Clearly I thought a lot about this game before it happened, and I've thought a lot about it after. One of the questions to be asked is "What did you expect of Barcelona?" A lot of people are saying they didn't live up to the hype etc etc. Now of course I can understand an element of disappointment at the game in general, but did people honestly expect Barca to tear Chelsea a new one? I predicted 3-3, but that was based on the silly assumption that Chelsea would try and leave their own half. Had I known they would line up as they did, then I wouldn't have expected the game to be much different than it was, and the performance Barcelona delivered would have been quite satisfactory.
Playing against 11 disciplined defenders is not easy. Having nearly 70% possession is not easy. Creating chances when faced with a blanket defense is not easy. Reducing your opponents to a chance created by your own mistake and a header from a free-kick is not easy. To have such control over a game requires skill, knowledge, discipline and courage. One of the criticisms leveled at Barcelona after last night is that their passing was overelaborate or not incisive enough. To a certain extent this is true, but do you honestly expect them to hit through balls every time they play a pass? Opening a team playing like Chelsea did demands patience. You're not going to get many opportunities to slip in a cutting pass, and so job number one is to keep the ball, and sooner or later an opening will present itself. Had Barcelona taken one of the three of four openings they got then we would be hearing a different tune. Alas they didn't, but that doesn't now mean they are overrated.
Making sweeping statements about Barcelona based on last night's game is silly. Their failure to score was not because they were shown to be toothless against a mighty English defense. They had three exceptionally good chances, but didn't convert them. Yes there were disappointments. Messi was on the outskirts of the game for almost all of the second half. Actually come to think of it, that may be the only disappointment. What I expected from others was more of less delivered. Xavi dictated the midfield, Iniesta was always probing, though it never quite came off. Toure did his job wonderfully. Eto'o's finishing let him down.
Personally, I don't believe in the Holy Trinity of Messi, Henry, and Eto'o. I think the latter two aren't imaginative enough. It's not a case of 'stop Messi and you still have the other two to deal with'. It's a case of 'stop Messi and the other two become much less threatening'.
This tie is still in the balance of course. On the evidence of last night Barcelona are capable of scoring a goal at the Bridge. Messi can't possibly be any more anonymous, and Chelsea can't possibly be any more negative. The Barcelona defense will surely be more tested -- and more brittle what with last night's losses -- but this should lead to a more open game. One thing is sure however: Hiddink's comments before the game won't be worth a damn.
Playing against 11 disciplined defenders is not easy. Having nearly 70% possession is not easy. Creating chances when faced with a blanket defense is not easy. Reducing your opponents to a chance created by your own mistake and a header from a free-kick is not easy. To have such control over a game requires skill, knowledge, discipline and courage. One of the criticisms leveled at Barcelona after last night is that their passing was overelaborate or not incisive enough. To a certain extent this is true, but do you honestly expect them to hit through balls every time they play a pass? Opening a team playing like Chelsea did demands patience. You're not going to get many opportunities to slip in a cutting pass, and so job number one is to keep the ball, and sooner or later an opening will present itself. Had Barcelona taken one of the three of four openings they got then we would be hearing a different tune. Alas they didn't, but that doesn't now mean they are overrated.
Making sweeping statements about Barcelona based on last night's game is silly. Their failure to score was not because they were shown to be toothless against a mighty English defense. They had three exceptionally good chances, but didn't convert them. Yes there were disappointments. Messi was on the outskirts of the game for almost all of the second half. Actually come to think of it, that may be the only disappointment. What I expected from others was more of less delivered. Xavi dictated the midfield, Iniesta was always probing, though it never quite came off. Toure did his job wonderfully. Eto'o's finishing let him down.
Personally, I don't believe in the Holy Trinity of Messi, Henry, and Eto'o. I think the latter two aren't imaginative enough. It's not a case of 'stop Messi and you still have the other two to deal with'. It's a case of 'stop Messi and the other two become much less threatening'.
This tie is still in the balance of course. On the evidence of last night Barcelona are capable of scoring a goal at the Bridge. Messi can't possibly be any more anonymous, and Chelsea can't possibly be any more negative. The Barcelona defense will surely be more tested -- and more brittle what with last night's losses -- but this should lead to a more open game. One thing is sure however: Hiddink's comments before the game won't be worth a damn.
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