Chelsea FC vs FC Barcelona [Uefa Champions League]

[I.LuV.ManUTd!]

Drogba today, Busquets next week.

As I said, Chelsea did the job they needed to and hit the tactics perfectly. If they get them right again they'll be in the final.

By the way Matt, did you see my earlier post?

Not sure about what you said, how would you like a great side to play in the final stages of the CL?

I'm guessing you wanted to see them be less defensive? Just they played counter-attack which to many is just as good as possession.

[Mucho]

of course it´s a viable tactic. not my cup of tea but viable. but not really REliable imo. It´s not going to happen everytime that you score with your only chance (and I mean it in general not talking specificly bout Chalsea) or 1 of 2. And you can´t rely on the opponent hitting the post twice as many times as you had real opportunities.
They hoped they would be lucky and they were (I think it´s just rediculous to say they weren´t). They worked hard and it was a brave effort though.

But if I had the opportunity to choose (you guys were giving reasons why you like direct counter-attacking football) I would choose the opportunities craeting tactics. More opportunities -> more chances to win. But that´s football. you don´t always win only because you played better than your oponents. You got to score and Barca normally does. Today was one of these rare days where they didn´t. Live goes on and tuesday is the 2nd part of this semifinals.

btw. Busquets is playacting much less than he used to do. And even in his worst moments he barely matched all this playacting in a whole season that Drogba did today (and not only today). I don´t know why you complain about him in 2 posts anyway. I can´t remember him playacting once during the 2 games against your team.

[matt_aut]

Drogba today, Busquets next week.

As I said, Chelsea did the job they needed to and hit the tactics perfectly. If they get them right again they'll be in the final.

By the way Matt, did you see my earlier post?

Not sure about what you said, how would you like a great side to play in the final stages of the CL?

I'm guessing you wanted to see them be less defensive? Just they played counter-attack which to many is just as good as possession.

It was a little frustrating to see them winning it with one chance in 90 minutes, a little more offensive Chelsea side could have opened the game up more. But that would have been too dangerous and since ifs don't count in football, they did what they had to do and won it.

And I'll always prefer technically brilliant possession football over counter attacking football

[Twiggster]

Fact is - if drogbaa hadn't dived and cheated so much in that first ½, there would not have been 2 mins added time for the cheat to score in.
Kids at rock concerts play air guitars. Drogba plays air fouls. CHEAT!
Barca to win 4-0 at home!

[tottenham28]

Pep Guardiola: "If football was about counting possession we would win every game. The game is putting the ball in the net."

Once again, this answers your earlier quote of "Chelsea would be taught a lesson" in a nutshell. Although Barca are so easy on the eye, ball in onion bag = win...it really is that simple.

[Tony07]

Being pretty to watch doesn't win games and trophies, we know that at Arsenal, Chelski did what needed to be done, I am sure Barcelona will come at em guns blazing in the rematch, but you can bet that Chelski will employ the same tactic and yes Drogsbottom will be diving and play acting once more.

[DanMU]

Watched the match, it was quite entertaining really, loved the Droggs goal before half time. Hoping for a Barca 2-1 win at camp poo to take Chelski through!!!

[muckman1]

nice match it was.better team didnt win but thats why i love football.hope the barca kids are concentrated in one week.with an attitude like that you dont win anything.



(put it in the net you dumb millionaires goddamn ---not that difficult)

btw : good ref imo

[scouseman]

Great win for the blues(I actually said that they would win the day before). They did what they needed to do and got the job done. It was not pretty but very effective. Good tactics by Roberto. I am sure Riise will help answer this for me but it must be very weird to watch a team with so much of the ball trying to support your team. Barca wee very wasteful Fab had two great chances to score and the miss near the end was unbelievable. Draoba had a good game but I do wish he would stop all the play acting he spent more time on the ground then on his feet. Well gone blues hope you had a good time Riise mate. The second leg is so nicely set up now. Barca at home will be 100% tougher then at the Bridge.

[riise94]

Fantastic effort from my boys. Let's face it,Barcelona are a great team so we ain't gonna Barcelona Barcelona by playing great football their way or we were going to get hammered. Spot on tactics by Di Matteo and absolutely superb defending from the back 4. I don't know how Barcelona had so many fans scattered around the ground but quite a few got "moved" for their own safety.

Scouseman - in the end every tackle,clearance,throw-in was cheered like a goal. We had to prevent them scoring. An away goal would of probably killed us. It wasn't that wierd - it was our 6th CL semi final in 9 seasons so we knew what we had to do. A second Chels goal would of been nice though but to be honest,I would of taken a goal-less draw before kick-off.

Nice to read this complete thread though. Some interesting comments and even more interesting stats.

Here's a couple more

Chelsea vs Barcelona - 11 men vs 11 men - Barcelona still haven't beaten us in the Champions League

Messi vs Chelsea - 7 games 0 goals

Last night - Chelsea 1 goal Barcelona 0 goal

[riise94]

One more fact. Of the eight teams left in the two European competitions,only one has failed to score this week!

[Jodelo]

I laughed:

Did Busquets really complain about Didier Drogba's diving? That might set the Guinness Book of Records for irony.

[Mucho]

do you see what I mean?

yes I see it, and I saw it the first time you said that already. That was MY point. No need to insist in that twice (he didn´t play act in this game), not from a ManU fan at least imo.

@ the rest of your points. You said Chelsea´s tactic was spot on or perfect, something like that. Now your saying that perfect counter tactics in your opinion is not what Chelsea did. Anyway it doesn´t matter I understand what you mean.

Just saying that 90% of the oponents of Barca play like this. And 90% of these 90% lose playing like this. Not yesterday with quite a bit of luck. Now they have it much more difficult needing 2 goals at least but it is what it is. Makes for an interesting return leg.

[Mucho]

my point is right there, you just have to read.

@tactics: yeah your right, I thought it was you who said spot on tactics.

[DEAD_MAN_WALKING]

News just in

Chelsea's possible lineup for the return leg at the Camp Nou.

[riise94]

News just in

Chelsea's possible lineup for the return leg at the Camp Nou.

Just watching highlights of the Blues victory over Barca on TV when the picture started flickering. I tapped it on the side & the Drog fell over.

[tottenham28]

Just watching highlights of the Blues victory over Barca on TV when the picture started flickering. I tapped it on the side & the Drog fell over.

How far into the game was that?
You will need plenty more on Tuesday mate, I will predict a 3-1 Barca win now ( probably being kind too).
Best of luck anyway, can't give you anymore support than that for obvious reasons...I bleed when you win!

[uggla]

How funny was Drogsbollox in this game