Tough draw for English teams in the final 16.
The much awaited Champions League last 16 draw is out. It’s a tough draw for English teams (read London) Arsenal & Chelsea. Arsenal will be facing Italian giants AC Milan while Chelsea will face the less fancied but tough opponents Napoli. It will be worth noting that Napoli beat Manchester City to finish as runners up behind Bayern Munich.
Below is how the teams were drawn in the cream of the crop Europe clubs competition:
- Lyon v Apoel
- Napoli v Chelsea
- AC Milan v Arsenal
- Basel v Bayern Munich
- Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona
- CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid
- Zenit St Petersburg v Benfica
- Marseille v Inter Milan
All the group winners will be away in the first legs between 14-15 and 21-22 February and at home in the return matches between 6-7 and 13-14 March, 2012.
Below are some collective thoughts from some players, managers and club officials just after the draw courtesy of twitter and bbc sports. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/9663176.stm
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "You cannot avoid anybody. You would say Basel but they were a very difficult opponent for Manchester United. So you take the draw as it comes, analyse it and plan for the game. The Italian teams have a history but you don't know how it will go."
Arsenal Club Secretary David Miles: "It's probably the pick of the round. They'll be two fantastic games. If I'm being honest, there are some other teams I would have preferred. Last time we played them in season 07-08, we actually went through after winning 2-0 in the San Siro so our recent history against them is good."
Ac Milan Director Umberto Gandini: "Tie of the round. For the quality and the appeal of the two clubs it is a fantastic tie. Last time we lost 2-0 to Arsenal at the San Siro and we were knocked out by Tottenham last year. We are determined to go through. Last year we had lots of injuries but right now we are in a better status than Arsenal. But lots can change in two months. They have a great player in Robin van Persie and Arsene Wenger is a great coach."
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere on Twitter: "Hard draw but you have to beat the best to win it! Looking forward to it! #Gooners"
Cesc Fabregas on Twitter: "Woooow Arsenal vs Milan!!!! What a draw!!!!"
FAST FACT
In a knockout situation, no Italian side has ever beaten Arsenal. The English side have got through seven two-leg ties and one final.
Chelsea Club Secretary David Barnard: "It will be difficult. Napoli were in the same group as Man City and Man City are unfortunately no longer with us so that has some bearing on quality of Napoli. We all know that [Chelsea boss] Andre [Villas-Boas] has experience with Inter [Milan] so he will know the ins and outs of Napoli I'm sure. It will be an occasion. It will be a lot warmer, too as we could have got a Russian team where it would have been colder."
It will be the hope of the English teams managers that they get a good result in Italy in the away legs and also good results in London in the return legs to qualify for the quarter finals.
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In other news Manchester United draw Ajax, Manchester City will face Porto and Stoke City are paired with Valencia in the Europa League last 32.
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