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Even before the game kicked off last night, like many other Barcelona fans I was scared of a couple of things that could spoil the party - Didier Drogba and a highly defensive Chelsea setup. The more optimistic ones believed irrespective of what Chelsea do, Barcelona will out gun Chelsea. The more cynical ones like me strongly believed that Chelsea will outplay Barca by not playing football at all.
All my fears came true last night, Chelsea refused to play football. They literally put 9 of their 11 men in the defense, helping the goal keeper and hoping to catch the Barca off guard. As I have said I wasn't surprised, I had strong feeling that Chelsea will do to Barca what Man United did last year. Defend for the life in the away leg, then try and score a goal at home and repeat the first leg trick.
But this was worse. Manchester United did go against all their ethics of good football last year to defend for their lives. But I don't remember them putting 9 defenders throughout the match and completely refuse to play any football. Chelsea did just that. To their credit they did really well and should be applauded, they could have put Stoke City to shame with their utter lack of creativity and footballing skills last night, depending totally on the long ball by Peter Cech.
The evening can be summed up from a conversation I had with a friend last night, a total football novice, when she asked the question. "Why are all the guys playing on only one side of the field? Is there a rule that they can't go on the other side?"
When I explained her in laymen terms what's happening, the next question was "Why don't they ban this, if they are out there to play football then should play that". Well I was lost for words and said no further. When a team of Chelsea's caliber refuses to play any football it’s an utter disgrace!
Chelsea are not alone to blame for last night’s draw, Barcelona for all their skills do take some blame for it. If they expected Chelsea to attack them as the Blues coach had indicated before the match, they are living in a wonderland. They should have learned their lesson, especially after last year’s encounter with Manchester United. English teams, except Arsenal, do not play football in Europe. They defend and produce tame draws.
With all the might of the Premier league, when they don't follow that model, they get thrashed. Remember Manchester United at San Siro couple of years back or Liverpool at the final of the cup the same year.
If Barcelona had to win, they had to score last night and if they wanted to be the Champions of Europe (which I don’t think they can anymore) they have to outgun teams regardless of whether the opposition uses 10 or 100 defenders.
If I were betting my money on who among Barca and Chelsea will go through to the final of the Champions League, I will surely bet on Chelsea. They will prove that you don’t always need to play football to win the Champions League.
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Kunal Ghate
said:
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... Right said Asif, Barca is to be blamed to some extent. But Chelsea are the guys who know they cant win this so better to sit back and block those goals. Its a shame! |
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