MetsajCFC

Listen, the playing-ground is even for everyone more or less. World class footballers are bound to get media attention, its something that comes with the job. We don't see that kind of drama every week do we? - no, because Chelsea was too easy of a target to let Hazard's comments slip. So in a sense, he should have ignored media attention till it all went back to normal again. Media=business, football=business, it's naive to even mention the word "ethics" and "sportsmanship" when it comes to anything related to money. Roughly translated expression from estonian language: "Human is a wolf to another human". I find this whole converstaion un-necessary. My take on this subject is and will be this: Hazard's comments were blown out of porportion but he shouldn't have even had that intervew on that subject giving the timing. Mourinho shouldn't do the same mistake Hazard did - which we now see he has done. I understand Mourinho in a sense that he has to show who is in charge, he is the boss. In his line of work his reputation and his authority is all that matters. Best thing now is to sort this out behind closed doors and move on. Crazy how things have gone so far that people are actually thinking of selling him or having the theoretical possibility up for discussion. Not going to happen.

You're right! Media is a business and there's a saying about it: "Business is business, someone has to take it up the arse"

His mistake was to even take that slippery road and comment on our style of play. By anticipation I meant that he shouldn't be so naive to throw those kinds of statements around, it doesn't matter at all what his exact words were and what he meant by them because you can bet your house those are not the words that will be on the next morning's paper's headlines. PR catastrophe. No he shouldn't have said "Chelsea tika-taka", there are more diplomatic ways of answering provocative questions. I'll give you an example: "Atletico played very well. We had the game in our hands till they scored that goal, which is unfortunate. We're all obviously very disappointed but we'll be back stronger next year" - check any footballer's post match interviews and most of them will be in the lines of that. Diplomatic but without any certain message.

It doesn't even matter what he actually said or meant with his comments. It's about the timing and the reaction it got form the media. It left the club, the manager, fellow players out in the open for the wave of criticism that followed. We are yet again in the media spotlight and for the wrong reasons. As a professional you've got to anticipate things like that, he should have known better.

Spot on

There might be hints of truth in what he says but that's not a way a professional player acts. Comments like these do us more harm than good. You think our own manager-board-fans didn't know that we depend on him? Again, if he ever wants to be in the same class as Messi or Ronaldo or Ronaldinho or Suarez - real super-stars, he has to toughen up and instead of whining up his game. Yesterday he didn't offer much of anything, let along "carry" the team. In fact, we've played rather alright without him, beating PSG, Liverpool in the process. We missed him against "weaker" teams, that's all. He should know the player situation in the club, we were missing important players and we will sign couple of very good players in the summer. He should look into the mirror, because it's his inconsistency to perform that makes Azpilicueta a worthy player of the season. He is our best attacking player but there are just some things you can't say publicly, not because it's necessarily wrong, but its unethical especially giving the timing. Never understood why we get stick for playing brilliantly in defence and clubs like Atletico are being praised. Guess success breeds jealousy.

Deserved victory for Atletico Madrid. Congratulations to any Atletico fan reading this! We never looked dangerous. Absolutely clueless infront of the goal and surprisingly in defence aswell, a day to forget for Cahill and Schwarzer. Hazard went missing in the game, expected much more from him, though he was marked down very tightly, but so are Suarez, Ronaldo, Bale, Messi - if you want to be the best, you've got to be above these situations. Few points: Courtois is a MUST next season, absolute beast. After watching these two games against Atletico, he was nothing but world-class. Cold as ice this player.Torres, Eto'o and Ba all have to go. Time to break this "almost strikers" barrier and get new blood in.Sort out the midfield. I know we missed Lampard, Matic, Mikel but that's hardly an excuse in a big club. Ivanovic is useless in attack, he is a mountain of a man but he just slows us down with his touches and mis-placed crosses.Azpilicueta was my choice for Player of the Season, and keeps proving me right every game. What a buy, what a player.End of the season can't come any sooner. Two games to go.We'll be back stronger next season, no doubts. Good luck to Real Madrid, would love to see Carlo Ancelotti succeed yet again.

Not the end of the world but we look blunt in the final third of their half.

This years final is going to be sweet. Either Madrid derby or Ancelotti's RM vs Mourinho's Chelsea.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9288880/chelsea-keeper-petr-cech-and-defender-john-terry-are-back-in-training Says here that Cech, Terry, Eto'o and Hazard all back in training.

Anfield, Old Trafford, Etihad, Emirates - 0 goals conceded

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/_/name/laliga/id/1756?cc=5739

May he rest in peace. Top manager, top personality

I got the same thought. Every other time we hear this same excuse: "The referee didn't see the incident and there wasn't a written statement in the game-report, thus no retrospective action can be taken", rubbish as always.

Must say though, think the referee did alright. Can't think of any particular situation where he made a wrong call for either side. One thing though was that I think their nr.9 Raul Garcia should have been booked, was fouling constantly..

Was he waving to Chelsea fans? Does he understand English? I know this game was that sort of game where you can't really objectively judge players, especially CF-s, but for me, this game made me want us to sign Cavani even more. This type of games aren't rare for us in the Premier League against defensive line-ups and Costa didn't impress me one bit. Cavani, although missed chances (that weren't easy chances), created them himself with direct running and speed.

Ramires should have been sent off Chelsea should have had a penalty themselves That was NOT a penalty that Dean gave to Sunderland. Azpilicueta didn't make contact, it was Altidore who stepped onto Azpilicueta's legOur finishing is below bar, amateur standards. Ramires just shrugged off from a few yards out, Ba missing a sitter, Eto'o going inches wideTheir goalkeeper had a decent day, made couple of brilliant saves to deny Ivanovic and so onSchwarzer's display should make us appreciate Cech moreWe started brilliantly, why did we turn off after the goal? Beyond me. Aslong as we perform mid-week against Atletico this defeat wasn't for nothing. Our squad is too weak to perform on two fronts with the strikers we have (I'd only keep Eto'o), only proper midfielder we have is Matic and he can't help us in Champion's League. Right back position has to be re-evaluated. Ivanovic just isn't an attacking full back, a liability. I would rather sell Ramires to make funds than Luiz. 2-3 proper signings and we're up there next season. Chin up, upwards and onwards!

They'll be tired and not as sharp following City game surely? Just a couple of days rest.

Amazing, to do that on 86th minute, quality

Wrong thread but, Estadio de Mestella, Valencia

Anyone knows anything new about Hazard's injury?

Exactly, Salah's only 21 and I thought he played good aswell. Very good movement but finishing let him down. Doesn't matter anymore, he's been better than I expected, and again ONLY 21. Great result!

3 points all that matter. Next!