WrestleMania Diary: Shawn Michaels, Introduction

It was uncomfortably silent when Shawn Michaels warily toed the aisle for the first time in his career on Oct. 16, 1984. In an undersized arena that’s possibly no longer standing in Texas today, a Lake Charles crowd devoid of reaction met Michaels, a sandy-haired youth with a pure and charming smile as he crossed through the ring ropes.

More than two decades later, an attending audience that’s exponentially larger – plus a worldwide viewership watching from home – will sit in a respectful awe when HBK, a veritable ring marvel, is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Richly inspired by his athleticism, showmanship and expression of genuine heart, the WWE Universe will embrace The Showstopper’s high honor as he’s rightly exalted for performing like no one else in all of sports-entertainment.

In one night, his legendary ladder top leap, fulfillment of the boyhood dream and repeatedly masterful dances on The Grandest Stage of Them All will be celebrated in grandeur – on the eve of WrestleMania XXVII, appropriately enough.

Michaels’ squared circle career was born just months before Vince McMahon hatched WrestleMania – two phenomena that evolved in parallel until Michaels seized the event as his personal stage for excellence. Christened “Mr. WrestleMania” after consistently unforgettable performances, HBK completes his grandest ambition at The Show of Shows this year, but this time there is no championship, no rivalry, no battleground. This time, it’s simply a guaranteed glory that Michaels has undisputedly earned over the course of a 26-year career.

Journey with WWE.com for its annual WrestleMania Diary, following a WWE Hall of Fame Inductee for the first time ever, and traverse beside Shawn Michaels for his finest of moments and the full festivities of a tremendous week in Atlanta, concluding with the 27th edition of WrestleMania.

BUILT BY ASSOCIATION
All it took was the initial exposure to Joe Blanchard’s Southwest Championship Wrestling in the HemisFair Arena to convince Shawn Michaels. Raucously cheering for the likes Bruiser Bob Sweetan, Michaels, a self-admittedly shy youth, conjured a dream to chase and a passion to fulfill from the sound of the very first ring bell.

Introduced to and trained by Jose Lothario, Michaels’ squared circle apprenticeship earned him a spot on the roster of the American Wrestling Association (AWA). Here, Shawn was first paired up with an equally energetic competitor with a comparably frenetic ring style: Marty Jannetty. As the Midnight Rockers, the young tag team kicked off their careers, ascended their division ranks, captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship and readjusted their aspirations to a larger pond with much bigger fish in the World Wrestling Federation.

ROCKIN’ OUT, ROCKIN’ IN 

Following an invitation by WWE officials, Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty landed on the doorstep of Vince McMahon’s vastly growing franchise in June 1987 where the pair clashed with Jose Estrada & Jimmy Jack Funk in their first-ever WWE match. Despite an unsavory first impression among fellow Superstars that led to Jannetty & Michaels’ dismissal, the revitalized, less rebellious Rockers were welcomed back to WWE on July 7, 1988.

The rugged road to the truest proving ground in sports-entertainment would pay off in spades as The Rockers – with their neon fringe and heavily teased hair tresses – propelled themselves upward among the most prolific tag team specialists in WWE history.

A REAL GLASS ACT
 Ironically similar to a crack in a glass windshield, a trivial incident between Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty led to a much more severe fracture during a visit to Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake’s Barber Shop in late 1991. Michaels’ ego grew too large for The Rockers and Shawn initiated his solo career in a most despicable fashion: Superkicking his benevolent tag partner and then projecting Jannetty through a pane of glass.

Representative of their shattered union, the shards of the window lay strewn about the carpet of Beefcake’s set and around Michaels’ betrayed former friend. With a proud collar pop of his leather bomber jacket, The Heartbreak Kid – as “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig later dubbed Michaels while in a commentating role – was introduced to the world.

“CLIMB” DOES PAY
However contemptible his actions were in The Barber Shop, the split of The Rockers was the first step up a very tall ladder for Shawn Michaels. After capturing the Intercontinental Championship from The British Bulldog in 1992, The Heartbreak Kid reigned in his singles career and only continued his ascent upward … until he leapt from that ladder’s peak at WrestleMania X.

Michaels met Razor Ramon in Madison Square Garden that night for the Intercontinental Title in a revolutionary Ladder Match that many have referred to as one of the best bouts in WrestleMania history. Using the lofty aluminum apparatus to uniquely batter one another, HBK and Ramon commanded the attention of the WWE Universe. Time slowed in New York City and the show came to a breath-baiting halt when Michaels soared from the peak of the ladder onto his rival, forging a quintessential ‘Mania moment and amassing early equity for his future “Mr. WrestleMania” namesake.

CLING OF THE RING
Reviled yet recognized by the WWE Universe as an exceptional performer, Shawn Michaels entered the 1995 Royal Rumble Match with his usual bravado and detestable swagger. The Sexy Boy/Boy Toy kicked off the 30-man clash as the No. 1 entrant beside the second competitor, The British Bulldog. More than an hour later, the same two Superstars looked across the ring to see the foe with whom they started the match. That is, until Bulldog powered HBK over the top rope, seemingly securing his WWE Title opportunity at WrestleMania.

However, leveraging both the match rules and the ring ropes, The Heartbreak Kid precariously dangled above the arena floor – and instant defeat – with only one boot touching. As “Rule Britannia” signaled Davey Boy Smith’s supposed triumph, Shawn steadied his balance, slipped back into the ring and ambushed the swindled Bulldog, who was knocked from his mounted celebratory position on the middle rope to the outside.

Michaels made history with his start-to-finish feat and his Rumble accomplishment situated him in the main event of WrestleMania XI against former best friend and bodyguard, WWE Champion Diesel. Though unsuccessful against Big Daddy Cool on The Grandest Stage of Them All, The Heartbreak Kid rebounded with a back-to-back Rumble Match victory in 1996 – a year in which Michaels would simply not be denied.

BOYHOOD DREAMER
The WWE Universe has often heard the impassioned echo of the McMahon-uttered statement, “the boyhood dream has come true,” in the most definitive WrestleMania retrospectives. This declaration aptly encapsulates the emotions fueling Shawn Michaels as he looked down at the reflection of his own tear-welled face in the luster of the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XII.

The long-awaited 60-minute clash between Michaels and Bret “Hit Man” Hart culminated in overtime with dual doses of Sweet Chin Music to the defending WWE Champion. After more than an hour of alluring competition between sports-entertainment’s finest technicians, The Hearbreak Kid met his destiny and clutched the rich prize he’d sought for so long, a gleaming manifestation of the dream that’d finally been fulfilled.

LEADING THE NEW GENERATION
Among the leather chaps and mirrored ornamentation of his flashy ring garb, the WWE Title around his waist completed Shawn Michaels’ signature style as the leader of WWE’s “New Generation.”

The Hearbreak Kid’s career continued to flourish with successes against a bevy of challengers including Sycho Sid, Vader and Mankind. But the taxing confrontations associated with the role of WWE’s premier Superstar wore heavily on Michaels’ body, especially given the nature of his infamously high risk techniques

Though very much a “Superman” of the ring, the WWE Champion displayed a much more deeply human side to the WWE Universe when he revealed he’d lost his smile. Forced to repair his deteriorating knee, Michaels relinquished his prized WWE Title and went on a mission to both heal and retrieve his absent grin, making a permanent connection with WWE fans in the process.

BREAK IT DOWN AND OUT
The Showstopper ultimately located his smile by the end of 1997 … at the expense of each and every authority figure (and then some) in WWE. With the formation of D-Generation X, Shawn Michaels and his best friend, Triple H, revolutionized sports-entertainment with their edgy, unruly and unrelenting exploits and played a critical part in the onset of the Attitude Era, as well as WWE’s Monday Night War victory over WCW.

Leaving an indelible neon green mark on WWE, DX said and did whatever it wanted to whoever it wanted, defying everyone from WWE officials to revered Superstars like Bret Hart. As the WWE Universe quickly grew to understand, HBK & The Game had two words for anyone who stood against them or any future iterations of the rebel faction – though none were more potent than those including its core members.

A proud D-Generate marching into WrestleMania XIV, The Showstopper would compete in his last match for four years against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. With Triple H by his side, Michaels lost bout, the WWE Title and the spotlight in a single night, which ended with a knockout punch from celebrity guest Mike Tyson.

STRONG, COURAGEOUS, VICTORIOUS
He left the ring with Triple H beside him, but when Shawn Michaels returned to action in 2002, his best friend was now his greatest nemesis. A D-Generate converted into a pure family man, HBK came back to WWE and proved that when it comes to the squared circle, above all he is a peerless performer.

With biblical passages encouraging him to “be strong and courageous,” Michaels reemerged and clashed with The Game at SummerSlam. Their unfinished business carried into Survivor Series in Madison Square Garden for the debut of the Elimination Chamber, years after the back surgery that doctors argued would preclude Michaels from ring action forever.

In New York City’s famous arena, HBK conquered five other Superstars – among them Triple H and Chris Jericho – to capture the World Heavyweight Championship and utter a truly remarkable statement: The Showstopper is back.

MR. WRESTLEMANIA
Compensating for time lost while away from the stage he was born to walk, Shawn Michaels quickly reestablished himself as The Main Event, particularly when the setting happened to be The Show of Shows.

After his return in 2002, HBK continued to set the standard when it comes to competing at WrestleMania. Chris Jericho. Kurt Angle. John Cena. Even Mr. McMahon. Against some of WWE’s greatest names, even in instances of defeat, Michaels’ consistent level of performance at The Biggest Spectacle of All has been rivaled only by the parallel progression of The Undertaker’s flawless WrestleMania winning streak. This, perhaps, is why The Showstopper versus The Phenom was an event that not even divine intervention could deter.

THE SHOW STOPS
Once and again a second time, Shawn Michaels challenged The Undertaker on The Grandest Stage of Them All in clashes for much more than any championship at WrestleManias XXV and XXVI. With his honor, his legacy and, ultimately, his career in the balance, The Showstopper sought to bring down The Deadman and his mythic streak. The result: Two matches that no one in the WWE Universe – Superstar or spectator – will ever forget, and, moreover, a somber yet dignified end to Shawn Michaels’ prolific career.

In Phoenix on March 28, 2010, the show was officially stopped. But this would be no epitaph. Rather, despite the loss to The Undertaker, HBK stood rapt by the adulation of the 72,000 present in the stadium and millions watching worldwide.

Michaels’ career was further celebrated on a poignant edition of Monday Night Raw just 24 hours after his final match at WrestleMania. His emotions slightly obscured beneath the brim of his cowboy hat, the proud San Antonian Showstopper stepped away from what he’d always done best with a proud, contented wave.

One year later, the celebration of a brilliant career brings Mr. WrestleMania back to WWE on a suitably radiant weekend. For all the championships he’s chased and performances he’s sought to exceed at The Show of Shows, this WrestleMania brings with it the greatest honor Shawn Michaels could ever envision: Induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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Sources: WWE

Manchester United goalkeeper search intensifies as agent confirms talks with Atletico Madrid's David De Gea

Manchester United have held talks over a move for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea, the player's agent, Hector Rincon, has confirmed.

The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford during the summer as the Red Devils ramp up their search for Edwin van der Sar's replacement.

Rincon told sport.co.uk: “Well, we did have talks with Manchester United but, first of all, they always look for an agreement with the club.

“Anyway, most of the biggest European teams have shown interest in David de Gea.”

Asked whether Atletico were prepared to sell their star goalkeeper, Rincon suggested that United may have to pay full minimum fee inserted into the player's contract.

“You would have to ask the club," he said. "What I can tell you is that his release clause now is €20 million, but I have no idea if the club would sell him for less.

"Right now, the player has a contract with Atletico Madrid and if Manchester United or any other team want him they will have to reach an agreement or pay the whole release clause.”

He added that several other English clubs have asked about the youngster's situation, and that Wigan had attempted to buy the player before he burst onto the scene.

“Well, some time ago, before he became an important player in Atletico, Wigan made an offer, but the club rejected it," said Rincon.

"Recently, I don't want to say any names but all the big clubs in England and in Europe have asked about him.”

Meanwhile, The Times claim that if the two parties are unable to reach an understanding, then United could make a move for Schalke's Manuel Neuer.

Real Madrid & Spain captain Iker Casillas hits out at UEFA

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has hit out at UEFA in the wake of Spain's Euro 2012 win over Lithuania on Tuesday. The match was played on an extremely poor pitch, but UEFA defended the surface in Kaunas after the game, much to the dismay of Casillas.

"We've got three points on a pitch which was impossible to play on. The pitch was a disaster," Casillas was quoted as saying by Marca.

"I think that sometimes we have to catch UEFA's attention, because this is lamentable. We go and play where they tell us to, but these football pitches don't help anyone to play this sport. It isn't only this one."

The Madrid shot stopper then claimed that European football's governing body should reconsider their priorities.

"UEFA has to come out and look at them and worry much more about pitches like this. They need to do much more and not stay in their seats behind a desk telling us we have to wear pants and the same coloured socks. What they have to do is make sure the installations are in a condition to play football."

Spain's 3-1 victory maintained their perfect record so far in qualifying as they attempt to retain the European Championship crown they won in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.

Diego Forlán refuses to rule out return to Premier League

Diego Forlán has insisted that despite all the talk, Tottenham Hotspur did not make a "proper offer" for him during the winter transfer window. The Atlético Madrid and Uruguay striker, though, refused to rule out the possibility of a move back to the Premier League in the summer.

Forlán, who previously spent two and a half years at Manchester United, was prominent on the Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp's list of January targets. Redknapp made a well-documented personal check on Forlán, when he was robbed outside Atlético's Vicente Calderón stadium by pickpockets.

Forlán was one of several players that Tottenham inquired about. The others included Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi, Luís Fabiano of Sevilla and Forlán's Atlético team-mate Sergio Agüero.

It is believed that Tottenham indicated they were willing to pay €15m (£13.15) for Forlán but the 31-year-old said he had heard of nothing concrete. "There was no offer," he said. "There was a lot of talking but there was not a proper offer. Yes, Harry Redknapp came to watch me, they said that… he got robbed. It was a funny story.

"You are always flattered by every interest of every team, and also about Tottenham but in the end, there was nothing firm. There was not any offer on the table. There was a lot of speculation ... nothing else."

Forlán was asked whether he would be open to the possibility of a transfer to the Premier League in the summer. "You never know," he said. "I have two more years of contract at Atlético. I don't know what's going to happen. I continue playing and if there is any team that wants me, they have to make a good offer and then you will see. But at the moment, I don't think anything because there is nothing."

Forlan vows to give Ireland a tough time as Uruguay seek return to winning ways

Striker Diego Forlan has promised the Republic of Ireland's younger players Uruguay will not cut them any slack when the sides meet in Dublin.

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni named a largely inexperienced team to face the World Cup semi-finalists at the Aviva Stadium after sending the likes of Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne, Damien Duff and Kevin Kilbane home in the wake of Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier victory over Macedonia.

That means starts for 20-year-old James McCarthy and Ciaran Clark, 21, in a side which boasts a total of just 103 senior caps, six fewer than Kilbane alone.

However, Atletico Madrid star Forlan insists the South Americans will treat the Irish team just as they would any other.

He said: 'They played a qualifying game on Saturday and some of the players have been playing a lot of games and have been rested.

'But we came here to play a nice game against Ireland. It doesn't matter who they are playing, we are going to do our best to win the game.

'I know the team, I have been watching some games and we are always watching players. We know it will be a really tough team with good players.

'It doesn't matter whether they are young or old, every player all over the world when they get the chance to play for their national team is going to try to do their best. In this case we expect that.'

Uruguay arrived in Dublin to be greeted by bright sunshine, a far cry from the conditions they found in Tallin on Friday night as they slipped to a surprise 2-0 defeat by Estonia.

The game was played in freezing temperatures and with snow falling, and while there was a chill in the air at the Aviva Stadium the following evening, Forlan admitted the conditions when he and his team-mates trained there on Monday were far more to his liking.

He said: 'This is like summer for us after being in Estonia, where it was really freezing. We played quite well in the first half, but in the second half, the pitch was very hard and it was difficult for us.'

Uruguay will be without injured Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, but the man who played alongside him at last summer's World Cup finals in South Africa has not been at all surprised by how quickly he has found his feet in the English game since his £22.8million January move to Anfield.

Forlan said: 'I'm really happy for him. He's a good friend and he's at a good club. The way he is doing it now is really nice and I hope he will continue doing that.

'I think he's a great player - he showed that at the World Cup and with Ajax. He has this opportunity and now he is doing really well.'

Forlan, of course, had his own spell in the Premier League with Manchester United earlier in his career, and has been linked with a return to England in recent months. However, he remained diplomatic when asked about the speculation.

He said: 'It would have to be really good offer. At the moment there is none, so I didn't consider anything.

'But at the moment, I have two years more of a contract at Atletico Madrid and it's a good team and I am happy there. You never know.'

Shawn Michaels 28 March 2011 WWE RAW (The Game vs The Undertaker)

Zaira Nara Revista Gente Marzo 2011

 

 

 

Enter to be HBK's WrestleMania guest

WWE Hall of Fame 2011 inductee Shawn Michaels is asking the WWE Universe to take part in a raffle designed to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Operation Homefront, and Cross Trail Outfitters. The raffle’s lucky Grand Prize winner will be HBK’s special guest at WrestleMania XXVII. [Click Here for details and to enter.]

Fans supporting Michaels in this cause will benefit the less fortunate families involved with the Ronald McDonald House, provide emergency financial and other assistance to the families of United States service members in Operation Homefront, and continue the growth and development of young men that are part of the Cross Trail Outfitters.

One Grand Prize winner and a guest will receive a once-in-a-lifetime abundance of prizes, including:
Two premium seats at The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania XXVII in Atlanta, Ga.;
Two seats to witness Shawn Michaels’ induction into the WWE Hall of Fame;
A private meeting with The Showstopper for photos, autographs and a chat;
Three-night hotel accommodations at the Atlanta Marriot Marquis, conveniently located in downtown Atlanta, Ga.;
A $2,000 allowance for travel and other expenses.

Do not miss out on your chance at this opportunity to experience The Showcase of the Immortals and aid Shawn Michaels in supporting charities in need of your support. For complete raffle information, please Click Here .

New Shawn Michaels Interview; Brodus Clay A Smackdown Superstar

Sergio Aguero: I Want To Stay With Atletico Madrid As Long As Possible

'Kun' Aguero appreciates the interest shown in him by big clubs but he has expressed his desire to see out his deal which runs until 2014
Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero has underlined his commitment to the club amid rumours of an imminent departure this summer. 'El Kun' has been linked to a host of Europe's top clubs, including arch-rivals Real Madrid.

But the striker has pointed to the fact that his deal with Atleti runs for another three years and he he says would like to build on their Europa League success from last season.

''I want to stay with Atletico for as long as I can. I am very comfortable at the club now. I will try to keep winning titles here because that's what every player wants. I signed until 2014 and I hope to stay beyond this year,'' the defiant youngster told the club's official website.

On the speculation over a possible summer transfer, he responded: ''It's always appreciated if top clubs are interested in you. There are many comments that have been raised about my future but I'm quiet, they don't affect me. I'm honest with myself.''

Aguero has been linked with a move away from Los Rojiblancos for some time now, with father-in-law Diego Maradona on record as saying "I see Sergio at Real Madrid". Despite the speculation, Aguero is enjoying a fine season, netting a brace last weekend to take his tally for the year to 18 goals, ensuring Atleti are in contention to clinch a Europa League spot for next season.
 

Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan: I Would Consider Move To Serie A

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan has revealed that he would be willing to make a switch to Italy's Serie A, but only if the right offer came in.

The 31-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital since last summer, with clubs such Juventus said to be in the hunt.

Forlan has in disappointing form this season for the Colchoneros but is still one of the more prized transfer targets, and has further fueled speculation regarding his future by saying that he is ready for adventure in Italy.

When asked about a move to Serie A by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Manchester United forward said:"I do not exclude that in the future, if a good offer came to me and the club, a proposal that was not only suitable economically but also from the perspective that it was an important club, [then] I would accept."

Atletico Madrid are fighting for a place in the top-six in the Spanish Primera Division at the moment and confront Real Madrid in the derby this weekend.

Looking ahead to the encounter, Forlan enthused, "It's strange, we have strengthened the team and we're not getting results. Perhaps we have had too many injuries, but we're still working calmly.

"For the fans, the media interest and passion of the public, Atletico is not a lesser club than Real Madrid. It is a great club, not only in Spain but the world."

Manchester United's Nani Plotting Premier League Exit For Serie A Switch

Manchester United winger Nani is believed to be interested in making a move to Serie A.

The Portugal international has come a long way in the last 18 months at Old Trafford, going from an outcast to filling the gap created by Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid.

And with the former Sporting midfielder having already won a plethora of honours with the Red Devils, The Guardian reports that the 24-year-old is considering the possibility of making a move during the summer transfer window.

It has also been reported that United could make a move for Aston Villa's Ashley Young when the current campaign comes to a close.

Official: Germany's Joachim Loew Extends Contract Until 2014

The DFB (German FA) has announced that Joachim Loew has extended his contract and will remain Germany coach until 2014.

The 51-year-old's previous contract was set to expire in 2012 and he has been recently linked with a move to the Bayern Munich hotseat in the summer.

However, Loew will now remain with the former European and world champions until the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

"The harmonious contract talks have once again made it clear how great our mutual trust is," DFB president Dr. Theo Zwanger said. "The respectful, open dealings we had with one another is the best prerequisite for continuing our successful work together in the future.

"I wish much success to our national team coach Joachim Loew, the entire sporting management and the team manager Oliver Bierhoff in the ongoing qualification, the upcoming European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, and the World Cup in Brazil."

In an earlier interview with Bild, Loew stressed the importance of his early contract extension:

"It could indeed have bypassed all those involved, and it was a constant presence during the tournament. We want to avoid the same situation at Euro 2012."

Loew also stated his belief that the future is bright for German football.

He continued: "The cooperation with the DFB (German Football Federation) has been good over the years and even if there was one problem, it were resolved."

"We see good prospects for the national team with our young players and the DFB is in agreement with our concept. Therefore, we can assume that we can go beyond Euro 2012 and continue to progress. The Euros are also a stepping stone to the World Cup in 2014."

Loew has been the head coach of the die Mannschaft since July 2006 and led them to the final of Euro 2008 and the semi-finals of the World Cup last summer.

Diego Forlán e Zaira Nara anunciam que vão se casar

O jogador uruguaio Diego Forlán, eleito melhor craque da Copa de 2010, vai se casar com a modelo argentina, Zaira Nara, sua namorada desde 2008! O casal anunciou a novidade via Twitter e a irmã do atacante confirmou a história.
“Confirmo, porque já se pode confirmar. Estamos felizes. Tudo o que dê felicidade a qualquer dos meus irmãos me faz feliz”, disse Adriana Forlán, irmã do atacante. Apesar de não ter data, nem local para o casório, a dupla fez questão de contar aos seus seguidores no microblog que vão entrar para o time dos casados.

“Queremos compartilhar esta notícia com vocês”. “Será que contamos?????”, acrescentou Nara. Cinco minutos depois, postaram em conjunto: “VAMOS NOS CASAR!!!”.

Cesc Fabregas' Suicide Backheel And Other Pivotal Moments That Cost Arsenal Their Champions League Dream

For all its history, its steepling stands and its cultured approach to being 'more than a club', Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium is not the most welcoming of environments.

Compared to the plush layout of the Emirates, for example, it is something of a throwback, a place that - somewhat surprisingly - could benefit from a lick of paint at the very least.

And that's without even stepping out on to the enormous pitch in front of a baying crowd of 95,000. Arsenal should have avoided this possibility like the plague, having been turfed out of the Champions League here just 11 months ago.

Lesson not learned, clearly. Never mind berating referee Massimo Busacca for his admittedly lamentable decision to send off Robin van Persie, Arsenal staff and fans alike should cast their minds back to abject displays in Braga and Donetsk in the group stages.

Had they taken even a point against Shakhtar in Ukraine, or beaten the Portuguese on their own rocky patch, Arsenal would have topped Group H and avoided the other group winners. Instead of facing Barcelona, they would have been taking on a Roma side that lacked discipline, cohesion and even a full-time manager in losing 6-2 on aggregate to Shakhtar.

The seeds for this Champions League exit at the earliest knockout stage were sown then, but last night brought another raft of key moments that cost Arsenal dearly.

Playing unfit duo Fabregas and Van Persie
Cesc Fabregas radiated pride when he led his team-mates on to the Camp Nou pitch for his Barcelona homecoming.

With the captain’s armband hugging his left bicep and a broad smile on his face, he looked like a man in perfect control of his destiny.

In his mind, Fabregas would have played out a winning scenario in front of his family, childhood friends and fellow Catalans a thousand times but the arena that he still considers home proved to be an unforgiving one for the exiled Spaniard.

Fabregas came into this match having missed the best part of four games with a hamstring injury and he left the pitch with 10 minutes to go to a cacophony of wolf whistles from the home supporters, presumably in disgust at Wenger bringing off one of their own.

The 23-year-old looked like a man playing at something less than full fitness and ended up paying a heavy price. Later he tweeted his regret: “I take full blame for the result. One of the worst moments of my life. I apologise.”

Apart from perhaps the anonymous Tomas Rosicky, the only man in Arsenal’s yellow change strip as ineffective as Fabregas was Robin van Persie.

Arsene Wenger gambled by including the Dutchman only 36 hours after ruling him out with a knee ligament injury sustained in the League Cup final but Van Persie found no space in which to work and was chasing shadows long before his unfortunate red card.

Homecoming nightmare | Fabregas was unfit and at fault for Barca's opener

Fabregas’ misjudged backheel
It may have simply been mental and physical exhaustion provoked by scurrying after Lionel Messi et al for the best part of the opening half but the finger for Barca’s opening goal could be pointed directly at Arsenal’s captain.

Finding himself by virtue of necessity 10 yards from the edge of his own penalty area, Fabregas attempted to play his way out of a tight situation by laying off the ball to Wilshere with a back heel.

It proved to be a chronic misjudgement. Andres Iniesta seized on the woolly thinking and even woollier execution, slid in Messi with a perfect short pass and the buccaneering Argentinian scooped and dabbed the ball past Manuel Almunia. Would Wojciech Szczesny have fared better? Arsenal's new No.1 had to leave the field with a finger injury, raising another "what might have been" question for the Gunners.

Van Persie’s yellow peril

For the first booking of a comeback that Van Persie will want to erase from his memory as quickly as possible, he should only look in the mirror.

Whether it was through pure frustration or simply the lack of discipline that was a recurring theme in the Dutchman’s early professional career, he lost his composure and picked up an unnecessary yellow after clashing with Dani Alves in the first half.

How the majority of the 95,000 souls luxuriating in Barca’s brilliance but suddenly nervous about their passage into the quarter-finals howled their approval when Swiss referee Busacca produced yellow and then red cards from his pocket to end Van Persie’s stay on the pitch.

However much the home side had earned the right to win the tie after dominating the second leg even more conclusively than the first, it was a pivotal decision.

Arsenal’s lone striker claimed he had not heard Busacca blow his whistle as he raced through on goal and shot wide. Wilshere later backed up his team-mate’s plea in mitigation by claiming the din in the Nou Camp was such that he had not heard it either.

It was easy to sympathise with the visitors. It soon emerged that only one second had elapsed between the referee’s whistle and Van Persie making contact with the ball.

Wenger could face a Uefa charge for his strong post-match comments in which he accused the referee of “embarrassing” football and “killing” the game. Just for good measure, he claimed he had spoken to UEFA officials who agreed with him about the rigid, but patently ridiculous, application of the rules.

Koscielny runs the gauntlet

Following an error-strewn start to his Arsenal career, Laurent Koscielny has improved markedly since the turn of the year. He began last night's game by careering into challenge after challenge, and winning the ball frequently.

The problem with this is that eventually the sheer volume of tackles that he and central defensive partner Johan Djourou were forced to make - and several of them were of the last-ditch variety - would catch up with Arsenal.

So it proved. The Frenchman was booked in the first half for colliding with Pedro, and was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card when he conceded the penalty that sealed the match once and for all in Barcelona's favour in the second half.

More what ifs for Arsenal to ponder - what if Thomas Vermaelen had been fit? And what if Wenger had parted with some cash for a central defender in the January transfer window?

Bendtner’s blundering late miss
 The Camp Nou held its collective breath with four minutes remaining on the clock when Nicklas Bendtner ran through the home defence to latch onto a perfectly weighted Wilshere pass.

But the Dane’s first touch was poor, his second too ponderous and Javier Mascherano caught up and robbed him of the ball to thwart the danger. “If Mascherano had not run those 20 yards quicker than Bendtner we were out,” reflected a relieved Guardiola afterwards.

It would have been Arsenal’s only shot on target, indeed on goal at all, in a game in which Barca had 19. It was also only the visitors’ second touch in the opposition goal area all game; compared to a total of 47 by the three-times European Cup winners.

Had Bendtner capitalised on Wilshere’s astuteness, the statistics would have been rendered irrelevant and we could be reflecting on the most anomalous result in the history of the competition. Arsenal got what they deserved, but it really could have been so different.

UEFA Charge Arsenal's Arsene Wenger & Samir Nasri For Comments Made Towards Referee Following Defeat To Barcelona

UEFA have revealed that they will take action against Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and midfielder Samir Nasri after their outburst over referee Massimo Busacca's decision to send off Dutch striker Robin van Persie.

The Frenchmen were left fuming and called the decision to send off Van Persie – for a second bookable offence in the second half for having a shot at goal after the linesman had ruled him offside – "a joke".

It was a controversial decision in the eyes of many as the Dutchman claimed he could not hear the whistle over the 90,000 fans packed in the stadium, and took his shot just a second after Busacca blew.

Wenger spoke to the referee after the game, a debate which continued heatedly in the tunnel, while Nasri was also caught up in the incident and the European football governing body have decided to take action against the pair.

It was also revealed that Van Persie will have no chance to appeal the sending off as it was for a second yellow.

A UEFA spokesman said: "Under Article 44.4 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations, appeals are only allowed against cautions on the grounds of mistaken identity."

UEFA did confirm that referee Busacca’s performance will be evaluated; however, it will not be for public consumption.

"Referees are always evaluated," added the spokesman. "There is a referee observer who evaluates their performance.

"These are taken into account internally in terms of appointments but we never make that public."

Van Persie: Arsenal players feel betrayed by my red card

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie says they feel "betrayed" after he was sent off in defeat at Barcelona.

Van Persie received a second yellow card for kicking the ball after the whistle had been blown.

The Dutchman labelled his red card "a total joke".

"I think it's a total joke - how can I hear this whistle with 95,000 people jumping up (and shouting)?"

Just a second elapsed between the referee blowing his whistle and Van Persie striking the ball, and the latter continued: "That makes it even worse. I cannot understand that view from the ref.

"If there were four, five, six seconds in between, you can make a check (for offside). One second, it's a joke.

"I tried to explain there were 95,000 people jumping up, how can I hear the whistle?

"He's been bad all evening, whistling against us. I don't know why he's here tonight.

"We feel betrayed a bit, when it was 1-1 it was all to play for and in my opinion this referee killed the game."

Comunicado de prensa de Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo

La firma de abogados ha hecho públicos varios puntos

 En relación al Informe que Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo, como firma de abogados, emitió el pasado 25 de enero de 2011, a petición de la Asociación Señales de Humo, relativo al CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, S.A.D., se comunica lo siguiente:

1) La firma Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo ha podido comprobar, tras la emisión del Informe, que los datos e informaciones que le fueron suministrados por la Asociación Señales de Humo para que sirvieran de soporte a su Informe, eran inexactos, incompletos e incluso erróneos, por lo que las conclusiones extraídas de los mismos en su Informe carecen por completo de validez jurídica y del exigible rigor técnico.

2) La firma Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo revoca expresamente todas las opiniones vertidas en el Informe, el cual deja sin efecto alguno, solicitando a la Asociación Señales de Humo que se abstenga de hacer cualquier uso, público o privado, del Informe.

3) La firma Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo lamenta profundamente el daño que haya podido causar la emisión del Informe al CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, así como a Don Enrique Cerezo Torres y Don Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, en su calidad de Presidente y Consejero Delegado del Club.

German FA Appeals To FIFA To Overturn 'Double Punishment' Rule

Ahead of next week's annual meeting of the International Football Association Board, the DFB (German FA) HAS announced that it will make an appeal to abolish the 'double punishment' rule given for certain fouls in the penalty area.

According to FIFA's Laws of the Game, any foul committed inside the penalty area is punished with a penalty kick. Additionally, any foul committed on a player adjudged to have a clear path to goal is to be automatically punished with a red card. Accordingly, a foul inside the penalty box that also denies a clear chance on goal is punished with both a red card for the perpetrator and a penalty kick for the team that drew the foul.

If the DFB has its way, only a spot-kick will be awarded for a foul inside the penalty area, even if the transgression denies a clear chance on goal.

Diego Godin in defence of his teammate Diego Forlan

Diego Godin has spoken out in defence of his teammate Diego Forlan, who has struggled to hit the net all season.
Godin, who turns out with Forlan for the Uruguayan national team as well, has seen first-hand what the striker is capable of, having played together at the 2010 World Cup, where Forlan went on to win the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.

The normally-lethal striker, who was won the Pichichi trophy, awarded to La Liga's top scorer of each season, twice before, has struggled to translate last summer's exploits onto the club stage this year, having only netted nine goals from 31 games in all competitions.
Atletico manager Quique Sanchez Flores has recently stated that Forlan and his striker partner Sergio Aguero need to start firing soon if the club are to have any chance of qualifying for Europe next season.

However, Godin has since defended his compatriot, suggesting it was the team's performance as a whole that was starving the frontman of goalscoring opportunities.
"No one [at the club] is against Forlan. He always wants to score and perhaps he needs more to feel confident, but he is doing well," Godin was reported as saying by Marca.com.

"Against Getafe there were not many clear chances on goal, and perhaps the lack of goals are noticed from Forlan as he is the one leading the team forwards."

With a match against fellow European qualification contenders Villarreal on Saturday, Godin has asked his team to focus solely on the clash.

"We cannot think about losing as we have aspirations for European football."
"Villarreal are a tough team to beat as they play really well. We must do our best and improve on mistakes. It will be a hard game."

Atletico are currently 8th in La Liga, fifteen points behind fourth-placed Villarreal, and will be looking to kickstart their climb to European qualification with a win this weekend.

FORLÁN PROPICIA EL EMPATE EN GETAFE

El Atlético no tuvo un partido fácil en Getafe. El tempranero gol de Manu del Moral (minuto 4) fue un jarro de agua fría para los rojiblancos, que fueron a remolque durante todo el partido hasta que Forlán, de nuevo explotando su faceta de asistente, puso en la cabeza de Elías el balón que significó el empate. Forlán, que no pudo romper su maleficio ante el gol, fue de los más destacados en un Atlético que sigue estando cerca de los puestos europeos (a tres puntos) gracias a las derrotas de Athletic y Espanyol.

Como quiera que el calendario no concede ni un día de tregua, el conjunto rojiblanco prepara ya su difícil compromiso ante el Villarreal. Forlán y los suyos reciben este sábado (22.00) a uno de los equipos más en forma del campeonato. Un encuentro, por otro lado, siempre especial para Diego.

Ficha técnica:

1.- Getafe: Codina; Miguel Torres, "Cata" Díaz, Rafa, Mané (Marcano, min. 30); Manu del Moral, Víctor Sánchez (Boateng, min. 65), Parejo, Gavilán; Colunga (Casquero, min. 72) y Miku.

1.- Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Valera, Perea, Godín, Antonio López; Reyes, Tiago (Juanfran, min. 81) Raúl García (Mario Suárez, min.63) Koke (Elías, min. 66); Forlán y Kun Agüero.

Goles: 1-0, min. 2: Manu del Moral. 1-1, min. 81: Elias.

Árbitro: Clos Gómez (Comité Aragonés): Mostró cartulina amarilla a Mané (min. 28), a Víctor Sánchez (min. 57) y a Rafa (min. 70) por parte local y a Kun Agüero (min. 29) y a Perea (min. 86) por parte visitante.