Football-Sportclub

We can't afford to lose to Wolfsburg, says Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal admits Manchester United will find it difficult to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages if they lose to Wolfsburg on Wednesday night.

United had little trouble dispatching Club Brugge in the play-offs, but their first Group B game ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven.

Van Gaal believes it will be tough for United to make the last 16 if they do not win all their home games, so he wants a victory from his players in their Old Trafford meeting with the Bundesliga side.

''I think in the Champions League you need to win all your home matches otherwise it shall be very difficult,'' said Van Gaal, who lifted the trophy with Ajax 20 years ago.

"It is important we shall win."

United may be top of the league and big favourites to win on Wednesday, but Van Gaal is yet to bring the enterprising football the club's fans desire.

He insists the club are heading in the right direction under his stewardship, however, and there is no doubt in his mind he can win the league and Champions League during his time in charge.

''That is realistic because I did it everywhere,'' said the 64-year-old when asked if he could win silverware with United.

''Reaching the (Champions League) final is also an aim and winning the final is a little bit of luck.''

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich, shares his manager's optimism.

''Yes. I think (we can)," the German midfielder said when asked if United could go all the way to Milan and lift the trophy.

"But of course first of all we have to do our work.

''As the manager said we have to win our games at home.''

One man who could prove to be key to the outcome of Wednesday's game is Nicklas Bendtner.

The former Arsenal striker never lived up to expectations during his time at the London club and also hit the headlines for the wrong reasons off the pitch.

His troubles continued at Wolfsburg, where he was made to train on his own after falling out with Hecking last year.

But the 27-year-old scored a vital equaliser and the winning penalty in the club's DFL-Supercup victory over Bayern Munich in August and is now a key squad member according to his manager.

"He has reacted very well. I have seen that in training," Dieter Hecking said.

"He did have problems before but in his time at Wolfsburg he has come on a lot.

"Certainly in the last four to six weeks I have seen more development from him. He is on the right track. That is clear.

"He shows that in training, perhaps with less of the extravagance that he showed in England before, so I think he is on the right track and he will definitely be keen to play."

Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City have not failed in Europe

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini defended his side's record in Europe as he looked to get their latest Champions League challenge up and running in Germany.

City face Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday anxious to secure victory after defeat to Juventus in their Group D opener a fortnight ago prompted fresh scrutiny of their European credentials.

Despite excelling on the home front, City have continually floundered on the continent, failing to progress beyond the last 16 in four previous Champions League campaigns.

But Pellegrini, who has surpassed predecessor Roberto Mancini in at least reaching the knockout stages, insisted progress had been made since his appointment in 2013.

The Chilean said: "I don't think we have failed in Europe. In the last two years we have qualified for the next stage and then we lost against the best team in the world, Barcelona. We have beaten Bayern Munich twice.

"Last year were in a complicated situation and we won our last two games.

"So we know how to do it. We just lost a game against Juventus, which was a strange game.

"Now we are trying in the next five games to qualify for the next stage of Europe."

City will have to find a way to succeed without captain Vincent Kompany after the defender, who has missed the last three games with a calf injury, was again ruled out.

In his absence City have conceded six goals in their last three games. Prior to the Juve loss, with Kompany fully fit, they had won five in succession without being breached.

While Kompany did not travel to Germany, there was at least hope over three over players nursing injuries in David Silva, Joe Hart and Yaya Toure. All three were part of the squad and will be assessed prior to the game.

Pellegrini said: "Of course Vincent is a very important player. He is our captain and he has started the season very well but I don't think one player is so crucial. We won the last six games of last season without Vincent."

Pellegrini himself only made the trip on time after an embarrassing late dash back home for the right passport.

The Chilean arrived at Manchester Airport ahead of his squad's chartered flight to Dusseldorf as expected on Tuesday afternoon, but was spotted leaving in a taxi soon after. He later admitted he had blundered over his passport.

"It is not important," he said, trying to laugh off the incident at his pre-match press conference. "I have two passports and I brought the wrong passport."

Pellegrini shared media duties with Kevin de Bruyne who, on a personal level, has made a flying start to his City career after his £54million move from Wolfsburg a month ago.

The Belgian has scored on his last three appearances, but he said he would swap that for a better run of results.

The 24-year-old said: "It is nice to score goals, but I prefer to win to be honest."

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique rues loss of Andres Iniesta to injury

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique admitted his side's first win in Champions League Group E came at a price with Andres Iniesta set to join Lionel Messi on the sidelines.

Iniesta went off with a hamstring injury before late goals from Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez denied opponents Bayer Leverkusen a famous victory at the Nou Camp.

The Germans led through a 22nd-minute strike from Kyriakos Papadopoulos and had chances to extend their lead before Enrique's men turned the tie around in a 92-second spell.

Enrique described the injury to Iniesta - which follows the news that Messi is likely to be sidelined for up to two months with a leg injury - as "terrible news", adding: "These are thorns in our side we have to shake off.

"My players deserve a huge amount of credit for turning around a very difficult situation. It was a tough night - the second game without our best player and our second win."

Barcelona's win moves them to the top of the pool with four points from their opening two matches after an opening draw at Roma, but the top three sides are separated by a single point.

Enrique added: "It is always tough to overcome the kind of pressure Bayer put on us tonight.

"I said when we were drawn in Group E that it was a tough group. I'm really happy for the win. It's time to celebrate with my family, and on to the next one."

Per Mertesacker warns Arsenal have to learn lessons from Olympiacos loss

Defender Per Mertesacker warned Arsenal must quickly learn how to regain their dynamic style at the Emirates Stadium to salvage any hope of staying in the Champions League.

The Gunners slumped to a 3-2 home defeat against Olympiacos on Tuesday night, when stand-in goalkeeper David Ospina dropped a corner over the line as the Greeks went on to record a first win in England at the 13th attempt.

Arsene Wenger's squad are now bottom of Group F, having lost their opening two Champions League games for the first time, and are in real danger of failing to sustain their record of making it to the knock-out stages for the past 15 seasons.

Arsenal next face a daunting double header against pool leaders Bayern Munich.

German World Cup winner Mertesacker believes the players can regroup to produce the required response, provided they take on board the harsh lesson of Tuesday night, when Arsenal allowed Olympiacos to move 3-2 ahead less than a minute after they had drawn level.

"At home we should be much more aggressive from the start and be more dynamic. That is what our game is all about, possession, but also dynamic-wise we should do much better, with the tempo and the speed," said Mertesacker, who turned 31 on Tuesday.

"We need to come back to that if we want to be more successful in the Champions League and to qualify, we need to do much better.

"When we play like we did (on Tuesday), with that lack of concentration and discipline, then we have got no chance.

"Everyone is disappointed, but we will get up and fight for a minimal chance (of qualification).

"We play Bayern Munich twice in a row and that is a big chance for us to show what a great team we are.

"We have to prove that we can show up with another performance, to play more aggressive, be more direct to the goal and be more convincing."

Arsenal host Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United on Sunday.

Petr Cech is expected to be back in goal, with Wenger indicating the summer signing from Chelsea was carrying a minor injury concern following last weekend's win at Leicester.

Centre-back Laurent Koscielny was forced off in the second half against Olympiacos after looking to have picked up a hamstring injury while making a slide tackle, so will be assessed.

Mertesacker hopes the Arsenal players can use their shortcomings on Tuesday as a positive in the build-up to the United clash.

"We have got a couple of days to look back on that performance. I think everyone will have regrets and it is good to take that away," Mertesacker said to Arsenal Player.

"It will take a couple of days to recover and to think about Manchester United and play in a different competition, which will be a good opportunity to come back to the Emirates and play our football with possession and dynamism."