CL knock out stage

[Denis The Red]

I thought Alves' foul on Malouda should have been a pen, it was definitely inside. Pique's "handball" might have been given if it was seen.
But as everyone said, Chelsea are better off not getting to the final for their spoiling, negative tactics. It will be a better final without them with better players like Messi, Rooney, Henry, Ronaldo and co. all players we enjoy to watch. Football was the winner tonight imo.
And I really hope there will be sanctions brought against the Chelsea players who acted so disgracefully at the end, especially Drogba.

[rambler14]

Just got back from work and while there I had a fair idea what was going on referee wise and goals-wise but now having viewed the penalty incidents I must say that the referee is a disgrace, the Malouda foul was a disgrace, as was the Pique handball, the Eto'o handball and the tug on Drogba by Alves.
The 2 goals were well taken but because of poor reffing the two 2nd legs of the semi-finals have been runied and in the case of Fletcher and Abidal their finals have been ruined because of poor reffing!

[strangeirish]

[tiktok]

Have to disagree with you on Messi tiktok. He wasn't amazing tonight, but he was very good in all fairness to him and tried hard, and being a Utd fan I certainly will fear him in the final

Don't get me wrong, like I said, he's hugely talented. He played OK but the way people talk him up he should be dominating games like a CL semi final. The last two English teams he's faced have all but cancelled him out.

Evra hasn't been on great form recently and with O'Shea possibly in the other full back slot, he may get room out wide and he'll have to be marked tightly, but Utd showed last year they can mark him out of a game, Chelsea pretty much neutralised him.

If Henry isn't back, Messi will be Barca's key man, I just don't think he's living up to the hyperbole [at a time when Ronaldo, who in my opinion has been playing better and stepping up more consistently, is getting lambasted for being over-rated].

Cue a messi hat-trick in the final

[OwlsFan]

Just got back from work and while there I had a fair idea what was going on referee wise and goals-wise but now having viewed the penalty incidents I must say that the referee is a disgrace, the Malouda foul was a disgrace, as was the Pique handball, the Eto'o handball and the tug on Drogba by Alves.
The 2 goals were well taken but because of poor reffing the two 2nd legs of the semi-finals have been runied and in the case of Fletcher and Abidal their finals have been ruined because of poor reffing!

You don't work for Sky do you?

IMHO none was a clearcut penalty. The "tug" on the shirt? There is no doubt he grabbed Droghba's shirt but I didn't see a tug and he let go very quickly and the diver Droghba got his just reward - nothing. It is he who is the "fuc*ing disgrace". The coming together in the penalty area - both turn quickly. The Barca player had his hand across the Chelsea player but so did the Chelsea player on his opponent. No peno. The handball. Not deliberate and he didn't have his hand out to prevent a cross but for balance and Anelka was very close to him as he tried to flick it around. Seen them given - seen them not. 50/50 but not clearcut. DOn't think the last one was either - bit of arm and shoulder. Many refs would have caved in on such pressure but he didn't. The sending off: his legs were clipped not to mention the slight tug before hand.

Sky was a panic to watch. Andy Gray: 5 miniutes to go "this is why foreign teams hate meeting English teams in Europe. They haven't had a shot on target the whole game" (real George Hamilton tempting fate that one).

For those who say the Sky panel is bland, Souness and Rednapp veered between saying it was a UEFA conspiracy against having 2 Engish teams in the final (totally ignoring the sending off, ranting about the penos that weren't given and attacking the fact that a Norwegian ref got the game and that it would have been an Italian. WHat was the nationality of the ref who sent off Fletcher ).

Dunphy at half time said the non-English teams didn't like "it up umm". Zenophobic stuff but ignoring that the Chelsea was made up of mostly non-English nationals.

Tough on Chelsea but hopefully it will make for a better Final. Thankfully Droghba won't be going. I cannot bear his antics.

[reder]

I am massively anti-chelsea usually but I thought they were royally screwed last night. They had 4 good shouts for penalties that would have been given if that was Liverpool at Anfield or United at O.T.

However, I dont buy the nonsense that was spouted on Sky, particularly by Souness, that it was some anti-PL plot by UEFA.

If what happended to Chelsea last night, happened at Anfield, there would have been a riot.

[gspain]

I think it was down to a poor referee way out of his depth as opposed to any conspiracy.

If anything such referees normally favour the home team so I doubt if UEFA planned this.

Normally the refereeing for the CL is much better than the World Cup where politics can get you a referee or a linesman in the finals.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I am massively anti-chelsea usually but I thought they were royally screwed last night. They had 4 good shouts for penalties that would have been given if that was Liverpool at Anfield or United at O.T.

However, I dont buy the nonsense that was spouted on Sky, particularly by Souness, that it was some anti-PL plot by UEFA.

If what happended to Chelsea last night, happened at Anfield, there would have been a riot.

My thoughts exactly.

[Shilts]

What a laugh. All the crying and moaning from the Chelsea gang, conspiracies etc.
Anyone mention that Henry was dragged down by Alex(?) in the 1st leg - pen not given. The only pen I'd have given last night was for the Pique handball. The rest were not pens. Chelsea had other chances to put them away. Drogba missed 3 good chances between both legs. Don't blame the ref - blame yourself Didier!

Also, a few years back Chelsea beat Barca in the QFs. John Terry got the winner with a late header after a blatent foul on the keeper by Carvalho (dirtiest player in the league). The inexperienced ref (Pierluigi Collina) missed it.
What goes around comes around. Take your beating like a man!
The final should be a cracker!!!

[Longfordian]

[eamo1]

Agree 100% with you Shilts.You said everything i was going to say about Henry not getting one in the first leg etc.Also Drogba's deserved rep as a diver coming back to bite him in the behind.I remember that foul by Carvalho for that goal,nothing from sky sports about that foul then.
Theres such thing as a gracious losers.Chelsea were NOT that last night.Every single player of theirs is so cynical and its awfull that football can be played in those tactics.My gf watched the game with me last night and she said Chelsea's tactics are one of the reasons she doesnt watch football over other sports.
After Galway Utd Barca are my fave club,have been since 1989.Cant wait for the final.Barca are chasing the same treble that Man Utd won in 1999 btw.

[Red4Eva]

What a laugh. All the crying and moaning from the Chelsea gang, conspiracies etc.
Anyone mention that Henry was dragged down by Alex(?) in the 1st leg - pen not given. The only pen I'd have given last night was for the Pique handball. The rest were not pens. Chelsea had other chances to put them away. Drogba missed 3 good chances between both legs. Don't blame the ref - blame yourself Didier!

Also, a few years back Chelsea beat Barca in the QFs. John Terry got the winner with a late header after a blatent foul on the keeper by Carvalho (dirtiest player in the league). The inexperienced ref (Pierluigi Collina) missed it.
What goes around comes around. Take your beating like a man!
The final should be a cracker!!!

agree with you 100% shilts. sky and the other biased hypocrites in the english media conveniently seemed to forget abidal's red. over the 2 legs the poor decisions by the referees balanced themselves out

[Roadend]

If Drogba hadn't been diving and playacting all night there wouldn;t have been 4 minutes injury time at the end. Drogba is clearly to blame for the loss!!

[Neish]

What a laugh. All the crying and moaning from the Chelsea gang, conspiracies etc.
Anyone mention that Henry was dragged down by Alex(?) in the 1st leg - pen not given. The only pen I'd have given last night was for the Pique handball. The rest were not pens. Chelsea had other chances to put them away. Drogba missed 3 good chances between both legs. Don't blame the ref - blame yourself Didier!

Also, a few years back Chelsea beat Barca in the QFs. John Terry got the winner with a late header after a blatent foul on the keeper by Carvalho (dirtiest player in the league). The inexperienced ref (Pierluigi Collina) missed it.
What goes around comes around. Take your beating like a man!
The final should be a cracker!!!

Agree Drogba dived on at least 2 occassions where if he kept going he may well of scored, I can't remember which penalty claim it was but the ball bonced a couple of yards in front of Ballack instead of going for it he was running towards the ref shouting for a penalty. Abidal did not deserve to get sent off. Drogba should get a few game bans and a large fine for his actions after the game (talk about a sore losser) and Ballack but his arm on/around the ref twice so he deserves the same

Ever hear of a thing called Karma Chelsea(if not contact this man )

[hunt4the]

Ever hear of a thing called Karma Chelsea(if not contact this man )

so thats what carvalho's up too these days

[gustavo]

[jmurphyc]

If Drogba hadn't been diving and playacting all night there wouldn;t have been 4 minutes injury time at the end. Drogba is clearly to blame for the loss!!

Well, if the man had stayed on his feet a few more times he might have actually done something with the ball. In that sense, he's his own worst enemy. When he gets into good positions he should shoot, or attempt to do something other than fall down. Good riddance to him. The only Chelsea player I particularly feel for is Essien. He usually conducts himself well and is a truly wonderful player. The rest of them are arrogant pr*cks who deserved what they got last night.

Also, I know it's not exactly linked, and maybe I'm overreacting a little but I thought the actions of Drogba were particularly disgraceful. He's essentially inciting hatred and violence - apparently the Chelsea fans were throwing things at the Barca bench and the referee - despite the fact that his fellow countrymen died last month during a football match. There are some things more important than football.

[gustavo]

Well, if the man had stayed on his feet a few more times he might have actually done something with the ball. In that sense, he's his own worst enemy. When he gets into good positions he should shoot, or attempt to do something other than fall down. Good riddance to him. The only Chelsea player I particularly feel for is Essien. He usually conducts himself well and is a truly wonderful player. The rest of them are arrogant pr*cks who deserved what they got last night.

l.

I quite like Carvalho , Alex , Belletti , Malouda and Joe Cole too

But Drogba is a disgrace same with a few more of their unlikeable characters it's hard to feel too sorry for them

[lopez]

...Every single player of theirs is so cynical and its awfull that football can be played in those tactics.My gf watched the game with me last night and she said Chelsea's tactics are one of the reasons she doesnt watch football over other sports...

I thought I was going to ejaculate when Iniesta's shot hit the back of the net. But that was nothing to the ecstacy of seeing Drugba kicking off at the end. Yeah mate, you are a f*cking disgrace. As for the Sky panel, I'd rather have three guests from the Jeremy Kyle show giving me their insights, although I'd keep Gullit there though so that someone could blame him for sleeping with their partner behind their back.

Eamo, you're girlfriend's dead right. The whole 'culture' of last night explains why I have absolutely no interest in this so-called world's best league. In fact I detest it. And to think some people pay good money to watch these overpaid babies every week.

[jmurphyc]

I'm just watching the sky footage now, and it's absolutely pitiful. Chelsea were robbed, all of the incidents were penalty decisions (none of them were clear cut in my opinion), and whilst showing Ballack going mental at the referee Redkapp says that he can understand how he feels. Their defence of Chelsea's actions is shocking, and if Barcelona had done the same Sky's viewpoint would be very different.