Henrique

Fielding a weak team would be a disgrace. No point in resting the GK. Ivanovic did not play the first leg against Atletico. I see no point in resting him. Cole barely played this season, he should be fresh enough. Oscar was not involved, he should play today. Schwarzer; Cole, Ivanovic, Luiz, Kalas; Matic, Mikel, Lampard, Oscar; Schurle, Ba.

Pathetic.

I think you are wrong, your perspective about football does not feel right to me. I dont think Real were overmatched, having more possession does not mean you are overmatching the oponent. Both team had different strategies, but both were dangerous (Real were even more dangerous). You are only looking at ball posession stats. I believe 90% of the world would disagree about Atlético being confortably better. Actually Atlético is a very limited team in many aspects. They are very solid, but definetely not better, and even if thats the case, its still all up to our tactics, because our squad is way better than Atlético's. And no, the difference was not a matter of Benzema, Ronaldo and Di Maria. We started the match with 4 Defensive Midfielders (Lampard played the whole season as a DM), and one atacking mid playing as a second right back.

As I said, as a liberal I believe Ba should do whataver he wants to, bu it doesnt mean I dont have an opinion about that subject. I dont feel confortable with religious celebration, but its a good thing that people are allowed to do it.

Good for you.

Thats really interesting, and in all of those matches the adversary wasn't really stronger, actually in 05 and again in 07, Chelsea was by far the strongest side, specially in 05, when the difference between Liverpool and Chelsea in PL was almost 40 points.

@Fernando As I said before, only british press and the majority of Chelsea's fans still give a damn for what Mourinho says. He just says what is the best for his team at some point.

I hope you and everyone that liked your post will understand that this comparison does not make sense. Bayern has a ball possession based game (unlike Atlético), despite defending for most part of the game, Real still were VERY dangerous in the counter, while we barely really created any chances. Real had 9 attempts, 7 on target (Neuer made some good defenses while Curtois was only a passenger), while we had 5 attempts and 3 on target. Its pretty hard to imagine Real having the same tactics facing Atletico.

I dont think we played same football type. Two completely different matches.

I dont see any kind of tik-taka in Bayern game, they are a completely different animal when compared to Barcelona. They play a lot more with their wingers and full backs, and they try a lot more aerial balls. They just have a possession based game, but I just think the tiki-taka thing became an overused word these days. But I agree about the rest. You don't need to be ultra-conservative. There are many ways to win a match, you dont't have to decide between being ultra-defensive or having a possession based game. Real Madrid and Chelsea had completely different strategies. While Real was there to win in the counter attack, it was clear Mourinho wanted a 0-0 from the beginning.

Today is the day for weird topics: -Is Chelsea the most hated club? -Do you say us or we? -Just got banned from Liverpool's forum (why a Chelsea fan was in a Liverpool forum in first place?) I think I might just open a new one: -Do you say Jose, Mourinho, Jose Mourinho or Special One?

No. Mourinho is the most hated manager in the world. Everybody loved Chelsea last season with beautiful game from Hazard, Oscar and Mata.

I have to adimit I'm not a big fan of his celebrations. Actually I dont like any kind of celebration related with any kind of religion. Interesting article about the subject: http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2292/editorials/2009/07/07/1368862/goalcom-worldview-is-there-a-place-for-religious-celebrations-in- I'm ultra-liberal, so Ba does whatever he want to, but whe the team is trying to celebrate with him, he is praying, that does not look right to me, just like I have to admit I feel uncofortable when braziliam players are wearing "Jesus" shirts while representing Brazil (Lucio even lift the 09 Conf. Cup trophy with a Jesus shirt, and the players prayed after the match like they were in a rligious convention). Religion is a very sensitive subject, while football is a global game. Imo as long as you are on the pitch, there is only one purpose there: win and win.

I agree, but that online does explain why one is better than the other one.

I predict him to have some chances in the beginning of the next season, then sitting on the bench after some poor peformances. Going on loan 2015/16 season to take more experience, then who knows whats gonna happen next. You are right about the comparision between both players, but why someone is sayin Salah is better option than Schurle? It seems you did not get the point of my reply.

Just one more for another UCL final. Its really unbelievable how close we are. Real Madrid or Bayern, I really can't see us losing the final, Mourinho won't lose a UCL final. Even if we lose, we get stronger as team. Those moments are very important for a team as a whole. But...I dont think the result was GREAT. We all know the team biggest problem: unable to create enough chances even when players like Hazard, Willian, Orcar and Schurle are on the pitch. Atletico defensive system is just amazing. If they score one single goal, tie is over. I really cant see us scoring 2 while they are parking the bus (no doubt they will park the bus if they score first). Mourinho wont play this ultra defensive football again, Atletico will have more space to score.

About Mourinho interviews: I realized a while ago that it seems only british press and the majority of Chelsea's fans still take it serious.

Mikel is on my list. I forgot about Lampard, he definitely will be playing instead of Van Ginkel.

More reasonable squad would be this one: Hilario; Ake, Kalas, Ivanovic; Mikel, Matic, Van Ginkel, Ashley Cole; Oscar, Schurle, Salah; Torres. Not only what is needed in terms of preserving our players for what is left to fight for (PL dream is dead in the water, and we probably will end up in 3rd position even we win at Anfield), but Jose would get more attention for one very important subject: PL just don't care about what the clubs are doing in international level. While in Spain and Germany they are helping their clubs in those situations, PL seems to ignore it. Fielding a very weak team in such important game (for City and Liverpool) would be a indication that PL needs to make some changes in order to stay relevant in the long term. My observation: its probably whats on Mourinho's mind. Atletico will be playing Valencia away from home hours laters in the same day we face Liverpool. Another nonsensical complaining from The Special One.

For me its clear some players wont be playing this one. Lampard, Mikel and JT out of action, we are running out of options in key positions, since Matic is not able to play in UCL: -Luiz will be rested, he is our only DM available for the 2nd leg. -Playing any of our defenders would be as insane as well. Azi, JT and Ivanovic are playing game after game, at the end of the season its not difficult to get injured, or they might get into the CL game too tired and with more chances of getting injured during that game. Since Ivanovic did not play yesterday, he is the only that might play. I'm sure both Cahill and Azi would be rested, specially Cahill. We dont have more options to replace him, the only one is Luiz, but that would leave with no one to hold the midfield. Cole will play against Liverpool to get more playing time. He needs it. -Ramires would be rested as well. Mourinho gave huge clues that he pretends to field a VERY weak team, otherwise there would be no reason to ask for Roman's permission or something like that.

For me he is better as mid than as a cb. Playing as a cb I dont feel as confortable as with Terry+Cahill.

Against Swansea, when he left in the HT Comp. passes stats was about 90%. There is no villains. You are watching too much B movies.

I agree about Schurle, he probably has no more than 5 good games, but about Salah, I dont think he was a necessary signing, and I think Schurle is a better player, and I if Schurle had "like 3 good games" as you said, how many good games Salah had for us?

To be honest I don't even know what those people are talking about, probably just one of the random things that happened during the game, but somehow egypt fans are making it a big deal. Disgusting. I have to admit it makes a bit difficult to have more sympathy for Salah. About his performance, I think its unbelievable how the british press love the mediocrity, saying William was one of the best on the pitch, or eve brilliant. In tactical terms he was perfect, playing more as a full back than a midfield or winger, but he was just okay, and the team as whole was just okay, I don't think we saw any kind of individual brilliant performance from both sides.

I think he would put the weakest team as possible, not only to preserve the players for the second leg, but as protest against FA. Hilario; Ake, Kalas, Ivanovic; Mikel, Matic, Van Ginkel, Ashley Cole; Oscar, Schurle, Salah; Torres.