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Robbed, In what way ?
Yes, they were denied one stonewall penalty in the second half, but that was about it.
The fact is that over the two legs, Barcelona deserved to go through. They were and are the better footballing side, and unlike Chelsea, did not resort to spoiling tactics every two minutes. Chelsea’s whole game plan was to stifle the opposition and stop them from playing. When Barca equalised I felt a sense of poetic justice.
The Norwegian ref is incompetent – I have seen him perform at Celtic Park, and some of his decsions are mind boggling to say the least – but his decision to send off the Barcelona player was wrong. Anelka tripped over his own feet.
Nah, I think as a neutral that the two best footballing teams have made the final, and that had they not, it would have been the fans and viewing public who most certainly would have been robbed – of the showdown they most wanted to see.
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An enthralling nights’ entertainment and justification for my Sky Sports fee.
Himself: Whilst I’ll agree that Man Utd v Barcelona is a more tasty final, and that the antics of s0me of the Chelsea players are sickening, I can’t agree that Barcelona were necessarily the "better" sde .
Last night, they had over 60% of the possession yet couldn’t fashion a decent chance in 90 mins. Chelsea, with much less possession, posed the bigger attacking threat. What does that say about their relative merits? Cech never had a save to make in 90 mins (true, the only save he had to make all night he missed).
Chelsea’s defence were magnificent . And although defensive tactics/skills may be less exciting to watch than attacking skills, it’s still a skill and deserves appreciation. How many other teams in Europe could stifle Barcelona and limit them to one shot on target in 94 minutes? To suggest Chelsea would have been less worthy winners because their game plan wasn’t just attack attack attack, is like rubbishing a horse that wins from the front rather than coming with a late, whirlwind, eyecatching flourish.
Chelsea had enough chances last night to have avoided going out to a single Barcelona goal. That they didn’t take them, to me, means they shouldn’t moan because the Ref bottled out of awarding them at least one penalty.
Ballack’s harassing of the ref. after not awarding them a penalty in the 93rd minute makes a mockery of the "Respect" campaign they promote in banners around the ground. And, primarily because they are such big cry-babies, in a way, I’m glad Barcelona have gone through. But they were not clearly the better side. Whatever attacking flair/skill the Spaniards had, was clearly matched by Chelsea’s defensive game.I always err on the side of the attack minded teams. Afterall, if you don’t score, you cannot win games. Ok, I accept that defence is important – but not as important as attack – if you think it through.
As Ruud Gullit rightly said, it is easier to defend than it is to attack – the attacking side always use more energy and urgency. Chelsea players were diving all night long and continually breaking up play.
Thierry Henry was a big loss to Barca – he would have stretched the Chelsea defence much more and left Messi and Iniesta with more space to exploit.
I think Barcelona will win the final in Rome. Terrific side when in full flow.
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I’m with Insomniac on this.
Barca had 63% of possession and had one shot on goal. That is surely credit to Chelsea. They achieved a 0-0 at the Camp Nou and kept Barca to one late late goal. I do not think the best team won on the night at Stamford Bridge. Pique was a clear handball – the player himself said (in so many words) that he was fortunate.
Chelsea’s tactics were superbly executed and they arguably had the best chances to score in both legs.
Unlucky, you Blues Fans.
Zip
If it wasn’t for the incompitent referee who was so far out of his depth, Chelsea would be through. They kept a clean sheet away. Has any other side done that this season? They prevented Barca from any shots (apart from the goal) and coiuld have had up to four pens. Two were certs.
It happens in sport but Chelsea were absolutely ROBBED cos of the decision to use this monkey. Hope they, the authorities, learn their lesson, bloody idiots.
If Barcelona had not scored we wouldn’t be hearing anything about the ref in my opinion, Chelsea would of won 1-0 they would of been shaking the refs hand laughing, kissing, dancing, singing, hugging etc etc etc.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
If it wasn’t for the incompitent referee who was so far out of his depth, Chelsea would be through. They kept a clean sheet away. Has any other side done that this season?
Wasn’t this season but i remember a much weaker Liverpool side than the one Chelsea put out this season went to the Nou Camp and won 2-1
My point is surely with the player’s Chelsea have they could have been more attack minded in the first leg and looked for an away goal?
Having said that they were robbed, the referee had an awful game, I find it amazing however how Drogba can anyone else a cheat bit of rough justice maybe ?
True Nathan but that’s human nature. People moan when they’re losing and feel robbed. I have calmed down now and was thinking that to my knowledge nobody complained about this ref before the game and were happy? is this right? They would have had more sympathy if they flagged this muppet up prior to the game. Did they?
Not sure Crizzy what was said before the match about the ref, I don’t think anyone was expecting someone to be in charge of a European semi final to be totally out of their depth, the bloke would struggle to ref a sunday pub game but it’s not the first mistake UEFA have made and probably wont be the last.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
It’s good for the competition that there won’t be another two English teams in the final, let alone the same two who were in it last year.
Why is it good for the competition,If any one can say they enjoyed watching barca have 60% of the play in the middle of the park without doing anything creative ,getting away with 2 blatant pens then yipeee we will have a great final
Also both their attack minded fullbacks will be suspended everything has fell into uniteds laps as per usual THE REF WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOKEIt’s always better to have different teams contesting a final. Man Utd versus Barca is much more appealing anyway imo.
Leeds United were unlucky in a European Cup Final thirty odd years ago and are still going on about it. I hope Chelsea show more class.
I’d prefer to see a Man Utd Barcelona game because that is a combination I haven’t seen too often. Doesn’t mean it won’t be pants though.
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I’d almost feel sorry for Chelsea were Drogba, Malouda, Ballack and Anelka not petulent, childish and unadulterated cheats. In the case of the former, I don’t think I have ever seen anyone with such natural ability and raw physical strength go down under what can only be described as ‘**** all pressure’.
Of the four penalty claims I think only one was anything close to clear-cut, and given that Chelsea played with a ten-man defence for much of the 180 minutes I have little sympathy for them. Barcelona played the better football, approached both games with the right attitude and were utterly dominant throughout.
Obviously I would have preferredto have seen Liverpool in the final, but with that not an option Manchester United vs Barcelona is the final every football fan wants to see.
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