Barcelona v Chelsea (The European Classic) (Oct 18 & 31)

kasnani wrote:Where are these articles? I certainly haven't read them.

Just in the English press mate. I'm not too bothered about it, I was just joking

Ahh yeah that explains it

Should be a good game on Tuesday, I'm still very nervous about our form. Hopefully you guys have an off day and we get a lucky penalty or two from another Gudjohnsen dive

Yes I saw it. Guddy is learning well

Regarding the match, I have to say that, as long as we get no injuries, sendings off, I'll be satisfied whatever the outcome (win, lose or draw I won't be too bothered).

We won the home game, and I don't think anybody would put us as favourites to beat Barcelona away from home, so it's a WIN-WIN situation (for once).

Beating you at Stamford Bridge has basically, barring a miracle gained qualification for us, and so I don't think there is so much pressure to go to Barca and get a result (for once), which is very nice.

Whilst for you guys, the pressure is really on, which is why I think you'll win. As I said, for once I won't be too angry/annoyed/upset if we lose, as long as the game is played in good spirit (and that goes for both teams).

I think the 1st goal is absolutely crucial. If you score, I can see Chelsea going out and trying to attack and conceding 1 or 2 more. If we score first, I can see us soaking up the pressure, killing the game off and winning 0-1.

Of course I'd love to win by the way, but am more interested (for once) in seeing a good performance rather than a victory.

Let's hope for a good game between the 2, in my opinion, best teams in Europe

I really don't understand my feelings on this one.

On the one hand I absolutely loathe Chelsea but want them to beat you and I want Barca eliminated totally.

But I've always liked Barca - I can't understand why I suddenly want you to lose.

I always support the English teams in Europe so come on Chelsea

Owen Thomas wrote:I really don't understand my feelings on this one.

On the one hand I absolutely loathe Chelsea but want them to beat you and I want Barca eliminated totally.

But I've always liked Barca - I can't understand why I suddenly want you to lose.

I want barca out and i think it may just happen

purely down to styles of play

barca would play us off the park if we drew them.. chelsea are much easier to play against

I'll be blunt unlike you two and simply say I want Barca out because Messiah is a cunt.

We'd beat them hands-down, even if they went through.

Obispo wrote:I'll be blunt unlike you two and simply say I want Barca out because Messiah is a cunt.

We'd beat them hands-down, even if they went through.

you'll get shagged if you draw us

MightyBarca wrote:

Obispo wrote:I'll be blunt unlike you two and simply say I want Barca out because Messiah is a cunt.

We'd beat them hands-down, even if they went through.

you'll get shagged if you draw us

There is a slight wiff of arrogance about Barca...maybe that is it..

Man U v Barca would be a great match.

Droggy and Sheva travel to Barca


Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko are in the 20-man Chelsea squad which has travelled to Barcelona this afternoon.



Drogba had treatment on the injury he suffered against Sheffield United in yesterday’s win at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground this morning while his team-mates were having a light warm-down. Shevchenko, who missed that trip, took part in some shooting practice.



The full squad is: A Cole, Makelele, Essien, Carvalho, Shevchenko, Lampard, Boulahrouz, J Cole, Drogba, Ballack, Gérémi, Robben, Bridge, Diarra, Ferreira, Kalou, Cudicini, Wright-Phillips, Terry and Hilário.



So it looks as though both will play (otherwise I very much doubt JM would've taken them)

[quote="Owen ThomasThere is a slight wiff of arrogance about Barca...maybe that is it..

Man U v Barca would be a great match. [/quote]

In all fairness, I think it is not too bad for a team that has won the CL this year. It may also depend if you read those ill-translated (or made-up) reports from the English "news"papers. In general, players and staff are optimistic and confident but always respectful of their opponents. I think you shouldn't necessarily take MightyBarca's comments literally.

S4P, I read the quotes you mentioned. It's basically Marquez and Rijkaard saying that Chelsea play a different style this year. You concentrate more on midfield play and closing down the opposition rather than sitting back and counter-attacking, and hence you're not as fast in counter attacks (with the wingers) as you were last season.

Here's what Marquez said, Rijkaard's comments (where he also said some nice things about Mourinho, I wonder if there's some mind games involved or it's just to calm the crowd down) will probably be up in English later.
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/noticias/n06102905.shtml

@ Kas

Don't worry mate, there have been 2 different versions of the Marquez tale. There is the one on your website (which you have explained) and then there was the tabloid one, which I never took seriously anyway.

It seems that Drogba and Shevchenko are fine now. Both completed the walk round the grounds with no problems, and there has been no injury update.

Chelsea striker crisis dead and buried:

The injury worries up front appear over. Both Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko have completed a full 90 minute training session on the spacious Camp Nou pitch.

Speaking immediately before Monday evening’s workout began, José Mourinho stated it would be clear to all watching if the two would be available for selection for Tuesday’s game. Shevchenko had not trained with the squad for a week due his leg muscle strain and Drogba had been in constant treatment on his injured foot since Saturday he revealed.

But come Monday, both looked fit and well, joining in every exercise and training game on a warm Spanish evening.

Mourinho also announced that Hilario would continue in goal. Tomorrow’s game will be the weekend penalty hero’s fifth start in succession.

Despite the positive health reports on the big two strikers, Salomon Kalou is primed and ready to take the attack to Barcelona if required. He spoke to the media before the game and said confidently:

‘I am not afraid. It is nice to have Drogba and Shevchenko here and I learn from them but I am at Chelsea because I have the quality to play here. Whatever the game I get my chance, I will do my best.’

Twenty-four hours before the game, it is clear the atmosphere surrounding the encounter between these familiar opponents is different from the last meeting in Barcelona back in March.

Mourinho’s press conference this time was more rugby scrum than the near-beatlemania pandemonium that broke out on his arrival last time. This time football was discussed and not an endless succession of questions about controversies surrounding the game.

‘Last season I had to take my suit to the dry cleaners and this year I won’t have to do that,’ said the Chelsea boss, referring to a spitting incident at the airport last time.

‘Last season was more aggressive. This year I got a welcome from the hotel. Maybe tomorrow will be different, but I really don’t care about that. I just care about the 90 minutes of the game.’

In keeping with the low-key build-up, Mourinho refused get carried away with the idea of a double of victories over Barcelona.

‘We don’t play to kick each other out of the competition,’ he insisted. ‘We play to progress. I think we need two points to qualify and I think Barcelona need six points. Maybe I am wrong but not far from that.

When we qualify, then we think about being first. The only meaning of a possible double over Barcelona is that we are top of the group. I don’t have a personal situation with Barcelona. I don’t have a personal situation of trying to help Werder Bremen knock them out. That is not my fight.’

Mourinho was asked by a member of the English press if he was confident Tuesday’s referee, Stefano Farina from Italy, would be able to withstand the force of the crowd when making decisions. The question made particular reference to a penalty won in controversial style by Eidur Gudjohnsen in Barça’s weekend home game.

‘You ask me that question because you know I don’t run away from questions,’ was the start of the reply.

‘What is happening in the Spanish League, I want to ignore. Penalty or no penalty; if they are helped or not helped - it is something for their Spanish opponents to comment on. It is not for me to comment.

‘But I know the number of penalties they have at home. I know the number of times they play against 10 players. It is a bit surprising, especially with Eidur because Eidur played in English football for many years and three months later, he gets that penalty.

I'll be honest.. I am extremely nervous about the game tomorrow.. we HAVE to win, not because we want to be first in the group but because we need the confidence boost.

A crappy victory over a midtable team is not enough and if we loose tomorrow we are back to square one again with the added stress of Werder breathing down our necks...

Let's face it, I down think Chelsea will help Werder on purpose to qualify but if they are already qualified the reserves will be on the pitch and Werder will come at them at a houndred miles an hour..

S4P wrote:Chelsea striker crisis dead and buried:

‘But I know the number of penalties they have at home. I know the number of times they play against 10 players. It is a bit surprising, especially with Eidur because Eidur played in English football for many years and three months later, he gets that penalty.

He always has to moan doesn't he.. I would not have anything against Chelsea if it wasn't for bloody Mourinho. The way he always insults us, makes me wish that he gets run over by a bus or he accidentally insults Roman and the Russian mafia offs him (anything really as long as he just gets out of football forever).

Come on Chelsea !!!! & Come on Bremen !!!!

La Saeta Rubia wrote:Come on Chelsea !!!! & Come on Bremen !!!!

at least we rely on football, and not making the opponent fall asleep.. you lot are like a Chelsea without flair

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:

La Saeta Rubia wrote:Come on Chelsea !!!! & Come on Bremen !!!!

at least we rely on football, and not making the opponent fall asleep.. you lot are like a Chelsea without flair

2-0 Mr Flair

There wasn't much flair in that game from Madrid. But I guess for resultadistas like yourself a win means you played like Brazil.

cule wrote:There wasn't much flair in that game from Madrid. But I guess for resultadistas like yourself a win means you played like Brazil.

No, it means we beat the european champs 2-0 ( coulda been 4-0 )

Congratulations for that, you're still two points behind us in the league...

cule wrote:Congratulations for that, you're still two points behind us in the league...

True, but its not about who`s top in October, its about who`s top in June

Anyway, Vamos Chelsea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wat matters is who's top and we are....hell u guys got lucky against barca cuase it was a one off and the next game u got shagged by nastic

They lost against Getafe as well

MightyBarca wrote:wat matters is who's top and we are....hell u guys got lucky against barca cuase it was a one off and the next game u got shagged by nastic

Ok, you can be top now, id rather be top come June. Got lucky ? 2-0 and it coulda been 4-0. Shagged by Nastic, errr we beat them 1-3

cule wrote:They lost against Getafe as well

Beat you 2-0 though

That doesn't mean you didn't lose against Getafe lol

And please don't bother with that Getafe>Barça crap because we're leading the table...

I still don't understand why so much euphoria, it's not like we got thrashed and you were playing at home. Last season it was 0-3 for us in the Cuernabeu, now that is a great result.

Team for tomorrow looks set to be:

-----------------Hilario---------------------
Boulahrouz-Carvalho-Terry-Ashley Cole
----------------Makelele-------------------
-----Essien------------------Lampard-----
-----------------Ballack--------------------
---------Drogba-------Shevchenko-------

SKY SPORTS has written a similar (but more detailed) article on the Mourinho-Barca latest affair:

Jose Mourinho has turned up the heat ahead of Chelsea's clash with Barcelona on Tuesday by taking a swipe at former Blues striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The Icelandic attacker swapped Stamford Bridge for Camp Nou in the summer and he has taken on a prominent role for his new club following the injury to Samuel Eto'o.

He hit the headlines at the weekend when winning a controversial penalty against Recreativo Huelva, a tumble which caught the eye of Mourinho.

"I know the number of penalties they have at home," said Mourinho. "I know the number of times they play against 10 players.

"I am surprised with Eidur because he played in English football all his professional life and three months later, he gets that penalty."

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard has responded to Mourinho's comments by insisting his side do not cheat.

"We don't need to do that," he added. "It is a poor man's mind to talk like that.

"It's almost always losers who complain about the results and it's something we have to cope with."

Mourinho, meanwhile, has dismissed suggestions that he would rather see Werder Bremen reach the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League than Barcelona.

Chelsea are well placed to reach the knockout stages, having beaten Barca at Stamford Bridge and a repeat result on Tuesday would put great pressure on The Catalans.

The Blues face Werder after their trip to Barca and Mourinho has scoffed at suggestions he will field a weakened team.

"For me, it's not a problem which team qualifies in second," the Portuguese said.

"If Chelsea qualify, and especially if we get first place, then nothing else matters to me. It's not my problem if the second team to qualify is Werder Bremen or Barcelona.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, we will go to Bremen with exactly the same attitude and that is to win. Only an idiot would think that I would go there with a second team to lose."

Come on Barca, the tension is in full gear now. The first few hours of work in the morning are going to be so nerve-wracking!