A Round up of recent events!!

Most of Europe's elite footballing clubs made it through to the knock out phase of the prestigious UEFA Champions League.. The likes of Real Madrid, Barca, Juventus, AC Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea and other strong teams alongwith defending champions Liverpool cruised through into the knockout phase... But surprisingly 2 time winner and 1999 champions, English giants Manchester United crashed out of the competition after a 2-1 loss to Portuguese club Benfica... Man U had to win their last game if they had to progress but their European exploits for this season has come to a premature end...

The knockout phase promises to provide viewers with an exciting line up of matches... The knock out phase though will begin only in the month of Feb.. The rules of the knockout phase are basically like this... The winner of a particular Grp say GRP A in the 1st round will meet the runner up of another grp say GRP C.. The draw for these matches is made by drawing lots... So a lot of things depend on luck... Last year's favourites Chelsea and Barca were expected to reach the finals but Barca were dumped by Chelsea in the knockout phase... So we can expect some fireworks once the draw has been made...

In the EPL former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp has created a controversy by returning to manage his former club Portsmouth just an year after leaving them in unceremonious circumstances.. Redknapp left Pompey last season to join arch rivals Southampton but he could not prevent Southampton's relegation... REdknapp has now returned to Pompey who sacked their manager Alain Perrin after a string of disappointing results which sees them just 2 places above bottom club Sunderland...

In another important development REal Madrid have sacked their Brazilian coach Wanderley Luxembourgo.. Real have been going through an indifferent spell which sees them 6 points off the pace from league leaders Barca... Luxembourgo is thought to have been in danger ever since Real's humiliating 3-0 loss at the Bernabeu to arch rivals Barca... Real have appointed Jose Ramirez Caro is the interim coach... The likes of Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Sven Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello etc have been mentioned as possible replacements though they have all rejected Real's advances so far...

And finally tribute must be paid to Scottish champions Rangers who have become the 1st Scottish team ever to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League.. Rangers achieved this feat after holding Italian giants Inter Milan to a creditable 1-1 draw at home... Rangers manager Alex McLeish has been in a spot after his side's poor run in the domestic league where they find themselves 17 points behind leaders and Old Firm rivals Celtic... McLeish's job had been on the line but the club's directors have given him the green light...

Anyways thats it for now... Hope you enjoyed it...