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Xabi Alonso: Mourinho is one of the best
Feb 21, 2013 5:00:00 PM
The Spain international claims he has grown as a player and a person under the Portuguese, who he says has a "good working relationship" with Iker Casillas
| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £27.00 | Draw £38.00 | Real Madrid £25.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £25.00 | Draw £35.00 | Real Madrid £26.20 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.00 | Draw £34.00 | Real Madrid £26.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.00 | Draw £36.00 | Real Madrid £25.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £25.00 | Draw £35.00 | Real Madrid £26.20 |
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The Spanish champions have all but surrendered their domestic crown to Barcelona, while they face a tough challenge in progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals following their 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
The club have also been subject to continuing rumours of dressing-room disharmony, particularly since Mourinho's shock decision to drop captain Iker Casillas at the end of last year, but Alonso has played down any notion of a spat between the pair and insists he remains one of the best coaches in the game today.
In an interview with Vanity Fair magazine, the Spain international said: "[Mourinho and Casillas] maintain a good working relationship as coach and player, but they don't have to go out for a beer.
"As a coach he is very, very good. One of the best in the world. He has made me grow personally and professionally.
"He is excellent at empathising with players. Take it from me, first hand."
The former Liverpool man then admitted he was unhappy with the club's results so far this season and stressed the need for los Blancos to remain united through both good and bad times.
"I hear everything and see the differences between what is real and what is published. And we cannot be denying things all the time. We are and must be a team, we have to be together, because it is a team sport.
"When the results are good everything seems prettier; when things go bad, it seems like all conflicts, personal disputes and problems arise. But it is true that this year we are not happy because we have lost more often than usual."
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
6:40 PM BST
And now the Bayern line-up! The only small surprise here is that Jerome Boateng has been preferred to Daniel van Buyten alongside Dante at the heart of the defence. As expected, Mario Mandzukic has got the nod up front ahead of Mario Gomez.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Mandzukic.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Mandzukic.
6:36 PM BST
Borussia Dortmund have announced their starting line-up for tonight's Champions League final!! And it's as we predicted, with Kevin Grosskreutz starting on the left-hand side and Marco Reus moving infield to fill the void left by the injured Mario Gotze.
Dortmund XI v Bayern: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Bender; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski.
Dortmund XI v Bayern: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Bender; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski.
6:31 PM BST
Questions rolling in for our own Carlo Garganese over on Twitter, the most left-field of which comes 'I'm Moeg, Sien jy! @MurGyver 34s', who writes:
"Is it true that players can't wear underwear in the final?"
Surely you have to log on now for no other reason than to find out the answer to that cracking enquiry?!
"Is it true that players can't wear underwear in the final?"
Surely you have to log on now for no other reason than to find out the answer to that cracking enquiry?!
6:26 PM BST
Bayern have arrived at Wembley! The legendary Lothar Mattheus will obviously be cheering on die Roten this evening, but he is just hoping that Fussball is the winner tonight:
"The whole world will watch the game," the World Cup winner told Sky Sport Germany. "It electrifies the masses. Never before there was so much talk about a Champions League final than this time.
"Both groups of fans know the whole world is watching. We have to present ourselves similar to the way we did at WC 2006 because it brings a lot of sympathy. Today we have another chance to present Germany in a positive way."
Unfortunately, there were reports of some clashes between rival sets of fans earlier in the day, but, happily, the atmosphere at the ground is wonderfully good-natured.
"The whole world will watch the game," the World Cup winner told Sky Sport Germany. "It electrifies the masses. Never before there was so much talk about a Champions League final than this time.
"Both groups of fans know the whole world is watching. We have to present ourselves similar to the way we did at WC 2006 because it brings a lot of sympathy. Today we have another chance to present Germany in a positive way."
Unfortunately, there were reports of some clashes between rival sets of fans earlier in the day, but, happily, the atmosphere at the ground is wonderfully good-natured.
6:18 PM BST
Former Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was present at the Champions League festival earlier and he is tipping his former side for the title: "I think Bayern are a little stronger but if I was to have a bet, I would bet on Dortmund because that would win me more money!"
However, our tipster Hugh Wilson reckons that the value is a punt on both sides scoring in the first half ...
However, our tipster Hugh Wilson reckons that the value is a punt on both sides scoring in the first half ...
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