Champions League 2008-09

The second semi-final Chelsea Vs Barcelona.

At the end of the first leg at NC, the teams were tied 0-0. Well done! Chelsea! was the chant on almost all lips. Barca were shocked. Add to that the card to Puyol and injury to another defender, Barcelona were looking in bad shape. With the home advantage, Chelsea looked good, but only just. With a front-line that any club would love to have, Barcelona are a threat anywhere and anytime.

Interestingly, Chelsea managed to keep the Catalan Giants to nil for 180 minutes. This is a feat no one has managed this season. But they were undone by some shoddy refereeing and bad luck.

Bad luck.

Bad luck seems to follow Chelsea wherever they go. For example, last year CL finals they lost in the last minute. Awful luck, mate! And this time around, again the same story, in the stoppage time they were beaten by Iniesta's kick. The only chance for a trophy this season for the London club now is in the FA cup. They face Everton in the finals.

Why is this so? Should Roman buy Kaka? Or may be Ronaldo? Or Messi perhaps! Would this solve their bad luck? I seriously doubt it. Chelsea have long been good team. But they haven't taken the next step to greatness. It doesn't come by buying star players, pouring in millions of pounds. It comes from the quality of the players and their self-beliefs. When Chelsea start to blame themselves for their misfortunes, when the players take the blame on themselves instead of heaping it on the manager, they will progress.

Manchester United Vs Barcelona. That would be one heck of a finals in Rome. Would anyone have a spare ticket for both the match and the flight?

Champions League 2008-09

Well! Well! Well! What do we have here? A possible Champions League Finals 2007-08 repeat.

Manchester United Vs Arsenal – the first semi-final,

Chelsea Vs Barcelona – the second semi-final.

I got up early 4:45 AM to see both legs of Manchester United Vs Arsenal. Although the first leg at Old Trafford was not really exciting, the second leg at the Emirates stadium was amazing.

Background.

A very young Arsenal side have stolen my heart with their brave and fearless football both in the Premier League and in the Europe. They had to deal with lack of experience and so many injuries. The addition of Arshavin to the Gunners squad was just a fairy tale. When Arshavin became famous in the EURO 2008, he was tipped to move from his Club St. Zenits. And I could not imagine him anywhere else than Arsenal, and that’s exactly where he landed. And he took to Wenger’s style of play like fish to water. He has been amazing in the Premier League, adding a whole new dimension to the Gunner’s style of play. They have not won a trophy in the last four seasons - too long for a top European club. Manchester United haven’t won a game in the new Emirates Stadium. And they were leading at the end of home leg 1-0. Arsenal would have been and were happy with that result. Arsenal are a predominantly attacking outfit. They are not known for outstanding defence, add to that injuries to two main defenders. Arsenal were precariously poised for their home match. They cannot afford to lose a goal. But lose a goal, they did.

The slip up.

In the 2008 Champions League finals in Moscow, Chelsea faced Manchester United. It was a slip that ensured the title for Manchester United. Chelsea captain Terry slipped on his run-up during the penalty shoot out. Had he not slipped, he might have scored, won the title for Chelsea; Grant might have kept his job. A defender losing his foot-step ensured the red devils winning the title. This time around, a defender losing his foot-step ensured Park scored a goal, an important away goal that broke Arsenal hearts. Poor young Gibbs cannot be blamed for slipping when an experienced Terry slipped. Sir Alex should be thanking the shoe makers ;).

The second goal.

When Arsenal were still under shock after the first goal the world’s best player put the ball at the centre of the net to double the deficit and put the leg beyond any doubt. Arsenal needed 4 goals to make it to the finals and that too in 78 mins. With Manchester United having given away only 5 goals in the whole European season, 4 goals in 78 mins needed more than a miracle. And by then Ronaldo was having the time of his life, tormenting the Gunner defence at will. He was to score again in the second half.

Arsenal still played some attacking football, but they just couldn’t find any space. The Man-U mid-fielders played deep in the second half, not giving any free space. Adebayor was not given any space, Van Persie was not getting much of the ball. Walcott was double-teamed by Evra and Rooney.

Chelsea Vs Barcelona

This is one match I am not able to read into, what with the first leg at NC being 0-0. Barca are wonderful with their attack, their defence is weak for the second leg. Chelsea is wonderful defensively but under Guus Hiddink they are doing good up front too. So who is in advantage? If Barca score they have better chances of going through, but at home Chelsea are more likely to score more. This will be one heck of a match. Lets see if Chelsea back-line can keep the Barca front-line once more.