Playing against Sunderland on Saturday felt like taking on a team with an extra man and Chelsea could not deal with it, interim manager Guus Hiddink admitted. The much-travelled Dutchman claimed his players could not cope with the support generated by a sold-out Stadium of Lightwho roared their team to a 3-2 victory. “The noise, it felt like a 12th man for Sunderland,” said Hiddink. “My Chelsea players are used to playing in very big atmospheres but this one was not hostile, just very loud and supportive of the home team. But my players are experienced and they should have coped with it better than they did. “Of course, you could see Sunderland felt the energy from the crowd and fed off it. Plus, we allowed them to stay in the game when we should have killed it off in the first half when we were on top. “The fans made them a little bit more energetic in the second half when the game should have been over.” Perennial Champions League qualifiers Chelsea have been out of contention for silverware since they were knocked out of the FA Cup in March. Their biggest remaining incentive is to finish this season in the top half, whereas Sunderland went into the game in the Premier League relegation zone, and unsurprisingly looked the hungrier “Perhaps that was a bit the case, yeah,” said Hiddink. “They certainly wanted it. But when you saw us playing in the first half, you would not have said that. “Sunderland maybe had three chances or perhaps four and they materialised. You could see they wanted it desperately. “Of course, we wanted to win as well. But you could see a little lack of sharpness from us, especially in our finishing.” Nemanja Matic, who put his side 2-1 up seconds before the half-time whistle, agreed that Sunderland’s greater desire had held sway. “We played the first half not very well, but OK,” he argued, “good enough to score two goals. But in the second half we did not score a third one and they wanted to win the game more than us. They showed that. “They deserved to win. I am not happy to say that, but they deserved it. “They are in a situation to fight to survive and they showed that. Congratulations to them and I wish them all the best because they showed they want to stay in Premier League.”
Some nice words said there. I wish I could get up for Wednesday night, if we win the atmosphere is going to be immense.
Aye same again, get them fired up and get the win. I'm expecting the same atmosphere and it having even more of an effect on a wobbling Everton. The key is to support and make a racket even when we go behind.
BSA will do his upmost to get them revved up for this, I do also believe that because of the way in which we won on Saturday it will be still very, very fresh in their minds and they will be hungry. Also linked with if we win then we stay up has to count massively in their mind-set.
I hope this puts this crap to bed that I often hear regarding all seater stadiums being responsible for poor atmospheres...It has everything to do with the people regardless of whether you sit or stand..
I still find it easier to hit the deep baritone sounds standing up. Alright with the countertenor notes sitting down tho. My throat is still sore today after cheering the lads on on Saturday. Hoping its sore again after Wednesday cheering the lads on to 3 points.
