The weekly prediction. Have to keep this tradition going. Their 'weakened' team will include 11 full internationals. This game is to going to be an ugly, knock 'em down, bare knuckle style battle. 2-0 to the good - Coutinho (87th) and Suarez (92nd). BR will show his old mentor that he knows how to keep a clean sheet at home.
I agree with everyone that this is Jose playing playing mind games, but I also think he sees champions league as the best chance for silverware. Even if he beats us he has to hope we lose one of our two remaining matches AND city drops points in one of their 4. So I do think he is going to rest players, but instead of just saying that he has to make a big stink about Liverpool having an unfair advantage. I hope we go out and hammer them early like we have been doing. But I do agree it's going to be ugly. If the ref stamps his authority on the game we should be fine. If he lets some early tackles go with just a "Talking to" it could be a long game.
And assuming he does see the CL as his best/only shot for silverware, he must then view the PL as the arena where his players can only get injured with no upside.
It definitely will be ugly like John Terry's grill. I tried to watch the Chelski Athletico game yesterday. It was brutal. I've seen Athletico play a number of times and they are dynamic and direct very much like our team. However Negative Maureen killed that game with his tactics. I felt bad for Athletico who tried but were not ready for his brand of footie. I hope for two straight losses from Chelsea and then Maureen may end up the only top four team without a trophy or a Final appearance. Also that is the last time I call him Maureen. I too have a friend who is a nurse and she often works all night and still shows up to the local to watch the reds play. She also just helped to start the Charlotte Reds chapter. He is not worthy of that name.
We have a pretty good idea of what we're going to face. Someone made the very good point that the officiating will be a critical factor here. JM will have them kicking lumps out of everyone in sight - if they're allowed to get away with it we'll hopefully be prepared with an approach to deal with it.
@FA: Chelsea trio Ramires, Jose Mourinho and Rui Faria have been charged by The FA http://t.co/4IDb5B780j
Yes, it is crazy. We don't throw curveballs. We throw fastballs. We say "I AM THROWING YOU A FASTBALL," then we throw it, and you can't hit it. And if you hit it, tip of the cap to you, but we're playing with our best pitch. Rodgers doesn't care if Mourinho kidnaps POY finalists, fits them in Plastic Blues, and lobs them on the pitch Sunday. We're going to ignore the shenanigans in the press, we are going to put our best healthy 11 on the pitch, and swing a Large Knob by playing the way we play. Let the other guys reach for tactics to adjust to us. Tape up Cech's elbow and Terry's ankle. Wait 3 weeks to rest up your squad. We. Don't. Care. Champions say: HERE WE ARE. IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. COME AND GET US.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." ~Albert Einstein
Things Mourinho doesn't say: (A) Atleti play Sunday too; (B) Atleti play a couple hours after Chelsea/LFC kickoff; (C) Atleti play away against Velencia; (D) Atleti must then travel to London; (E) Chelsea own Atleti's GK.