Long-time lurker, and Chelsea fan. I had to post to say this hurts. I think it would be easier to take if we got blown up like Madrid did... That said, we had chances to put it away; Drogba could've put the result beyond doubt with 2 clear one-on-one chances (1 at Barca, 1 today). We did play defensive at Barca, and it was always a risky strategy. In fariness to the ref, any game that it this close will arguably be decided by calls on no-calls on the part of the ref. But this guy was not up for the game today. Time to look ahead. Next season will be here before we know it, and Chelsea's performance these last few months gives me confidence. First, lets keep Hiddink, if at all possible - if he can get us to the final with the current squad (if not for the ref), then imagine what he could do with a beefed-up attack, and some quality wing play. We are still on the brink of getting this trophy, and all the players who carried this team will still be in their prime next season. Add a better second forward (Anelka was NOT doing it for us), a creative/pacy winger, and we will be a team to fear once again. Chin-up!
You guys were robbed. Absolute disgraceful refereeing. Hopefully we'll kick their ass for you in the final.
You guys were clearly denied a final. It is a total disgrace. I can only imagine how you and your team must feel about this great injustice.
Why was he reffing this semi-final? No idea. I've seen him at Parkhead in a CL match, against Manchester Utd, and he gave a penalty for Maloney charging out of the wall for a handball that was nowhere near as bad as the one with Pique tonight.
Please do. I hate you guys and all, but I will cheer you guys on in the finals. No way Barca deserves to win it.
It was a tough loss, but I think we can only blame ourselves in the end by missing all the chances to make it 2-0. Anyhow, let's hope Barcelona smash United. I predict Barcelona to win 4-0.
I just think the ref was plain awful. This was probably the biggest game he had ever officiated and he just made such a hash of it all. That said, I don't really think it was a fix. Why would he red card Abidal? It's not a matter of "evening" out the terrible non-calls from before that; "evening" it out doesn't matter if Barcelona ultimately don't go through. And it's not like the referee anticipated that there would be even more penalty claims after that to further "justify" his red card. He just made one bad decision after another. He blew the game, plain and simple.
Yes, the red card was a horrible call, but overall, I think we got more screwed on the calls than you did. Should we have tried to put away the game? Maybe. I'm not Hiddink and I won't question his decisions. I just hate losing due a bunch of bad calls.
My condolences for your loss tonight Chelsea. For personal reasons, I was rooting for Barca and wanted them to win but not like that.. I especially hate seeing a team lose like that and wouldn't wish that on any team. With that said, the ref made a lot of errors tonight... the red card + the penalty decisions were all wrong. I really feel for Fletcher + Abidal who will now miss the final due to terrible red card decisions. Barca did not play their best match today and Chelsea played well but did not take their chances, much like Barca last week at the Nou Camp. But if it's any consolation, Chelsea have won a lot of respect from the neutrals based on tonights performance. In the end, over the two legs 1-1 was a pretty fair result for two evenly matched, yet contrasting sides who pretty much cancelled each other out - decided by two wonderfully taken strikes. It was a shame about the away goals rule and the officiating. I think Blues fans should take great pride in the way their team played tonight. They had Barca on the rocks but were unlucky. I will still root for Barca in the final but good luck in FA cup + I hope you win your first CL next season.
Robbed tonight guys. There's no other way of putting it. A cynic would suggest that the referee was never going to give anything to Chelsea tonight. Not in a million years. How many penalty shouts did you have? 4? 5? At least 3 were good ones. I bet Platini is laughing himself to sleep tonight. Anf Blatter for that matter. I sympathise with Drogba and Ballack even if I don't agree with how they vented their frustration. FIFA/UEFA/FA want respect for the referees but how are players meant to do their jobs when they're officiated so badly? If I was being prevented from doing my job properly by an obstructuve / incompetent manager at work and it was affecting my credibility and figures I'd vent my spleen as well. And I certainly wouldn't "respect" the person responsible. Chelsea have been denied a final they thoroughly deserved to get by an inept referee and some useless linemen (assistants).
Of course, there's no question. It's nothing new with UEFA. They do it all the time. And I know some people don't like to buy into the tin foil hat theories, but they've been doing it for years with the team “draws”. And with all the anti-english talk coming from Platini and Blatter, does anyone think they would allow another United-Chelsea final? Come on. And SCP, you and i are portuguese, we both know that fixing games is nothing new, it happens all the time in the portuguese league, mostly with Porto and sometimes with Benfica. You know how it feels, you saw that final against your team and Benfica, ref totally robbed you guys.
Ummm, no. As much as I hate Christina and think United are overrated, I still have a healthy respect for them. And diving crying cheats shouldnt be rewarded. The hell with Barca, I hope United kill em!
I started getting over the match roughly one minute ago...that is until I returned to this forum. I think this one will leave a bitter taste in my mouth for a long time to come. We were literally only a minute from making a return to a CL final to have a deserved rematch with the Mancs. Oh well. Gutted. Nothing we can do now though but hope for another semi-final return next season. Judging by our CL history we will likely make it to this stage, but it's all about getting over the the SF hump....Grant anyone . To say the ref was disgraceful is an understatement. But then again, we wouldn't be talking about the ref right now if we had stuck away our chances...we would have been talking about a highly anticipated rematch. Oh well....That's football. Frankly I think most matches should have a Health Advisory Warning before they are aired.
Exactly. The whole idea of fixing games is nothing new in soccer, but this was just blatantly obvious. Even after the equalizer, the ref was standing RIGHT THERE when Eto'o hand-balled. I mean WTF. As far as the taca final, yea we got screwed, but that is just how the liga is and always will be. Its known for its corruption. HOWEVER, this screw-job/fix is perhaps one of the absolute worst I have ever witnessed. F'n pathetic
To heal your pain, imagine vito being the ref. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLJQFZlkDuQ&feature=related"]YouTube - The Sopranos - Vito gets whacked[/ame]
I just want to take a moment here to say thanks for all the other team supporters who have come here to show their support. I've seen Madrid, Sporting, United, Liverpool and even Barca fans come here to leave messages of support. You guys are all true class acts, so thank you. It makes a loss like this, a little tad easier, not a lot, lol, but it helps to know. So thanks again.
I still don't think that was a hand ball from Eto'o. The Pique touch in the area some time before certainly was, though.
I don't know, if I'll ever truly get over this one. It was bad enough last year to know that the only reason we weren't champions were from a wet rainy pitch and a slip. But to lose like this is worse for me. My head feels like it's gonna explode. And the sad thing is, I truly believe that we would have won it this season for sure, without a doubt in my mind.
I just saw Hiddink's interview on Sky. Class act! He didn't blame the referee but questioned the big decisions (and rightly so) and was sympathetic towards his players emotions without condoning their actions. The more I see and hear from him the more I respect the man. I always knew he could coach. Tough luck for you guys. I don't like to ever see a team go out that way. Dreadful officiating all the way around. Ruined what should have been a great game. I hope you take it out on The Arse this weekend.
There was a handball in the area for sure in the second half, cant remember now who it was. But at the end it was a handball by Pique, he admitted it in a post game interview.