The mistake that led to the Barca goal was a shame, but it was great apart from that. The away goal means that we have to chase the game at the Nou Camp. Really could have won this 3-0.
The mistake that led to the Barca goal was a shame, but it was great apart from that. The away goal means that we have to chase the game at the Nou Camp. Really could have won this 3-0.
Willian was great in that game and Messi got his goal against Chelsea at last! Can't wait to see what next! :D
It's gonna be hard because Barcelona plays very slow, Hazard needs to hit the target next game and maybe Conte should now change the gameplan according to what we need.
@eden +1
Not what we wanted or deserved but not a bad result either.
It is frustrating. Honestly should have finished 3-0. I agree with eden.
I think the result was fair despite Chelsea was tactically better.
I thought it was a boring game as a natural fan. It's the exact same game everytime, different year. :D
Willian was exceptional!!!!!
I think the result was fair despite Chelsea was better.
I thought it was a boring game as a natural fan. It's the exact same game everytime, different year. :D
I think the result was fair despite Chelsea was better.
I thought it was a boring game as a natural fan. It's the exact same game everytime, different year. :D
Willian was exceptional!!!!!
Was Conte right to start Hazard as a false 9?
I would have liked Giroud more than Pedro. Hazard needs a striker to play off of. I'm guessing Conte will be a little more attack minded on the next leg so we will see if its a better game. I agree with Tuan that it was a pretty boring game.
I thought Pedro was weak against Barcelona. He was as threatening as he usually can be . Hazard would have been much more useful on the wing or behind Morata or Giroud. Playing false 9 was useful in defense though. We saw how Hazard defended so well so often. Playing Willian though was a great decision!
Hazard wasn't able to get the ball and his little touches are mostly a miss, specially the back heal touch that he always tried to execute.
Conte had a good gameplan and it would have worked but the lack of experience from Christensen cost us the win, gotta give respect to Iniesta that worked hard whole game and created the goal that Barcelona was searching for, that shot of Messi was not that hard it was on target but Courtois just went the other way without even trying to first see where the ball is going, it's not the first time I saw Courtois reacting like an average goalkeeper to be honest.
I always rated Willian as world class because he always had the speed and the shot, unlucky not to score more this game.
We got a lot of heavy weight games coming up, a lot can happen till the second leg in Barcelona but that game is now like a totally different setting, Conte now needs to come up with another game plan since Chelsea needs a goal and Barcelona wouldn't mind to just play slow and wait for the game to end so it's going to be much harder since Chelsea will need to risk it more.
Playing Morata from the start, with him and Hazard, without Willian or Pedro, would’ve lost our balance. It would’ve been suicidal!’
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I thought it would be interested for Chelsea to know the following.
the away goal's gonna bite us.... such a dumb goal to concede
This might be unpopular opinion but I am tired of seeing our goalie jump the other way constantly! Don't fcking guess and even if you do it is damn obvious he will be shouting in that corner. Cabalero would have pulled it out.
@Marcus2011 I actually agree Courtois shouldn't have jumped that way but its a reflex a lot of goalie have sadly. :(
Conte had a good gameplan and it would have worked but the lack of experience from Christensen cost us the win, gotta give respect to Iniesta that worked hard whole game and created the goal that Barcelona was searching for, that shot of Messi was not that hard it was on target but Courtois just went the other way without even trying to first see where the ball is going, it's not the first time I saw Courtois reacting like an average goalkeeper to be honest.
It's not that easy. Dont blame the goalie.
That's the beautfy of those goals and strikers, Ronaldo does it, Messi does it, and a bunch of other tricky finishers do it too, their movements trick goalies in a spit of a seconds, send them to the wrong path. Messi feet might look like he aim at the far corner (which was wider), anyway it was way to close and if you leave those prolific strikers spaces, you pay badly.
The faster reaction the goalie normally is (to reflect on goals), the easier for them to jump in the wrong way in those situations.
To be fair it's not the first time Courtois just goes "offline" like that, makes it look far too easy for anyone that shoots, it's not like it's his fault for the goal after all any top player would have scored that inside the area but his reaction is why we complain.
I don’t agree on Cristensen being the main responsible. Well i know it’s unpopular but I develop my point. Clearly Cesc and Azpi are more responsible, why ?
Chelsea since scoring each time they had to clear a situation crossed forward and it was instant recovery for Barca. Here Christensen tried to build up by short passing, presence of Messi obliged him to shoot pass the ball harder, but Cesc who is the player the nearest to him who his main role is to link up defense and attack was not waiting for the ball at all, poor positioning not in front of the game, he logically missed the pass he was supposed to be ready for it.
Then again for me both situations are frequent in a football game, these foul don’t ultimately lead to concede a goal. But what made it dangerous is Azpi missing his tackle in front of Iniesta is the worst thing you can do in a game, he will take the space optimize him, go forward and pass to the best option who sadly for Chelsea was Messi.
If Azpi didn’t tackle, well that was a lost ball, Azpi was nearer the ball, Iniesta would have taken it first then the space would have been covered by Azpi = Back pass. The action would have been stopped.
You take Azpi out of the equation, Iniesta is alone, Cesc is obliged to be between Iniesta and Suarez, and then Messi isn’t completely free...
Responsibility for the goal conceded :
10% Christensen : the pass was not as Bad a s Cesc positioning.
30% Cesc : the one supposed to link up isn’t even waiting for the ball, ultimately missed that pass.
60% Azpi : his miscalculated tackle caused the goal, you should never miss your challenge in you are the last man no matter who passed the ball or how the ball was.
If Azpi stayed on husband feet : no goal.
From that angle Messi always crosses, Courtois knows it. In this distance vs Messi it’s impossible to stop it if you don’t choose a direction before the shoot. Courtois is Not to be blamed here.
If we should count any mistake, then Sergi should have never passed blindly, there will be no second post by Willian. And if Busquets reacted fast there would be’ no Chelsea goal. So it’s not 3-0 it’s 1-1 Simply.
That’s Barça of Valverde, poor first half, scores in second half, 1 on target, 1 goal.
Respect to Conte, he blocked the wings, and you need 7 or 8 players dedicated for this mission whole game, plus Messi man marked by Ngolo Kante + zonal marked by the nearest player in his position.
The Messi-Alba connection was shut down, the Messi-Suarez couldn’t link up. They reached the wings, find themselves blocked and back passed.
Barça didn’t wanted to look boring, they were obliged to. Genius tactics from Conte, the 1-1 has a taste of victory for me. Barca home games and away games are completely different.
Big game from Busquets, Suarez and Messi who created the only shot in first half for Paulinho. And converted the only big chance in second half.
Flops for me are Rakitic and Paulinho, Sergi and Alba cannot be blamed for being neutralized.
Willian Motm, Hazard started good then disappeared, Pedro sacrified in defensive duty. The rest were pretty solid.
Wonderful tactical game.
What’s your thoughts and predictions in first leg ?
Will give mine later i have mixed feelings on this...