Disappointed after last night’s performance, but strangely not as depressed as I normally am when we bow out of the CL. It’s a lot easier to take when you know that the opposition were far better than you over the two legs and therefore deserve it. I never thought we’d really win the CL this year, we’re still lacking in certain areas of the squad, whilst some of the players that we do have need to build more mental resilience.

 

That said, it doesn’t excuse how we played. It was an insipid performance from what appeared to be a complacent set of players. Courtois was excellent but everyone else performed at varying levels of mediocrity. We played against 10 men for an hour and half and the best we could create was a lucky goal from a corner and a penalty. The tactics didn’t help, we were simply too cautious and should have looked to attack them more. It was as though our gameplan after the red card lulled the players into a false sense of security. This was José’s mistake, big time.

 

The ref had a shocker as well, the only key decision he got right was our pen in ET, everything else was incorrect. Costa should have gone, so should have Luiz, Ibra was very unlucky indeed.

 

My biggest concern though is that we look clueless in attack at the moment, aside from Hazard our players look frightened to do anything positive. Even simple things like taking a player on with a dribble, or having a shot ffs. José’s needs to release the handbrake and let these guys play. We’re not the 2004/5 team that could consistently grind out 1-0 victories. This side is built much more to attack, and we simply need to let the players express themselves.

 

Sunday is massive now, we need a win badly, and a performance.

Edited March 12, 201511 yr by Celery1989

There were aspects of both teams behaviour last night that could be deemed unsavoury or savvy, whichever way suits the argument. The sh*tstorm that had developed since really is remarkable given its historical nature in Europe. The pundits who I generally have good time for Carragher and Souness have really got it wrong IMHO, Gary Neville on the other hand has it spot on.

Its part of the game, rightly or wrongly, but why should we watch other teams gain an advantage while we gallantly stand by and do the right thing. I don't like to see it but f**k that if its being let go on, then I have no issue. The biggest issue I have is how quickly and vociferously the media, pundits and the like have layed into the club like its the first time they have seen it, let alone the fact that they themselves have spearheaded the chase on the ref during their own playing days.

Bad night for the team exacerbated by the media's willingness and joy at putting the boot in.

The media have reacted with the same glee as you'd expect from bitter petty rival fans...still it's what we have come to expect...just makes me want the title even more, if that's possible

The crucial thing you missed out was that Oscar was the ball winner, whilst Zlatan was nowhere near the ball.

Agree 100% , was more for the purpose of trying to point out why the red may have been given

José,negative approach/tactics are holding back the evolution of potentially one of the greatest Chelsea teams of all time....so sad to see...

They played very well while Chelsea was struggling at home but there's No need to blame Jose. He's one of the greatest managers. Man U would give him job in a split second.

I actually think PSG played unusually good. I actually it was their best performance in the CL this season. Their midfield was rock solid.

I'm sure team will learn from this match.

They played very well while Chelsea was struggling at home but there's No need to blame Jose. He's one of the greatest managers. Man U would give him job in a split second.

I actually think PSG played unusually good. I actually it was their best performance in the CL this season. Their midfield was rock solid.

I'm sure team will learn from this match.

Agreed but I honestly think Jose was out managed last night which was unusual, we never took the initiative even when a player up and then in the lead twice. I just wish he would let the players express themselves.

Like others have said we got beaten at our own game, I now know what it's like to be a Barcelona or Bayern fan a few years ago.

José,negative approach/tactics are holding back the evolution of potentially one of the greatest Chelsea teams of all time....so sad to see...

Saw lots of similar comments after Rosenborg.

 

Ultimately I think it's the strength of the Premier League that screws us. PSG play donkey teams for 99% of the year so when a big Champions League fixture comes around they all perk up that extra 10% and invariably put on a show.

 

We on the other hands expend that extra 10% every week against the likes of Burnley and Leicester who are all able to give us a tough game, so when we need to move up a gear vs Europe's elite we have nothing extra to call upon.

 

We badly need a Winter break and/or a reduction in fixtures eg League Cup/FA Cup replays.

Saw lots of similar comments after Rosenborg.

 

Ultimately I think it's the strength of the Premier League that screws us. PSG play donkey teams for 99% of the year so when a big Champions League fixture comes around they all perk up that extra 10% and invariably put on a show.

 

We on the other hands expend that extra 10% every week against the likes of Burnley and Leicester who are all able to give us a tough game, so when we need to move up a gear vs Europe's elite we have nothing extra to call upon.

 

We badly need a Winter break and/or a reduction in fixtures eg League Cup/FA Cup replays.

so what about the week of they had before this game or does that not count?

so what about the week of they had before this game or does that not count?

One week to recover from 32 weeks worth of gruelling matches?

Agreed but I honestly think Jose was out managed last night which was unusual, we never took the initiative even when a player up and then in the lead twice. I just wish he would let the players express themselves.

Like others have said we got beaten at our own game, I now know what it's like to be a Barcelona or Bayern fan a few years ago.

Well, we don't know what's happening behind the scene. I'm sure there is a reason Jose made those choices. He knows those players better than anyone of us here, he knows about their condition and state of mind. I'm sure some of his choices were based on those factors.

It's easy to complain and say he should do this or he should do that. Let's just move on and let's learn from this experience.

I stayed off this thread last night for my own good.

 

Now that the dust has somewhat settled... Yesterday was f**king disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful. I watched this game in a pub packed with Chelsea supporters and I honestly lost count how many times I heard "who the hell is playing with ten men again?" from an increasingly irate audience. Ibra's red card was never a red card and our players embarrassed us with their reaction to it. Diego Costa on the other hand deserved to get sent off and if the referee had seen his shove off the ball he would have rightly been so. Mourinho got it horribly wrong last night and still has the f**king nerve to say that "we played to win". Bullsh*t. Utter f**king bullsh*t. We played to grind out a 0-0, was clear as day. You could see that even more-so when Ibra went off and we remained in a defensive line-up. Hell, Costa went over to the dugout twice to ask for instructions as it was clear that we hadn't prepared for such a scenario as... you know... going for the f**king win. As soon as David Luiz scored and we were heading to extra time I turned to the guys next to me and said "we're going to lose this in extra time", to which they all agreed.

 

Defensive tactics against a PSG side down to ten men, AT HOME, is f**king disgraceful. Do not even try to defend Mourinho on this, that was shameful. Roman did not look happy at all, and rightly so.

 

We deserved to go out.  

 

Jose MUST win the league now or I am pretty sure that Roman is going to wield the axe.

 

I agree with what you said, but no way should Mourinho be sacked under any circumstances.

 

He's the man for the job, I'll be very disappointed if we don't win the league because it will mean that we dropped a lot of points while being in a very good position. But the board are idiots if they sack him, I don't think they will, they've acted very well to FFP and sacrificed a lot to bring him back, why would they make such a drastic and stupid decision.

I've said all along that nobody is going to win PL and CL in the foreseeable, and clearly no English team is good enough this time round. You either need to rotate 22 players or you're doomed to repeat the same mistakes season after season. I look forward to City getting roasted in the Nou Camp

If Jose go, Man U would jump and try to get him while we would end up with some bull sh*t manager. Jose and Pep Guariola are 2 best in the business.

Well hopefully this will make Jose think about bringing a few players in during the summer. I really hope Ramires get sold. I'd rather have a more attacking right winger than Willian and another GOOD holding midfielder, also maybe sell Oscar to fund a superstar like Pogba or Reus.

i don't feel so disappointed this time around, dunno whether that's cause we probably weren't going to win it this year anyway or because we still have a league title to win.

 

pretty similar feeling to when inter knocked us out in 09-10

 

whether or not it was mourinho's instruction to play like that, fact is, we couldn't string a pass together till it was already too late and even when we did have a tiny opening to maybe get a good chance, someone like ramires would run in with his awful touch and ruin the end of a move.

 

and lol who knows, what if this psg team goes on to win it, could be a similar 'against all odds' story like we did in 2012

Alternatively we could've stuck Zouma in there and basically got the same result.

As it is we lost when Matic went off. Mikel being on the pitch wouldn't have mattered a jot. He wasn't a factor in the game in my opinion when we had more than enough of the ball against 10 men but simply couldn't create anything.

Like I said, I just find it a very strange point to bring up.

A bit daft in my opinion to suggest we lost because Matic was off. Is a game of football now a one man game? Should any of the other players on the pitch be less capable of producing a winning performance in a high stake game?Was the capital one cup won with Matic in the side? If he's so infallible why was he injured or why doesn't he give us a hatrick each game. This one eyed favouritism beggars belief. Like the other poster said we aren't doing what we used to do well without him in the team. Whether coincidence or not I don know but the facts are there for scrutiny. With a supposedly better balanced spine it's going tits up. Why?

JUST REMEMBER, MOURINHO DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYERS WALK FOR 45 MINUTES

That isn't true considering we conceded within two minutes of Zouma coming on. Zouma is clearly a quality player but he is quite obviously not a natural midfielder and his passing isn't anywhere near the standard of Mikel's. Mikel's passing isn't necessarily the most attack-minded (although this season it has been moreso than in the past) but he will make sure we keep the ball, keep the ball moving and allow his teammates to get into decent positions, even if it does mean gradually breaking down the opposition. I don't know why you'd expect him to be a factor in a game he was out injured for, but at the same time I think it is entirely valid to suggest that we miss him.

Even if you don't particularly rate him (and clearly you don't) it is undeniable that we could have used an actual centre mid on the bench with Ramires playing wide and Aké not trusted for this calibre of match.

On the contrary, Mikel is important (not on the level of Terry or Ivanovic but still) at defending set pieces (less so at attacking set pieces although under Mourinho he has generally been in and around the box for free kicks and corners). Defending set pieces is as much about positioning as it is about heading ability, height or athleticism, something Mikel has proven time and again that he is remarkably good at.

Well said. You reason.

Can't agree with that at all.

I know you have been a defender of Mikel for a long time on here so we are never going to agree on him.

I hope he is sold asap and we can bring in someone who can do a job in the middle of the park instead of the minimal impact Mikel gives us.

I don't blame him as a player though, it's not his fault but he really shouldn't be here given he offers so little to us.

Can we bring you in?Or if you're too old your son?

A bit daft in my opinion to suggest we lost because Matic was off. Is a game of football now a one man game? Should any of the other players on the pitch be less capable of producing a winning performance in a high stake game?Was the capital one cup won with Matic in the side? If he's so infallible why was he injured or why doesn't he give us a hatrick each game. This one eyed favouritism beggars belief. Like the other poster said we aren't doing what we used to do well without him in the team. Whether coincidence or not I don know but the facts are there for scrutiny. With a supposedly better balanced spine it's going tits up. Why?

 

Football is not a one-man game, but individuals are important within it.

 

Matic doesn't tend to score goals so if you're looking for his influence it's probably not going to be there.

 

One-eyed favouritism? Of whom? I simply regard him as one of our most important players.

watched the game until ET when I was in my car driving home from work, so feel somewhat qualified to comment

 

no fan likes to see their team play trousers in any game, especially in a last 16 CL  2nd leg at home

but this is football, no team has the guaranteed right to win any match

 

a lot of 'fans' on here IMO are either new (since 90s) or are very, very spoiled, and also obviously live perfect lives

with perfect families and perfect jobs where nothing or nobody is ever in a f**ked up situation - as when our beloved team

f**k up very occasionally like they did yesterday lots of posters want to slate/ fire nearly very player and a global top 5 manager.

What f'ing planet are a lot of you lot living on ?

 

It was never going to be easy replacing an in form/ mid 20s late 20s  SFL or DD, who single handedly won a lot

of the trophies over the last decade between them, we have Jose back  and lets give it all time,

 

p.s. we did win a trohpy just under 2 weeks ago and we are favourites for the prem - so CHIN UP and KTBFFH

JUST REMEMBER, MOURINHO DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYERS WALK FOR 45 MINUTES

Well, in my opinion, he kind of did.

 

Players have always talked about this special relationship they have with him, and because he is such a special manager with such a great reputation, the players obviously listen and do what he tells them at half time. It's happened many times this season where we've been in a commanding position and stopped playing. We battered West Brom for 45 minutes, could have had about 6 goals, then in the second half we walk around and pass it to each other. It's just the way Mourinho is, he wanted us to settle for the 0-0 in the hope that we could hold on and go through or maybe even sneak a goal. He got it wrong and he was very naive, he rarely does get it wrong, but when he does it really is a catastrophe

watched the game until ET when I was in my car driving home from work, so feel somewhat qualified to comment

 

no fan likes to see their team play trousers in any game, especially in a last 16 CL  2nd leg at home

but this is football, no team has the guaranteed right to win any match

 

a lot of 'fans' on here IMO are either new (since 90s) or are very, very spoiled, and also obviously live perfect lives

with perfect families and perfect jobs where nothing or nobody is ever in a f**ked up situation - as when our beloved team

f**k up very occasionally like they did yesterday lots of posters want to slate/ fire nearly very player and a global top 5 manager.

What f'ing planet are a lot of you lot living on ?

 

It was never going to be easy replacing an in form/ mid 20s late 20s  SFL or DD, who single handedly won a lot

of the trophies over the last decade between them, we have Jose back  and lets give it all time,

 

p.s. we did win a trohpy just under 2 weeks ago and we are favourites for the prem - so CHIN UP and KTBFFH

 

I've not seen anyone want to fire Mourinho and some of our players are below par on a consistent basis so it's fair to expect better. 

 

Not sure what supporting a club since the 90s has got to do with it.

He waisted money on the shirts? For something that's not remotely funny, or remotley truthful, well done him, 2-0 springs to mind.

This is why Spurs fans are complete f**king assholes. The photo was captioned "Chelsea fan before and after their match today"

My friend (a Spurs fan) tagged me in this picture on Facebook. This was even after I didn't give him any crap for us beating them in the COC final. It makes me smug knowing that we'll be back in the Champions League next season and they'll miss out on all European competition.

Edited March 12, 201511 yr by Floyd25

One week to recover from 32 weeks worth of gruelling matches?

Sorry but I'm not buying that, these are PROFESSIONAL athletes, no excuses for it. I don't believer there's a single player in our squad that's plsyed every game this year?