Pre-match: Champions League Quarter Final: 2nd Leg: April 4, 2012 Chelsea FC v SL Benfica [R]

Yas, human nature is what it is. When you're comfortable, you're comfortable. It's also not productive to go 100% when we face some absolutely crucial games in the league to try and finish 4th and an FA Cup final. Win smarter, not harder.

 

Barely got out of first gear over 180 minutes of football and won the tie 3-1 As we should all know by now, the Champions League has almost nothing to do with the performance and everything to do with the result. We played completely average football for two whole games and should have been rolling into the semifinal if Ramires could've finished from 12 inches out.

Are we home or away for the first leg? I'd much rather play away first and try to put ourselves in a position where a home win would send us through.

No one expects us to beat Barca, so let's just give it a rip and see what happens. If Messi & Co tear us apart, so be it. But if we can kick on and pick up some steam down the stretch and get the likes of Sturridge and Drogba/Torres in form then who knows what will happen. After all, it is Chelsea vs. Barca

 

It's since been changed, but a moment ago on wikipedia under 2011-2012 Champions League semifinals, our opponent was listed as "referee"

LOL

 

Great result.

Glad to get this late into the competition and I know that you can never say never but with this team and our lack of holding onto the ball , we will get pumped by Barcelona.

 

But regardless, if we manage to win the FA cup, get into the CL places in the prem AND get to the CL semis, (our 6th in 9 years I believe), I don't think we can complain bearing in mind how the season looked 4 weeks ago.

It was never going to be one of our best years, was it.

BTW, just watched the highlights package on ITV and, IMO, although the bald 'stats' might show different, I think we had the best of the chances in terms of quality. A shot from 25 yards out with 5 players in the way might COUNT as a shot on target but it's not the same as Ramires missing from 12 inches which probably isn't even included in the 'shots on target' stat don't forget, because it wasn't... it missed after all.

 

'Must spread rep' for both Pete and the old man.

 

i've booked a trip to paris the week of the barca home leg. woops.

 

Hey lads,

Just popping to send my congrats. I will be pulling for you in the semi's against god's toxic mistake.

 

Just caught the highlights. Wow, did we miss some really easy chances. Make them and we have a chance against Barca.

 

Game won fairly comfortably (despite what the commentators might have you believe). Fixture won - two wins over two legs.

Next round. . .Chelsea V Uefaelona

We really shouldn't win. Not supposed to win after all.

then again. . .it might be nice to win eh?

 

Meireles made Zani's day. When will these Chelsea managers stop counting on Torres. He will score a goal here and there but so is Emily Heskey.

 

A sensible commentator would've put our performance into context with all of the important fixtures we have coming up. Yeah, we were a bit lazy at times, but he's naive to think that we will come out against Barca looking the same way. Chelsea, unlike many clubs, are talented enough to adapt their style of play as needed. How well that is executed is another discussion, but we had some sparkling pieces of play last night (one play between Mata and Torres in particular). In the end, we should've put 3 or 4 past Benfica, but the end result is the same. We're through.

 

...and right on cue, Benfica are now protesting the ref. I thought he did a pretty good job. He let some hard, clean tackles go for once. The Cole PK was definitely a penalty and so was the sending off.

 

I thought this was funny and I'm going to post this here.

 

Terry has cracked ribs. I doubt he'll play against Wigan or Fulham. He really should just focus on trying to heal as best possible for Barca. Luiz and Cahill in the middle should suffice in the meantime. Ivan can also slot over there with Bos (gulp) or Paulo on the right.

 

Paulo, please. Hell, give Hutchinson a shot at RB before Bos.

 

Good luck against UEFAlona guys, I'll be rooting for you.

 

As I always thought - Cahill was a good signing for us.
Cahill and Luiz in the middle is decent - simple - and Ivan at RB.
I am beginning to think that Ivan's best position is RB and not CB.

 

Yep. Spot on. I think we all know John Terry the leader and the motivator - but he is actually a lot more than that - he is a very talented player - great distribution, great foresight, great in the air and able to go down that left wing on occasion.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wp3BPE2lRuY

 

Why the rolleyes? He's a fan, good for him.