Anticipation Reaction Judgement the UCL Draws

ANTICIPATION

           AS Monaco has shocked Arsenal to progress through the quarters as Psg make a comback 
against Chelsea to progress through to next round as bayern, barca , porto & juve cruise past shaktar , man city, basel & dortmond respectively as real & athletico madrid had a scar to progress past schakle & leverkusen respectively as all the eight team made quarters to make draw for themself to progress past last eight to four.

REACTION & JUDGEMENT

AS MONACO  VS  JUVENTUS

Leonardo Jardim, Monaco coach

Juventus are among the biggest sides around. They are favourites for our tie. We're lucky to play the second leg at home. We'll try to make the most of this quarter-final. They have top-quality players who have plenty of unity and togetherness.

Pavel Nedvěd, Juventus director

I am happy because we will be facing an opponent that we respect, but I see chances for us to qualify for the next round. We have a chance, but all matches start at 0-0 and the chance to qualify is 50%. Fortunately we don't have to travel too far, we're playing close to home [in the away match], so we'll see if we can make it to the semi-finals.

I am always cautious. Monaco managed to knock out Arsenal, who are a big team, and they played two impressive legs. If you don't approach Champions League matches with the right concentration, you risk being eliminated.

Vadim Vasilyev, Monaco vice-president

My first reaction is happiness – happy that Monaco are here among the best eight teams in Europe. People often forget where we have come from. Two years ago we were playing in Ligue 2, whereas Juve will win the [Serie A] title for the fourth consecutive season. There's not much to say – they are the favourites, but we are not afraid, we have nothing to lose and we will play these two legs with a lot of pleasure.

I am not optimistic, I am not pessimistic. We will approach the tie in a serious way. As I have said, we have nothing to lose; we have already gone further than expected this season. In football anything is possible, so we will try our best.

BAYERN MUNICH VS FC PORTO

Josep Guardiola, Bayern coach

The draw is the draw. All teams have a special quality. Porto and Shakhtar were in the same group, so we have already watched a few of their matches [during the round of 16 scouting of FC Shakhtar Donetsk]. Porto have a great team and a great stadium. They are very strong physically and attack with a lot of pace. But in the quarter-finals you cannot expect an easy match.

Philipp Lahm, Bayern captain

We could have drawn a more uncomfortable opponent. But Porto reached the quarter-finals in convincing style and they showed their quality. For us it is important to get a better result in the first leg than in the round of 16 [0-0 at FC Shakhtar Donetsk].

In football today it doesn't really make a difference if you play the first match home or away. Porto are a technically strong side, they don't just defend with a deep line but want to take the initiative as well. We will have more possession in both matches, so everything will depend on our performance.

Manuel Neuer, Bayern keeper

The atmosphere in Porto is very tasty. I witnessed the Porto fans during the 2004 Champions League final against Monaco – the atmosphere was amazing. With these fans it won't be easy for us, but we have played in many different stadiums with various atmospheres and we will know what to expect.

Vítor Baía, former Porto goalkeeper

This was one of the least desirable opponents, but there are no impossibles as the tie starts at 0-0. Last time we came across Bayern [in the 1987 European Champion Clubs' Cup] we weren't favourites but we won. On a perfect day with a perfect game, anything can happen.

Fernando Gomes, Porto ambassador

At this stage of the Champions League all the teams are difficult. We drew Bayern, a club that everyone knows is a powerhouse in European and world football. They are a great team made up of top players and have a great coach. We believe in the project we are all working on. We believe in the ambition and the youth of our team. We believe we can have a big say in this tie.

We have a strong desire to win but we know the tie will be decided out on the pitch. It is a tie that doesn't have a favourite. The favourites will be revealed over the two legs, and I believe that over the two legs we can come out on top. We know Bayern's history and we also have our own European pedigree. We have a young ambitious team that can show its true value over this two-legged tie.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN  VS  FC BARCELONA

Jordi Mestre, Barcelona vice-president

Paris are a side we know well. We have played each other a number of times, including in the group stage this season. They are a good team and we will have to fight a lot. In the quarter-finals every side is strong, but Paris are a very strong outfit and it will take a lot to beat them. In principle the fact Zlatan [Ibrahimović] and [Marco] Verratti are out for the first leg helps us because they are two very important players – and we also play the second leg at home.

Nasser El-Khelaifi, Paris president

We all remember that fantastic match against Barça last September. Whatever happens, we will be looking to qualify. This tie is a real challenge for us. I have total confidence in our players, in the coach and his staff. They proved in the last 16 that with courage, determination and talent we can overcome the greatest of challenges.

Now more than ever, we are ready for these two exciting matches. It will be a very important moment in the history of this club, that has been waiting 20 years to play a Champions League semi-final. Our objective remains unchanged: to reach the highest possible level in Europe.

Olivier Letang, Paris director 

At this stage of the competition all games are difficult – the teams that have reached the quarters are the eight best teams in Europe. In the group stage both clubs had their day, because we won in Paris and Barcelona won in Barcelona. This time we will play for qualification for the semi-finals. May the best team win. We can only regret that they will be missing [Verratti and Ibrahimović through suspension]. Anyway, we have a strong team, a quality squad and a month to prepare and think about these two games.

REAL MADRID VS ATHLETICO MADRID

Diego Simeone, Atlético coach
They are great opponents, as are the other seven clubs at this stage of the Champions League season. We will have a big game ahead.

Clemente Villaverde, Atlético managing director

Real Madrid were in the hat and we will face them again, making it eight times this season. When these things happen you just have to take it on the chin. Remembering what has been and gone doesn't help at all. We have to concentrate on this tie and give Madrid the respect they deserve. Football has no memory, it is lived day to day. It would be a mistake to think of our last few results against Madrid. All that matters is the here and now.

Emilio Butragueño, Madrid director

Atlético are a competitive side. We have faced each other a lot this season and know each other well. They're a side who know how to compete, they don't concede many goals, are good from set pieces and get the best out of every situation. We will see if we can beat them and come back for the semi-final draw. The Champions League is a different competition altogether. You never know if it's an advantage playing the second leg at home. We have to be at our best because we know exactly the difficulties that we're going to face. We need to be right on it if we want to go through.