Champions League Chelsea vs. Barcelona

[MSP]

The thing that surprised me most about Barca was there absolute insistance to play Messi through the middle. He barely moved from outside the width of the box the whole match.

Evertime he picked it up, he had 3 players minimum to beat. The space was wide where he'd have had loads of 1 on 1's going into the box.

It was a bit arrogant really, this is the way we play and we ain't changing for you. Guess they've earned that right though.

Chelsea deliberately left them space on wings as they knew Barcelona can't match their defensive line height and they had enough men in the box to stop low crosses.

It was very good performance by Chelsea and I really can't understand why people refuse to recognize that. It was long time ago some team limited Messi as Chelsea did last night and that's the main job to do when you're playing against Barcelona. He barely stepped in their box last night.

Of course they have much more options to go with but as we saw those options are far less dangerous.

Agreed, the stench of some misplaced bitterness is in the air in this room.

It's not just here, it's all over the net.

Barca fans and supporters suppose that teams should play the game that would left Barcelona enough space to score their usual 4-5. Yeah, sure, just order please.

Chelsea had their plan last night, that plan included some kind of gamble and that gamble proved to be good. You don't think about beauty of the game when you're trying to stop Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, you're doing what's best to achieve that.

It's still long way to go but Chelsea did it last night, over all odds.

 

[City Raider]

The thing that surprised me most about Barca was there absolute insistance to play Messi through the middle. He barely moved from outside the width of the box the whole match.

Evertime he picked it up, he had 3 players minimum to beat. The space was wide where he'd have had loads of 1 on 1's going into the box.

It was a bit arrogant really, this is the way we play and we ain't changing for you. Guess they've earned that right though.

Chelsea deliberately left them space on wings as they knew Barcelona can't match their defensive line height and they had enough men in the box to stop low crosses.

It was very good performance by Chelsea and I really can't understand why people refuse to recognize that. It was long time ago some team limited Messi as Chelsea did last night and that's the main job to do when you're playing against Barcelona. He barely stepped in their box last night.

Of course they have much more options to go with but as we saw those options are far less dangerous.

That's exactly my point - why didn't Messi go where the space was?

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

The thing that surprised me most about Barca was there absolute insistance to play Messi through the middle. He barely moved from outside the width of the box the whole match.

Evertime he picked it up, he had 3 players minimum to beat. The space was wide where he'd have had loads of 1 on 1's going into the box.

It was a bit arrogant really, this is the way we play and we ain't changing for you. Guess they've earned that right though.

Chelsea deliberately left them space on wings as they knew Barcelona can't match their defensive line height and they had enough men in the box to stop low crosses.

It was very good performance by Chelsea and I really can't understand why people refuse to recognize that. It was long time ago some team limited Messi as Chelsea did last night and that's the main job to do when you're playing against Barcelona. He barely stepped in their box last night.

Of course they have much more options to go with but as we saw those options are far less dangerous.

That's exactly my point - why didn't Messi go where the space was?

My god yes its all so simple now

 

[hideniton]

Thought Barcelona had some poor finishing and Chelsea defended rather well. Couldn't Care less who'll get through but what really pleased me was Drogba's performance. Giving Barca a taste of their own cuntish playacting medicine. And boy did they not like it one bit.

 

[City Raider]

Chelsea deliberately left them space on wings as they knew Barcelona can't match their defensive line height and they had enough men in the box to stop low crosses.

It was very good performance by Chelsea and I really can't understand why people refuse to recognize that. It was long time ago some team limited Messi as Chelsea did last night and that's the main job to do when you're playing against Barcelona. He barely stepped in their box last night.

Of course they have much more options to go with but as we saw those options are far less dangerous.

That's exactly my point - why didn't Messi go where the space was?

My god yes its all so simple now

Obviously you're mocking but maybe it is simple, at the very least he'd bring defenders to him that might then leave gaps through the middle where they like to play - just thoughts, sue me