Schalke Coach Felix Magath Satisfied With 'Deserved' Draw With Valencia

Felix Magath was pleased that Schalke managed to earn a draw against Valencia in Tuesday's Champions League match.
Schalke coach Felix Magath was pleased with his team's 1-1 draw away to Valencia in the Champions League and the gaffer feels that the result was fully deserved based on the Germans' performance.

"It was a deserved draw. We came out very well for the match and deserved the goal. We performed and played well," he said according to Kicker.

"We controlled the game in the second half," he added, according to AS. "Victory would have been a better result, but I'm satisfied with the draw."

Roberto Soldado opened the scoring in the first half, but die Knappen were much improved after the break and levelled through the magnificent Raul, who netted his record-tying 70th goal in European competition.

"This match demonstrates Raul's class, he created the goal. We have a chance in the return leg," Peer Kluge stated.

Manuel Neuer echoed his team-mate's comments and said, "It was important that we came back, and that Raul had his flash of inspiration."

More about → Schalke Coach Felix Magath Satisfied With 'Deserved' Draw With Valencia

Schalke Striker Raul: Scoring In The Champions League Is Always Special

Schalke striker Raul says it is always a special moment scoring in the Champions League.
Schalke striker Raul has praised his side for their determination to get a positive result against Valencia in the Champions League.

The Spaniard also equalled Filippo Inzaghi all-time European goalscoring record, when he found the back of the net for the 70th time in the 64th minute.

"The result is a good one, but the tie is still wide open," the 33-year-old told Marca after the match. "Valencia is very strong at home and away, and has illustrated this so far in the competition.

"The Champions League is a very special tournament for me. I'm happy to keep scoring goals but mainly for the benefits it represents for the team."

Raul was also pleased with the fans treatment of him in his return to Spain.

"I saw lots of banners, and appreciate the warmth with which they have treated me," he commented.

More about → Schalke Striker Raul: Scoring In The Champions League Is Always Special

Schalke Striker Raul Moved By Return To Spain To Take On Valencia

Schalke striker Raul says he is moved by his return to Spain for the first time since leaving Real Madrid, to take on Valencia.
Schalke striker Raul will be playing a match in Spain for the first time since leaving Real Madrid over the previous summer, and the 33-year-old says the game against Valencia will be a "memorable" one for him.

The hitman was not too keen to face a Spanish side in the knockout stage of the tournament, but believes the German side will play with a strong mentality and overcome Los Che.

"This is the first time I've been back in Spain since going to play in Germany so for that reason it's going to be a memorable game for me," Raul told UEFA.com in a pre-match press conference. "I received a very warm and affectionate welcome here. It was very much appreciated.

"This is going to be a Champions League game in which I really want to feature, against a great team like Valencia with great supporters.
"If you had asked me beforehand perhaps I would not have chosen a Spanish team at this point, especially when you consider that Madrid and Barcelona are among the favourites to win the tournament. Valencia are a very strong side and are currently playing at a very high level. They are third in their championship and full of confidence.

"With the backing of their supporters they will set a high tempo but we are confident we can do some damage. We know how to compete against them. What we need to do on Tuesday night is to go out mentally focused, full of concentration and looking to exploit our strengths while playing as a team," he added.

More about → Schalke Striker Raul Moved By Return To Spain To Take On Valencia

Bayern Munich Are After Revenge Against Inter - Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

Bayern midfielder Tymoshchuk is confident of taking revenge on Inter in the first knockout round.
Bayern Munich midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk has spoken ahead of the club's UEFA Champions League tie with Inter and explained that revenge is high on the agenda for the Bundesliga club who suffered defeat to the Italians in the final of the competition last year.

"Well, the first game we will play away from home and Inter are beginning to gain shape and play confidently. They are a good team, but they have their weaknesses and we need to use them to our advantage," Tymoshchuk told Sport-Express.

"Of course we will need to concentrate for the full 90 minutes and we look forward to a positive outcome. We must take revenge for last year's final," the former Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder was quoted as saying.

Bayern will not travel to San Siro to face the Nerazzurri until Wednesday week, as the first leg of the knockout round is staggered over two weeks for the second season in succession.

More about → Bayern Munich Are After Revenge Against Inter - Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

Bayer Leverkusen's Michael Ballack Sidelined With Knee Injury

A club statement has revealed Bayer Leverkusen's Michael Ballack will be sidelined with a left knee injury.
A Bayer Leverkusen statement has revealed star midfielder Michael Ballack will be out of action for several days with a knee injury.

Ballack was left on the bench in his side's 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, despite being told to warm up for approximately 40 minutes.

The 34-year-old has aggravated an old left knee injury, and should recommence training during the middle of the week.

"Whether he will be able to be back on Tuesday when the team does their first training sessions of the week depends on the process of the treatment," the statement said.

Coach Jupp Heynckes had previously stated he did not use the German international because he wanted to slowly re-introduce the player into the team.

Ballack had only returned to action in late January after being on the sidelines with a shinbone injury. He had previously missed the 2010 World Cup with an ankle injury he suffered during the FA Cup final playing for Chelsea against Portsmouth.

Leverkusen currently sit in second position on 42 points, three points clear of Bayern Munich, but 10 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

More about → Bayer Leverkusen's Michael Ballack Sidelined With Knee Injury

We Showed Courage Against Hannover - Werder Bremen Coach Thomas Schaaf

Thomas Schaaf complimented his confident Werder Bremen team, but remained critical of his players' loose passing.
Coach Thomas Schaaf praised Werder Bremen's courage following his team's 1-1 draw with Hannover, but was critical of the lack of passing sharpness his players displayed.

"We tried everything over the 90 minutes, but made it harder for ourselves by conceding," he said according to Kicker.

"In the second half, we were courageous and were rewarded with a goal. What we still lack is security in our passing."

Bremen were dominant in possession throughout the match, but suffered a calamitous error in defence ahead of Didier Ya Konan's opener. After the half-time break, Per Mertesacker rose high to head home the equaliser, but the Hanseaten were unable to net a winner before full time. The result saw Werder advance out of the relegation zone, but Schaaf's men remain just one point clear of the drop.

More about → We Showed Courage Against Hannover - Werder Bremen Coach Thomas Schaaf

Borussia Moenchengladbach Sack Coach Michael Frontzeck

Michael Frontzeck has been dismissed from his role as Borussia Moenchengladbach coach.
Borussia Moenchengladbach have parted ways with coach Michael Frontzeck, the Bundesliga club announced on their official website.

"After the two defeats to both our direct competitors St. Pauli and Stuttgart we had to rethink our situation," sporting director Max Eberl said. "That was a very hard decision for us."

A week ago, die Fohlen blew a two-goal lead against Stuttgart, and lost 3-2. Yesterday, St Pauli earned a 3-1 win against the struggling side, which was the last straw for the Gladbach management.

According to Kicker Frontzeck's possible replacements include Gladbach U-23 coach Sven Demandt, former Gladbach senior coach Hans Meyer, and former Bochum and Koeln gaffer Marcel Koller. Demandt is tipped as favourite, although an official announcement has yet to be made.

Frontzeck leaves with Gladbach seven points from safety from relegation, having earned just 16 points from 22 matches.

More about → Borussia Moenchengladbach Sack Coach Michael Frontzeck

Borussia Dortmund Coach Juergen Klopp Enraged By Neven Subotic's Red Card

Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp hit out at Florian Meyer's decision to award Neven Subotic a second yellow card.
Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp was annoyed to see his side reduced to ten men but he also admitted that the league leaders did not do enough to earn the three points as they drew 1-1 in Kaiserslautern.

"We had a lot of bad luck of course but the result is fine. We did not deserve anything more because although we were the better side, we did not do enough with that," he told the club's official website.

"What really annoys me was the red card for Neven (Subotic) after his second yellow - that was for nothing. We are top of the fair play standings. I think that in such situations referees should show a little bit of discretion. I cannot understand the decision at all."

Die Borussen's lead over Leverkusen currently stands at ten points with twelve matches to play. Their next opponents are St Pauli, who travel to the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.

More about → Borussia Dortmund Coach Juergen Klopp Enraged By Neven Subotic's Red Card

Official: Stuttgart Sign Shinji Okazaki

VfB Stuttgart have signed Japanese striker Shinji Okazaki on a free transfers from Shimuzu S-Pulse.

The 24-year-old forward has scored 21 times in 38 appearances for his national team, thus catching the eye of the Bundesliga strugglers.

Okazaki has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena, and will arrive at his new club on Friday.

The player told Stuttgart's official website, "I hope that I can contribute a lot to this team. I feel that my strengths are my ability to run, and in front of goal.

"In recent months I've felt a lot of stress, but another strength of mine is that I'm very resilient. I just need a few days to turn off, and then I'll be back in great condition.

"I know that the Bundesliga is a very physical, very high-level league. I'm looking forward to this challenge."

Okazaki scored three goals at the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar, which Japan won by beating Australia in extra-time in the final.

More about → Official: Stuttgart Sign Shinji Okazaki