Madsear's Guide to the Champions League
(Due to some sort of screw-up, undoubtedly my own, this preview post is unfortunately going up while the match in question is actually on the pitch - my apologies... Large)
Manchester v. Milan turned out to be one of the most enjoyable games of the year with the Mancunians taking the lead in the final seconds of the game. They will be in the very uncomfortable position of having to win again in San Siro next Wednesday. But a win is always good at this point. The second semi-final will feature old acquaintances.
Chelsea v. Liverpool
José Mourinho and Rafaël Benitez used to be quite fond of one another. That period is long gone. The mutual admiration turned into hatred between the two coaches two years ago at the same stage of the competition when Rafa's Boys gave Chelsea a lesson in teamwork (even though Luis Garcia's goal was more than questionnable and was bound to spark some controversies). A new rivalry was born in the Premiership and that will give this first leg a peculiar taste.
Aside from Luis Garcia and Harry Kewell, everybody will be reporting for duty at Stamford Bridge tonight on The Reds side. That won't be the case for Chelsea. Robben and Ballack won't be there and UM's homie Essien is suspended. Chelsea's midfield will suffer but Makelele and Diarra definitely will be up to the task.
England just lost Alan Ball, one of their 66' World Cup Winners and no doubt, there will be some emotion in London tonight.
Manchester v. Milan turned out to be one of the most enjoyable games of the year with the Mancunians taking the lead in the final seconds of the game. They will be in the very uncomfortable position of having to win again in San Siro next Wednesday. But a win is always good at this point. The second semi-final will feature old acquaintances.
Chelsea v. Liverpool
José Mourinho and Rafaël Benitez used to be quite fond of one another. That period is long gone. The mutual admiration turned into hatred between the two coaches two years ago at the same stage of the competition when Rafa's Boys gave Chelsea a lesson in teamwork (even though Luis Garcia's goal was more than questionnable and was bound to spark some controversies). A new rivalry was born in the Premiership and that will give this first leg a peculiar taste.
Aside from Luis Garcia and Harry Kewell, everybody will be reporting for duty at Stamford Bridge tonight on The Reds side. That won't be the case for Chelsea. Robben and Ballack won't be there and UM's homie Essien is suspended. Chelsea's midfield will suffer but Makelele and Diarra definitely will be up to the task.
England just lost Alan Ball, one of their 66' World Cup Winners and no doubt, there will be some emotion in London tonight.
11 Comments:
I should have put it up when it was ready, last night instead of waiting til this morning.
Not at all, MS - I was asleep at the wheel. But now I'm curious to hear everyone's breakdown, in that I finally found the time in the middle of my day to watch one of these matches.
well Unsilent asked us not to spoil it for him since he's recording it and may not have watched it yet.
Aight, aight. I'll wait.
THE CELERY IS FLYING IN THE UNSILENT MANSION!!!
Drogba was sublime, Carvalho is a gamer, and Peter Čech is a god in a protective skullcap.
Those Liverpudlians are buried
WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
but do I dare cheer for Man U? I hate Milan almost as much and I'd love the Blues to have a shot at the triple domination.
Man U will still advance with a draw in the San Siro, so they just need to score 4.
And Liverpool isn't dead yet, Chelsea should've scored more and I could see that biting them in the ass, especially if Liverpool score early.
I found myself standing outside fulham broadway station last night, waiting for a friend as what seemed like upwards of a million Chelsea fans descended on the ground. One thing amazed me. Of all of the people wearing Chelsea shirts (90%) or so NOT ONE had Drogba's?? (no Ballack either) all terry and Lampard, far as the eye could see. Was very strange.
Drogba's the best player in the world at the minute. No matter what anybody says. And last night's game showed how much he's important in his team. It was one of the only game this year with one man playing against an entire team.
As for jerseys, the only Chelsea ones selling here are makelele, Essien and Didier. No one could be caught dead wearing a Lampard jersey.
Drogba is the best pure forward in the world right now, no doubt.
Peeps should be looking to pick up Mikel jerseys. He's already tight at 20.
zarko, yesterday they said he was 19. I guess the commentators didn't get his birthday party Evite.
I rock my Essien all the time, sadly it's got a small stain underneath the Samsung logo. Mikel is definitely on my list of jerseys to buy after Didier.
Claude's too old and he always pisses me off when he's playing for France...Diarra on the other hand...
Claude's job is to piss off everyone who's not rooting for him.
But Makelele is the reason why Madrid hasn't won a champions league since 2002 and why they were so eager to get either Essien or Diarra two years ago.
With an ounce of chauvinism, I believe most world-class defensive midfielders and centre backs have something to do with france ever since we won the world cup with Petit, Deschamps, Desailly, Vieira and Blanc. We changed defensive organisation in football and I believe it was for the worse.
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