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Arsenal and Chelsea qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League after winning their respective final group stage matches. Arsenal needed to win by two clear goals against an Olympiakos side who have always been difficult to beat at home. The Gunners responded in emphatic fashion as a Giroud hat-trick meant they defeated the Greeks 3-0.
On the other hand, Chelsea needed to avoid a loss against Porto at Stamford Bridge and the Blues went on to do better; defeating the Portuguese side 2-0 to seal their qualification for the knockout stage as group leaders.
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Here are a few thoughts from players, managers, and pundits all over the world on Arsenal’s win:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “We had a perfect performance on the tactical and mental side too. Overall it was a real team performance. It will make us stronger and strengthen the belief of the squad. It is a special night for us because, as we said before the game, we were in escape mode. We needed something special and when you deliver something special it can create positive memories for the rest of the season. Maybe it’s a lucky year for us in the Champions League, you never know.
“It is a fantastic achievement for us. When you look at who we’ve lost in the last three weeks, we’ve lost Coquelin, Cazorla and Alexis among other long-term injuries, not many people gave us a chance. We are a real team. In the dressing room this team is very close and you could see that again today.”
On Giroud’s hat-trick: “It was a perfect performance because he scored a header, one with a good combination thanks to a good pass by Campbell, and also a penalty on top of that. He was sometimes in uncomfortable positions but he fought like mad and he has shown skill and character. I always defended Olivier on the character side because he has always had something special on that front. He showed that in the game again today.”
Aaron Ramsey: “It was obviously a great result for us,” he said. “We believed that we could come here and get a result, and we managed to do that. We never make it easy for ourselves and this is another example. It’s something that we’ve managed to do in the end and we’re just delighted that we’re in the hat. Hopefully now we can have a good draw and then who knows what can happen.”
On Giroud: “He’s been in really good form this year and to get a hat-trick in the circumstances just shows how important he is for us,” the Wales international told Arsenal Player. We’re delighted with his contribution and hopefully he can keep up this goalscoring form that he’s in. He links up the play really well, he’s a good target man who can flick balls on, bring balls down and bring other players into play. He can score goals as well so he has a bit of everything.”
Alexis Sanchez:
Jack Wilshere:
Theo Walcott:
Arsenal fan and broadcaster Piers Morgan:
Gary Lineker:
Here are a few thoughts from players, managers, and pundits all over the world on Chelsea’s win:
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: “The thing that I’m most happy with, apart from the result, is the fact we needed a point to qualify and the players accepted the challenge of playing to win. That’s not easy when the moment is bad, results are negative and pressure is high. They were brave to accept that challenge. Apart from that I felt the first goal was fundamental. When we scored they were in a difficult position because they needed to win, a point wasn’t enough for them. We knew we could conceded a goal and still qualify.
“What gives me confidence is the fact that we have been playing okay for the last couple of months, the results haven’t been as good as the work we do every day and the way the players are playing. We could have had different results against Stoke, Tottenham, Bournemouth.
Speaking about the first goal, Mourinho said, “The piece of luck we had with the first goal tonight we’ve never had in the Premier League. It was a great decision by the official on the goal-line and we never get that in the Premier League, despite the fact it’s goal-line technology.
“When the game started both teams were under pressure, when we scored the first goal the picture was different. We were more calm, more relaxed, the players could be in control of the game and the situation for Porto was more difficult.
On the Chelsea fans’ support, “It’s the minimum we can give to our supporters, which are magnificent to us, at this moment they give us more than what we deserve, especially to myself, they are unbelievable in their support towards me, I feel really sorry that I cannot give more than what I’m giving.”
Willian: “I’m very happy; we played well, played with confidence and deserved to finish top of the group so I have to say congratulations to the team. The manager spoke to us and gave us the confidence to play that way, now we have to continue like that in the league. It was a good performance, not only by me but the whole team, and I was very happy with my goal.”
“Of course, we have to turn the situation around but in the Champions League we’ve played well,' he added. 'We have to go step by step, we have some great players and we’ve been a bit unlucky but we have to continue to fight. We know the Champions League is very difficult but I think we have a great chance of staying in it until the end.”
John Terry: “With our league form the way it is at the moment the fans needed that and the players certainly did. We produced a real big performance in a big game, we needed to top the group and we have done. We’re delighted and all round it was excellent. In the league we’ve been lacking a bit of confidence but in the Champions League we’ve been scoring goals, winning games and as we showed last night looking very fluent and dangerous.
“ Hopefully we can take that into our league form. We go to Leicester on Monday, which will be tough because they’re playing well, but if we can play like we did against Porto we’ve got a good chance of pushing up the league. We’re delighted to be in the draw, I think there will be a lot of teams fearing us. Let’s see what comes our way.”
Ex-Chelsea player Andre Schurrle:
Gary Lineker:
