Barca v Chelsea: Semi Final - Leg 1

[Nicky]

So many chances, but no goals,
Pretty good game, too many bad tackles,
I think that Barca will lose in England, but I hope that they go to the final

[Sule]

So many chances, but no goals,
Pretty good game, too many bad tackles,
I think that Barca will lose in England, but I hope that they go to the final

You just contradicted yourself in the same sentence. Ur thinking one thing and hoping for another. Not to be an asshole but usually those go hand in hand

From what i read (articles and such) the game was a defensive display on how to stop Barcelona.

[a;sdlfkjas;df]

You just contradicted yourself in the same sentence. Ur thinking one thing and hoping for another. Not to be an asshole but usually those go hand in hand

not at all.  actually, it's a very reasonable thing to do.

From what i read (articles and such) the game was a defensive display on how to stop Barcelona.

it sounded exactly like manchester united - barcelona at the camp nou last year

[moby]

fuck i'm disappointed, now i have a wait 2 weeks for the next match

[Nicky]

So many chances, but no goals,
Pretty good game, too many bad tackles,
I think that Barca will lose in England, but I hope that they go to the final

You just contradicted yourself in the same sentence. Ur thinking one thing and hoping for another. Not to be an asshole but usually those go hand in hand

From what i read (articles and such) the game was a defensive display on how to stop Barcelona.

Hehe I know what you mean, but is it wrong that I say: I think that Barca will lose, but I hope that they go to the final
When they lose, they don't go to the final,
Hope that you know what I am talking about
What you read is right (the game was a defensive display on how to stop Barcelona).

[cigar omar]

Drogba took a nice beating today. You can tell from the line up that Hiddink sacrificed some attacking players to make sure that makeshift defenceive unit stays organized. Second leg Chelsea will play far more attacking football. The only fear I have is a scoring draw. Bossingwa did pretty well to contain Messi. People didn't realize that it would be inexperienced Guardiola v Hiddink an experienced mastermind.

[TheGodEmperor]

Drogba took a nice beating today. You can tell from the line up that Hiddink sacrificed some attacking players to make sure that makeshift defenceive unit stays organized. Second leg Chelsea will play far more attacking football. The only fear I have is a scoring draw. Bossingwa did pretty well to contain Messi. People didn't realize that it would be inexperienced Guardiola v Hiddink an experienced mastermind.

and yet inexperienced guardiola's team played beautiful football

And nobody did a good job covering messi. All they could do was foul him. Hiddink did coach smart, though, because the only way any epl team can stop barca is by playing shitty football.

[Sule]

Drogba took a nice beating today. You can tell from the line up that Hiddink sacrificed some attacking players to make sure that makeshift defenceive unit stays organized. Second leg Chelsea will play far more attacking football. The only fear I have is a scoring draw. Bossingwa did pretty well to contain Messi. People didn't realize that it would be inexperienced Guardiola v Hiddink an experienced mastermind.

and yet inexperienced guardiola's team played beautiful football

And nobody did a good job covering messi. All they could do was foul him. Hiddink did coach smart, though, because the only way any epl team can stop barca is by playing shitty football.

Couldnt agree more

EPL can boast that they have the strongest league and most skilled players but they never beat Spanish/german/italian/etc teams by playing the same football.
British tactics consist of alot of stamina and pressuring and nothing else. Not only that but look at the stamina involved in the EPL, arguably the highest tempo of football played in Europe, BUT, when Hiddink came to Chelsea he simply said that they "weren't fit" so you can imagine just so physically fit the Chelsea squad is to hold, and contain some of the best attacking players in the world and arguably the best attacking force in the world atm

[a;sdlfkjas;df]

and yet inexperienced guardiola's team played beautiful football

unfortunately, they couldn't win the soccer game.  you can look great while you're playing, but if you can't find your composure in the final third, you don't deserve to win the game

And nobody did a good job covering messi. All they could do was foul him

that's generally what you do to arguably the best player in the world

Hiddink did coach smart, though, because the only way any epl team can stop barca is by playing shitty football

so, what?

Spanish/german/italian/etc teams by playing the same football

the spanish, the germans, and the italians do not play the same style of soccer.  so, why would you expect the english to adapt to their styles of play?

[cigar omar]

Messi v Bosingwa > Bossingwa is a right back who hasn't been playing regularly. He was still successful in shutting Messi down.

Remember when Khalid Boulhruz shut down Ronaldinho in the previous fixture.

Chelsea is organized. Barcelona didn't play beautiful football against Chelsea. Chelsea forced Barcelona to play at a tempo that Chelsea are comfortable with through out the whole game.

Hiddink didn't go to Barcelona to win the game or score goals. It wss pretty obvious with Ballack, Esseien, Mikel midfiel + Lampard and Malouda... No Kalou the right wing. This was done to compensate for having a second choice center back with a third choice RB and a RB playing LB.

Barcelona was unable to connect passes and play that high tempo football that makes them arguably the greatest strike force in European Club football right now. Because they played against a team that knows how to control games in all situations.

[TAHA95]

lets see what we have here,the best striking force of europe,who hadn't a single match at when they didnt score at home,with the best midfield player of the world combined with the best strikers,could not score a goal.Thats the final result,believe it or not.Barcelona couldn't score at home against chelsea who have conceded three goals even at home,against a side like bolton.
what do you say now?
it was very clear what hiddink was thinking of,he wanted a draw and he got it and now you'll see how barca get themselves fucked up at ST when chelsea will come with a lot more attacking approach.
the dream of winning the champions leagye for barca is over :down:

[^_^]

unless chelsea plays an all defensive game again, they are going to be very vulnerable and they are going to have a lot of trouble coping with barcelona's attack.

i think it's going to be a very open game, and chelsea have just as much an opportunity to win as barcelona.