Champions League Round of 16 (15th Feb - 16th Mar)

Ayoba said:
I just don't know what it is about Chelsea but I've never enjoyed watching them play - can't quite put my finger on it. Even the team under mourinho that had Joe cole, drogba, robben etc.
Click to expand...

They are exceptionally good in the first two phases of the game but quite dull in the final third mainly because they employ 5 defenders and two midfielders that are more focused towards progressing the ball or winning it back rather than unlocking teams in the final third.

I think it’s just going to be the way they always will be under Tuchel with the personnel they have. Very hard to beat, very aggressive pressing from the back up, but lacking cutting edge if not gifted counter attacking ops or employing more attack minded lineups. I mean feck they have double digit goals from their defenders already this year.
 
Rajiztar said:
That was the last time we played convincingly and won the game.
Click to expand...

I think you're selling us a bit short versus Spurs - we particularly dominated the first leg of that semi-final I think. But yes more broadly I agree - our attack has been generally quite poor since Lukaku recovered from his injury.
 
PoTMS said:
What's the longest Chelsea have been trophyless in the Abramovich era?
Click to expand...
One season (over a calendar year does happen). Happened several times. Then they get those small trophies to stop the drought to occur.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
I think you're selling us a bit short versus Spurs - we particularly dominated the first leg of that semi-final I think. But yes more broadly I agree - our attack has been generally quite poor since Lukaku recovered from his injury.
Click to expand...
Yes totally forgot that first leg.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
I think you're selling us a bit short versus Spurs - we particularly dominated the first leg of that semi-final I think. But yes more broadly I agree - our attack has been generally quite poor since Lukaku recovered from his injury.
Click to expand...

It was poor when Lukaku was out the team too, thats why we drew so many games.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
We beat them 4-0 with a fluid pressing attack and no Lukaku - you are 100% correct.
Click to expand...
He is correct. But you are taking the wrong exemple. You defeated them in a meaningless game when they were already qualified and you needed the win. A game just in between 2 decisive ones in the league vs Lazio and Atalanta.
 
Pintu said:
He is correct. But you are taking the wrong exemple. You defeated them in a meaningless game when they were already qualified and you needed the win. A game just in between 2 decisive ones in the league vs Lazio and Atalanta.
Click to expand...

True - but what you're overlooking is that Juve were hugely incentivised to win or draw the match because finishing 1st in the group was of outsized importance to them versus Chelsea as we couldn't draw any of the other English teams and thus they played their strongest XI. Also, Chelsea had two difficult matches either side that fixture as well - Leicester away and Man United at home.
 
A typical dull Chelsea home cup tie against one of the poorer teams left in the competition this season (mid table in French league). Done what you’d expect them to do and will waltz into the last 8 again now. It’s never that easy being a United fan!
 
WeePat said:
Neither are the rest of the supposed contenders besides City and Liverpool, so meh.
Click to expand...

Chelsea could beat anyone and could go out to anyone. They can just as easily lose to Ajax/Benfica or Atletico/United and they could beat Liverpool/Bayern.

The real favourites you really expect them to beat any “inferior team”.
 
Pintu said:
Chelsea could beat anyone and could go out to anyone. They can just as easily lose to Ajax/Benfica or Atletico/United and they could beat Liverpool/Bayern.

The real favourites you really expect them to beat any “inferior team”.
Click to expand...

I'd argue this applies to PSG and probably even Bayern too. But you're of course right about Chelsea, but it's not like that wasn't the case last season either.
 
Pintu said:
Chelsea could beat anyone and could go out to anyone. They can just as easily lose to Ajax/Benfica or Atletico/United and they could beat Liverpool/Bayern.

The real favourites you really expect them to beat any “inferior team”.
Click to expand...

On what basis? On the contrary, under Tuchel we've shown a very good knack of advancing in cup ties, to the point where we've reached 5 consecutive finals.

Don't think there's any scenario where this Chelsea loses to this Benfica frankly - that's a bit ridiculous given the massive gap in quality between the teams.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
On what basis? On the contrary, under Tuchel we've shown a very good knack of advancing in cup ties, to the point where we've reached 5 consecutive finals.
Click to expand...

You lost a Cup final to Leicester. You needed an extra-time soft penalty to beat Palmeiras. I don’t think the winner of Benfica/Ajax will have less qualities than Palemeiras and Leicester.
 
Did Kovacic and Ziyech get injured tonight? Both missing out would be a blow for Sunday.
 
Our performance was terrible. In our current dire, dire state, though, the draw is good: win next game at home and we are through, lose the game and we are deservedly out, draw the game and we have 50/50 penalties. Truly sorry for McKennie and his broken feet… out for the season he seems, unfortunately for him… and for us, we are losing another rare spark.
 
Pintu said:
You lost a Cup final to Leicester. You needed an extra-time soft penalty to beat Palmeiras. I don’t think the winner of Benfica/Ajax will have less qualities than Palemeiras and Leicester.
Click to expand...

As someone who lives just outside Lisbon, is married to a Benfiqista, and will be going to the match tomorrow, I can definitively attest that Benfica are categorically worse than Leicester.

Also soft penalty for Palmeiras? The only reason it even went to ET was a soft penalty for them. If you want to argue that Chelsea play down to their competition I certainly wouldn't dispute that, but making 5/5 finals under Tuchel is impressive no matter how you try to spin it.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
As someone who lives just outside Lisbon, is married to a Benfiqista, and will be going to the match tomorrow, I can definitively attest that Benfica are categorically worse than Leicester.
Click to expand...

Ok if you say so. But it really comes as surprise to me. Leicester have been utterly poor recently. Knocked out of EL by Moscou while Benfica was trashing Barça 3-0. But then I guess Ajax will have an easier tie than I expect.


My goal was not to downplay your Cup achievements. But even though you’ve been consistent you never look that much superior to your opponents, even mediocre ones.

i was praising yours and Tuchel’s Cup record on the adequate thread not so long ago.

Pintu said:
Click to expand...
 
Pintu said:
Ok if you say so. But it really comes as surprise to me. Leicester have been utterly poor recently. Knocked out of EL by Moscou while Benfica was trashing Barça 3-0. But then I guess Ajax will have an easier tie than I expect.


My goal was not to downplay your Cup achievements. But even though you’ve been consistent you never look that much superior to your opponents, even mediocre ones.

i was praising yours and Tuchel’s Cup record on the adequate thread not so long ago.
Click to expand...

I think it's entirely fair to point out that we've generally played to the level of our opposition! But at the same time, given that we've made it to those pinnacle matches I just would push back on the notion that we might lose to anyone along the way. I agree that we lack the attacking structure to sweep aside poorer opponents with impunity, but in a knockout tournament I think that becomes less important than defensive cohesion - an area where Chelsea inarguably excel.

Also re: Benfica - that 3-0 was indubitably the highlight of the season; it all (predictably) fell apart shortly thereafter as the now ex-manager Jorge Jesus descended further into his echo chamber of blame deflection and madness. I think as well it's important to note that Barcelona were a dysfunctional mess at the time under Koeman - can't see Benfica matching that result against Xavi's Barca.

Given the current state of Benfica frankly I'd be surprised if Ajax don't win by at least two goals tomorrow - but I suppose we shall see one way or another!
 
Lille played some good stuff but lacked that cutting edge in the final third. Hope Ajax win this tie and move away from Pochettino in the eyes of our board.
 
Last edited:
Pintu said:
Ok if you say so. But it really comes as surprise to me. Leicester have been utterly poor recently. Knocked out of EL by Moscou while Benfica was trashing Barça 3-0. But then I guess Ajax will have an easier tie than I expect.


My goal was not to downplay your Cup achievements. But even though you’ve been consistent you never look that much superior to your opponents, even mediocre ones.

i was praising yours and Tuchel’s Cup record on the adequate thread not so long ago.
Click to expand...

If playing poorly gets results who cares. We haven’t been anywhere near the standards of the 2nd half of last season and beginning of this season. We might not reach that before the season ends but I’m not bothered. We will get there again.

You should be more concerned with your own team; their lack of direction, atrocious form, poor wage structure and quite possibly one of the worst squads you’ve had in the last 20 years.

Honestly I’d rather be a “boring” team, seems rather minor in comparison.
 
I have a feeling Mr. Champions league is going to make Atlético very sad Tommorow.
 
JohnnyLaw said:
Couldn’t catch any of the games yesterday. How did David fare? Sanches, Botman?
Click to expand...

Sanches was honestly fantastic. Looks like he's playing with subpar teammates. He was one of the best players on the pitch. Botman was okay but Havertz's pace and movement seemed a bit too much for him. David was decent. He huffed snd puffed but Silva and Christensen had him under control.
 
WeePat said:
Sanches was honestly fantastic. Looks like he's playing with subpar teammates. He was one of the best players on the pitch. Botman was okay but Havertz's pace and movement seemed a bit too much for him. David was decent. He huffed snd puffed but Silva and Christensen had him under control.
Click to expand...

Cheers!
 
SirReginald said:
If playing poorly gets results who cares. We haven’t been anywhere near the standards of the 2nd half of last season and beginning of this season. We might not reach that before the season ends but I’m not bothered. We will get there again.

You should be more concerned with your own team; their lack of direction, atrocious form, poor wage structure and quite possibly one of the worst squads you’ve had in the last 20 years.

Honestly I’d rather be a “boring” team, seems rather minor in comparison.
Click to expand...
I am, but I honestly think the squad is much better now than it was between 2014 and 2017. Having said that, that squad, albeit too limited to challenge for the PL/CL, was getting the consolation trophies and I can't deny I miss that.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
That was much more down to injuries and COVID. Also, there's an increasingly-large sample suggesting we are better without him:
Click to expand...

Lukaku never played in the same team as both Chilwell and James, that would a made a difference for him.
When he was out of the team we also drew with Everton, Burnley, Man Utd all at home. Drew with Wolves away, Was drawing away at Villa at HT, And scraped past Watford in one of the poorest performances of the season.
Most of those goals are still coming from defenders.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.