FOOTBALL
THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE EVER
BY AN ENGLISH TEAM IN
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
I THOUGHT that I’d seen it all when Man United beat Bayern
Munich with those two wonderful late, late goals in the Champions League final
in Barcelona in
1999. Then Liverpool came back from 3-0 down
at half-time in the 2005 final to beat AC Milan on penalties after it ended
3-3.
But on Tuesday night even those two magnificent efforts by
English clubs were eclipsed by Chelsea.
Their 2-2 draw on the night (which led to a 3-2 aggregate win) was simply the
best performance EVER by an English club in the Champions League – given the
brilliance of the best footballing team in the world they were up against, the
massive odds stacked against them (made even greater when Terry foolishly got
himself dismissed) and the fact that they had already lost one of their
centre-backs (Gary Cahill) to injury early on.
And the match itself was one arguably THE BEST EVER
Champions League game. It had everything – a sending-off, a penalty miss (who
would have thought that the world’s best player Lionel Messi would fluff that
chance?), a goal of genius (from Ramires), a goal (!) from Torres and a raft of
tantalising sub-scripts (including the clear antagonism between Lampard and
Fabregas) to back up the main draft of the David v Goliath battle.
I didn’t give the Blues much hope when they were down to
10-men and 2-0 down on the night. Who, in their right minds, would? They also
had to overcome the Nou Camp crowd – yet they did it. Of course, the wonderful
chipped goal from Ramires was the turning point, but the defensive campaign Chelsea mounted was simply
magnificent.
It was also good to see Barcelona brought down to size. In recent
years they have crushed opponents like a bully and been universally praised for
their football. OK, they do have superb technique and are a joy to watch – but
they also do a nice number in the dark arts, which people tend to overlook, I
thought there was a certain irony in them having a go at Drogba after the first
leg for diving when the great Messi himself is not averse to such tactics.
Also, wasn’t it great to see Sergio Busquets brought down a peg or two – I
despise this player more than any other in top-level world football. He is a
cheat and a whinger – a man who will fall over at the slightest touch – yet is
the first to complain that he is being hard done by when he (often) takes a
slice of someone else’s legs. I was sick when he scored but felt divine justice
was done when he haplessly chased back after Torres and fell down on his back
dejected when the big striker put the ball in the back of the net. Busquets,
public enemy No 1 in the Champions League, had certainly got his just desserts
for once.
There were plenty of other talking points in the game, Yes,
Terry deserved to be sent off – one day I hope he reveals just what Sanchez did
to rile him. Terry is usually the most disciplined of men, so we must assume it
was something verbal or a running battle.
Now Terry misses the final – along with Ramires, Meireles
and Ivanovic. He is a big loss in terms of leadership, but the central
defensive area seemed more fluid and speedier with him out, so that may not be
the end of the world. Certainly, if David Luiz and Gary Cahill can recover in
time that would be a fair pairing – although I would be very reluctant to use
both from the start as they have both suffered hamstring injuries, which are
notorious for flaring back up as soon as players return to action. The last
thing Chelsea need is two subs on for those two
within the first few minutes; subs could be the key to victory in Munich, you just don’t
want to use two of the three you are allowed so early on.
Similarly, Ivanovic is a loss, like Terry, in terms of his
physical strength but Boswinga could slot into the right-back role if Cahill
and Luiz do make it.
Also, you have a like for like swop with Michael Essien
stepping in for Raul Meireles. The Portuguese is probably the least critical of
the ban losses – he did tend to give away the ball too cheaply in Barcelona. And it is
surely time that Essien stepped up to the plate once again and showed us the
talents that made him one of the best, aggressive midfielders in the world not
that long ago.
The biggest loss is the Brazilian Ramires. He was the man
of the match in Barcelona.
Apart from his superb goal, he has the best engine of anyone in the English
game since Roy Keane. A different type of player to Keane, he nevertheless does
the work of two men, as Roy
did, and works brilliantly between all three areas of the pitch – defence,
midfield and attack.
He will be sorely missed. I would replace him with Daniel
Sturridge, but make it clear to the youngster that he MUST do his share of
defensive tracking back.
Also on the subject of those banned for the final, I had
been surprised by how chirpy Ivanovic had been after the win. Sure, the team
had reached Munich
but he would not be there because of his booking. Then it became clear just why
the Serbian was so upbeat – he hadn’t been aware his booking would cost him his
place in the final. He was made aware of the fact by Sky’s post-match
interviewere Geoff Meades – Branislav bravely tried to hide his gut
disappointment when Meades revealed the bad news but his face was crumbling. I
felt so sorry for the big defender – what a terrible way to learn such news, in
front of millions of viewers as your team-mates celebrated good fortune.
On the same point, shouldn’t Chelsea’s managerial team have made him – and
presumably the others on a yellow card – aware that an indiscretion could cost
them so dearly? I’m not saying that they should have been told to play
half-heartedly, but certainly it would have meant they knew that any silly
booking – such as backchat to the ref or timewasting – should be avoided at all
costs.
Which brings us to the manager himself. Yes, step forward
Roberto Di Matteo and bask in your well-earned moment in the limelight. The
Italian has done everything asked of him as an interim manager – and more. This
man is no Avram Grant, he is tactically astute and a fine man-manager – as he
proved by moving Ramires to right-back and pinning Ivanovic and Boswinga at the
heart of the defence after Terry’s sending-off.
He deserves to be made up to full-time boss. My sources at
the Bridge tell me there is a particular reason why he has not been – Roman has
already made contact and set up a deal with the man he wants to take over in
the summer. If that man is either Mourinho or Guardiola (and I am led to
believe it could be Jose) then that is fair enough – you can’t argue with the
appointment of one of the top three managers in the world (the other being Ferguson).
But if it is someone of the ilk of Laurent Blanc or Didier
Deschamps, then Roman should have a quiet word with them, tell them the deal is
off and give them a few quid on the condition that they keep their mouths shut.
It is the least the owner owes to the man who has saved Chelsea’s season.
FRANK WORRALL
FRANKIE’S FLUTTER
ONE football match looms large above all others this next
week – Man City v Man Utd in a clash at the Etihad
that will have a real outcome on the title race. If City win they are in the
driving seat to take the title – but if they lose or draw United are almost
home.
I am going for a City win, by 2-1, with Balotelli coming on
to score the winner!
