They’re at it again. This is it. The big one. The one we’ve all been waiting for. Except that it isn’t really – not by a long shot. Chelsea have had something of an indifferent season, with more dips than a Doritos factory. Just under two months ago the club were unfancied to advance further than the last-16 of the competition, having capitulated to a 3-1 defeat against Napoli in the first leg. Tomorrow, Chelsea take on Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, the first time the clubs have been drawn against each other since the Catalans won the acrimonious meeting between the teams at the same stage in 2009.
Their abrupt change of fortune has unsurprisingly brought a collective “Huh?!” from the wider footballing community. Not many saw tomorrow’s game coming. And who can blame them? This will be the London outfit’s fifth game in thirteen days. The fixtures have come so thick and fast that even the players seemed a little shocked when reminded of the forthcoming Barcelona clash following Sunday’s FA Cup win over Tottenham. Roberto Di Matteo insisted before the second leg of the Benifica tie he was approaching the close season systematically. The Italian insisted, “It’s game by game. That's what I've learnt in my playing career and managing and coaching career”.
Di Matteo’s ‘one game at a time’ philosophy may amount to a clever media set-piece allowing him to keep his cards close to his chest. The ‘interim first team coach’ has been difficult to predict tactically this season, springing another surprise selection by starting Didier Drogba on Sunday when many expected the forward to be rested for Barcelona. But the gruelling fixture list may have finally forced the manager’s hand. Gary Neville revealed the extraordinary lengths to which Manchester United prepared in the build up to their 2008 semi-final. According to Neville, the former United assistant manager Carlos Quieroz “used sit-up mats on the training pitch to mark exactly where he wanted our players to be, to the nearest yard.” And whilst United’s preparations were pain-staking, Chelsea’s have been on the hoof. Match fitness is fast becoming the deciding factor for Di Matteo, who admitted as much on Friday, “we've not had time to prepare the team because we have had matches”.
The size and scale of Chelsea’s challenge is enormous. Parallels have obviously been noted between this and the last meeting of the two clubs. Then, as now, a Chelsea caretaker manager rescued the struggling side to lead them on to an FA Cup final and the Champions League semis, with Guus Hiddink’s side then extremely unfortunate to lose out to Pep Guardiola ‘s Barcelona in 2009. But times have changed. Guardiola has secured two Champions League titles and a series of domestic titles, whilst infighting at the London club has seen progress falter and fall flat. The sides that take to the pitch tomorrow will be much altered from the class of ‘09. Barcelona boast fresh glitterati in the form of Fabregas and Sanchez. Chelsea still boast Bosingwa. The match may well prove a stretch too far for Chelsea’s old guard (much has been made of respective ages of Cole, 31, Terry, 31, Lampard, 33 and Drogba, 34). Three years ago, Chelsea were arguably the team best equipped to counter Barcelona’s tiki-taka possession play. Tomorrow, they may just come unstuck.
Yet Chelsea have started to rediscover some of the same qualities that once brought them such success. For all the bad luck that went with Tottenham’s defeat on the weekend, the West London club produced a timely reminder they still retain some of pace and power that once pushed Barcelona to the limit. Di Matteo has coaxed a little more life out of some tired limbs. Chelsea may not be the threat they once were tomorrow night, but they’re as ready as they’ll ever be.
Chelsea F.C. vs. F.C. Barcelona K.O. 19.45 April 18 2012 and will be shown live on ITV1 and ITV1 HD
The size and scale of Chelsea’s challenge is enormous. Parallels have obviously been noted between this and the last meeting of the two clubs. Then, as now, a Chelsea caretaker manager rescued the struggling side to lead them on to an FA Cup final and the Champions League semis, with Guus Hiddink’s side then extremely unfortunate to lose out to Pep Guardiola ‘s Barcelona in 2009. But times have changed. Guardiola has secured two Champions League titles and a series of domestic titles, whilst infighting at the London club has seen progress falter and fall flat. The sides that take to the pitch tomorrow will be much altered from the class of ‘09. Barcelona boast fresh glitterati in the form of Fabregas and Sanchez. Chelsea still boast Bosingwa. The match may well prove a stretch too far for Chelsea’s old guard (much has been made of respective ages of Cole, 31, Terry, 31, Lampard, 33 and Drogba, 34). Three years ago, Chelsea were arguably the team best equipped to counter Barcelona’s tiki-taka possession play. Tomorrow, they may just come unstuck.
Yet Chelsea have started to rediscover some of the same qualities that once brought them such success. For all the bad luck that went with Tottenham’s defeat on the weekend, the West London club produced a timely reminder they still retain some of pace and power that once pushed Barcelona to the limit. Di Matteo has coaxed a little more life out of some tired limbs. Chelsea may not be the threat they once were tomorrow night, but they’re as ready as they’ll ever be.
Chelsea F.C. vs. F.C. Barcelona K.O. 19.45 April 18 2012 and will be shown live on ITV1 and ITV1 HD
The loss of Sideshow Bob (Luiz) is a big'un in my Blue eyes. I could see him galloping towards Messi, the wind flowing through his pube-like mane, breaking the wee-man's leg off his body. Thus giving Chelsea a chance. However I dont think it will be the walkover predicted by every pundit in football. Its a CL Semi and Chelsea are decent side at home when the likes of Drogba or Super Frank turn up, which they tend to do on the big occasions.
ReplyDeletePaddy's pre-match prognostication: Chelsea 2-1 Barcelona. With luck. And a bung from Roman.
It's a crying shame that Essien and Drogba aren't the players they were - they used to be perfectly equipped to exploit Barca's weaknesses. Score draw I reckon
ReplyDeleteMy heart says Chelsea, my head says see a cardiologist. I'm still with you though Paddy.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I would suggest Essien is actually now one of the weakest players in the squad. He's been awful since he has returned.
ReplyDeleteTerry and Cahill are going to have to be exceptionally alert and marshal the whole team from the back. Big games from Mata and Ramires are also essential. Interesting to see who RDM starts with and how he'll play it regardless of who takes the lead. Chelsea need a 2 goal lead if they want to have any chance in Spain.
If Mikel doesn't start sobbing after 20 and 'Bert from Sesame Street' Bosingwa can tackle Messi in the first 10 for some self belief 2-1 is a possibility.
But.... Magician v Muppet. Not even Big Bird can save Bert tonight. Messi will eat him alive.
Nervous much.