Chelsea bamboozle Barca
John Terry’s astonishingly idiotic red card, which came after chelsea had already lost Gary Cahill through injury, should have been the moment when they folded, and bade goodbye to the Champions League knowing that their senior players are never likely to lift the trophy they have coveted above all others.
But this team had not read the script.
Ramires scored a wonderful goal on the stroke of half-time that put Chelsea ahead on away goals, and they managed not to relinquish it after a defensive display that is amongst the finest ever seen in this competition, and Fernando Torres rounded Victor Valdes to seal one of the most incredible victories in the club’s history.
Petr Cech was immense; Branislav Ivanovic incredible; Frank Lampard indomitable. Their captain was a fool.
There could be no excuses for Terry’s knee into Alexis Sanchez’s back that brought the red card from Cuneyt Cakir, the referee. But logic should dictate that Chelsea were humbled after that, which they were not. Instead, Chelsea gloriously took their chance to head to Munich to face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid, managed of course by Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea boss.
It could perhaps prove to Roman Abramovich that Roberto Di Matteo deserves the manager’s job on a permanent basis, having worked wonders with players who were woefully under-performing during the rein of Andre Villas-Boas. It could mean the likes of Didier Drogba, Lampard and Ashley Cole extending their stays at Stamford Bridge and refusing to accept the ravages of time.
Indeed, it could be Chelsea’s long farewell to the highest stage of European football; unless they win the final they are unlikely to be in the competition next season.
Cole said: “When you lose quality centre-halves like that against a great team, it’s going to be hard.
“But we all believed. Not many people did but we did as a group of players, and that’s what happened.”
Defender Ivanovic, who will miss next month’s final in Munich after a late yellow card, along with Ramires, Raul Meireles and Terry, added: “We deserved to qualify.”
Chelsea began in resolute fashion, but just as they were beginning to grow in confidence they conceded. They were caught as they pushed out after a corner was half-cleared; Daniel Alves simply played in Isaac Cuenca, whose cross was tapped home by Sergio Busquets. The stadium erupted, but Chelsea were still level and had the threat of Drogba.
But then came Terry’s moment of crass stupidity. The captain looked horrified that he had been dismissed, but he had no one to blame bar himself. Raising his knee into Sanchez’s back was a crude act, an old-fashioned intimidation tactic and one which deserved the red card that duly arrived.
Having missed that crucial penalty in the 2008 final, he was in tears. Here, the emotion appeared to be anger as he walked off the pitch, but in the sanctity of the dressing room he will have had to reflect on letting his team-mates, his club and their fans down in terrible fashion.
Stand-in boss Di Matteo came to the defence of the Chelsea skipper He said: “He’s fantastic leader of this group. He’s the captain of our club. Everybody can make a mistake in life. We’re just so happy that this group has managed to go to the final.”
Asked if he was angry with his skipper, the Italian replied: “No, I’m not. We’re all human beings. We’re under a lot of pressure as players.”
But Chelsea wilted again almost immediately as Jose Bosingwa joined Ivanovic at centre-back, Lionel Messi cutting the defence open with a slide-rule pass that Andres Iniesta finished.
The tie seemed over, but to everyone’s astonishment the 10 men hit back as Ramires took Lampard’s pass in his stride and dinked a delicious, delightful chip over Valdes and into the net.
There was a mood-shift in the ground, but it appeared normal order would be restored when Drogba brought down Cesc Fabregas. The drama was unrelenting though, as Messi smashed the penalty against the crossbar. It seemed a matter of time, but this Chelsea side had not read the script as they kept Barcelona at bay.
It was simply astonishing. They would not die, as they were meant to.
Written-off, they produce their best work, and Torres sealed it at the last. It was an incredible night for the Beasts of Barcelona and their crazy captain.
Subs for Barcelona: Dani Alves for Pique 26, Tello for Cuenca 67, Keita for Fabregas 74.
Subs for Chelsea: Bosingwa for Cahill 12, Kalou for Mata 58, Torres for Drogba 80.
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