Chelsea to win the Champions League - 1/8

[Tommy T]

Anyone think they could push for the Final?

John Terry has burst back into form as one of the best centre-backs in the world
David Luiz is world class at the moment. (Even got the attention of Barcelona who want to make a bid in the summer)
Ivanovic was a BEAST against Napoli
Cole is always consistently good

Frank the same, always puts in a 7/10 performance at least and will always be a threat to goal.
Ramires seems unstoppable down that right wing. The guys got bucket loads of stamina.
That CDM position is my only real worry. Essien isn't as good as he used to be

Mata is as class as ever, I reckon he will be pivotal in getting to that final. Those low crosses into the box are deadly.

Torres dare I say has hit some form, and I reckon could get a few more goals by the quarter final game.
Drogba is always reliable, not always for scoring but for disrupting that back four so mata and sturridge can take advantage



All in all, I think we can do it. Di Matteo seems like a decent manager, and not afraid to make the harder calls. When he brought JT off in extra time for Bosingwa, I thought that was a little risky, but it paid of very nicely!

What do you think?

[kel]

Well you will most likely go up agains barca IF you beat benfica so i doubt you will get to the final as barca will no doubt get to the final.
Also John Terry and Luiz, really? Terry is slow as shit, messi can just rape him and Luiz can hardly defend, hell Luiz should move to CDM then maybe he will be useful.
Frank, well he used to be excellent, maybe even the best midfielder but he has lost it now, so untill he gets some of his form back or chelsea get rid of him chelsea wont win anything.
And Torres, lets see how he plays next game, scoring 2 against a weaker club will boost his confidence but doesnt show he can preform at high levels. But he did play well against Napoli so he is 50/50 at the moment.

[Tommy T]

Frank is the best goal scoring midfielder in the premiership with 12 goals this season. For a midfielder that's fantastic.

Did you see that Napoli game? Luiz and Terry were incredible. May I remind you we have the best record against Barcelona in the Premiership. If there was one BPL team to beat them it would be us.

[Quackerjacks]

To be honest, as much as I'd love to see them in the finals, I doubt it will happen. Luiz needs to be moved to CDM with his mobility, and have Cahill play some games with Terry leading up to Benfica. Though this is a bit of a gamble at this point seeing how the CL is our true chance of winning some silverware this season. (To me the FA Cup is just consolation at this point for having dropping so many points in Dec-Feb for the premiership).

[Nashiwi]

At this level it is a bit random in my opinion. Chelsea got the quality to beat any team in the world, it all just depends on what team got the best day. Out of 100 games Barcelona would end up winning most the games against Chelsea, but when its just 2 games and the away-goal rules anything can happen. I hope Chelsea will win, getting a bit tired of those Barcelona players to be honest.

[Deleted]

I dont think there's a chance you will win the CL this season, no offence but your simply not good enough I can see you beating Benfica but Barcelona will beat you easily, they are a far better team since you last played them and you have declined over the years.

However I hope you can do us a favour and get at least a point from Man City tomorrow night ;P

[Deleted]

Chelsea have a couple of half decent games after a few confidence builders against Championship teams, and now they're going to win the CL? Not a chance. They'll reach the semis, and then Barca will annihilate them - the Chelsea that stood up to them was considerably better than the current team, and shipped far fewer goals.

Can't see past an all Spanish final, and Real will probably win it.

[mirodin]

Chelsea are getting better, but that's when you compare that to the crappy team they were just 2 weeks ago. Torres scored 2 golas after 24 hours of play and against a Chamiponship side. They might beat Benfica if their current form continues but there is no way they beat Barca, unless you are hoping that Milan do an Inter and manage to advance.

[Northern Goblin]

Chelsea are an old tired warhorse that have a couple of good runs left in most of their legs.

They'll give Barca a good go but they'll get taken apart over two legs for an all Spanish final. The odds given are very generous on Chelsea lifting it this year.

[Larath]

nope, chelski won't win CL, what we saw against napoli was just a last burst from a dying team. besides the winner for CL comes from the semi between Bayern and Real.

[Tommy T]

I agree in most parts that Chelsea need a youth overhaul. All the managers in the last few years have given in to Romans instant results. For instant results you need experience. Youth doesn't come into it. However, I still think the likes of John Terry (31 and by no means done in his career) will remain a key player for another few seasons.

I think Lampard could go on for a while yet. If used like Ryan Giggs he could still be a key player for the team. Frank still plays 90 minutes for most games, and yes he might need a rest every other game or so, but he doesn't deserve all the shit he's getting from the press. He's one of the best players in the premiership and by looking at his stats you will see why (12 goals, 6+ assists this season). It's because he is English he gets so much crap.

Putting players aside, Chelsea have shown some incredible passion recently, something that Manchester City doesn't have. Just a bunch of arrogant paid mercenary's in my opinion. They got swept aside in the Europa League because they thought it would be easy. Same with the champions league. Just because they get paid £250,000 a week doesn't make them a team. Yes, they are good players, but they are individuals not a team.

As a Chelsea fan, I've been very proud of my team in the last few weeks, and I think they have what it takes to give Barcelona a run for their money.

Man Utd will will the BPL. They have the experience, the players and the passion. Always respected Man Utd aswell as fergie, although I think they completely underestimated the europa league.

[Deleted]

I'm sorry to burst your bubble but I would be surprised if they can get past Benfica, you severely underestimate them if you're talking about the cup. I'd say it's even worse than all the Gunners being happy about drawing Milan, they were lucky Boateng wasn't there at the Emirates.

Sun 18/03/12 FAC Chelsea 5 - 2 Leicester City
Wed 21/03/12 PRL Manchester City 20 : 45 Chelsea
Sat 24/03/12 PRL Chelsea 13 : 45 Tottenham Hotspur
Tue 27/03/12 UCL Benfica 20 : 45 Chelsea

Add the age of players + quality of the bench with this ...

[Pozz]

I don't think they'll make it to the final either. The two matches against Benfica might be quite interesting, but I don't see them taking on Barcelona, especially on top of the last week's results. Their eyes have started sparkling again as they're closing in on Real Madrid, and they seem to be in an upward spiral atm.

Mix that with their tendency to shine in bigger matches, remember they're not placed behind Real Madrid in the league table because they lost a lot of points against strong sides, but because they seem to have a huge problem with complacency against smaller clubs.

That being said an away goal and a referee with a more English orientation than a Spanish one (as in tougher play allowed) could give them a small glimmer of hope. In the end I don't mind Chelsea going to the final, as long as they promish to beat Real should they make it there.

Chelsea's best chance to me is if Milan can surprise and beat Barca over two matches. Milan showed they could threaten the Barca side, that was in a somewhat weak period of Barca's season though.

Personally I think the final will be Real Madrid - Barca, though I hope Bayern Münich can take Real's spot.


Oh and wtb more punishment for diving please. If the final does indeed end out Real Madrid - Barcelona, can't the ref just start out handing red cards to Pepe, Di Maria, Pique and Alves. That way we'd get more football and less rolling on the floor =(

[Rivenda]

Bayern is going to take it all on Allianz. :> The last time they played Real they beat them, should be able to. Robben and Ribery it's really playing well.

[Deleted]

I don't think Chelsea will win the CL. Simply not good enough this season, Barca will tear through them over two games, they're better than they were when you last played them in 2009.

On the other side of the draw, Bayern vs Real Mardid will be a great game, could go either way, Bayern fighting for a CL final in their own stadium, whilst Madrid want an El Clasico final in Munich. I personally think Real will edge it though.

Barca to win 4-2 in an awesome final. ;D

^^ Wishful thinking of what could be.

[Ccookie]

English teams tend to understimate portuguese teams. May i remember you that in the past years you haven't been so lucky against portuguese teams. Manchester United understimated his group and manchester city clearly didnt have the respect for their opponent and both were eliminated. I didnt quite like Drogba's atittude and if Benfica performs in an high level i dont think Chelsea can beat them. Even if you beat Benfica (which i doubt), you wont have a chance against Barcelona. Btw good to see you're enjoying David Luiz and Ramirez

[Larath]

English teams tend to understimate portuguese teams. May i remember you that in the past years you haven't been so lucky against portuguese teams. Manchester United understimated his group and manchester city clearly didnt have the respect for their opponent and both were eliminated. I didnt quite like Drogba's atittude and if Benfica performs in an high level i dont think Chelsea can beat them. Even if you beat Benfica (which i doubt), you wont have a chance against Barcelona. Btw good to see you're enjoying David Luiz and Ramirez

Chelsea seems to have won the first battle.

[Deleted]

Chelsea seems to have won the first battle.

Yeah, with a little help from the referee as well. How the hell doesn't he see that penalty?

Anyway, what they did in Lisbon was close to nothing. If they play like that in London, and Benfica has it's usual free-kick, corner and free throw efficacy which they didn't have today, they will most definitely turn it round.

[Antherios]

Haven't been keeping up with international soccer as i used to, but isn't the Barcelona like the soccer demi-gods right now? and the only capable team of bringing them down is the Real Madrid?
Last time i asked a friend, he said that those 2 are in a whole level above the rest of the teams in europe.

[Ccookie]

Chelsea seems to have won the first battle.

I would like to have like 3 goalkeepers in field too And i wouldn't be so proud of Chelsea's exhibition. Like was said, it was close to nothing. If they play like this in London and we have luck/neutral referee i think we can make the dream happen.