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Jose Fonte: Southampton players must take responsibility for Europa League exit

Jose Fonte insists Southampton's players must accept responsibility for their European exit – even if manager Ronald Koeman preferred to point the finger at the officials.

Jose Fonte insists Southampton's players must accept responsibility for their European exit – even if manager Ronald Koeman preferred to point the finger at the officials.
A 1-0 defeat to FC Midtjylland in Denmark on Thursday night was enough to send Saints packing out of the Europa League at the play-off stage, with former Celtic striker Morten Rasmussen scoring the only goal of the game.
Southampton had a number of chances in the early stages but could not get an all-important away goal, with Koeman infuriated after the game as he felt his side were denied a clear second-half penalty.
That followed the Dutchman's angst after a 1-1 draw at St Mary's in the first leg where Steven Caulker saw a goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
Koeman said he was left disappointed by the officials, whom he felt missed 'easy' decisions across the tie and focused on them rather than criticising his own players.
But his captain did not toe the party line and Fonte, who saw an early diving header cleared off the line, was quick to hold his hands up when asked for his reaction to Southampton's exit.
"We weren't at our best and we weren't good enough," he said.
"Credit to them, they stuck to their game plan and executed it well. We have ourselves to blame. We need to show our face, accept the mistakes and understand that there is another day tomorrow.
"I feel sorry for the fans, but no-one is more disappointed than us. We worked hard last season to be in the Europa League and to be playing European football, but it didn't happen.
"I thought that we had more quality than them – and on a couple of different nights we could have easily beaten them, but the fact is that we didn't so we can only blame ourselves for that."
Southampton will now refocus on their stuttering domestic form having taken two points from their opening three Premier League fixtures.
Newly-promoted Norwich are the visitors to the south coast on Sunday and Fonte knows the Canaries will be hoping to take advantage of any European hangover and urged the fans to stay with the team.
"We have a big challenge ahead on Sunday in the league," he added.
"The Premier League is hard and we need to move on. That's our focus now.
"We need to pick ourselves up. Obviously it's hard, with this disappointment, to move on, but there's no alternative.
"When we go back to the training ground, it's time to focus completely on getting the three points against Norwich. I just want to ask the supporters to be behind us like they always are because we need them more than ever.
"We're lacking a little bit of confidence so we need a little bit of a boost on Sunday from the St Mary's crowd to make it a fortress like it was last year."
One positive for Koeman ahead of the visit of Norwich is the hope that both Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane will be fit to play some part after both missed the tie in Denmark.

Angel Di Maria relishing European return with PSG

Angel Di Maria is excited about making a return to the Champions League with Paris St Germain after missing out last season with Manchester United.

The Argentina midfielder joined PSG this summer in a 63 million euro (£44.3million) transfer from the Barclays Premier League giants.

He had only moved to the Red Devils a year earlier, shortly after lifting the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid.

Di Maria, who started for the first time for PSG in Friday's Ligue 1 clash with Bordeaux, a game that ended in a 2-2 draw, is expected to be included in the line-up for his side's Champions League Group A opener against Malmo at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

"It was tough for me last season as I didn't play much and it was difficult watching the Champions League on TV after I had won it the season before with Madrid," he said in an interview with Le Parisien.

"It's a magnificent competition and on Tuesday I will feel the same emotions I've had ever since I played my first [Champions League] match for Benfica."

The 27-year-old also says he is happy in France after signing a four-year contract with the defending Ligue 1 champions.

Asked about his brief spell in England, Di Maria said: "Honestly, we were not happy. At the beginning, we were a little happy but then things got complicated.

"Life in England was difficult and it isn't easy for a South American. Some people adapt, but for others it is harder."

Di Maria also admits he had a difficult relationship with United's Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, while his family became unsettled when their house in Prestbury, Cheshire, was burgled in February.

"I didn't get on very well with the coach," he said. "So I believe the decision to join Paris was the best solution.

"After the break-in it wasn't reasonable to stay. My family wasn't happy, my daughter was suffering, so it was important to leave.

"At the end of the season when I left to play in the Copa America I made the decision [to leave], and I saw there was the possibility to join PSG.

"I could have joined them a year earlier before I moved to Manchester but it didn't happen. But I think my destiny was to go to Paris.

"From what I've seen so far, our life here in France is more like the life we led in Spain or Portugal. And at the moment, we are 100 per cent satisfied."

Di Maria has been dazzled by the talent PSG has, especially that of star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"I have been fortunate enough to play with (Argentina's) Leo (Messi), with (Real Madrid's) Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (United's Wayne) Rooney, and now Ibra," he said.

"I'm really impressed by his technical quality and his movement. He is on the same level as Leo and Cristiano."

Chelsea seek to end winless home run as European football returns

Chelsea go in search of a first home win of the season at the third attempt when Jose Mourinho's side open their Champions League Group G campaign against Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Wednesday night.

The Premier League champions, who lost to Crystal Palace after a draw with Swansea in their two Stamford Bridge contests to date, face the Israeli double winners seeking a strong start in a group which includes Mourinho's former club Porto and Dynamo Kiev.

Chelsea would usually be expected to brush aside a team managed by their former midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic, but Maccabi Tel-Aviv advanced to the group stages at the expense of Basle, the Swiss side who in 2013/14 twice beat the Blues.

Jokanovic also guided Watford into the Premier League last term.

Chelsea's stuttering start to the domestic season could receive a much-needed fillip with victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who include former Blues defender Tal Ben Haim in their ranks.

The sides have never met competitively and Chelsea's only experience of Israeli opposition – in 2001/02 against Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the UEFA Cup – ended in defeat.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv lost twice to Stoke in the 2011/12 Europa League in their only contests with an English side and are in Europe's elite club competition for the first time in 11 seasons.

Attacking midfielder Eran Zahavi scored seven goals in the qualifying rounds and could be one to watch.

Chelsea exited the tournament to Paris St Germain at the first knockout stage last term and are keen to go further this season, although the priority will be to ensure at least a top-four finish in the Premier League and qualification for next season's competition.

Mourinho has not selected Papy Djilabodji, the Senegal defender signed from Nantes, in his Champions League squad in order to give exposure to promising attackers Bertrand Traore and Kenedy.

The Portuguese says he has plenty of central defensive cover, with Branislav Ivanovic among those able to operate there if needed as a fourth option.

“If he's in the Champions League squad Traore or Kenedy are not on the list,” Mourinho said.

“If Traore and Kenedy are not on the list in this moment you ask me why Traore and Kenedy are not on the list.

“Champions League can be a fantastic opportunity if they can play some minutes.

“We made that decision and because the group phase is six matches and we need to be very unlucky if in these six matches we need Djilabodji in the team, when we have John (Terry), (Gary) Cahill, (Kurt) Zouma and eventually Ivanovic.

“One thing is a short competition with six matches like Champions League, another thing is a domestic season with the Premier League and two cups.”

Manchester United include David De Gea in European plans

David De Gea looks set to be given a chance to resurrect his Manchester United career after being included in Louis van Gaal's Champions League squad - with compatriot Juan Mata backing him to remain professional.

The Spain goalkeeper has yet to feature for the Red Devils this season as manager Van Gaal said he was not in the right frame of mind to play while a transfer to Madrid remained a possibility.

But as the Spanish transfer deadline closed on Monday night, an issue with paperwork meant a deal did not happen and it leaves De Gea at Old Trafford until January at the earliest.

Should De Gea play in the group stage, he would be cup-tied should Madrid revive their interest in the winter transfer window as both clubs continue to blame one another for not getting a deal over the line.

He will be challenging fellow goalkeepers Sergio Romero and Sam Johnstone as United face PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg on their return to European competition - with Victor Valdes missing out on the squad.

Romero has been an ever-present so far for the Red Devils but, now De Gea will be at the club until at least the turn of the year, team-mate Mata has backed his fellow countryman to act professionally.

"He seems the same as ever to me, calm and relaxed," said Mata ahead of Spain's Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovakia.

"It's been a manic few days for him, he's my friend and I'm there for him for whatever he needs. Right now he's focused on the two upcoming games for the national team; being here will do him good and he's going to be as professional as he has been throughout his career.

"His personality will help him. He manages to play even better in moments of maximum pressure and stress. His personality will help him on and off the pitch.

"His hunger and professionalism are intact. We all know what a great goalkeeper he is and he would make any team in the world better. The fans will get behind him and so will the team."

Another name included in the squad is new signing Anthony Martial, as well as United's other five summer signings Romero, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay.

The 19-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Monaco on transfer deadline day for an initial fee of £36million - making him the most expensive teenager in history.

Martial, who has linked up with the senior France squad for the first time having scored four times in 12 under-21 caps, adds much-needed competition to Van Gaal's attacking options but revealed he has not been assured of his preferred central role, a position currently occupied by United skipper Wayne Rooney.

"He (Van Gaal) asked me my preferred position," Martial said at a press conference ahead of France's clash with Portugal on Friday.

"I prefer to play in the centre but he told me I could play in a number of positions - it is the coach who decides but whatever position I play, I will do the best I can.

"Since I was young people have told me I have the right characteristics to play in England and I'm really keen to develop my game in the English (Premier League)."

Having scored 15 goals in 70 appearances for Monaco, Martial insists he is not concerning himself with his record-breaking price tag.

"I don't know if I'm worth 80million euros but I don't worry about the sums," he said.

"I'm going there for the football side of things, the price is between the two clubs and I don't see myself under any pressure."

Celtic coach John Kennedy defends zonal marking after defeat by Malmo

Celtic coach John Kennedy offered up a defence of zonal marking in the wake of the Hoops' dismal European exit to Malmo.

The Parkhead men failed to learn their lesson against the Swedish side after losing a late goal from a corner in the first leg of their Champion League play-off in Glasgow.

Celtic still travelled to the Swedbank stadion for the return game on Tuesday night with a 3-2 advantage but another two goals conceded from corners saw them exit the competition on a 4-3 aggregate.

Former Hoops' defender Kennedy, speaking at Hampden Park after the Scottish League Cup draw paired holders Celtic with Raith Rovers in the third-round, explained the thought process behind the marking system employed by Ronny Deila's side.

He said: "There's always debate about zonal and man marking and it will go on for ever more.

"With the height and presence we have in the team, zonal marking has worked for us. It doesn't make it wrong because of one game.

"When you concede from man marking someone points the finger and says 'it's his fault.'

"But no one takes into consideration the team might have two players blocking the man who is trying to mark a player.

"If you go man for man it is easy to get blocks and you can take our biggest defenders out of the areas where the other team are going to put a ball in.

"Whereas with zonal, we know pretty much where the ball is going to go, we can protect the most dangerous area of the box and put our best headers of the ball in there.

"It failed for us the other night but it doesn't make it wrong.

"We had a fabulous record last year and it was obviously disappointing to concede three over two legs.

"But if you look at the whole performance, in the second leg especially, it wasn't like us.

"We have been performing of late with a real confidence and desire to attack and score goals.

"We were lacking that the other night and we have to take responsibility for that as a coaching team and players."

Celtic drop down to the Europa League but Kennedy insists the focus on domestic competition will remain strong, regardless of which European competition Celtic play in.

"You want a home tie and we got it," he said of the Raith draw.

"Regardless of being in the Champions League or not, we would still approach these games in the same manner.

"We want to win everything.

"We are bitterly disappointed with the result against Malmo but we have to get over that."