The Chels

Hmm the manager has a lot more control than you make out. If Jose wants us to dominate possession against the likes of PSG away then we would clearly see that. If he wants us to press high and create chances by turnovers then we would see that too. It is obvious though that what he wants in the big away games is for us to concede possession, be defensively solid and (usually) play on the counter attack at least until we score. I think those are mostly the right intentions but the tactical execution has been consistently awful with the same mistakes repeated over and over.

Some analysis here: http://www.zonalmarking.net/2015/02/18/psg-1-1-chelsea-psg-dominate-down-the-left/ Think these few quotes sum up Jose's tactics nicely: "Chelsea’s main attacking approach – arguably their sole attacking approach – was relying on Eden Hazard’s pace on the left.""... neither [team] pressed well when they lost possession""The more the game continued, the more it became obvious that PSG were only truly threatening down that left flank."These problems have been evident throughout the season, especially in the big games. No rehearsed or organised counter attacks (instead relying solely on Hazard), poor pressing and our right flank being vulnerable defensively. It's hilariously predictable.

This. Though I'd actually argue that Simeone's defensive organisation is better. His side concede very few clear-cut chances when they park the bus but also create many chances themselves with very clear rehearsed attacking moves, which is the complete opposite of us. The exception is the recent matches against Barcelona, probably the only team capable of breaking through Atleti's 'bus' and only now when they're firing on all cylinders (they failed many times last year). Simeone is not perfect and his tactics for the recent game at Celta Vigo backfired badly but he admitted as much after the game and he always adapts his tactics (usually at half time like he did in the cup against Real or in the league against Barca) when they don't work, trying something new. Jose, meanwhile, has been using the exact same tactics in the big games this season (including when we take the lead) even though they have consistently failed us. Remember our away performance at City last season? It was fantastic but we played them in the FA Cup soon after and Jose used virtually the same tactics. Unsurprisingly they were nullified and he did nothing to change it at half time, just like he did nothing positive at HT against them this year or any other big team - not even against Tottenham when it was needed most. I'd also love to see Jose take some responsibility but he'd rather blame anyone (Hazard/Schurrle, the referee, the ball boys, the press, lack of training) than look at himself. Don't they call Jose 'el semifinalista' in Spain? I've heard many Madrid fans use the term. It is harsh but not so inaccurate.

Because if we cannot maintain a lead against those teams what makes you think we have any chance against the likes of Bayern, Real, Atletico and Barca? If we play like we did today after taking the lead (which seems very likely) then those teams will do more than just equalise and it gives us little chance in the CL. There's also the issue of Tottenham in the COC final - I would not be surprised if we take the lead and then get pegged back. That is always very dangerous given the importance of momentum in finals.

I admire your optimism but sadly do not share it. This season we have taken the lead against City (twice), United, Liverpool (COC), Tottenham and PSG as well as Bradford and Schalke, and ended up winning none of them. Whilst it is inevitable that we (like all big teams) do occasionally drop points from winning positions, most of these matches happen to be big away games and we have thrown away 1-0 leads in the vast majority of them this season. I don't believe that is just coincidence or bad luck. Does that not concern you?

Definitely. He does like to exaggerate a little! Remember his Balotelli story where he said Mario was sent off in the 46th minute when it was actually the 60th

Relying on Courtois/Cech to bail the team out has been a recurring theme lately and that is not a good sign.

You should be happy we did. Our bus is not very good. If we attacked you more then this tie could have been over already.

I don't think people would moan so much at our lack of attacking play in the big games if we were defensively solid and could see a 1-0 out. I certainly wouldn't. When a team of our quality looks shaky defensively and creates virtually nothing going forward (in the majority of our big away games this season) though then I think there are clear tactical issues and people have the right to complain. A 1-1 is a good result but we were extremely lucky to get it and if we play like that against any of the big 3 in Spain (which we will, I have no doubt) it's almost certainly game over.

This straw man argument again. Yes we all want Jose to be completely gung-ho and abandon defending in every big game. There is no such thing as a balanced approach.

I agree that Ivanovic is a defensive liability but it is clearly a tactical decision from Jose for our FBs to drop into the box when the opposition have the ball on the flanks. It means we have more men to defend the incoming cross but it also means that our wingers are often isolated 1v1 (or 2v1) against their players and so we have virtually no chance of stopping the cross. Doubling up on the opponent and preventing the cross from coming in (and thus preventing the attack) with the midfield players dropping into the box instead is surely the most logical solution but Jose seems to think otherwise and we were made to pay for that.

Even Tim Sherwood could have copied Jose's tactics today.

But they conceded only one shot. A poor attacking performance is more understandable when you're defending well (or a poor defensive performance when you're attacking well) but we did neither well and that is a recurring theme for the big games this season.

A few thoughts: We are incapable of holding a 1-0 lead in the big away games so conceding was inevitablePSG easily nullified our outball to IvanovicCosta was clearly very rusty and offered littleOur counter attacking (or any attacking really) was non-existentYou cannot play through the middle against big sides (I don't know why we even try) so we need to make better use of width - Luis could have been very usefulWe were more compact in the midfield than usual which was good to see but looked very vulnerable from wide positions and set-piecesI don't understand why our widemen defend 1v1 and the FB drops into the box. Surely it would be better to double up and prevent the cross coming in because otherwise you're bound to concede chances (their equaliser was an example of this)Great display from Courtois but he should never have to be that involved or make so many saves. When your GK is the MOTM it means you've fucked up defensivelyOverall very good result but a poor performance

Think this Costa performance is expected. He's been out of action for a while after all.

Cahill and Ivanovic both (inevitably) starting. If we concede it will almost certainly be from that side.

It looks like Verratti is pointing at one of his teammates on the pitch rather than Mourinho, no?

Oh yeah, that meant Fabregas was assist denied too. Shame. Love it when the Cesc-Costa combination leads to a goal, not least for the bragging rights it brings

Perhaps it is complacency but I don't really rate PSG much. I expect Zlatan to be anonymous, Cavani to miss a sitter or two, and their midfield to lose possession in dangerous positions (although Lavezzi will probably score and have his one good game of the year against us). Of course form goes out of the window for this game and they will be highly motivated but there are still a lot of weaknesses in their side, not least their susceptibility to being pressed or Blanc's lack of tactical nous. I really think if we take a sensible approach to this game, one where we defend in numbers but not too deep and also with the intention to break at pace and create chances, then it shouldn't be difficult to at least get a score draw. That said we have not been particularly impressive in the big games this season and if we take a more passive approach which allows PSG to have plenty of the ball near our box then it could end up being a lot more difficult than imagined.

Really hope we don't just sit back and play for the draw when we could (should) beat them with not too much difficulty.

City haven't been special in the big games either you're right but people don't tend to look at themselves first when criticising. I take Nasri's comments to mean we haven't performed well in those games. The result have been good, sure. But people tend to remember the performances and I wouldn't expect Nasri to have a great memory or recollection of our games - he's probably thinking of our most recent big matches (vs.Tottenham, Southampton, Liverpool and City). Of course that doesn't excuse the arrogance and immaturity of what he said but I can see why he would think that.

They don't fuck up anywhere near as much and I'm sure they would assist more if they were allowed to play regularly and in their right positions. I agree with you on the last bit - Ivanovic will play every game (even if he isn't fit) although it's not because he's a better FB than Azpi/Luis.

The CL is unforgiving. When the opposition make him pay for his defensive mistakes he won't be allowed the chance to rectify it. If Ivanovic scored every time he fucked up he'd probably be our leading goalscorer by now.

You mean aside from the incredibly awful and brainless decision to try to intercept Gerrard's pass to Moreno (and thus gifting Pool a 1v1), the constant turnovers of the ball in every match especially against City in incredibly dangerous positions, the lapse in concentration to gift Villa an equaliser and the lapse in concentration to allow Lukaku a sitter? That's at least one huge mistake in each of the last four games he's played but he scored a couple and Jose is infatuated with him so he must be one of our best players...

No but I can see why he thinks that. Most (all) of our best performances this season have come against the smaller sides and I doubt he watched many of those matches (he said he's only watched some of our matches, probably the big ones).