Rate it!

10 votes

All the reaction from Wednesday's Champions League games - with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez disappointed that his side did not go on to beat Atletico after taking the lead.

Group D

Atletico 1-1 Liverpool

Rafael Benitez: "I think we had control of the game in the first half and part of the second half and I'm disappointed because we had chances to finish the game off. We then made a mistake in the 83rd minute and we paid for it. I think the entrance of Kun (Sergio Aguero) gave more depth to their play and we defended worse, and they also took advantage of the favourable wind in order to play long passes against us."

Javier Aguirre: "It's important not to lose at home following the recent results (having lost the Madrid derby at home to Real at the weekend). We try to win every match. We created more chances in the second half and we were much more decisive. I don't know if the draw is a good result: we will have to see."

PSV 2-0 Marseille

Huub Stevens: "We played with passion today, very disciplined and enough patience to wait for the chances to come. We created enough chances and could have scored more but 2-0 is a good result. It logical that Saturday's defeat (2-1 at NAC Breda) created unrest in the squad but after a match like this confidence will be back."

Erik Gerets: "I was amazed at the way we started the second half: after the goal we totally collapsed and finally I was glad the match was over. We played against a tactically well-organised opponent, who closed down the centre of defence but left us some possibilities on the flanks, but I simply cannot explain why we played so poorly in the second half."

Group A

Chelsea 1-0 Roma

Luiz Felipe Scolari: "I told the players beforehand that this would be a tactical game. If we pressured this team and made one or two mistakes then maybe we would lose. I told them to stay calm. Sometimes 1-0 is more important than 5-0: you have to respect the quality of the opposition. They didn't come just to defend, they tried to play. They don't have one striker in the box, they have five or six players arriving and it's difficult to control. When I was Portugal coach and we played England I was always afraid when (John) Terry came into my area and warned my players that he was decisive and if he got a touch, it was dangerous. Now I'm here I say to him: I want the same."

Luciano Spalletti: "We showed a great attitude and good spirit and this is something we need to carry forward so we can get back to the way Roma play. Sometimes tonight we tried to press forward too much but it certainly sets the tone for what we need to do. The only way Chelsea were going to score was a set-piece, or if they created something from nothing. I think we deserved more out of the game and our performance should give us confidence for the home match against them."

Bordeaux 1-0 CFR Cluj

Laurent Blanc: "I'm very pleased with this result. We didn't concede a goal and that makes things so much easier. We deserved to win tonight and that's why I'm pleased. You can always improve your game later. Cluj have been a surprise but after their results, we were prepared. If you are good enough to win in Rome then you're a good team. We had to battle and we did. We had to be strong and we were. Now we are in contention. We can keep on hoping and we're still alive in this group."

Maurizio Trombetta: "We lost for the first time in the competition but they didn't score, it was an own goal. I think it should have been a draw which would have been a better reflection of the game. But I want to congratulate my players, they played well. We had a few problems in the first half but afterwards we improved and had opportunities to score. I'm more pleased with our second-half performance and it is important to stress that we are still in second place."

Group B

Internazionale 1-0 Anorthosis Famagusta

Jose Mourinho: "It has not been possible to play a fantastic game and have a performance like (during the weekend 4-0 win at) Roma, but the players played with great professionalism."

Temuri Ketsbaia: "It's hard to compliment my players when we have lost, but I give them credit for the match they've played."

Panathinaikos 2-2 Werder Bremen

Henk Ten Cate: "We are very disappointed. Today was a day with very bad luck for us. Everybody could see we were the better team and deserved to win. But maybe our luck will change now. I think five points will be enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup and seven for the Champions League. We still have nine points to play for so it is up to us to do it."

Thomas Schaaf: "We scored the opener against the run of play and were able to build on that. Panathinaikos started to put pressure on us and we couldn't get forward as much as we wanted. In the second half we had more chances and had to start taking risks. It's a good sign that we were able to react after going 2-1 down, to get back into the game. Given our chances in the latter stages we could have won, but we can live with the point."

Group C

Basel 0-5 Barcelona

Pep Guardiola: "We will not let the result go to our heads, but it was important for the future. It is never easy and the players always had to work and give their maximum but we did what we wanted to do, running the ball and playing well between the lines. Yes, it's a luxury to have Bojan on the bench, but it's a luxury to have all the players that we have. Results like this always help to justify the coach's decisions. We're only in October and the breadth of our squad gives me lots of possibilities. I would never field a player who I did not have 100 per cent trust in, however, and all the players in the squad have earned that trust."

Christian Gross: "I think what happened to us will definitely happen to one or two others this season. Don't forget they beat Atletico Madrid 6-1 this month and Atletico are also in the Champions League. When they're in possession with their speed and the commitment of their midfielders they present huge problems around the area - and we could find no solution at all tonight."

Shakhtar 0-1 Sporting

Paulo Bento: "It was an even game, a good result that is fair given our effectiveness in attack and quality in defence. We're closer to the objective, but there is still a very complicated match to come (against Shakhtar)."

Mircea Lucescu: "The result isn't a fair one. Sporting only had one chance, which they took. We deserved a draw at least but that's football and we have to win the return match. I think we have the ability to beat Sporting at their place as they didn't look better than us tonight. We started well but after ten minutes lost our way. I never expected our players to be so sluggish in midfield, losing most of the battles for the ball. It was a bitter surprise for me that our two central defenders, international players, would be so nervous."

Eurosport