WHAT a night. What a display of defiance from Chelsea after
the dismissal of John Terry for kneeing Alexis Sánchez. To the
delight of their fans up in the Gods, 10 men went to mow a
meadow, and thrillingly, amazingly, they cut mighty Barcelona,
the European champions, the team of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres
Iniesta down to size. This really was a night for a Chelsea
knees-up.
Terry's expulsion after 37 minutes for a cynical attempt to
incapacitate Barcelona's Chilean striker should have signalled
the end for Chelsea's hopes. They were trailing to Sergio
Busquets' strike. They were already manning the barricades and
now their captain was gone. In the 2008 Moscow final, Terry lost
his footing; here he lost his marbles. He let his team down.
Gary Cahill had already limped off. To lose one centre half
could be considered a misfortune, to lose two smacked of
carelessness. Depleted in numbers, Chelsea were never down in
spirit. Even when Iniesta made it 2-0, Chelsea responded. RamiresP
was immense, defending and attacking relentlessly, even scoring
S
to make it 2-1 on the cusp of half-time, changing the mood,
B
giving Chelsea hope, even making light of a booking that
C
precludes his presence in the Munich final on May 19.
The Brazilian's contribution echoed that of Roy Keane in
the dismissal of John Terry for kneeing Alexis Sánchez. To the
delight of their fans up in the Gods, 10 men went to mow a
meadow, and thrillingly, amazingly, they cut mighty Barcelona,
the European champions, the team of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres
Iniesta down to size. This really was a night for a Chelsea
knees-up.
Terry's expulsion after 37 minutes for a cynical attempt to
incapacitate Barcelona's Chilean striker should have signalled
the end for Chelsea's hopes. They were trailing to Sergio
Busquets' strike. They were already manning the barricades and
now their captain was gone. In the 2008 Moscow final, Terry lost
his footing; here he lost his marbles. He let his team down.
Gary Cahill had already limped off. To lose one centre half
could be considered a misfortune, to lose two smacked of
carelessness. Depleted in numbers, Chelsea were never down in
spirit. Even when Iniesta made it 2-0, Chelsea responded. RamiresP
was immense, defending and attacking relentlessly, even scoring
S
to make it 2-1 on the cusp of half-time, changing the mood,
B
giving Chelsea hope, even making light of a booking that
C
precludes his presence in the Munich final on May 19.
The Brazilian's contribution echoed that of Roy Keane in
1
Turin in 1999 or Michael Ballack in Seoul in 2002; putting
personal heartache to one side to help drive their team to the
final. Matching Ramires's excellence was Petr Cech, who made some
vital saves. Didier Drogba was also terrific, working selflessly
for the cause. Fernando Torres, so derided by so many, came on
and scored in the last minute.
Roberto Di Matteo has brought calm to the dressing-room, an
easily assimilated tactical game-plan and defends his players.
His credentials for the full-time post are strengthening by the
game. If the desire in the Chelsea corridors of power is for a
bigger name, well just give Di Matteo a while longer. His profile
grows and grows.
Even if Roman Abramovich looks elsewhere, and sadly the
Russian was absent on Tuesday night last week, Di Matteo will
always have Barcelona. Oh, and Lisbon and possibly Munich. Heaven
knows who he will pick for the showdown: also joining Terry andRamires in the banned stand are Branislav Ivanovic and Raul
Meireles.
Whatever happens to Di Matteo, he will always have the
memory of outwitting Pep Guardiola, of Lionel Messi failing to
score, of his players rallying to the cause against one of the
most feted sides in history and of the blue flag flying over the
Nou Camp. He can also take pride in the way he reorganised his
side, giving strength in adversity. Cahill's injury brought Jose
Bosingwa on at right back with Ivanovic moving to partner Terry.
Another centre-half departed, Gerard Piqué sustaining concussion
in a clash with keeper Victor Valdes.
The pressure on Chelsea intensified. Frank Lampard was
booked. Messi had a shot saved. Iniesta's follow-up was blocked
by Terry. Then Cesc Fabregas hit the side-netting. Danger rose
from every quarter. Even Javier Mascherano let fly, narrowly
over. Then came 10 mad minutes as the half closed, Barcelona
first digging up a jewel from the wreckage of a corner. Dani
Alves slipped the ball left to Isaac Cuenca, who crossed low and
accurately to Busquets. The finish was neat, left-footed from 10
yards and the Nou Camp erupted.
A goal down on the night, Chelsea were soon a man down. AsTerry kneed Sánchez in the back, as the Chilean fell to earth,
the assistant referee signalled the offence to Cuneyt Cakir, the
excellent Turkish referee, who reached for the red card.
As Terry made the walk of woe, Chelsea's remodelled
back-four was Ramires-Ivanovic-Bosingwa-Ashley Cole and it was
soon breached. Messi was the catalyst, gliding forward, sliding
the ball to Iniesta, who finished unerringly. This looked Mission
Impossible. Yet Chelsea stood firm, breaking out and scoring a
fine goal just before the break. Lampard made it, releasing
Ramires, who galloped down the inside-right channel, showing all
that famous stamina and then finishing like the Brazilian he is,
the ball chipped elegantly over Valdes.
After the break, Barcelona could not have set up camp more
in Chelsea's half if they had pitched a row of tents across the
18-yard line. Within three minutes, they should have regained the
initiative. Drogba challenged Fabregas, who went down. Cakir
pointed to the spot and Messi stepped up. Surely he would inflict
pain on the visitors. To the disbelief of all, the Argentine
drove the ball against the bar.
Frustration seeped into Barcelona's veins. Messi pushed
Lampard and then pulled him back. Chelsea fans began tauntingP
locals with chants of "Jose Mourinho". Cech continued his
S
masterclass of goalkeeping, tipping a Messi shot on to the post
B
and pushing away a Mascherano strike.
C
And then Torres ran free, rounding Valdes and scoring. What
a night.
Turin in 1999 or Michael Ballack in Seoul in 2002; putting
personal heartache to one side to help drive their team to the
final. Matching Ramires's excellence was Petr Cech, who made some
vital saves. Didier Drogba was also terrific, working selflessly
for the cause. Fernando Torres, so derided by so many, came on
and scored in the last minute.
Roberto Di Matteo has brought calm to the dressing-room, an
easily assimilated tactical game-plan and defends his players.
His credentials for the full-time post are strengthening by the
game. If the desire in the Chelsea corridors of power is for a
bigger name, well just give Di Matteo a while longer. His profile
grows and grows.
Even if Roman Abramovich looks elsewhere, and sadly the
Russian was absent on Tuesday night last week, Di Matteo will
always have Barcelona. Oh, and Lisbon and possibly Munich. Heaven
knows who he will pick for the showdown: also joining Terry andRamires in the banned stand are Branislav Ivanovic and Raul
Meireles.
Whatever happens to Di Matteo, he will always have the
memory of outwitting Pep Guardiola, of Lionel Messi failing to
score, of his players rallying to the cause against one of the
most feted sides in history and of the blue flag flying over the
Nou Camp. He can also take pride in the way he reorganised his
side, giving strength in adversity. Cahill's injury brought Jose
Bosingwa on at right back with Ivanovic moving to partner Terry.
Another centre-half departed, Gerard Piqué sustaining concussion
in a clash with keeper Victor Valdes.
The pressure on Chelsea intensified. Frank Lampard was
booked. Messi had a shot saved. Iniesta's follow-up was blocked
by Terry. Then Cesc Fabregas hit the side-netting. Danger rose
from every quarter. Even Javier Mascherano let fly, narrowly
over. Then came 10 mad minutes as the half closed, Barcelona
first digging up a jewel from the wreckage of a corner. Dani
Alves slipped the ball left to Isaac Cuenca, who crossed low and
accurately to Busquets. The finish was neat, left-footed from 10
yards and the Nou Camp erupted.
A goal down on the night, Chelsea were soon a man down. AsTerry kneed Sánchez in the back, as the Chilean fell to earth,
the assistant referee signalled the offence to Cuneyt Cakir, the
excellent Turkish referee, who reached for the red card.
As Terry made the walk of woe, Chelsea's remodelled
back-four was Ramires-Ivanovic-Bosingwa-Ashley Cole and it was
soon breached. Messi was the catalyst, gliding forward, sliding
the ball to Iniesta, who finished unerringly. This looked Mission
Impossible. Yet Chelsea stood firm, breaking out and scoring a
fine goal just before the break. Lampard made it, releasing
Ramires, who galloped down the inside-right channel, showing all
that famous stamina and then finishing like the Brazilian he is,
the ball chipped elegantly over Valdes.
After the break, Barcelona could not have set up camp more
in Chelsea's half if they had pitched a row of tents across the
18-yard line. Within three minutes, they should have regained the
initiative. Drogba challenged Fabregas, who went down. Cakir
pointed to the spot and Messi stepped up. Surely he would inflict
pain on the visitors. To the disbelief of all, the Argentine
drove the ball against the bar.
Frustration seeped into Barcelona's veins. Messi pushed
Lampard and then pulled him back. Chelsea fans began tauntingP
locals with chants of "Jose Mourinho". Cech continued his
S
masterclass of goalkeeping, tipping a Messi shot on to the post
B
and pushing away a Mascherano strike.
C
And then Torres ran free, rounding Valdes and scoring. What
a night.
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