Closed Benfica 0-1 Chelsea

[brunodiaslb 28]

I'm only being disrespectful because you are doing the same. I have great respect for all football teams, don't be so naive to consider me otherwise. The only reason you think Chelsea fans are being arrogant is because you are angry by the propagandist bullshit your media has been spreading about Drogba. As for saying we can't compare with you because you have won two Champions Leagues, that counts for nothing, because that was 50 years ago. I am not being disrespectful, I am saying the absolute truth - we deserved to win on Tuesday, if you can't admit that then you are too biased to be a true football fan. Benfica disappointed me, because I know they are a better side than what we saw on Tuesday. I hope you perform better on Wednesday.

I thought your coach got your tactics wrong as well. You needed to attack more, there was one period in the second half where you played well and caused us a lot of problems, but other than that I didn't see a lot to make me worried. Our biggest fear now is overconfidence because I expect you will score at Stamford Bridge.

As for your point, you are absolutely right. This is the worst Chelsea team in 10 years, but football works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? We know that we are a shit side, but we also know we played better than Benfica did, which speaks volumes about how badly your side performed on Tuesday night. You froze in the big occasion.

We are not being arrogant, we know our side is poor. We're just excited that this year of all years, after all the shit we've endured, that we could make something amazing out of absolutely nothing!

No bad feelings, I hope. I apologise if I seemed rude, but I really wasn't. I always say things as I see them, that's the sort of guy I am. I am highly opinionated.

No worries mate, I agree with you in certain points, I really don't think that you played better than us, the right result was a draw but this is football. And then we have the JT's hand that could change many things. But it's right that now we are poorest than 2/3 months ago but that is just because our coach doesn't rotate the team and the are super fatigated, now we have the most important games of the season against Chelsea, Braga and Sporting Lisbon and all in 1/2 weeks and the players will not be 100% but I am proud for Benfica reach to the quarters and last year the semi's of Europa League because the two last decades were too bad for us because some presidents steal Benfica and we are now standing up again, in a few years we could be in the top again

[capriccioso 2,545]

Sorry if I sounded arrogant as well. This was based on the game. If we, probably the slowest team in England, outpaced your defenders regularly, Napoli, with their super quick strikers, would have gotten in behind your defenders many more times than we did.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

LOL, hope you don't change opinion in next game, I don't consider we are a top team from Europe, we are a good team, we don't have Abramovich that could spend millions, we buy players who anyone doesn't know and then every top teams want them for millions, we do a great job with our orçament, we don't spend 15M for a coach and then we dismissed him, by the way we have 2 CL in the 60's, so you can't even comparate, if you are much better and a top team why you are 5 in the EPL and playing with a poor football style? I just prefer United because they doesn't spend millions with top players, they buy good players and Sir Alex make them top players like the example for the portugueses Nani and Ronaldo, I really don't want to critizise anyone but some of you are so disrespect to Benfica that make that you don't deserve to pass, we are humbles and respect all the teams we fight against, I really like Chelsea but this year I don't see them with a top team like 2008.

Listen buddy, I think you are making a mistake here. Hardly anyone's disrespecting Benfica. We're all just excited because we have an away goal, and have the prospect of facing a big team in the next round. We know the tie is far from over. So chill...

[Santiago. 1,500]

I'm only being disrespectful because you are doing the same. I have great respect for all football teams, don't be so naive to consider me otherwise. The only reason you think Chelsea fans are being arrogant is because you are angry by the propagandist bullshit your media has been spreading about Drogba. As for saying we can't compare with you because you have won two Champions Leagues, that counts for nothing, because that was 50 years ago. I am not being disrespectful, I am saying the absolute truth - we deserved to win on Tuesday, if you can't admit that then you are too biased to be a true football fan. Benfica disappointed me, because I know they are a better side than what we saw on Tuesday. I hope you perform better on Wednesday.

I thought your coach got your tactics wrong as well. You needed to attack more, there was one period in the second half where you played well and caused us a lot of problems, but other than that I didn't see a lot to make me worried. Our biggest fear now is overconfidence because I expect you will score at Stamford Bridge.

As for your point, you are absolutely right. This is the worst Chelsea team in 10 years, but football works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? We know that we are a shit side, but we also know we played better than Benfica did, which speaks volumes about how badly your side performed on Tuesday night. You froze in the big occasion.

We are not being arrogant, we know our side is poor. We're just excited that this year of all years, after all the shit we've endured, that we could make something amazing out of absolutely nothing!

No bad feelings, I hope. I apologise if I seemed rude, but I really wasn't. I always say things as I see them, that's the sort of guy I am. I am highly opinionated.

I don't, long may they continue choking it

[Kojo 4,676]

So many people just talk shit, Chelsea didn't play well and they had lucky because we have Emerson and Jardel in the left side and Torres wants to cross to far post and cross to Kalou. John Terry and Mikel can play with hands that nothing happens, Luiz stop a goal from Cardozo, Cech did well and nothing more, in the next match Benfica will be much more offensive and you don't think that would be easy, you have a very poor team for someone who wants to win de CL or the PL, many of you think that you are better than you really are. Just saying...

Bitter much?

[zolayes 14,489]

So many people just talk shit, Chelsea didn't play well and they had lucky because we have Emerson and Jardel in the left side and Torres wants to cross to far post and cross to Kalou. John Terry and Mikel can play with hands that nothing happens, Luiz stop a goal from Cardozo, Cech did well and nothing more, in the next match Benfica will be much more offensive and you don't think that would be easy, you have a very poor team for someone who wants to win de CL or the PL, many of you think that you are better than you really are. Just saying...

oh the return of the tosser ....how was your last prediction??? oh yes Chelsea were going to get destroyed ...What a PRIZE PLONKER you are Rodney

[Kojo 4,676]

LOL, hope you don't change opinion in next game, I don't consider we are a top team from Europe, we are a good team, we don't have Abramovich that could spend millions, we buy players who anyone doesn't know and then every top teams want them for millions, we do a great job with our orçament, we don't spend 15M for a coach and then we dismissed him, by the way we have 2 CL in the 60's, so you can't even comparate, if you are much better and a top team why you are 5 in the EPL and playing with a poor football style? I just prefer United because they doesn't spend millions with top players, they buy good players and Sir Alex make them top players like the example for the portugueses Nani and Ronaldo, I really don't want to critizise anyone but some of you are so disrespect to Benfica that make that you don't deserve to pass, we are humbles and respect all the teams we fight against, I really like Chelsea but this year I don't see them with a top team like 2008.

Bro why you getting so mad?, we were a better side than you before we got the money. No need to get mad, you could kick our arse on the 2nd leg i wouldn't go on a benfica forum and start getting so mad and calling the club names and disrespecting it. Our history record isn't strong, especially in europe, but in the league our records in matches and league finishes have been quality, but no one takes them into account it's just trophies, trophies, trophies. We know our team is incredibly shit, that was actually a good game for us because the team is just awful. How on earth we beat Napoli 4-1 i'll never know. But that doesn't mean we can't be proud of our team, and you'd be the exact same. Yes it was a penalty for you, we've been cheated out aswell you know, ever watched the Chelsea Vs Barca a few years ago?. To be fair we were the better team don't deny it, our chances were much better, and that's that. But it's not over yet, you can still beat us. So stop whining and getting bitter.

We beat Napoli 4-1, when they 3-1 up on aggregate, they must of been gutted and gob smacked, did you get one of them coming on here sprouting shit like you just have?, no you mo fucking didn't.

[Madmax 9,219]

Some of the Benfica guys coming over here are real tossers.

[pachman40 357]

Some of the Benfica guys coming over here are real tossers.

Some Chelsea fans are real tossers too, but I don't let that influence how I feel about the club in general. Benfica fans are proud and sometimes a little too defensive, but the club itself is respectful, storied, and nothing to look down at the way some Chelsea fans and most British fans do. Its hard to stay classy when people dismiss us simply cuz of the league we play in. I hate Porto with a passion but I still give them a lot of respect for what they've done in Europe recently, and even they don't get the respect they deserve for their accomplishments. Frustrating, but I'm still enjoying myself. Cheers!

[shellpick 13]

Hopefully the next round against Benfica Torres can be the striker on the match because he is faster. I love Drogba more than Torres but honestly he can not be so fast. Since we have an away goal, Benfica will play a attack style and it is a good time to strike back with fast players. Maybe Ramirez and Sturridge will contribute a lot.

[pachman40 357]

Getting back to the match.... we're having a couple of interesting discussions on the portuguese forums regarding how we approach not only the second leg of the Chelsea tie but also the fixture congestion we have. We all know that Chelsea has a crazy couple of weeks and that forced a lot of the rotation / starting choices last game by RDM. The fortunate part for Chelsea is that there is depth everywhere and when Ferreira, Kalou, Mikel, even Torres come in they are strong enough and more importantly hungry enough so that the team's level doesn't fall off drastically. At Benfica, we have to be honest and say that we don't have the same depth. We have to play our strongest 11 most every game with some flexibility in the attacking side. Our defense and mids have no depth and flexibility whatsoever. That's why you saw a substitution like Matic coming in forcing Witzel to play out of position on the wing where he has zero influence. That's also why Jardel got a sniff of the field when he deserves to be nowhere near it. Anyways, that's Benfica's problem to have and Chelsea's problem to exploit.

To give some perspective here, Benfica are fighting for the title, 2 points behind Braga and 1 point behind Porto. The league title is our highest priority since its the most realistic. Nobody in Portugal believe there's a chance in hell to win the CL so we have to balance things. We play Braga on Saturday in a game that can make or break our season. Then comes the Chelsea second leg followed by another huge game against Sporting in the league. We also have the league cup final coming up where we had to beat Porto in the semis within the last couple of weeks to advance.

We are doing all this without the flexibility we would like to rotate the squad. Therefore we have to pick our battles and I think the team is getting tired and worn out. This is not an excuse since its Benfica's responsibility to maintain a deep squad that can fight on 3 fronts at once. So now comes the question for Benfica, do we leave it all out on the field and fight tooth and nail against a very strong Braga team and just let the chips fall against Chelsea? I think that will be the strategy and I think Chelsea will benefit from that mentality. If we lose to Braga on Saturday though then we'll have to put everything out there on Wednesday. For us its all about whether or not we win the league since we won't finish worse than 3rd and we'll have Champions League next season. Huge game Saturday which will impact our philosophy for Wednesday.

Chelsea, from where I'm sitting, are going to push all-in on Wednesday knowing that 4th is unlikely and knowing that winning the CL might me the only way to get in next season. As a Chelsea fan, its a positive scenario that will prevent complacency and over-confidence in the team. I don't have a good feeling as a Benfica fan going into the second leg, but if we pop in a quick goal in the first 15 mins then all of a sudden its advantage Benfica. We'll know more after Saturday's game what kind of strategy Benfica will use, until then its not worth speculating.

Pulling my blue shirt on for a minute, I hope we come out guns blazing on Wednesday and take the game to Benfica, that's the key to victory and advancing. Sitting back and playing on the counter once again is only inviting danger. Come on blues!!!! ......Pulling my Benfica shirt back on, I'm hoping for a big win Saturday so that our focus returns to the league, although that will likely be at the expense of the CL.

[Madmax 9,219]

Some Chelsea fans are real tossers too, but I don't let that influence how I feel about the club in general. Benfica fans are proud and sometimes a little too defensive, but the club itself is respectful, storied, and nothing to look down at the way some Chelsea fans and most British fans do. Its hard to stay classy when people dismiss us simply cuz of the league we play in. I hate Porto with a passion but I still give them a lot of respect for what they've done in Europe recently, and even they don't get the respect they deserve for their accomplishments. Frustrating, but I'm still enjoying myself. Cheers!

You yourself have been decent but some have come on here ranting about a perceived slight by Drogba, failing to see reason. A vast majority of the members here have tried to calm things down but to no avail. Then there are posts accusing us of being disrespectful and belittling Benfica while all we're doing is celebrating an excellent - and unlikely - result. You'd be doing the same were you in our shoes. We've had a mightily frustrating season and we have every right to rejoice when things go our way. Celebrating a good first leg result doesn't equate to an automatic semifinal place and people here, myself included have been at pains to point out that it's only half time in the tie. Yet when posters keep banging on about perceived insults, it gets a little tedious, that's all.

Glad you're enjoying yourself btw, it's what the forum is for. Hope for a cracking return leg at the Bridge.

[Strike 7,478]

Some Chelsea fans are real tossers too, but I don't let that influence how I feel about the club in general. Benfica fans are proud and sometimes a little too defensive, but the club itself is respectful, storied, and nothing to look down at the way some Chelsea fans and most British fans do. Its hard to stay classy when people dismiss us simply cuz of the league we play in.

This is a forum. Argue all you like but don't fight...Benfica might not suck but they did play shit.... u can say jt handball, luiz cleared off the line, all u like but the bottom line was both teams played shit but chelsea executed its plans tactically.....and this being a chelsea forum, sometimes celebrations of a win go over the top but in no way are v disregarding benfica (u scored twice at old trafford, for gods sake)

[Steve 10,227]

[Drogzola 283]

So many people just talk shit, Chelsea didn't play well and they had lucky because we have Emerson and Jardel in the left side and Torres wants to cross to far post and cross to Kalou. John Terry and Mikel can play with hands that nothing happens, Luiz stop a goal from Cardozo, Cech did well and nothing more, in the next match Benfica will be much more offensive and you don't think that would be easy, you have a very poor team for someone who wants to win de CL or the PL, many of you think that you are better than you really are. Just saying...