Barca v Chelsea

[Goldman]

Have to say the English can't complain about the Italians Catenaccio tactics anymore after the way Man Utd and Chelsea have played in the Camp Nou for past 2 seasons. You have overtaken the Italians as the most negative footballing teams in Europe tbh.

Tonight was a great addvert for the self proclaimed "best league in the world"...or...not.

Wow that is so ridiculous. I guess you missed the Chelsea vs Liverpool Qfs? Even Man utd and the l'arse played good attacking football.

Our football is the best, and hardly negative, especially in comparison to Italian football. We just know how to play sensible, and win games. Something that Italy must have forgotten how to do...

Football is not all about playing open, and you cant just go all guns blazing at the Nou camp and expect to win. That just suicide.

How many spurs fans were bothered when we 'parked' the bus in front of the goal vs Chelsea a few years ago. I for one didnt.

 

[Bonjour]

0-0 @ 11-2. Easiest £65 I've made all season.

 

[Warik]

Wow that is so ridiculous. I guess you missed the Chelsea vs Liverpool Qfs? Even Man utd and the l'arse played good attacking football.

Our football is the best, and hardly negative, especially in comparison to Italian football. We just know how to play sensible, and win games. Something that Italy must have forgotten how to do...You all sit your men behind the ball and then hit quickly on the counter. You can call it style but is Catenaccio at its finest.

Football is not all about playing open, and you cant just go all guns blazing at the Nou camp and expect to win. That just suicide.

How many spurs fans were bothered when we 'parked' the bus in front of the goal vs Chelsea a few years ago. I for one didnt.

What did Liverpool do at the Bernabeu? what did Chelsea at the Olimpico in Turin? Man Utd at the Dragao? Arsenal for 60 minutes at El Madrigal? Arsenal in the Olimpico in Rome? You 'play sensible' but it doesn't stop Sky and ITV claiming how attacking your teams are in Europe...

Chelsea-Liverpool have a good couple of games between them and people conveniently forget the rest...You can attack Barça, it isn't suicide. It wasn't suicide when Porto attacked Man Utd etc..

English love ripping on the Italians for the style of play calling it boring even when that style caused the Italians to dominate Europe. Ironically to dominate Europe your clubs have had to adopt the exact same style. Yet when your clubs adopt it it is considered to be 'playing sensible'. If the boot was on the other foot Sky and ITV wouldn't shut up about the negativity.

 

[spursandbarca]

disgaree with Bojan. I really rate him. Pep hasnt given him a chance, I would have prefered to see him come on for Henry at least Bojan has pace and can beat a man. why pep took eto'o off is mystifying to say the least.

Henry was awful at least when barca had a break dont slow the tempo down so 5 yellow shirts can back and defend.....

 

[leffe186]

Have to say the English can't complain about the Italians Catenaccio tactics anymore after the way Man Utd and Chelsea have played in the Camp Nou for past 2 seasons. You have overtaken the Italians as the most negative footballing teams in Europe tbh.

Tonight was a great addvert for the self proclaimed "best league in the world"...or...not.

The third placed team from one league just went away to the top team in another (who are TWENTY-FIVE points clear of Sevilla in third) and got a result. Barca have played 17 home games in the League and have a goal difference of 58-10. You could argue that tonight WAS a great advert for the Premiership.

I'm not that fussed either way frankly. Can't remember complaining about Catenaccio for several decades but I certainly have complained about systematic diving, brandishing imaginary yellow cards etc which we saw from both teams tonight but largely from the football purists of Barcelona.

 

[Goldman]

What did Liverpool do at the Bernabeu? what did Chelsea at the Olimpico in Turin? Man Utd at the Dragao? Arsenal for 60 minutes at El Madrigal? Arsenal in the Olimpico in Rome? You 'play sensible' but it doesn't stop Sky and ITV claiming how attacking your teams are in Europe...

Chelsea-Liverpool have a good couple of games between them and people conveniently forget the rest...You can attack Barça, it isn't suicide. It wasn't suicide when Porto attacked Man Utd etc..

English love ripping on the Italians for the style of play calling it boring even when that style caused the Italians to dominate Europe. Ironically to dominate Europe your clubs have had to adopt the exact same style. Yet when your clubs adopt it it is considered to be 'playing sensible'. If the boot was on the other foot Sky and ITV wouldn't shut up about the negativity.

What Liverpool did at the Bernabeau was play decent football, and win 1-0. What did they do at anfield? Absolutely tear apart the most famous football club in history.

What did Man Utd do? Attack from the get go, get the goal, and easily deal with Porto's limited attacking threat.

I didnt see the Chelsea or Scum games u mentioned.

As for yourargument that you can attack Barca, that it isnt suicide, then backed up by nothing. As it hasn't succesfully been done in a while. Maybe your bitter because Chelsea implemented a correct strategy. Maybe it wasn't pleasing on the eye, but it was correct.

Italian football is boring, thats the reason why TV compainies over here dropped it. It sucks.

Our english teams may play slightly different in certain european games (especially away games.. which they rightly should). But its hard to argue are domestic games aren't the best in Europe, they are fantastic and brilliant to watch. The Liverpool vs Scum 4-4 game the other day is a perfect advert for 'the best league in the world'.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Boring game.

 

[DFF]

The third placed team from one league just went away to the top team in another (who are TWENTY-FIVE points clear of Sevilla in third) and got a result. Barca have played 17 home games in the League and have a goal difference of 58-10. You could argue that tonight WAS a great advert for the Premiership.

I'm not that fussed either way frankly. Can't remember complaining about Catenaccio for several decades but I certainly have complained about systematic diving, brandishing imaginary yellow cards etc which we saw from both teams tonight but largely from the football purists of Barcelona.

Totally agree. Chelsea are the first team to have gone to the Camp Nou this season and not concede. They did the smart thing and now take a 0-0 back to Stamford Bridge having just survived the deadliest ground in the world, currently. Fair play to them.

 

[Goldman]

Totally agree. Chelsea are the first team to have gone to the Camp Nou this season and not concede. They did the smart thing and now take a 0-0 back to Stamford Bridge having just survived the deadliest ground in the world, currently. Fair play to them.

+1

 

[lishiyo]

I expected something similar to this, it's a bit lame but it's the pragmatic thing to do anyways and practically any non-suicidal team would do the same. There should be a more open and hopefully more entertaining game at Stamford Bridge. 0-0 + penalties will make me cry.

Not sure why people claim Serie A is boring. Admittedly I've only watched the 'bigger' games this season but what I've seen has been pretty classy and entertaining without huge scorelines. I've liked the Bundesliga this year too - defenses are pretty awful but the title race has been entertaining.

Meanwhile we have Fat Sam, Bolton, Stoke City, a Pompey managed by a man who thinks getting a point against Newcastle is wonderful, a Sunderland managed by a man who admits they suck, a Fulham with one of the best defensive records in the league, a Boro that's scored the lowest number of goals in all of England, and the Championship side called Newcastle. It's hilarious how half the PL have been in a relegation battle for much of this season. Suspect that most leagues barring La Liga have similarly depressing equivalents outside their top clubs though.

 

[fortworthspur]

well, credit to Chelsea for getting out of Spain with a chance, but I thought the official was kind to them. Could've been 3 or 4 more yellows.

 

[RobinLeonard]

Totally agree. Chelsea are the first team to have gone to the Camp Nou this season and not concede. They did the smart thing and now take a 0-0 back to Stamford Bridge having just survived the deadliest ground in the world, currently. Fair play to them.

The last team who managed that was Man U last season right? It's not easy to play destructive football at Camp Nou and I actually think Terry, Ballack, Mikel, Essien and the gang showed class. Barcelona grew tired and they grew frustrated. Had Drogba been on his game they could just as easily have won it.

 

[Kendall]

Its up to Barca (if they are as good as everyone says) to break down Chelsea and beat them on their own park. Its not up to Chelsea to go all guns blazing.

 

[Kendall]

Have to say the English can't complain about the Italians Catenaccio tactics anymore after the way Man Utd and Chelsea have played in the Camp Nou for past 2 seasons. You have overtaken the Italians as the most negative footballing teams in Europe tbh.

Tonight was a great addvert for the self proclaimed "best league in the world"...or...not.

We will see what happens in the 2nd leg.

I predict Chelsea to be a big attacking threat.

Also I seem to remember United going to Inter and battering them for about an hour.

People seem to expect teams to go to the Nou Camp and open up...why? so we can be entertained while they get beat 4-0 like Bayern? no thanks, I prefer a more exciting 2nd leg.

 

[Petyr]

We will see what happens in the 2nd leg.

I predict Chelsea to be a big attacking threat.

Also I seem to remember United going to Inter and battering them for about an hour.

People seem to expect teams to go to the Nou Camp and open up...why? so we can be entertained while they get beat 4-0 like Bayern? no thanks, I prefer a more exciting 2nd leg.

Fully agree with that comment. People forget that Chelsea were without two top defenders last night: Carvalho and A. Cole. It was normal that they were very cautious. Let's see how Barca will do without Puyol and Marques.

 

[donny1013]

Barcelona's players rounded on what they deemed a negative and cynical Chelsea side following the teams' 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night.

Barcelona failed to score at home for the first time this season against a Chelsea side which defended in numbers and committed almost three times as many fouls as the Catalans.

Chelsea often had nine men behind the ball, with just Didier Drogba alone up front.

And the Londoners' lack of ambition failed to impress Barcelona.

Defender Gerard Pique believes only his side played any football over the 90 minutes.

"Barcelona were the only team who wanted to play, and yet the reward is for Chelsea, even though it seems like they came for a draw," he said.

Pique came through the youth system at Barcelona and returned to the club in the summer following a spell at Manchester United.

The Catalan defender was on the bench for United in last season's Champions League semi-final at Barcelona, which also finished goalless.

He was preferred to captain Carles Puyol at the back this time for the locals, though, and says Barcelona can hold their heads high after a game which they dominated from start to finish.

"At least we know we're superior because we showed that on the pitch," he said.

Xavi, meanwhile, accused Chelsea of anti-fair play.

"There were some actions which were clear yellow cards and not even a foul was given, and then (Yaya) Toure was booked for protesting.

"One team wanted to play and the other one didn't, it's a shame... there's all this talk about fair play, but I haven't seen any from them tonight," he said.

Toure, who was booked for protesting a refereeing decision, believes German official Wolfgang Stark should have punished Chelsea players for their persistent fouls.

"It was worse than deplorable - it looked as if he had come to help Chelsea," he said.

Barca and Chelsea ended up with two yellow cards apiece, but Toure says Hiddink's men should have had more.

"Players like (Michael) Ballack and (John Obi) Mikel made so many fouls, it's unbelievable to think they weren't booked," he said.

Like Pique, Barca President Joan Laporta also believes Chelsea were happy to play for a draw.

"They defended a lot and very well, although it looked as if that is exactly what they came to do: defend," he said.

Nevertheless, Laporta is confident Barcelona can reach a second Champions League final since he took control of the club in 2003.

"They didn't score and that's the most important thing; we know a goal for us at Stamford Bridge will make life very difficult for them," he said.

And striker Samuel Eto'o believes Chelsea will be obliged to play a more open and positive game when the two sides meet in London on May 6.

"We will try to score there in order to relax, but they won't be able to play like they did today, with nearly all of their players waiting in their own half," he said.

Eto'o feels the Catalans still have a great chance of making the final in Rome next month.

"0-0 is not a bad result and we still have a great chance of getting to the final - a goal in London will change everything," he said.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola will have problems in central defence for that match, though.

Rafa Marquez broke down with a knee injury on Tuesday night and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, while Puyol's booking means he is suspended for the return leg.

Gabi Milito is still out with a long-term injury, meaning Uruguay defender Martin Caceres - the club's only other senior centre-back - is likely to come in for a rare start.

 

[Warik]

What Liverpool did at the Bernabeau was play decent football, and win 1-0. What did they do at anfield? Absolutely tear apart the most famous football club in history.

Decent football? only an Englishman finds 60 yard long balls bypassing the midfield 'decent'. Liverpool won 1-0 with perhaps their only decent attacking spell in the game, the rest was 10 men behind the ball and quick counter attacks, catenaccio at its finest.

What did Man Utd do? Attack from the get go, get the goal, and easily deal with Porto's limited attacking threat.

Attack from the get go? rewatch the first minutes again, who was doing all the attacking? Porto. Man Utd scored a good goal then sat back again.

As for yourargument that you can attack Barca, that it isnt suicide, then backed up by nothing. As it hasn't succesfully been done in a while. Maybe your bitter because Chelsea implemented a correct strategy. Maybe it wasn't pleasing on the eye, but it was correct.

Okay, Getafe earlier in the season went to the Camp Nou, when Barça were in their best form attacked them and got a 1-1 draw...Maybe Getafe are just better than Chelsea?

Our english teams may play slightly different in certain european games (especially away games.. which they rightly should). But its hard to argue are domestic games aren't the best in Europe, they are fantastic and brilliant to watch. The Liverpool vs Scum 4-4 game the other day is a perfect advert for 'the best league in the world'.

The Sevilla-Madrid game was entertaining, as was Valencia-Barça, Real Madrid-Getafe, the Real Madrid-Sevilla game earlier in the season...and many others. It is a bit ignorant and short sighted to say becuase chelsea and Liverpool have a 4-4 that it makes your league the most entertaining to watch.

We will see what happens in the 2nd leg.

I predict Chelsea to be a big attacking threat.

Also I seem to remember United going to Inter and battering them for about an hour.

People seem to expect teams to go to the Nou Camp and open up...why? so we can be entertained while they get beat 4-0 like Bayern? no thanks, I prefer a more exciting 2nd leg.

People said that about Man Utd last season when they went back to Old Trafford. They didn't open up and rarely had many good opportunities. It was like the Camp Nou v2.0. They'll be hoping their fans get behind them as they hit us on the counter hoping for Lampard to do what Scholes did last year.

The Chelsea players will go on saying they are going to attack just like they said they would in the Camp Nou, they were apparently looking for an open attacking game, which was obviously rubbish. It'll probably be the same at the Bridge.


EDIT: @ the comments. The players should of kept their mouths shut there. They are 100% right the comments themselves but it gives the English press a reason to take those comments far far far beyond their original context. The referee was quite bad but one must also note that Chelsea players were sly, often making challenges off the ball when the referee couldn't see it, like Malouda continuously on Alves, Bosingwa on Messi, Terry on Eto'o and Ivanovic on Henry, Lampard and Ballack on Xavi and Iniesta. Half of them were made off the ball, a cheeky foot left hanging out conveniently for Messi to trip over when making a run etc. It wasn't fair play, but thats football.

 

[Coyboy]

I am definitely in the Chelsea camp. They defended very well and Cech was superb. Why do Messi, Iniesta and the rest get praise (rightly a lot of the time) for failing to break Chelsea down but Cech, Ivanovic, Alex and others get none. They are doing their job, it might not be 'pretty' to some but I love watching good defending and good keeping. Barca got into a lot of good positions but failed to break Chelsea down, missing two sitters in Eto'o and Bojan.

Chelsea don't have the players Barca do and were missing J Cole as well as other defenders. I don't know what Hiddink said before but pre match comments are pretty meaningless. Chelsea did what they had to do and what no other team has done. I as a neutral enjoyed watching the battle and thought Chelsea always looked like getting something on the break. Other who like more open football didn't like it, that's fine, but this is Chelsea in a first leg away to Barca what did you expect? United did something pretty similar last year.

I think and hope that Chelsea will get through now, and if Barca can't get through them or can't deal with their attacking then that's due to their own lack of clinial finishing not Chelsea cheating.

 

[worcestersauce]

The third placed team from one league just went away to the top team in another (who are TWENTY-FIVE points clear of Sevilla in third) and got a result. Barca have played 17 home games in the League and have a goal difference of 58-10. You could argue that tonight WAS a great advert for the Premiership.

Or you could argue not and just realise that Cech is a better goalkeeper than any of the Spanish League keepers he was certainly busy and pulled off some real game savers which tends to show that chelsea didn't defend well enough to restrict Barca's scoring chances at all.

Nailed on penalty by the way!

 

[Coyboy]

Cech is not better than Casillas, but other than him yes.