Jase

Indeed, he wasn't. Schurrle and Bertrand also went along.

Nuances of Mourinho's tactics save him from 'hypocrite' tag

TBF, having that space behind the defence is fine as long as your entire team presses as a unit effectively over the pitch. The problem like with the case of Bayern yesterday is that their pressing wasn't there and made it easy for Real to catch them out on the counter.

True but I doubt he's genuinely 100% fit and I don't think Mourinho is gonna risk him at all in a game that is gonna be physical, tense and a lot of pressure. It's not exactly a game where we can risk something. And like you alluded to there, Oscar would help the pivot if it's going to be a 4-2-3-1 with him in the No.10 role. Could even count Willian in it.

It's probably going to be a 4-2-3-1. Don't think we have enough options available to play 4-3-3 again.

There's been a few times this season we get posts like those above (no offence) talking Hazard up and ended up nothing happens. Best to just let Hazard play and see how he fares.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2616249/MARTIN-SAMUEL-Its-easy-defend-Jose-Mourinho-The-Chelsea-boss-not-dull-hes-BRILLIANT.html Absolutely brilliant piece from Martin Samuel on Mourinho. Well worth a read! And there's this...

No worries. The Mata-Oscar case was different though. Remember when Mata left the club, there were members here who keep on saying "He's gone. Get over it!" just because others kept on discussing about him and the situation? Then a bit later, people were still talking about Mata in Oscar's thread and comparing the two and that was when I posted the similar thing. I do admit that I did this a few times but it was nothing more than a sarcastic remark since people keep on saying "Get over it!" but yet still talking about him. And it's been awhile now since I last posted such thing. Also, don't get me wrong on the things that Schurrle, Oscar etc said about loving the club, want to stay here for many years etc. It's great to hear the players at the club say that and I like it but maybe I'm just being paranoid or skeptical, I don't believe players 100% (at least not immediately) when they say that. Like I said before, at times it just feels like a PR thing, to get on the good side of fans especially when they just join the club. Otherwise, I have no issues with it.

Real Madrid have steamrolled German oppositions 17-4 on their way to the final..

Well, that's the problem when we know the outcome of the other tie first before we play. Would have preferred if we had played today rather than tomorrow.

Well, that is true but his points were spot on anyway regardless of the similarity between the two managers.

I know we're cool here but please note the differences in the point I was trying to make in that reply to Barbara above rather than buying into that exaggeration made by her, if we are going to get all petty/sensitive about this. And for the last time, that was only the second time I said "wait till he joins United" (the other was on Twitter)!

José Mourinho takes aim at Chelsea's 'philosopher' critics ahead of Atlético tie

A bit off topic perhaps but at least Simeone is not blinded by this debate of playing beautiful football.. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/29/diego-simeone-atletico-madrid-chelsea-tactics

Jose Mourinho reveals Brendan Rodgers personally called him to congratulate Chelsea on Anfield win

John Terry reveals talks with Chelsea and admits he wants to stay 'forever'

If people want to take up to that exaggeration made, then be my guest. It's always quite amusing people take things so seriously on the Internet, even if it's just a (supposed) lame joke.

We have a thread for that... http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/12965-the-european-leagues-competitions-thread-v2/page-285#entry894028 For any threads about non-Chelsea related topics, check out the 'Football Banter' section.

They sure have had a tough time with Jose around this season.

If only we're playing this game tonight rather than tomorrow. Think it feels better knowing the outcome of our game first and then watch the other semi final with a clear/calm mind, like what happened 2 years ago.

That is true but I don't think the media and fans have always gave an easy time just because of his off the field antics for instance and then perhaps they are also quick to write him off just because he hasn't been playing much and all that.

Firstly, like you mentioned there, it's only meant to be a joke. Nothing more and not sure why it's even being taken seriously anyway. And secondly, since when I've gone around saying "Wait till he joins United" or imply player X will pull a Mata on us whenever a player says he loves the club and want to remain here for years? That was like only the second time I said that. If anything, what I meant to say or imply in the past is that, forgive me if I'm being paranoid or skeptical, I don't necessarily trust or believe 100% whenever a player said things about loving the club/want to stay here etc out of the blue even if it's great to hear it. It feels almost like a PR thing at times but that's just me. Other than that, nothing more. Well, can't be bothered to debate about that again.