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Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admits he has great affection for former club Swansea but he hopes to send them away from the DW Stadium unhappy on Saturday.

The Swans have surprised many with how well they have adapted to their first season in the Barclays Premier League.

They appear to have done enough to survive, sitting 14th on 30 points, and Martinez has nothing but admiration for the team he played for and led to the League One title as boss in 2008.

But Wigan have always been closer to his heart, as his first club in English football, and with games running out to secure their survival he knows there is no room for sentiment.

"I have a huge feeling for Swansea, it is a special club," said the Spaniard, whose side can not only move off the bottom of the table with a win but can lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

"It is understandable when you spend seven seasons there like I did going through a rollercoaster of emotions trying to achieve promotion as a player.

"As a manager we were able to be very successful starting from scratch. Those are memories I will never lose and I am extremely proud of them - I always hope the best for them but on Saturday I won't be able to share that feeling.

"I am looking at the position we are in with Wigan, more than ever it is a really important period for the club.

"Swansea are not a newly-promoted side any more and for the first two-thirds of the season they deserve respect and huge credit from everyone.

"They will come and get on the ball, keep the ball for long spells and we have to find a way to carry on playing well and achieving the points we need - that is my focus and my concentration.

"If I was concentrating on other things I wouldn't be helping myself."

Martinez will have to make a late decision on the fitness of some of his internationals.

Paraguay defender Antolin Alcaraz and Honduras defender Maynor Figueroa had long trips after playing for their countries in South America and were not expected to arrive back until Friday afternoon.

Defender Gary Caldwell sustained a cut leg playing for Scotland in midweek but he is expected to recover.

Martinez may have given Joe Allen his first run in the Swansea side but the midfielder also insists there will be no room for sentiment. Allen was handed his Swans debut under Kenny Jackett but it was Martinez who first played him on a regular basis.

The 21-year-old has subsequently gone on to become an integral part of Swansea's squad and has won many admirers for his impressive performances this season.

If Swansea, who are nine points clear of the drop zone, can extend Wigan's miserable record at the DW Stadium and pick up their third win on the road it would move them ever closer to safety, and leave the Latics firmly in the mire. Allen says any sympathy for Martinez will be put on hold.

He said: "He was someone who showed faith in me and gave me my first real run of games so I will be eternally grateful to him for that as will a lot of players who are still here from his regime as well.

"From a personal point of view you could feel sympathy for him but as professionals we are representing Swansea City and the brutal reality is that we are competing against every team in this league and I don't think we can allow ourselves to feel sympathy for any players or managers.

"It is ruthless and a tough league and still at this stage of the season there are a lot of points to be won and there are sure to be a few twists and turns between now and the end of the season.

"Our away form has not been as consistent as we would have liked and maybe the fact that they have won only once at home could work against them.

"We think it is time to start improving that side of our game. We have got be hopeful and go into the game with a strong belief and that we can come home with all three points."

Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm has overcome a virus to be available.

The Holland international missed last week's trip to Stoke but has now recovered, with strikers Danny Graham and Leroy Lita also expected to be fit after being hit by the same illness.

But midfielder Kemy Agustien is facing a lengthy lay-off after surgery revealed his ankle injury was worse than first thought.

Hosts Benfica trailed 3-2 on aggregate going into the round-of-16 second leg at Estadio da Luz.

But goals from Maxi Pereira and Nelson Oliveira sealed victory, sending the Liga Sagres side through to the quarter-finals.

"Our tactics and strategy went well tonight," Jesus said.

"We were up against a great team, the best in Russia."

"It was important to score first as we knew they could cause us problems if we didn't. Once we went ahead we were able to hit them on the counterattack."

"In the second half, they had more possession but we could have made it 2-0 earlier. I was pleased that Nelson Oliveira was able to finish the match off."

"If possible we would like to face an English opponent in the next round, maybe Chelsea. I wouldn't like to face Real Madrid, they have many Portuguese - and former Benfica - players."

Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti felt his team were undone by their lack of experience in Europe's elite club competition, particularly away from home.

"We must admit that Benfica deserved the victory," Spalletti said.

"We underperformed and we still lack experience at this level."

"It has been a feature of our away games that our opponents have shown more quality and we have encountered a mental barrier that we need to overcome."

"We did not perform as well as we can tonight. After the break we tried to control the game and created a number of chances that could have earned a result, but Benfica were simply better than us this time."

"Reaching the last 16 is a major achievement for us and we performed solidly all season. Today we weren't so good but we've had great wins during this campaign - against FC Porto, for example."

"When you are in the knockout stages you can't expect opponents to make mistakes that will make life easier for you. You need to be at your peak."

Di Matteo was installed as caretaker this week for the rest of the season following the sacking of manager Andre Villas-Boas on Sunday.

Portuguese coach Villas-Boas was rumoured to have been undermined by an influential group of senior players during his brief tenure at Stamford Bridge, and Di Matteo duly left veterans Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba on the bench for Tuesday's cup tie at St Andrew's.

Goals from relative newcomers Juan Mata and Raul Meireles helped Chelsea run out 2-0 winners against Championship side Birmingham, booking their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Speaking afterwards, former Chelsea player Di Matteo said his team selection was not an attempt to exert his authority over the old guard.

"It was nothing to do with bravery," Di Matteo told Sky Sports when asked about leaving out the big names.

"They're all on board and they know what target we have, which we must achieve."

"There are big players for this club and we have a squad and we have to utilise the squad because we played on Saturday, played tonight, we play again on Saturday now, so we have to get the best out of these players and the team."

"It was just a question of freshening up the team a little bit, giving some fresh legs and some energy for a game like this because we knew we had to fight and so that was the only idea."

Di Matteo said he was disappointed to no longer be working alongside former Porto coach Villas-Boas, and declined to comment on whether or not he would seek the full-time role as Chelsea manager.

"It has been a difficult time," he said.

"It's been difficult for the whole club. When events like this happen, we've lost a great guy (Villas-Boas)."

"But you have to deal with it. Tonight we had to focus on this game and move on as a club, put it to one side and move forward."

"Would I take it (the manager's job)? I'm very tired tonight. I have to think about Stoke City from an hour's time onwards, and that's all I'm thinking about."

"Think whatever you want to think. I'm not thinking about anything else."

Source: Perform Sports

The English Premier League club came into Tuesday's Champions League round-of-16 second leg trailing 4-0 to Serie A title holders Milan.

The hosts netted three times in the first half of the match at Emirates Stadium, but proved unable to force another goal in the second period, allowing their Italian visitors to progress 4-3 on aggregate.

"We had no midfielders at all on the bench and we suffered a bit, when we got tired in the second half, to keep the ball and get them more fatigued," Wenger said.

"We knew we had given a lot and had some players who are not used to playing at that level in midfield, like (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain."

"Some players had knocks and we needed to score goals and not concede against a team like that, and I felt our defenders were absolutely outstanding today."

"Otherwise I'm sure we would have scored two or three more goals in the second half, but we put a performance in with fantastic spirit and restored some pride after the first leg."

"We had chances throughout and we can keep our winning run going, and that is important. Unfortunately we have paid the price for the bad first game."

"Overall, we have given everything and that's all you can do at the top level. Give everything, and afterwards you can accept the result even if it's a disappointing one."

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie nearly made it 4-0 just before the hour mark, pouncing on a rebound from Gervinho's initial strike.

Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati gathered van Persie's lofted effort comfortably, and it proved to be one of Arsenal's last real chances in the match.

"I think he (van Persie) wanted to chip the goalkeeper because he was down, but he got up quickly," Wenger said.

"Abbiati did well and unfortunately we couldn't score. I hoped that in the last 10 or 15 minutes we could create some dangerous situations in front of goal but unfortunately that didn't happen."

"We didn't have enough drive anymore and because we played with too many strikers, we needed free kicks and crosses and we didn't get them."

Source: Perform Sports

Serie A side Milan held a commanding 4-0 lead going into Tuesday's second leg of their round-of-16 tie with English Premier League club Arsenal.

The hosts raced 3-0 ahead during a remarkable first half at the Emirates Stadium, but ultimately fell one goal short of completing what would have been a memorable comeback.

After seeing Milan scrape through 4-3 on aggregate, Allegri acknowledged his team's tactical and technical errors during the contest.

"We played with three forwards and certainly suffered too much (as a consequence)," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"We conceded on the first corner and that affected us greatly; then we made too many mistakes in our passing in midfield."

"I'd say we got the game completely wrong from a technical point of view, as we played too deep defensively."

"It's a shame about the defeat, but the objective was to get through. Now we have time to get a few more players back from injury."

Allegri also denied his players had been overcome by fear during a torrid first half for the visitors.

"I did not see the team afraid as such; there are experienced players here," he said.

"But in the dressing room (at half-time) I simply told them we had to wipe the first half from our memories and start from 0-0."

"In any case, I am not too worried. It was a crucial game and it would've been a truly massive psychological blow for the rest of the season if we'd gone out (after leading) 4-0 from the first leg."

Serie A league leaders Milan now turn their attention back to the defence of their Scudetto and a home match with Lecce on Sunday.

They will discover their Champions League quarter-final opponents when the draw for the next stage is held on March 16.

Source: Perform Sports

Juve were held 1-1 at home to Chievo on Saturday, allowing title holders Milan - who have played one game more - to move three points clear at the top, as they demolished Palermo 4-0.

Some home supporters jeered the players following the disappointing result in Turin, which was Juve's fourth draw from their last five matches in Serie A.

They can draw level on points with Milan if they beat Bologna in a rescheduled fixture on Wednesday and Conte feels his players, who are still unbeaten in the league this term, have every reason to be proud of their efforts.

"Why should my players feel depressed, given the extraordinary season we've been having? Quite the opposite," Conte said.

"Let's not look at what the others are doing and keep focused on ourselves, let's think about giving all that we have, starting with myself, and then we'll see at the end of the season what all this will bring about."

"Up to now all this effort we put in made us competitive once more, made Juventus respected on every pitch we play and feared by our opponents again."

"Now our opponents give their absolute all if they want to beat us. That's what all our effort has brought about up to now, so I don't see any reason why we should feel depressed, quite the opposite."

"I think we should be very proud and satisfied with what we've been doing and obviously we need to continue like this until the end of the season and only then we can see what position we will be in on the table."

"As I always tell the guys, it's important not to regret anything or anyone, let's continue giving all that we have."

Juve travel to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to take on 14th-placed Bologna, who have won three of their last four matches.

The fixture was postponed last month due to bad weather.

Source: Perform Sports

Manchester United moved two points from the Barclays Premier League summit after condemning Tottenham to a 3-1 defeat with a brutal display of clinical finishing.

Tottenham dominated large parts of the game but were lacking in creativity and when given the opportunities, United were simply devastating.

Spurs thought they had taken the lead when Louis Saha's shot flew in off Emmanuel Adebayor but referee Martin Atkinson ruled it out for a handball and from then on, the visitors put the home side to the sword with a display that showed exactly why they are firmly in the hunt for their 20th league title.

Wayne Rooney rose to nod home an Ashley Young corner on the stroke of half-time and the former Aston Villa man then went on to add two in the second half - the first an acrobatic scissor kick, and the second a world-class drive from 30 yards.

Jermain Defoe pulled one back for the hosts with three minutes left but the game had already long gone by that point.

The defeat - Tottenham's first at home since Manchester City thumped them 5-1 in August - effectively ends any marginal hopes the Londoners may have had of clinching their first title since 1961 and they are now only four points ahead of Arsenal ahead of a tough run of fixtures.

United, meanwhile, sit two points behind leaders and bitter local rivals Manchester City and the season looks set to be decided by the showdown between the two next month.

This fixture has brought about many classics in the past, but today's game started off slowly on a soggy afternoon in north London.

The absence of the suspended Scott Parker, injury victim Rafael van der Vaart and the ill Gareth Bale hit Spurs, although Sandro and youngster Jake Livermore did their best to deal with the imposing United midfield.

The visitors dominated the opening 15 minutes with Paul Scholes giving a master class in dictating the play in the middle of the park.

The Red Devils failed to fathom any chances, though, and Spurs soon started to take a grip on proceedings.

Aaron Lennon, recalled to the starting line-up after missing the past six games, rushed forward after cutting in from the flank before Jonny Evans put in a crucial block.

David De Gea nervously palmed away a shot from Adebayor, who burst forward after picking up Sandro's pass.

The crowd sensed a goal and Lennon continued to cause havoc down the right, whipping over a ball that ricocheted about the box. Tottenham suspected the ball had hit a United hand but Atkinson shook his head.

Younes Kaboul then fired a bullet of a free-kick that went just wide before Rooney ventured forward only at the other end only to be cut out by Ledley King. Spurs poured forward looking for an opener and they thought they had it in the bag in the 38th minute.

Lennon snuck in to the box and Saha turned his cross straight at Adebayor, who backheeled the ball into the net.

However, he appeared to control the ball with his arm and referee Atkinson disallowed the goal.

The home contingent in the sell-out crowd vented their fury at Atkinson and their despair deepened on the stroke of half-time as United took the lead.

Sandro saw yellow for a late tackle on Young and the resulting free-kick saw Spurs concede a corner that led to United going ahead.

Young swung the ball in and Rooney found space in front of Kyle Walker to head home with Brad Friedel well beaten.

Spurs came out for the second half fired up.

Livermore stung De Gea's palms with a fierce drive before Kaboul headed narrowly wide.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto skimmed the top of the bar with a wicked curling free-kick as Tottenham looked certain to equaliser.

The home crowd were stunned in to silence on the hour, however, as United added a second.

The Spurs defence switched off, allowing Nani to skip in to the box and fire a cross that ricocheted in to the path of Young, who adjusted his body to fire in a fine scissor kick.

Ferguson immediately brought on Ryan Giggs for Scholes and the travelling supporters mocked the home side by chanting "Harry for England".

United were starting to play some sublime football and their third came in the 68th minute in spectacular style.

Tottenham's defence backed off Young and he made them pay by unleashing a brilliant 30-yard strike that flew in over an outstretched Friedel.

More taunts came from the away fans as United threatened to go on the rampage.

Harry Redknapp brought on Niko Kranjcar, Danny Rose and Defoe to freshen things up and the move paid dividends to a minor extent when Defoe pulled back a consolation.

The former West Ham man picked up a wayward ball and advanced towards the United back line before belting home a 25-yard drive.

Spurs continued to push forward but two more goals in the three added minutes was too tall an order and United walked away with all three points.

Author by : Astro