Real can cope without Beckham - Capello

Fabio Capello is confident Real Madrid cope without David Beckham in their crucial Champions League match with Bayern Munich.Beckham will sit out the last-16 second leg in Munich, where Madrid defend a 3-2 advantage from the first meeting, after suffering a knee injury during Sunday's league game with Getafe.

The former England captain, who is set to be absent for around four weeks, has been playing well for Madrid since returning to the team and his loss is a blow to the Spanish giants.

However, Capello said: "David Beckham is playing very well, like he knows how to. But he is injured, so we just have to move on."

The Italian coach also shrugged off suggestions in the media that Madrid will be a less potent force without Beckham present.

"I am used to many people thinking they know more than we do. But I am certain that my team will be 100% ready to play."

Gerrard: We Can Beat Anyone

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool can win the Champions League again after beating Barcelona.

Gerrard lifted the famous trophy in Istanbul in May 2005 after that never-to-be-forgotten comeback against AC Milan.

And he believes the Reds can conquer Europe again after eliminating the holders on Tuesday night.

Rafa Benitez's side went through on away goals despite a 1-0 second-leg defeat by the Catalans at Anfield.

And Gerrard says he doesn't fear anyone as the Reds await Friday's quarter-final draw.

He told The Daily Mirror: "It was an awesome performance to put the holders out and over two legs we definitely deserved it - we are ready for anyone now.

"We should have beaten them, but when we conceded the goal at the end we showed more spirit, more grit, more determination than them. We were throwing bodies in the way, putting bodies on the line, and we have laid down a marker."

Gerrard hailed Rafael Benitez as "one of the best managers in the world".

And striker Craig Bellamy, who was in hot water for his antics at a training camp ahead of the first leg against Barcelona, believes it was the team spirit many critics felt he had shattered that carried Liverpool into the last eight.

Gerrard said: "We all have total respect and confidence in Rafa Benitez. He has shown he is one of the best managers in the world, and he shows it with the tactics he used in Europe.

"We always trust him to get it right, and he did it again this time.

"It was all about hard work, in both legs. The effort put in by everyone has been rewarded. We were unlucky not to go in ahead at half-time in the second leg.

"But Barcelona are so good going forward, they play such nice football, but we stuck in there and are in the last eight now.

"We have got great spirit, grit and determination - people were throwing bodies about - and that's one of the reasons we're through.

"This now gives us great confidence, going through against the best side in Europe over two legs."

Prior to the first clash with Barca a fortnight ago, it was Bellamy's alleged brandishing of a golf club in a row with colleague John Arne Riise that threatened to splinter the team bonding Benitez had so carefully planned.

But Bellamy has salvaged his Liverpool career with a match-winning display in the Nou Camp, and a hard-running, selfless performance at Anfield.

Now Bellamy says: "Over two legs usually the best team goes through and we were the best team. Did we prove people wrong? It wasn't an issue, not many of the critics get it right anyway.

"But that is the beauty of the game. You never know what is going to happen.

"In a great competition like this against a great side like this we still had a chance. In the first half we hit the bar twice and really took the game to them.

"The second half was very difficult. They really stepped up a level and we were hanging on a bit."

He added: "It was an amazing occasion and the biggest night of my life. It was incredible when you consider the tempo and everything about the match. I have never experienced a game at this level.

"It is all about team spirit. When you come to a club like Liverpool, with what they have won like the European Cup the season before and then the FA Cup, it is all about spirit.

"There is always a great team spirit anyway. But when you arrive and mix with these players, you know it is a family club.

"You come in and you are all together. Against a team like Barcelona everyone has to contribute and that is what has happened.

"Now I will watch the other games tonight and see who goes through, see who we get on Friday in the quarter-final draw. But it is going to be a tough game, that's for sure."

Bellamy admitted the tension almost got to him as he watched from the bench after being substituted.

He said: "Hopefully we can carry on the momentum as we have just beaten the European champions. I was a little bit worried on the bench late on, and didn't know whether to go inside and watch it on the telly.

"But I can't remember them having a proper chance after the goal. There were not that many nervous moments, but Barcelona can cut you open.

"We had to concentrate all the way through but credit to our defence as well. That was my first start in the Champions League at Anfield so it was really special."

Disparity begins at home for Deco

FC Barcelona's European dreams may have disappeared into the rainy Liverpool night but according to midfielder Deco, the defence of their UEFA Champions League title was dealt a fatal blow with their first-leg defeat on home soil a fortnight earlier.

'Big disappointment'
Reflecting on Barcelona's elimination on away goals, after last night's 1-0 success at Anfield failed to undo the damage of a 2-1 home reverse, Deco said: "It was hard to win here but we managed it. Where we should have won or at least avoided defeat in theory was at home." Not since Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard's own playing days with AC Milan have the European champions retained their crown but that statistic is unlikely to lighten the gloom at Camp Nou. "It is a big disappointment to lose," added Deco. "If we had scored sooner it would have become more complicated for them."

Ronaldinho miss
It was an argument echoed by goalkeeper Victor Valdés, who said: "It was a shame we scored with time running out." Barcelona struck the game's only goal through substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen after 75 minutes and could be forgiven for wondering what might have been had Ronaldinho's curling shot not rebounded off a post early in the second half. At the same time, however, they rode their luck in the first half, when Liverpool were twice denied by the woodwork - and the visitors failed to muster a single shot on target.

'Lost the tie at home'
"It was a difficult first half against a good team who had the advantage of playing at home," said Deco. "We needed to get back the two goals we lost at home but although we had the ball but we couldn't find a way through. They defended really well in the first half but it was impossible for them to keep that going. We played well in the second half, against a tough team who are difficult to break down. But the truth is we lost the tie at home."

Praise for Reds
While Barcelona's players flew home from Manchester this morning to start preparing for the weekend's Spanish league showdown with arch-rivals Real Madrid CF, Liverpool's players can now look forward to Friday's quarter-final draw. And according to Deco, Rafael Benítez's team, the 2005 champions, have a "good chance" of going even further. "Liverpool have a great team and a great coach," he said. "They've shown that when they get a lead it's very difficult to break them down, especially at home

Roma bow to the bossa nova

Mancini credited a mix of "technique, strength and samba" for his crucial goal against Olympique Lyonnais as AS Roma won 2-0 in France to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

Backheel of God
With his side 1-0 up, the 27-year-old Brazilian, nicknamed 'Tacco di Dio' - the Backheel of God - ever since a cheeky strike against city rivals S.S. Lazio in November 2003, controlled a long Francesco Totti pass before taunting Lyon's Anthony Réveillère with four step-overs, beating his man and drilling the ball home. "It was a beautiful goal and I'm very happy because I scored in a difficult and important match," Mancini said. "It was a mix of technique, strength and samba but mostly I'm happy to have helped Roma to win. We hope to be the big surprise of this UEFA Champions League even if we know it will be very difficult."

Historic win
Mancini's effort, allied to an earlier strike from Totti, helped Roma take the wind out of the home side's sails and handed Lyon a first UEFA Champions League defeat at the Stade de Gerland since 2002. With Roma having been held to a 0-0 draw in the home leg, it was a remarkable outcome. "It was an unforgettable night for us," admitted captain Totti as he reflected on the game. "We proved to everybody that we are very competitive in Europe. Being among the best eight sides in the continent is a great satisfaction for us, the reward for all of our great work."

Final plans
Friday's draw holds no fear for Totti. He said: "If we keep playing like we did against Lyon, we can believe in our chances of reaching the final in Athens. Our coach [Luciano] Spalletti has done a terrific job fielding a very united team that can defend well and attack with great pace." Mancini was not concerned about their opponents in the last eight, preferring to focus on Roma's own performances. "We only need to continue playing like this until the end of the season," he said. However, Totti was hoping that AC Milan would cross his side's path before too long.

Milan meeting
"I hope they beat Celtic [FC in the second leg of their last-16 tie in Milan] and that we will get them in the draw so we will have anther very fascinating tie and an Italian team will be sure of a place in the semi-finals," said Totti, who will be keeping a close eye on what happens at San Siro tonight.

Simons provides PSV heartbeat

If consistency is key to success in the UEFA Champions League, then in Timmy Simons, PSV Eindhoven have just the man to lead them into the quarter-finals.

Ever present
Simons is ever-present for PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie this season and is one of only three players to have appeared in every minute of their UEFA Champions League campaign. Another strong 90 minutes will be demanded of him if PSV are to prevail against Arsenal FC in the first knockout round.

Careful start
The 30-year-old Belgian international anchors Ronald Koeman's midfield and he expects a difficult night on Wednesday as Arsenal seek to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat. "We're in a good starting position but Arsenal have proven in this stadium that they can do great things, so it will be tough," he said. "I expect Arsenal to start carefully because if they concede a goal it will make things very, very difficult for them because they will need to score three."

Key role
Simons was an Eredivisie winner in his first term with PSV last year, and is on course to repeat the feat thanks to a dynamic partnership forged with veteran Phillip Cocu. Simons provides the solid base that allows 36-year-old Cocu to press forward, a selfless role that the former Club Brugge KV favourite is happy to take. "My task is to organise the team and give it balance, as well as clean up after the mistakes of my team-mates," he said.

'Complete confidence'
Coach Koeman will look to his experienced midfielders to steady nerves as the injury-hit side bid to pull off a shock in north London. Defenders Jan Kromkamp and Manuel Da Costa are the latest names on a lengthening casualty list, but Simons, who scored in PSV's 2-0 victory over Galatasaray SK in October, believes his team have the strength in depth to see off Arsenal. "I have complete confidence that the boys who are available can do the job 100 per cent," he said.

Ljungberg calls for patient approach

Fredrik Ljungberg knows all about patience. A succession of injuries has made sure of that, restricting his appearances and preventing him from making the sustained impact this season Arsenal FC fans have become accustomed to.

Enthusiasm
Now back to fitness, the Sweden midfielder believes patience will be key if Arsenal are to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit at home to PSV Eindhoven in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League. "It's always good to have enthusiasm and not be scared of the occasion, but I think at the same time we need to have patience in the game," he said. "If we don't score in the first minute, we'll just keep on going, play our game and not get frustrated.

Cool heads
"They're going to defend very deep, so even if after 70 minutes it is still 0-0, we will have to keep cool heads and keep on playing our game. In the end I think we'll score. The way we play football, it is important that we keep our patience. Of course, we could put a couple of centre-backs up front and put the ball in the box, but that's not the way we play. We want to keep belief in our game and keep on playing like that for 90 minutes."

Wenger belief
Ljungberg, 29, brings experience to a youthful Arsenal side at a crucial time. Defeats in both domestic cups have left the UEFA Champions League as the only realistic route to silverware, and manager Arsène Wenger thinks a rejuvenated Ljungberg could yet have a telling part to play this term.

A winner
"The positive thing is, he's fresh," Wenger said. "His season has been disturbed by many injuries - small ones, but one after another. For a top player, when you are out physically for a period it is very difficult to be sharp, but in the last two games he has been very sharp and really to his best. Freddie likes March, when things become very important. He's a winner and always has the extra little resources in the big games to make the difference."

Hopeful
Ljungberg certainly hopes so. "I'm looking forward to the game. We were in the final last year and we don't want to go out at this stage this season. [Losing in Paris] was a major disappointment and still hurts, so we definitely want to go through."

Ambrosini ready to stand tall

As AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti prepares to name his team to face Celtic FC in the return leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie at San Siro on Wednesday, he will be conscious of the threat the visitors pose in the air. This might just lead him to reinforce his side by fielding the towering Massimo Ambrosini.

Care taken
The Rossoneri are slight favourites after the goalless draw in Glasgow a fortnight ago, and the 29-year-old midfielder is ready to help out against the Scottish champions. "We must ensure we control the match by keeping possession, but we must also be aware of the smallest details such as not giving the ball away in dangerous places or losing our markers on set-pieces," Ambrosini said.

Cautious Celtic
The Italian international believes Celtic will have more or less the same approach as in the first leg. "In Glasgow we had the match in our hands on the whole," he said. "Celtic are likely to play the same way, on the counterattack, and will be dangerous at set-pieces. We are starting as favourites, but we know we cannot afford to make any mistakes and must make the best of the chances we create."

Balance
The inclusion of Ambrosini could mean Ancelotti fielding a 4-4-1-1 formation with Kaká supporting a lone striker and a solid midfield. "The balance of the team is what counts most, it is the basis of success," Ambrosini explained. "It's not about the formation or the tactics we use. The side must be balanced and have a positive attitude. This is what we want to do in theory, but now we have to do it in practice."

Physical challenge
Celtic have lost eleven of their last 12 away games in the UEFA Champions League, including the last three in the group stage, but Ambrosini does not consider this an advantage. "We cannot think about that," he said. "We know we are at home and we are confident of winning, but we also know that you don't get second chances in the Champions League. It will be a physical match because that is characteristic of this Celtic team, but we have to attack ourselves because we are at home and want to please our fans."

Experience
Ambrosini, a Milan player since 1995, does not just use his 1.82m frame in defensive situations. He has a habit of scoring crucial goals in latter stages of games, such as the 2005 UEFA Champions League semi-final against PSV Eindhoven, or the recent Serie A victory against UC Sampdoria. And he is prepared to go all out for a win on Wednesday. "We must take advantage of our experience in the competition," he said. "We need to be motivated, strong and aggressive."