Champions League Thread

[Rmpr 8,977]

I think Courtois will play simply because it is the right thing to do...

It is harsh to deny him this opportunity and there is also an enormous potential hypocrisy involved. He isnt good enough to be in the team, but he is good enough to stop us from advancing?

People acting like it would be an "extremely unlikely scenario" just dont know a shit of what they are talking about and how this club works!

EDIT: I am not saying he will definitely play or that I want him to play, but the possibility of us allowing him to play is very realistic and last year's Supercup is a good example...

[Reddish-Blue 2,505]

No comment on the clause yet. Both Buck and Gourlay have said he can play.....if they pay the pre-agreed fee???

How much is the "fee"?

Why don't they just lower the Costa fee for us? Win-win situation

[The only place to be 11,313]

How much is the "fee"?

Why don't they just lower the Costa fee for us? Win-win situation

£5 million apparently.

And that is something club president Enrique Cerezo maintains they cannot do.

“It’s a number we can’t afford to pay,” he said. “The problem is whether he can play or not if we come up against Chelsea. It could be that he cannot, the contract is the contract.”

I think Courtois will play simply because it is the right thing to do...

In your opinion.

Say tomorrow Eden Hazard decided he wanted to play in Paris. It would make him happy. Should we just release him because it would be a nice thing to do?

Or should we, I don't know, enforce contracts and keep grown men to their words?

[Rmpr 8,977]

In your opinion.

Say tomorrow Eden Hazard decided he wanted to play in Paris. It would make him happy. Should we just release him because it would be a nice thing to do?

Or should we, I don't know, enforce contracts and keep grown men to their words?

What an absolute dumb analogy!

And apparently, it is not only my opinion. It is the board's opinion as well...

[The only place to be 11,313]

What an absolute dumb analogy!

And apparently, it is not only my opinion. It is the board's opinion as well...

No, the board have said he can play. They haven't referred to the clause at all, although the clause also allows him to play so long as they pay the pre-arranged fee.

You may think it's a dumb analogy but I'm just pointing out that in the grown-up world contracts should be adhered to otherwise what's the point in signing them in the first place?

Atletico gained access to a top keeper and all they had to do was agree to this one clause. It may not be romantic but if it helps us advance and win a trophy like this then why on Earth wouldn't we enforce it? If they decide to play him then we should declare the contract null and void and bring him back immediately, hopefully fucking up Atletico's chances in the league as well.

But I'm a malicious cunt sometimes.

[Amblève. 4,995]

Courtois CAN play, here's the UEFA's statement (not sure whether it has been posted or not yet).

http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administration/news/newsid=2088774.html

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I wouldn't be surprised the game if the game is played almost entirely in the midfield since both teams have similar style of play.

[kobematabryant 400]

It would be a scum move if we disallowed Courtois playing in the semi finals, assuming if his eligibility to play depended on us.

[Amblève. 4,995]

DP

[Muzchap 8,966]

Fuck the UEFA statement - there's a contract in existence willingly entered into by both parties.

Unless UEFA are going to recompense Chelsea - they can say what the fuck they like - they have no jurisdiction over the matter.

On another note...

Latest reports suggest Diego Simeone is taking the tie very seriously and has already been in contact with Tony Pulis for tips. Paul Lambert remains on speed dial.

[Strike 7,489]

if we drew bayern, i think we could have mugged them with a goal on the counter but Atletico work hard and are defensively aware. this will be tight

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Courtois CAN play, here's the UEFA's statement (not sure whether it has been posted or not yet).

www.uefa.org/about-uefa/administration/news/newsid=2088774.html

What the fuck! What about the contract? They have no right to interfere in a contract.

[Strike 7,489]

it's sad that the whole thibaut courtois stuff is making the headlines instead of the semifinal game. hopefully, there is a decision soon on that

[Hutcho 8,443]

In an ideal world Courtois plays. He does really well, but we win.

But this is a very tough game, despite it is probably the best draw we could have hoped for. And i wonder if the people saying it would be wrong for us to not try and enforce the no play (well for money anyway) clause in his contract would still be saying that if it goes to penalties. Because to be perfectly honest i think Courtois > Cech at saving pens.

IMO, its simple. We want the best chance of getting to the final. And regardless of how you rate Courtois and Cech, Courtois is a lot better than their number 2 and we want to try and get as big of an edge as possible. No point looking at this as Courtois being a chelsea player so we should let him play because its fair or whatever as at the end of the day he won't be wearing a chelsea shirt in the semi finals.

But anyway It's looking like its irrelevant as UEFA has stepped in.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Also he shouldn't play because its a major conflict of interest.

And that goes both ways, not just if he makes some crucial saves to put us out. But what if he makes an error in the 92nd min to put us through or something. Talk about the controversy and uproar.

[Toli 977]

Two superstitions clashing in this tie

We are going to win this CL because we are the only English team left and last year's final was in England.

But Atletico too is going to win this CL because last 5 teams that beat Barcelona went on to win the whole thing.

Let's see which one is stronger

It's a good draw just for the fact that the press circus will be tolerable, imagine the hoopla about Mourinho vs Real or Mourinho va Pep? It would have overshadowed everything going on on the pitch. At least with Atletico everyone can concentrate on football itself.

And they can be beaten. They are good in attack - but PSG was good too. But their defense is suspect.

actually, its the opposite. their defense is their strength. godin is awesome, filipe luis ist awesome, juanfran is playing great and miranda is also doing a good job. gabi, koke and thiago also do a very good job and we dont need to talk about Courtois. Futhermore their pressing is incredible.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Here's the UEFA Statement - I have added my comments underneath.

In response to media reports referring to the situation of Club Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, UEFA would like to reiterate its position.

ME: Go for it - nothing like grabbing a bit of publicity

The integrity of sporting competition is a fundamental principle for UEFA.

ME: Yeah, pull the other one...

Both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match.

ME: Well to enforce that - they would need to be privvy to 'loan' discussions. This statement is ridiculous and basically could be easily challenged by anybody who is fielding a 'loaned' player in a UEFA competition. This is not enforceable - it's jut their rhetoric

It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as UEFA is concerned.

ME: LOL - as far as UEFA is concerned... Meaningless..

Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly.

ME: Really? This is such rubbish - there's no 'existing' provision that they have which applies to this scenario. UEFA are ridiculous - they should just say 'Loaned Players' cannot play against the Loaning Team. What happens if we beat AM - and then they say the GK threw the game - where's the provisions to stop that? This whole scenario is a mess and UEFA are incompetent fucking idiots.

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

Fuck, I really didn't want to face them. Hoping for the best but it will be a dog fight.

And surprise surprise, UEFA trying to fuck us

[Amblève. 4,995]

I think you people don't understand... in every jurisdiction there's a private autonomy which allows members of this jurisdiction to freely decide on certain contents of a contract but if these contents (in this case a fee that Atletico apparently would have to pay so that Courtois could play) exceed the autonomy they're simply invalid. If anything it's embarrassing that our board didn't know about this.

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

Just a question. Seriously what difference will it have on Chelsea if the kid plays or not? Yeah I would love them to pay the price in the agreement for it. But let us assume they can't? What impact with him playing have on our game and chances of advancing to the final?