DI MATTEO A GHOST BUSTER?
Chelsea out to avenge 2009
THE startling parallels between Roberto Di matteo and guus Hiddink have been flattering for Chelsea’s interim manager, thus far. after a dozen games, Di matteo has won nine, drawn two and lost one, exactly the same as Hiddink’s first 12 games at the helm after the Dutchman was parachuted into Stamford Bridge on a rescue mission in 2009. Like Hiddink, Di matteo has led the club into the Fa Cup final and into a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, whereupon he would prefer a different script.
Chelsea went out on away goals to the Catalan side three years ago after a stormy night which featured norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo and ended with Didier Drogba screaming abuse into the lens of a television camera.
‘It is not only bad memories against Barcelona,’ smiled Drogba when encouraged to rewind three years. ‘We have some good memories against Barcelona as well. It’s a 50-50, even if they are said to be the best team in the world and they have the best player in the world. There are two games and anything can happen. It’s going to be tough but we’re ready and the desire to beat them is the same.’
One more distinct difference this year is that Barcelona are firm favourites, having swept all before them since they were last at Stamford Bridge. Three years ago, they arrived in London eight months into Pep guardiola’s first season in charge and were heading out of the competition when andres Iniesta equalised in stoppage time and spun the tie on its head.
Iniesta said: ‘I guess it’s inevitable that goal is being talked about again. It’s good to remember it because it was a special, intense moment — not just for me but for all of us. I’m very proud of that goal and happy to have been able to have that experience. It’s a feeling that is hard to describe.’
Barca went on to beat manchester United in the final in Rome, win the Spanish title and the Spanish Cup, then win FIFA’S Club World Cup later in the year. guardiola has won 13 of 16 competitions entered, Lionel messi matured into the world’s best footballer and that Iniesta goal was the trigger, according to Brazil defender Dani alves.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said: ‘We won’t go looking back to 2009. They’ve moved on and we’ve changed as well. We’re all aware of their strengths. messi is a different player. He was fantastic then but he’s improved.
‘The level he’s taken his game to is something I’ve never seen before. I grew up on maradona, who was my idol as a player, but messi has taken it even further, certainly in his club football. To score 70 goals, which he’ll probably end up with this season, that’s crazy figures. He’s the best player in the world on merit — absolutely unbelievable.’
messi has scored 63 goals this season, smashing all manner of records along the way, and is the single biggest reason why few people give Chelsea a prayer of reaching the Champions League final in munich on may 19.
‘I don’t mind if people write us off,’ said Lampard. ‘everyone has this feeling with Barcelona that they’re going to roll over everyone. When they’re at their best, they can do that.
‘ I’m probably the same. Whenever I watch Barcelona on telly I expect them to win. So it doesn’t worry me that people say we have no chance.
‘There’s not many teams you’d fancy to beat Barcelona over two legs of a semi- final. They’ve shown just how good they are in the last few years. It’s a huge challenge, as big as anyone can take on. But, when you’re coming up against them, you have to believe in yourself and at Chelsea we feel we’ve given them tough games before and we’re ready to do that again. I think we thrive on these games. We’re fit and fresh and ready to go.
‘We can’t show too much fear against them. We have to respect them but we have to take them on and play the way we did at Wembley. If we do that we can give anyone in world football a game, including Barcelona.
‘If we win, it would be one of the biggest victories but it will only put us in the final. It won’t win us the cup.’
Chelsea’s fixture list is congested. The Barcelona game will be the first of eight in 26 days but the players who looked down and disillusioned under andre Villas-boas are thriving, as Sunday’s performance against Spurs at Wembley proved.
‘It was a symbol of Chelsea at our best and people know what we’re all about,’ said Lampard. ‘When we lost away at napoli you could see our season flitting away. all of a sudden, we’re interested in everything.’