SCZONE chair showcases investment opportunities to US institutions, companies    Eight Arab, Muslim states reject any displacement of Palestinians    Egypt launches 32nd International Quran Competition with participants from over 70 countries    Al-Sisi reviews expansion of Japanese school model in Egypt    Egypt launches National Health Compact to expand access to quality care    Netanyahu's pick for Mossad chief sparks resignation threats over lack of experience    EU drafts central energy plan to fix grid bottlenecks and save billions    United Bank to roll out specialised healthcare financing packages, including green financing: Kashmiry    US warns NATO allies against 'bullying' American defence firms amid protectionism row    Egypt signs $121 million deal with Cheiron for oil output boost    Egypt's NUCA, SHMFF sign New Cairo land allocation for integrated urban project    Egypt declares Red Sea's Great Coral Reef a new marine protected area    Gold prices fall on Thursday    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt assumes COP24 presidency of Barcelona Convention    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Giza master plan targets major hotel expansion to match Grand Egyptian Museum launch    Australia returns 17 rare ancient Egyptian artefacts    China invites Egypt to join African duty-free export scheme    Egypt calls for stronger Africa-Europe partnership at Luanda summit    Egypt begins 2nd round of parliamentary elections with 34.6m eligible voters    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt scraps parliamentary election results in 19 districts over violations    Egypt extends Ramses II Tokyo Exhibition as it draws 350k visitors to date    Egypt signs host agreement for Barcelona Convention COP24 in December    Al-Sisi urges probe into election events, says vote could be cancelled if necessary    Filmmakers, experts to discuss teen mental health at Cairo festival panel    Cairo International Film Festival to premiere 'Malaga Alley,' honour Khaled El Nabawy    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Omar Hisham Talaat: Media partnership with 'On Sports' key to promoting Egyptian golf tourism    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Mourinho hopes to end Real Madrid's Lyon jinx
Jose Mourinho will try to do what no other Real Madrid coach has managed by beating Lyon in the Champions League when the teams meet Tuesday in the first leg of the round of 16
AP Published in Ahram Online on 21 - 02 - 2011

Although Mourinho's ambition is to win the Champions League as coach of three different clubs, his immediate task is beating Lyon.
The seven-time French champions have proven to be a thorn in Madrid's side recently. Lyon is unbeaten in six matches against Madrid _ winning all three of the home games _ and eliminated the Spanish club from the last 16 last year.
"I am not losing sleep over Lyon or any other team," Mourinho said after Madrid's 2-0 win over Levante on Saturday. "Ever since we drew Lyon, we have been studying and learning about them." Lyon captain Cris hailed Mourinho as big-spending Madrid's "best signing of the season," while coach Claude Puel thinks he has already improved the team's work ethic.
"Mourinho has the ability to get the best out of his players," Puel said on Monday. "They might be a bit more balanced now with industrious players in midfield." Mourinho knows he is under immense pressure to restore Madrid's European pedigree _ a task he is not taking lightly despite the gulf between the sides. Lyon reached the semifinals for the first time last season, while Madrid has won the competition a record nine times.
"It's been years since Madrid made it (to the quarterfinals), and it's because they have never beaten Lyon," he said.
Cris thinks that that Lyon's unbeaten record is a psychological plus they can fall back on.
"Of course we think about that, it's normal. There's a certain rivalry between the teams," he said. "There were some articles (written in the Spanish press) last year that did get to us a bit." Last season, Lyon's late equalizer in Madrid eliminated the Spanish club, then coached by Manuel Pellegrini.
Lyon beat Madrid at home and drew away in the 2005-06 group stages and did so again the following season when Madrid was coached by Fabio Capello, the current England coach who eventually led Madrid to the Spanish title.
Mourinho won the Champions League for the first time with FC Porto in 2004, and again with Inter Milan last year. But the odds are against him matching the treble he achieved with Inter last season.
Madrid is five points behind Barcelona in the title race and also plays the league leaders in the Copa del Rey final in April.
For Puel, even one trophy would be nice.
Now in his third season, Puel has yet to win anything. He regularly feels the wrath of the club's fans and has twice needed the public backing of president Jean-Michel Aulas.
Puel has taken Lyon further in Europe than any other coach, but is likely to be replaced if he fails to win a trophy.
Lyon has scored eight goals in the last two games to move within four points of French leader Lille.
"We're coming into form at the right time," Lyon defender Cris said.
Lyon had some bad luck when Argentina forward Lisandro Lopez injured his hamstring in training on Thursday, ruling him out of Tuesday's match.
"It's tough for us to lose him for such an important game," Puel said. "He has the ability to rally the team around him." Puel will likely put Cesar Delgado wide left and play Bafetimbi Gomis in the lone striker's role with France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff just behind him. Gourcuff scored with a volley against Nancy, but is still short of his best form.
Madrid, meanwhile, is close to full strength.
Mourinho rested midfielders Xabi Alonso and Mesut Oezil along with defender Pepe against Levante, and brought on striker Emmanuel Adebayor as a late substitute.
Mourinho must choose between Adebayor or former Lyon forward Karim Benzema as his main striker, with top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina winger Angel Di Maria on either flank.
Puel is impressed by how quickly Adebayor has settled in since his loan move in January, despite hardly featuring for Manchester City in the first part of the season.
"He is quite surprising because he's got back to his best level in no time," Puel said. "You'd think he'd been there for months. You can ask yourself why he wasn't playing more in his previous club when you see how well he's playing." But Benzema hopes his goal against Levante, and his excellent recent performance against Brazil where he scored France's winning goal, will be enough to persuade Mourinho.
"If I'm lucky enough to play I will do everything I can," Benzema said. "This match will be different to last year. Our team has changed ... I think we are going to defeat Lyon and win the Champions League."

Clic here to read the story from its source.