Kerstin Gerfrekes And Ana Maria Crnogorčević Celebrate Frankfurt's First Goal Against Arsenal

After helping her side overcome Arsenal LFC 4-1 on aggregate to reach their first UEFA Women's Champions League final 1. FFC Frankfurt midfielder Kerstin Garefrekes decribed the prospect of playing at Munich's Olympiastadion on 17 May as "something special", while defender Alex Scott, along with several team-mates, accepted the result was fair after being punished for "sloppy mistakes".

Kerstin Garefrekes, Frankfurt midfielder
It is something special to reach a Champions League final, especially as it will take place on German soil. We're glad we managed to go through and get the chance to play the final in Munich. We didn't give a lot away today and were strong in the tackle, which is why Arsenal weren't that dangerous. We worked hard as a team and deserved to win. We know our strengths and we didn't just want to hold on to our first-leg advantage. We are attack-minded, we can and always want to score.

Kim Kulig, Frankfurt midfielder
Arsenal are a very strong side, but we are strong too. I think we had the game under control and we deserved to reach the final. We gave a good team performance and Saskia Bartusiak was back organising the defense. We played well defensively and that was the key to our success. We're happy to play the final on German soil and I think we definitely have a chance of winning the title ‒ it doesn't matter whether it is Lyon or Potsdam.

Jessica Landström, Frankfurt forward
It feels great to win 2-0. We wanted to score today as well and not just focus on not conceding. You cannot play a game by only defending, we didn't have any plans just to defend.

Sven Kahlert, Frankfurt manager
Congratulations to Arsenal for being a strong opponent. We needed to give everything physically and I am happy that we reached the final. I was not pleased with our offensive performance in the first half, but it got better in the second half.

Alex Scott, Arsenal defender
Last week it was there for us to win the game, but today possession was not good enough and we made too many sloppy mistakes and they punished us and deserved to win today. At half-time we said, we would go out and score two goals, but then the game opened up and they punished us. We got to a semi-final, so you are pleased with that, but in our hearts we wanted to get to the final and we felt we had the squad to get there. When we play in away legs we need to be better in possession. You can't give away the ball that much at this level and we need to finish our chances.

Kim Little, Arsenal midfielder
The quality on the ball wasn't good enough. We played better in the first leg and not well enough today, Frankfurt deserved it over the two legs. We started well in the first leg, but didn't convert our chances into goals ‒ that's what has hurt us the most. We didn't concede for an hour today, but even in the first half we didn't create enough chances to score. We defended pretty well in the first leg and did OK today, but obviously our quality in the final third especially needs to be a lot better when we play at this level.

Rachel Yankey, Arsenal forward
It was not our day today, the better team won. We knew what we had to come here to get goals, but unfortunately we didn't do that. We tried and gave everything we had but it just wasn’t enough in the end. Today we weren't really good on the ball, their quality was a lot better than us.

Laura Harvey, Arsenal manager
We didn't play very well in the first half. In the second half the first goal was crucial. Last week it was our biggest disappointment, as we knew Frankfurt are very good at home. We thought that not winning the game last week was going to be hard for us. They were the better team today.

Ashley Cole Warned "Not To Take Your Eye Off The Ball" Against FC Barcelona

With memories of the 2009 semi-final defeat by FC Barcelona still vivid, Chelsea FC's Ashley Cole has warned his side "not to take your eye off the ball for a minute" on Wednesday.

Given that Chelsea FC are facing UEFA Champions League semi-final opponents who defied them in the dying seconds at this same stage three years ago, it is little wonder defender Ashley Cole has warned his side "not to take your eye off the ball for a minute" against FC Barcelona. "Any one of them could step up and do something magical," he told.

Cole remembers all too readily the agony of that semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge, when his side were seconds away from what would have been a repeat of the previous year's final against Manchester United FC. Michael Essien's early opener had seemingly done enough to earn the Londoners victory, until Andrés Iniesta crashed in a dramatic added-time equaliser to take the eventual champions through to the Rome showpiece on away goals.

The England left-back believes Chelsea paid the price for dropping their guard, and that is not a mistake he intends to repeat when Josep Guardiola's holders come calling again on Wednesday for the first leg in London. "Against a team like that you have to be concentrated for not just 90 minutes, but 94 or 95 minutes," said Cole. "We were doing well until the [93rd] minute when Iniesta stepped up with a great goal. So we know it's going to be tough.

"They've got a great manager who has been in this situation for years, and they've got so many world-class players that you can't take your eye off the ball for a minute, because any one of them could step up and do something magical. So we've got to be fully on our game."

No pre-match build-up involving Barcelona is complete without reference to three-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who has equalled Gerd Müller's long-standing competition scoring record with 14 goals this European campaign. Yet excellent though the Argentina forward has been, Cole knows there are more strings to the Azulgrana's bow than their famous No10.

"They are not just a one-man team," said Cole. "Everybody says it's all about Messi, but I don't think that's the case. All their players are world-class. Everyone thinks you've got to stop Messi and that's it, but then you get the other players who contribute. We know we've got to stop more than just Messi."

Despite the onerous nature of the task that awaits them Chelsea are in fine form. Since the departure of André Villas-Boas they have rediscovered their belief, winning nine of their last 12 matches, including Sunday's 5-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat of Tottenham Hotspur FC. Back in the last four of the UEFA Champions League for a sixth time in nine years, they also boast a 100% record at Stamford Bridge in this season's European campaign.

"The players are buzzing," added the 31-year-old veteran of 92 UEFA Champions League matches. "We went from a bad patch to progressing to the [final] of the FA Cup, and the semi-final of the Champions League ‒ not many people would have said we'd have got there in January or December. We've started to come on more as a team now, and thought 'it's down to us', because we've seen the manager go, and that was our fault, so now we've got to change things. It has turned around and hopefully we can now go on and win a trophy for the fans."

Forward Diego Lauded Atlético For Playing "Intelligently" To Reach The UEFA Euopea League Semi-finals

Forward Diego lauded Club Atlético de Madrid for playing "intelligently" to reach the UEFA Euopea League semi-finals, while Hannover 96 midfielder Jan Schlaudraff to stay positive in defeat.

Club Atlético de Madrid playmaker Diego said his team were "very happy" to have reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League as the Spanish side brought an end to Hannover 96's unbeaten home record with a 2-1 victory in Germany. Meanwhile, the hosts' midfielder Jan Schlaudraff was left feeling dejected in spite of the club's best ever European campaign, but was trying to look on the bright side when he spoke to.

Diego, Atlético midfielder
We're very happy. I have another chance to play a semi-final, which is very important for any player. Today was an important step and I was very happy to help my team. It was very tough. I think it's been 11 months since [Hannover] lost here and they're a very strong team. To come here and win took a very good performance. We played intelligently and managed to get the result.

I hope we can win the Europa League this year, but it's still too early to be talking about things like that. Of course that's our objective, but we have to get through the semis first. It's going to be a very difficult game against Valencia, but it will be a special night with two Spanish teams.

Thibaut Courtois, Atlético goalkeeper
We defended really well in the first half, but we weren't getting anywhere up front. At half-time the coach said we needed to play differently and we were much better in the second half, scoring two goals. A semi-final is very special for any player as they may only get to play in a handful during their career. Now we're up against Valencia, who are one of the best teams in Spain, so we'll see what happens.

Jan Schlaudraff, Hannover forward
I think Atlético deserved to go through. We knew that as long as it remained 0-0, we were in with a chance as we're always capable of scoring a goal. We weren't great going forward in the first half, but we were excellent at the back and didn't let anything through. Obviously, we wanted to find a breakthrough, but it was difficult after their goal. After the equaliser we had a very good phase, but they punished a needless loss of possession and that proved decisive.

I think our disappointment outweighs our pride at coming this far. That said, if you look at our season as a whole it's been very positive. Now we want to push on and make sure we're involved again next year.

Mohammed Abdellaoue, Hannover forward
Of course it's very disappointing. I thought it was very tight in the first 45 [minutes] and neither side created many chances. We knew that we had to be patient and that one goal could change the whole game. We were still in it until the end, but when they scored it made things very difficult.

Goalkeeper Elinton Andrade Will Make His First European Appearance For Marseille

Goalkeeper Elinton Andrade will make his first European appearance in almost three and a half years when Olympique de Marseille host FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Didier Deschamps has picked the 32-year-old, who has not played for OM since January 2011, ahead of Gennaro Bracigliano to deputise for the suspended Steve Mandanda as the French team seek their first win in any competition since overcoming FC Internazionale Milano in the round of 16 first leg more than a month ago.

Marseille
Coach Didier Deschamps
I have spoken to both goalkeepers and made my choice: Andrade will play in goal. I have made this decision because I think it is the best one for the team. Compared with Dortmund, Bayern have greater experience, so they are the favourites. We are going to play a great game, a piece of history for the club, against a great team.

Physically and psychologically, we will be ready. We will need to watch their two quick players on the flanks with the full-backs in order to counter their attacking football. Winning against Bayern would not be a miracle, but they are up for reaching the final and they are going through a very positive run of results. We need to put on two great performances.

Weekend result
Saturday: OGC Nice 1-1 Marseille (Monzón 76pen; A Ayew 56)
Mandanda; Azpilicueta, Diawara (Kaboré 7), Fanni, Morel; Mbia, Cheyrou; Amalfitano, Valbuena, A Ayew (Diarra 72); Brandão (Gignac 81).

• Substitute Charles Kaboré was sent off just before half-time as Marseille halted a run of seven successive defeats in all competitions, extra time included.

Team news
Souleymane Diawara and Steve Mandanda are both suspended, although Diawara would be unavailable anyway after suffering a knee injury against Nice. André Ayew has been playing despite ongoing shoulder problems that require surgery, while Loïc Rémy (thigh) will undergo a fitness test on the morning of the match.

Bayern
Coach Jupp Heynckes
We play every three days so I spent the full day yesterday analysing OM's football. They are a great team with a great coach that I know well. I have got positive feelings about OM. They play emotional football and will probably be 100% motivated. We will try not to fall into their trap; Marseille are a difficult team, very physical.

We expect a tough game in this stadium but we are confident. I am focused on this match, but we have a lot of respect for this team. We know that scoring away from home is crucial, but we did not score in Basel [and still went through] so I am not too concerned about this.

[Former OM forward Franck] Ribéry wanted OM in the draw. We understand his feelings, but he is having a sensational season and it would be great if he could win a European trophy in Munich.

Weekend result
Saturday: Bayern 2-1 Hannover 96 (Kroos 36 Gomez 68; Ya Konan 74)
Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba; Luiz Gustavo, Pranjić (Tymoshchuk 57); Robben, Kroos (T Müller 78), Ribéry; Olić (Gomez 61).

• Toni Kroos' third goal in five games set Bayern on course for their ninth successive home win. During that time they have scored 32 and conceded four. Initially rested on Saturday, Mario Gomez came on to score his 37th goal in his last 39 games for club and country.

Team news
Bastian Schweinsteiger has made just two substitute appearances since 8 February – most recently the second leg against FC Basel 1893 – because of an ankle problem and was scheduled to have a workout on Tuesday to determine if he is fit enough for consideration. Daniel Van Buyten (broken metatarsal) and Breno (knee) are long-term absentees.

Match fact
Bayern had won six of their previous nine UEFA Champions League away games before going down 1-0 at Basel in the round of 16 first leg. They overturned that deficit with a 7-0 triumph in the return, setting a new record for margin of victory in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds.

Jarl Torske Is Aiming To Make It Fifth-time Lucky This Summer

After finishing runners-up four times, Norway coach Jarl Torske is aiming to make it fifth-time lucky this summer – but he knows his side must first negotiate the second round.

Norway coach Jarl Torske believes his current crop has even more potential than the youthful squad that reached the showpiece last summer, but for now he is looking no further than the second qualifying round that begins on 31 March.
Portugal, the Czech Republic and a Belgium side that contested last season's final tournament lie between Norway and a place in July's UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship. The road does not appear too treacherous, but Torske is too savvy to fall victim to complacency – this is, after all, his 12th campaign in this competition.

"There are more teams who are doing well," he told UEFA. "You can lose against any of the top 20 in Europe if things are not working for you. The level and standard of matches is getting tougher, tighter; there are no easy matches. Still, at least we were ranked high enough to avoid Germany."

They will have been especially keen to, with memories of Norway's 8-1 final defeat by Maren Meinert's charges last summer all too raw. At the time, Torske said he was "embarrassed and humiliated", but in the cold light of day he has been able to apply a more positive slant. "All in all, when we look on this tournament, we are very pleased with what we did.

"Before that terrible second half against Germany, we beat the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, and we also put in a good performance against Germany in the opener [eventually losing 3-1]. Overall I think it was a good way of developing the players, giving them confidence. We just have to be even better next time we meet Germany."

That reunion may well come in the final tournament in Turkey this summer. "Some of key players from 2011 are still in the squad," said Torske, whose side beat Italy and Iceland 2-1 before losing by the same scoreline to Denmark in La Manga at the beginning of March. "I think we might see a more possession-orientated squad, but we will keep our direct style. I think we have a good team this year. Our chances of getting through to the finals are pretty good.

"Then, if you reach the final round then of course you want medals; and if you get to the final, you want the gold. I have been in four finals now and have four silver medals! It would be lovely to one day get a gold, but the most important aspect of this is developing the players."

Norway kick off their second qualifying round campaign against Belgium on 31 March.

Kampfakta:
NORGE - NEDERLAND 3-0 (2-0)
Sted:  Romeo Galli - Imola, Italia.
Tilskuere; 857.
Dommer: Morag Pirie - Skottland.
Kort: Ingen.

Mal: Melissa Bjånesøy str. (6.min). 2-0 Kristine Hegland (39.min). Melissa Bjånesøy (57.min).Norges lag (4-3-3): Ane Fimreite - Ida Aardalen (Ina Skaug 46.min), Maren Knudsen, Ingrid Søndenå, Anja Sonstevold - Cathrine Dekkerhus (Else Vassbø 89.min), Maria Thorisdottir, Andrine Hegerberg - Ada Hegerberg, Melissa Bjånesøy (Caroline Graham Hansen 75.min), Kristine Hegland.