By Andrew Warshaw in Monaco
August 31 – UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino used the high-profile draw for the Champions League group stage to stress to Europe’s top teams today that they must comply with strict new rules on overspending.
With the transfer window slamming shut in 24 hours, Infantino (pictured above) used his introduction speech at the traditional annual draw here in Monaco to make it clear that UEFA will not tolerate clubs ignoring strict financial fair play rules.
“UEFA and its financial control body” will not hesitate to take action “against clubs who do not meet the requirements,” Infantino told the cream of European clubs attending the gala draw at the Grimaldi Forum.
The draw itself was unkind for the second straight year to Manchester City, the Premier League titlists being plunged into the “Group of Death”, against nine-times European champions Real Madrid (pictured below with the 2012 Supercopa trophy), Ajax and Borussia Dortmund – all defending champions in their own countries.
“We’ll just have to take it one game at a time,” said Patrick Vieira, City’s football development executive.
“We learned a lot from last year.
“The objective is to go as far as possible.
“Look what Chelsea did.”
Former Real Madrid forward Emilio Butragueño, known during his playing days as “The Vulture” and now a key member of the management staff, said: “Each game will be like a final.”
The draw means that Real’s former Chelsea boss José Mourinho will enjoy a return to England, while Arsenal come up against Montpellier, who were the former employers of the Gunners’ new striker Olivier Giroud (pictured below, front).
Chelsea, who beat Bayern Munich on penalties last May and are hoping to become the first side to retain the trophy in the modern era, open their defence with a mouth-watering home game against Italian champions Juventus on September 19 and should have more than enough to get out of their group despite having to travel to Ukraine to play Shakhter Donetsk whose stadium was one of those used at Euro 2012.
Manchester United were drawn to face Braga, Galatasaray and CFR Cluj in Group H, while Arsenal have also been handed a relatively straighforward group which contains Schalke, Olympiakos and Montpellier.
United are appearing in the competition’s group phase for a record 18th time, but they will hope to avoid the fate that befell them last season, when they failed to reach the latter stages.
Clubs have been drawn in the following groups:
Group A: Porto, Dynamo Kiev, Paris St Germain, Dinamo Zagreb.
Group B: Arsenal, Schalke, Olympiakos, Montpellier.
Group C: AC Milan, Zenit St Petersburg, Anderlecht, Malaga.
Group D: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund.
Group E: Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, FC Nordsjaelland.
Group F: Bayern Munich, Valencia, Lille, BATE Borisov.
Group G: Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moscow, Celtic.
Group H: Manchester United, Braga, Galatasaray, CFR Cluj.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734785794labto1734785794ofdlr1734785794owedi1734785794sni@w1734785794ahsra1734785794w.wer1734785794dna1734785794