Athletico Pre-match Dressing room: Too long have we had to grow slowly in the shadow of Real and Barcelona (spits on floor) tonight we will make history and defeat the European Champions. We will fight, run and never stop running. For you destiny has come and it is time to grasp it. Make your mothers proud. Chelsea Pre-match Dressing room: OY Gary.....GARY Jeeez you were stonked last night (everyone giggles). Did anyone see me wallet? I think I might have left it in the casino. Nice tan Loopy, I'll be off to the marina before we head home later. Who were those twins you were with during training yesterday? Chelsea don't do pub teams, but if they did they'd probably be the best pub team in the world.
The whole notion of us not being interested in this match is pure fallacy. Prior to the match RDM and some of our players stated that they were up for it and wanted the win. Post match reactions from RDM, Cahill, Cole etc support this too. They were gutted that we lost. There is no way we would have fielded more or less our first choice team if we did not want to win. Pride was a stake here. A large chunk of the world thinks that our CL win was tarnished by the way that we played (I don't agree with that btw). Here was our chance to shut the world up to an extent. Reality is that we were comprehensively trounced. We were played off the park right across the park. My hope is that this was a one-off and that this is not how we will play for the rest of the season when we come up against strong teams. FWIW my observations from last night: Defence was a shambolic ill-disciplined mess. It's all very well having defenders roaming the upper reaches of the pitch to poach goals but if a) they cannot get back in time to counter a break and b) if they do get back and cannot get themselves into reasonable defensive positions quickly then we need to rethink the way our defenders play. It's great to see Ivan/Cahill score goals but I'd rather they and the rest of the defensive part of the team just concentrate on stopping the other team scoring. What has happened to our once legendary defence over the last couple of years is frightening. Defensive midfield: erm shouldn't players in this role be fast, nimble and physical? Why play Frank in this role because fast and nimble he isn't. Sadly the large Essien shaped hole needs filling asap but that is now some way off with the transfer window closed. Maybe Luiz ought to be played in front of the back four? Midfield. Ramires out of position is a waste of a man on the pitch. I was also stunned by how easily our creative due of Mata and Hazard were taken out of the game last night. That doesn't bode well imo. Attack. What attack more like? I really want Torres to do well for us but I am losing faith tbh. We have been at the 'he'll come good' malarky for 18 months now and 'come good' he ain't. He either needs to get it together of ship out mid-season. It's all very well saying he needs service but (and whilst I accept that he is a grafter) if he isn't getting the service that he wants then why doesn't he go get the ball himself and get on with it. I am fed up with seeing him lurking about without the ball at his feet. He may as well have not been on the pitch last night. Bad, bad mistake not getting a decent striker in the transfer window! That will come back and haunt us. RDM - I hope the lad makes it but he is ponderous. When the world was caving in around our ears in the first half he did *uck all. Just sat there on the bench looking thoughtful. Get in the tech' area man and fire the team up. Make some changes. Do something! Half time was too late and the change made merely increased our possession - the goal was lucky and was not due to inspired tactical changes. Finally; if we are wanting to play Barca' like then I suggest we get some more time on the training pitch practising accurate passing etc - the number of times we gave the ball away last night was astonishing. I do not for one minute think that one lousy match does not a bad season make. But last night was a frigging woeful embarrassment. Made worse by the fact that really we were trying - very hard!
