. I can only think there was another angle we haven't seen, I thought that goal should have been allowed.
Champions League Quarter Finals (5th - 13th Apr)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Chelsea seem to always play well against Spainish teams.
I think I read somewhere that the only time Barca actually beat Chelsea with 11 men in the CL era was in their last game in 2018. Prior to that, they only won when Chelsea had someone sent off.
But even watching Derby once or twice, they aren't good players. But it means something to them. They'll give effort and heart.
I've long said, I can accept United being shit. But I can't accept a lack of effort, which has been all season. I know it's a cliché, but I would genuinely rather they play 7-8 of the u23's for the rest of the season. We'd probably lose most of the games but at least we'd get to see a Manchester United team trying and giving it their all.
For today I really want Benfica to qualify and get points + prestige for Portugal but I want them to do it with blatant referee help and shithousery so that they don't get the full credit 
Extremely unlikely anyway
Extremely unlikely anyway
Hopefully city go out tonight so the treble is over for them, then they beat the scousers Sunday to end the quadruple talk,City win the league Chelsea the FA Cup one of the Madrid teams the CL and the greatest team of all time end up with the league Cup.
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/h2h/52914/50080/
You are correct! Of course many of these reds weren't necessarily the most impactful, but that won't stop me from saying that we'd have obviously won all those matches without bent referees. UEFAlona!!!!!!
I meant in the sense that Bayern were making CL finals, while Real was still having their ro16 streak and they have more or less kept their favourite status in the competition more or less all the way through yesterday, while Real/Barca have dropped off visibly in squad strength over the years.
They made the CL final three times in four years between the 09/10 and 12/13 season. But the van Gaal side of that period was significantly weaker than what followed, so I guess that tells you quite a bit about your "unable to even reach a UCL final" way of judging teams.
Favorite status mean jack shit tbh. PSG are favorites every season too. In the last 10-12 years, no one tops Real Madrid in the CL.
If City get through tonight and Liverpool get to the final, City will have to bring their zero CL trophies against the 19 of Real and Liverpool combined.
That's a hell of a weight difference regardless of talent. This is where City's (and usually Pep's) composure is tested. I'm sure the fans are already sweating it (just like LFC fans continue to sweat over another PL).
That's a hell of a weight difference regardless of talent. This is where City's (and usually Pep's) composure is tested. I'm sure the fans are already sweating it (just like LFC fans continue to sweat over another PL).
Just look at Pep's record in the UCL after 2011. He might bottle it tonight against Atlético, and he ain't beating Liverpool nor Madrid.
I fancy an upset tonight if Griezmann can finally remember that he's a forward and not a defensive midfielder
11 peak years of a man who's had the three best teams in his generation. And no CL. In a time period where Chelsea have fluked it twice.
Sometimes karma really is a bitch.Pep simply isn't a good cup manager. His teams perform constantly on a very high level and therefore dominate leagues and - if the quality gap is big enough - also cups, but there are other managers that simply are better at pulling off underdog wins if necessary.11 peak years of a man who's had the three best teams in his generation. And no CL. In a time period where Chelsea have fluked it twice.
Not really an excuse that Pep can hide behind. Not that I'm saying you think that. He's done perfectly fine in the Carling cups.
No, I don't see this as an excuse, but as a weakness of him, and the longer this continues the more it tarnishes his reputation (at least in my eyes).
They are loving this arrogance angle
"Their coach, whom I don't know"...
Rio is such an entertainer.
Rio is such an entertainer.
Shouting is entertainment? Looks a bit forced, too.
I’m hoping for at least a 7-0 loss personally.For today I really want Benfica to qualify and get points + prestige for Portugal but I want them to do it with blatant referee help and shithousery so that they don't get the full credit
Extremely unlikely anyway
After what went on last night, this is a bit of a gamble:
Vamos!!
Big gamble. But if you get through this it should mean your strongest eleven facing a weaker City side in the semi. I can't see City playing almost the same 11 for three intense games in a week.
On what planet did we “fluke” the CL win last season? We were comfortably the best side throughout the competition.11 peak years of a man who's had the three best teams in his generation. And no CL. In a time period where Chelsea have fluked it twice.
The 2012 win we got extremely fortunate several times but last season was dominant.
Nah that's perfectly fine. Tsimikas can easily hold his own, Salah deserves to be dropped / get a rest by now, so it's really only Milner in midfield that's weird or can be considered a gamble imo.
I like it. This should be a straightforward victory for us, let alone we get into troubles being two goals up.
Wow, wow, wowsers! Talk about where Klopp's head is right now: Saturday. Rested Everybody!
Great bench too, just in case things are going awry.
Talk about where Klopp's head is right now: Saturday. Rested Everybody!Great bench too, just in case things are going awry.
Oh boy it'd be glorious if Benfica could go through.
Never going to happen, never ever ever ever. Ever.
It wasn't a fluke in the sense that it was undeserved, but Chelsea hadn't done much in the CL in years, and fired their manager halfway through the season. It is surprising to go on and win the CL after that.
does anyone else think Liverpool are taking a gamble with all those changes or will they be too strong anyway?
It's a complete mismatch. It's a bit like when we beat Schalke 2-0 away from home in our CL semi and then played the likes of Gibson in the second leg and still battered them. Incidentally, that was against none other than Ralf Rangnick.
I wouldn't say it is really, if they concede a goal, they can just bring on their reinforcements. I don't see Benfica scoring 3 without reply at Pools home.
Expel them from the tournament