Atletico v Chelsea - (CL SF 1st Leg) 22/04/14 KO 19:45 BST

[PloKoon13]

We have returned to the Champions League semi-finals, the stage for a lot of the more ridiculous moments in our recent history.

We have drawn what is probably on paper the weakest side left in the tournament (other than us), albeit the most similar to us stylistically. They have the defensive organisation and discipline to hold us at bay, and they have the attacking prowess to afflict some serious damage. In Costa, Koke, Courtois and Garcia they have some of Europe's finest players.

 

But we have Mourinho...

 

It begins.

[enigma]

We have Hazard, Willian, Schurrle, Eto'o, cech, our defence, and BA!!! 

[drogs_right_foot]

We have Hazard, Willian, Schurrle, Eto'o, cech, our defence, and BA!!! 

 

Will Eden be completely fit for this?

[Jonty]

1-0 win to us I reckon, we have a good track record of shutting up quality strikers this season (Ibra, Cavani, Drogba, Suarez, Aguero, Rooney, Van Persie, etc.) and I don't think we'll miss Iva too much as Ash is normally very good defensively and will probably be told to play very conservatively.

 

Injury allowing:

 

-------------Cech

Dave - Cahill - JT - Ash

-Ramires - Mikel - Luiz

Schurrle - Eto'o - Hazard

 

Possibly with Willian instead of either Ramires or Mikel if Jose thinks we need to really go at them.

[ForeverCarefree]

Atletico have the best defense in Spain, they've only conceded 22 goals so far in 32 games.

 

We're really going to have our work cut out for us in this one.

 

I think we might play for a draw in the away leg and try to win it at home.  

[enigma]

Atletico have the best defense in Spain, they've only conceded 22 goals so far in 32 games.

 

We're really going to have our work cut out for us in this one.

 

I think we might play for a draw in the away leg and try to win it at home.  

 

Courtois has saved their asses plenty times, but not to mention that Spain is a weak league with 2 (now 3) teams in the race. 

 

I guess we will see how good they are on the 22nd though. We will need to watch out for their diving, though. 

 

I am quite glad that Azpilicueta will be playing a RB, gives us the opportunity to actually get some balls into the box where we can beat them in the air. 

Edited April 11, 2014 by enigma

[Guest Sindre]

Hazard will be out of the first leg at least.

 

Only way to approach it in Madrid is to be very cynical. Atletico is super cynical themselves and if you wanna lose against this side you wanna keep possession like Barcelona tried too..

 

We won't, deep defensive line. Put our runners out in Ramires and Willian especially to regain the ball for our own counterattacks while we maintain our shape defensivly with Luiz and the backline.

[mclovin83]

Courtois has saved their asses plenty times, but not to mention that Spain is a weak league with 2 (now 3) teams in the race. 

 

I guess we will see how good they are on the 22nd though. We will need to watch out for their diving, though. 

 

I am quite glad that Azpilicueta will be playing a RB, gives us the opportunity to actually get some balls into the box where we can beat them in the air. 

 

Spain is a weak league?

[JM7]

Can see this being a tight cagey affair. Similar to our games v Liverpool.

[CFCholland]

Nice, can't wait for this one.

Always like playing away first, so that works in our advantage.

 

I think this is our best chance of going through, Atleti are real fighters. But in my opinion they have less quality than the likes of Real Madrid or Bayern. 

And to add to that, we are real fighters ourselves, and I consider us to be better at it too.

[enigma]

Spain is a weak league?

 

okay, maybe not weak but the majority of sides roll over for the top 2/3. How often do you see the smaller sides upset the top sides in that league? 

[JM7]

Didn't Jose say that some of our players struggle whe playing against players who "fight" I.e, Stoke, Crystal Palace etc?

Lets not be too confident.

[Craig1905]

If we can hold off a decent result in the first leg, and with the second leg at the bridge, we can smash through to the final

[youlots]

Courtois has saved their asses plenty times, but not to mention that Spain is a weak league with 2 (now 3) teams in the race. 

 

I guess we will see how good they are on the 22nd though. We will need to watch out for their diving, though. 

 

I am quite glad that Azpilicueta will be playing a RB, gives us the opportunity to actually get some balls into the box where we can beat them in the air. 

 

You really don't have a clue do you - La Liga a weak league ffs. They've got the best back 4 going around in europe at present. Godin is hardly ever bested in the air & Miranda is very very handy. "I guess we will see...." ffs. If you don't know what your posting about then do us all a favour & don't post. Got it.

[CFCDocker]

Can see this being very similar to the 2 legs v PSG

[Hemel Blue]

It was always going to be tough whoever we drew.Keep it tight and magic things can happen at the bridge.COME ON YOU BLUES!

[enigma]

You really don't have a clue do you - La Liga a weak league ffs. They've got the best back 4 going around in europe at present. Godin is hardly ever bested in the air & Miranda is very very handy. "I guess we will see...." ffs. If you don't know what your posting about then do us all a favour & don't post. Got it.

 

no, it's the fact that most on here seem to think that they're some unbeatable team. Wasn't everyone saying the same about PSG? If we can't have confidence in our own abilities as a team, we may as well not be in it. There is no reason to not be confident in our team doing the job, but for our own fans to suggest that we are getting cocky/arrogant because others feel we can beat them, is ludicrous. 

[ForeverCarefree]

no, it's the fact that most on here seem to think that they're some unbeatable team. Wasn't everyone saying the same about PSG? If we can't have confidence in our own abilities as a team, we may as well not be in it. There is no reason to not be confident in our team doing the job, but for our own fans to suggest that we are getting cocky/arrogant because others feel we can beat them, is ludicrous. 

 

I don't think anyone is claiming they are unbeatable but there is obviously a bit of apprehension about playing the team that's top of La Liga ahead of Barca and Madrid, has the best defense in their division and has a striker playing for them who is good enough that apparently Chelsea want him next season.

 

Plenty of reasons to be fearful and not to be underestimated. 

 

We've overcome bigger tests as a club but at the same time let's not downplay the task we face. 

[CFC-May19]

Just a gut feeling, I reckon the winner of this semi will win the whole thing.

Edited April 11, 2014 by CFC-May19

[ForeverCarefree]

Just a gut feeling, I reckon the winner of this semi will win the whole thing.

 

Very insightful.

 

Game of two halves and all that. 

 

Jumpers for goalposts.

 

Mmmm.

 

Marvelous. 

[ksushy]

If we scored and courtious is goal keeper he will get accused of letting easy goal in .......

[mclovin83]

okay, maybe not weak but the majority of sides roll over for the top 2/3. How often do you see the smaller sides upset the top sides in that league? 

 

 

An example of an upset for each of the big 3:

 

Osasuna 3  Athletico Madrid 0.

 

Sociedad 3  Barcelona 1

 

Sevilla 2  Real Madrid 1.

 

I think it is very naive to think that the 'smaller sides' are all weak just because you haven't seen as many upsets as the Premiership.

 

Some of the smaller sides are fantastic football teams, another good example to remember would be how Athletic Bilbao took a full strength Manchester United side to school in the Europa League back in 2012.

 

Considering 2 of the 4 teams left in the Semi Finals are from La Liga I would It argue it isn't a weak league at all and arguably the strongest in Europe.

[axman2526]

Very, very hard tie. Much more difficult than PSG imo. But we can do it.

 

If we are to get through we will need at least 1 away goal I believe, and that will not be easy to come by. Best hope Schurrle can play, he seems to be the only one with the right instincts to take advantage of any slips from this solid Atletico back line.

[PloKoon13]

Not to mention that they are unbeaten in the Champions League so far and beat Barcelona to get this far!

[needlehill]

Good luck Chelsea for this one. That will be my last post before next Chelsea-PSG.

I like to see change in CL winners so I won't go as far as supporting Chelsea from now on. Sorry.

A correspondent  based in Madrid and talking every week on French radio about La Liga had warned us not to underestimate Atletico among possible semi-finalists (provided we would not disintegrate at the Bridge ...). They run and press for 90 min non stop. They hit.

Bitter again today, knowing that we could have faced them, but I think it will be a challenge for Chelsea on the physical side. Better have fresh players on the pitch ...