silvestre header to stop Dimitar Berbatov turning in fellow replacement Ryan Giggs's cross. Giggs – making his 800th United appearance – then rounded Almunia and had the ball in the net but was ruled offside. At the other end Arsenal's own substitute Nicklas Bendtner beat Van der Sar to a high free-kick but the ball bounced wide. Arsenal will need better next week.

( Simon Hart / UEFA )

Highlights :

Sir Alex Stirred by Semi-Final Spectacular

UEFA Champions League:

Handicap

Manchester United vs Arsenal

0 : 1/2

Over / Under 2 1/4

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United FC's UEFA Champions League showdown with Arsenal FC has all the ingredients for the "perfect semi-final".

Spectacle to savour
The two most successful clubs in English football over the past two decades will square off for the first time on the European stage in Wednesday's first leg and the United manager envisaged a spectacle to savour. "Looking at the tie itself and the players on view you almost think this a perfect semi-final," said Sir Alex. "It is full of terrific footballers, both teams play good football and it could be that way. I hope we play fantastic football and that we win. I respect Arsenal's ability to play good football too. They won't change. They will do exactly what they normally do and have a go."

'Something special'
Arsenal struck four goals at Liverpool FC in a thrilling 4-4 draw last Wednesday and their manager Arsène Wenger said his team "have enough belief to think we can deliver something special" at Old Trafford. While United are closing in on a third successive domestic title, the UEFA Champions League represents Arsenal's only hope of a first trophy since 2005 but Wenger, noting his charges' 20-match unbeaten Premier League run, added: "We believe that we're going from strength to strength and that is important at this period of the season."

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Away goal
After seeing United fall two goals behind at home to Tottenham Hotspur FC before fighting back to win 5-2 on Saturday, Wenger reflected that the Premier League leaders "can concede goals". Despite the absence of the cup-tied Andrei Arshavin and injured Robin van Persie, he intends to send out his players to get them. "The modern rules encourage the team at home to be cautious and the away team to be audacious. That is why I believe to score an away goal will be very important for us." Sir Alex did not disagree. Stressing the need to for defensive vigilance, he said: "That may be the key to it. We need to win without losing a goal and I would be delighted to win the game 1-0. But it won't be decided tomorrow, I feel sure of that."

Fitness doubts
Arsenal's defensive prospects are not helped by doubts over defenders Mikaël Silvestre (back) and Kieran Gibbs (ankle) – the former's fitness worries meaning a possible start for Johan Djourou. But Sir Alex's thoughts were on the threat the Gunners posed via wide attacker Theo Walcott – "probably the quickest forward in England" – and the "wonderful" Cesc Fàbregas who may reprise the second-striker role in which he hit two goals against Middlesbrough FC on Sunday.

Admiration
The two managers have been fierce rivals over the last 13 years but ahead of this first continental showdown, the Frenchman spoke of their mutual admiration. "We have better relations now than before. We are survivors. There is respect there." Wenger has one more victory in their head-to-head meetings while Sir Alex has won their two previous semi-final duels. "Ourselves and Arsenal over a long period have certainly been the dominant forces in English football," said Sir Alex. Now European supremacy is at stake.

( Simon Hart / UEFA )

Patient Wenger Puts Faith in Arsenal Ability

Six months shy of his 60th birthday, Arsène Wenger may still be waiting for his first European trophy but there is no sign of the Frenchman's faith wavering. "I am an optimist, you know. I believe I will win it and the sooner the better," said the Arsenal FC manager, 24 hours before sending his team out for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final at Manchester United FC.

Determination
It is four years since Arsenal's last trophy under Wenger – an FA Cup won on penalties against United – and the UEFA Champions League represents their final chance of claiming silverware this term. Yet Wenger's determination to overcome United and reach Rome stems from a much deeper source – the desire to finally be able to place a tick in the box titled European Champion Clubs' Cup winner.

Final regret
"That is why we are here and that is why we are very, very determined to wipe that out," he said. "It has never been done by the club and I want this pool of players to do it for the first time." In ten previous campaigns with Arsenal, the closest Wenger has come was the 2006 final defeat by FC Barcelona – "The only regret we have from that day was we played with ten men" – and this is only their second semi-final.

Mental strength
A slow start to 2008/09 meant Arsenal failed to mount a Premier League title challenge yet Wenger believes the Gunners have matured since losing last season's quarter-final to Liverpool FC in the final five minutes."The team is mentally strong and very determined and maybe because we have gone through a difficult period, it helped the team, which is very young, to grow. This team is a different animal to last year, mentally especially.

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'Something special'
"We have built a young team because we wanted to develop a special way of playing, a special spirit. We think when the players have been educated together from the age of 16-24 there is something special that I hope will come out at this level of the competition." Sir Alex Ferguson, once a fierce rival, applauded this commitment to youth when he said of Wenger on Tuesday: "He has kept his principles always the same and that is great credit to him."

Vision
The Arsenal manager is working within a different budget to the other three semi-finalists but underlined he would not alter his approach in any way. "We have gone for a different way to build our team, it is not better or worse," he said. "I believe there is something more than just winning trophies. It is the style of play, the ambition you have with your style of player, the vision, the values the club has. It all has to be right and the trophies are part of it."

Unwanted record
Yet though Wenger's vision has produced teams capable of spellbinding passing football, his 16 previous European campaigns with AS Monaco FC and Arsenal have yielded not a single trophy. Indeed he holds the unwanted record of having lost finals in three continental competitions – the 2006 loss to Barcelona followed defeats with Arsenal in the 2000 UEFA Cup final and with Monaco in the 1992 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. So what would it mean to finally land the big one now? "I love to win and I want to do it for the club, the players and the fans more than for me."

( Simon Hart / UEFA )

Guardiola Philosophical after Frustrating Night

FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola praised his side for their performance in a goalless UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea FC, and promised to "go to London with the same spirit" for next Wednesday's decider. Guus Hiddink, meanwhile, knows "nothing is decided" despite hailing a courageous defensive display from his side typified by sterling performances from Petr Čech and John Terry.

Josep Guardiola, Barcelona coach
The result is what it is, you can't say in football that you deserved more. Our rivals know how we play, and they were very defensive. They had six players in defence, were physical and strong, but we tried to play the way we do and present a good image. We'll go to London with the same spirit, nothing will change that. There's nothing to be ashamed of after a performance like that; there's no one to blame for not winning. I can only be proud of my players. It's never easy to play well when the opponent isn't trying to push forward and play football. European ties can be settled by small details and these didn't go our way tonight.

For many months we've been winning games, and confidence is still high, but we still need the fans to get behind us and they were a great help tonight. We played honestly and people value that. We always go out to win, as we will against Real Madrid on Saturday.

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Guus Hiddink, Chelsea manager
We're pleased with the result when you look at Barcelona's recent results and what the scores have been in games here. I think it's the first time they haven't scored a goal in a home game this season which is quite an achievement. We managed to be very disciplined tactically, defensively, but we didn't keep possession well in the first half, and kicked too many balls away [out of defence]. In the second half we were better and started playing. It's a compliment to the team to get this result in difficult circumstances but we still have to improve in the second game. Nowadays it's not a big advantage playing away or at home so nothing is decided, but it's still a good result against a good team.

Petr did a good job defensively. He saved the game for us and [José] Bosingwa also did a good job, got good help from [Florent] Malouda down the left side and there was also good support from John Terry when Messi went inside. You have to play very courageously here and also with a lot of intelligence. Terry was inspiring and an example to the rest of the team, who responded very well. This is a team who must play better when we have possession but this opponent doesn't let you play easily. My team has a lot of courage and are ready to spill a lot of blood for the cause; mentally they're very tough.

( Kevin Ashby / UEFA )

Xavi Backs Barça to Banish the Blues

Even the disappointment of registering their second consecutive 0-0 home draw in a UEFA Champions League semi-final against English opposition cannot convince Xavi Hernández that Chelsea FC, and not FC Barcelona, will be in the final in Rome come 27 May.

'Good feeling'
"I'm convinced we showed tonight that Barça are quite capable of going to Stamford Bridge in the second leg and not only dominating the game but scoring," the midfielder told uefa.com. "This team has the capacity to win against anyone, anywhere, even though it's going to be difficult to achieve that." The Spanish Liga leaders will be without the injured Rafael Márquez and Carles Puyol, who is banned, for the second leg but Xavi remains confident, adding: "It's a real shame we'll have to do it without them but we've still got a good feeling about what we can achieve in the second game."

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First-leg frustration
Frustration was the key sentiment among Josep Guardiola's players after a first leg in which Chelesa harried and pressed them from start to finish. The optimism that the failure to win or even score at Camp Nou, a shortcoming which proved costly against Manchester United FC a year ago, will not be decisive this time around stems from the chances created despite Chelsea's blanket defence, with Samuel Eto'o, Bojan Krkić and Aleksandr Hleb all passing up presentable openings. "It's not as if this is a terrible result, but the problem is that we deserved much more from our performance," Xavi admitted.

'Only missing elements'
"We should have scored at least one goal because we were the ones who went for the victory, we were the team who tried to play football from start to finish," he went on, with Barcelona – the top scorers in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League with 29 goals – having found the net in all 27 home games in all competitions this season prior to Chelsea's visit. "Chelsea came out in an ultra defensive mode but we still managed to craft four really good chances. That suggests to me that the tie is still up for grabs. Barça put on a show which our fans enjoyed and the only missing elements were the goals and victory which we deserved."

Madrid test
Before the return leg in London on Wednesday, Barça now have to play their fiercest domestic rivals, Real Madrid CF, in El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu, a game which will have significant bearing on the outcome of the league title. However, with Márquez likely to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury early in the second period, Guardiola will have a great deal of preparation and planning to do to turn the disappointment of a missed opportunity in the semi-final first leg into a launch pad for strong performances in Madrid and London over the next week.

( Graham Hunter / UEFA )

Shot at History Keeps Van der Sar Focused

As a man who has savoured UEFA Champions League triumphs with AFC Ajax and Manchester United FC 13 years apart, Edwin van der Sar has seen just about everything the competition has to offer. But there is something new the 38-year-old Dutchman could yet achieve – namely to become part of the first team to retain club football's most coveted prize in the modern era.

Confidence
Van der Sar went close with Ajax when Louis van Gaal's titleholders reached the 1996 final against Juventus only to lose on penalties. The final that year was in Rome and with the big goalkeeper just a step away from returning to the Eternal City for this year's showpiece, he underlined his confidence that this United side have what it takes to succeed where Ajax failed 13 seasons ago.

'Better equipped'
"I think this side is much better equipped than we were with Ajax in '96," he said on the eve of United's semi-final first leg against Arsenal FC. "We had a lot of injuries, a lot of young players who had to fill gaps that were left by older players who had injuries and suspensions. So definitely. I won't say this is a bigger chance for me but we are better equipped to regain the trophy."

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Sir Alex aim
The last club to retain the prize were AC Milan, European Champion Clubs' Cup winners in 1989 and 1990. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he only learned this fact in the direct aftermath of last season's final. "When we won it last year that point was made at the press conference afterwards that no team had ever defended the trophy. I never knew that and I said to myself, 'It would be great if we could be the first ones to do that'. We are good at winning things for the first time and maybe that is a good omen for us."

'Stakes are high'
United made history as the first English team to enter the European Cup and the first to win it – not to mention the first English treble winners under Sir Alex. To get to another final, of course, they must first get past Premier League rivals Arsenal. "It is not just a Premier League game, it is a semi-final," said Van der Sar. "There is no question about that – the stakes are high, we want to reach Rome and both teams will do everything to make sure they are going to be there."

Defensive importance
If they are to better Arsenal, Van der Sar warned United would need to be at their best defensively against opponents who beat the champions 2-1 in north London in November. United have conceded twice in three of their last four games at Old Trafford – including Saturday's 5-2 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur FC. Van der Sar said: "Of course the whole team were not happy with the way we conceded on Saturday. It is important to make sure we keep them from scoring tomorrow."

( Simon Hart / UEFA )