UCL Draw Thread

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

2 minutes ago, Cosmin said:

Hope we'll play against them like we did against Atletico in the first leg.

We need Hazard and Morata to be 100% up for this tie.

Not to be negative or anything but there's no way that's going to happen. Barcelona and Altetico are nothing alike. As I'm sure you know, Barcelona are great at dominating the ball. 

 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Realistically speaking I give us like a 30% chance of winning the tie max. I'm expecting a lot of blind optimism posts akin to what I saw about our transfer window last summer. Unfortunately such posts have little to do with reality. 

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

WTF 

[cfcs most wanted 657]

If we manage to get a wing back and possibly a midfielder we are good to go. There are always gonna be some problems with the team, but we have to work it with the squad we have got. We have a good squad now, a few changes and we are ready to fight against the top teams. It happens every season that, us, Tha fans have some problems with the squad and transfers, but we really need to stop this negativity, this is the same squad that won the EPL last year. Is the players show some real fight, they can beat any team of this world

[Beigl 1,387]

4 minutes ago, xPetrCechx said:

WTF 

We should just rest most of our players against City, if we manage to get a good result against Barca in the first leg. 

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

Can't be fooling ourselves here, truth is our only chance of going through was drawing Istanbul. 

In or out of form Barcelona or the fact that they are not the same like a few years ago, it simply does not matter - we are not good enough and our tactics fit the high pressing teams like a glove. 

Five at the back works for the short term and never against the big teams. And this is a fact. And to complete the misery - Cahill is one of the centre backs and there is no decent full back in Chelsea's squad.

I'm always the optimist, but I truly fear this is the tie where Hazard decides there is no point in extending that contract and forces a move elswhere. Same goes for Courtois.

Why I am saying this? Because not only we have a poor back line (bar Azpi and Christensen), but if we're going to play five at the back with Marcos Alonso, Cahill, Moses/Zappacosta there, not only we'll be unable to string two or three consecutive passes, but Hazard and Morata will be feeling so isolated upfront, they'll wish they'd have been left on the bench rather than having to chase shadows throughout the two legs.

[Leif 6,006]

Taking into account how bad we are this season (IMO), it's worth having the perspective that Barcelona have been pretty much neck-and-neck with Valencia this season, while playing with a less consistent quality for the most part, getting ahead through individual quality more often than not. I know we can beat Valencia.

Then again, Barcelona's defence is doing better than it's ever done really, and they're not nearly as inexperienced as Valencia. 

We're obviously, clearly, so damn clear to see 2-3 levels below current Barcelona, but we were 2 levels below Bayern. Though then again we had more magical players.

Too many perspectives! I regret this post. But i'd regret the wasted time even more if i didn't now post it. I need to jazz it up. Easy..

[Tautvix 1,321]

21 minutes ago, xPetrCechx said:

WTF 

Fake.

The first leg will take place at home on Tuesday 20 February, kick-off 7.45pm (UK time), and the second leg away is on Wednesday 14 March, kick-off 7.45pm (UK time).

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

I just noticed this but isn't it strange how after virtually all our CL fixtures we get another title contender immediately after? 

Qarabag - Arsenal

Atletico Madrid - Man City

Roma - Chelsea

Qarabag - Liverpool

Now Barcelona - Man United and Man City

This is an incredible "coincidence" and obviously a big disadvantage. They seriously wanted to give us as little a chance as possible of retaining that title. 2 in 3 years is enough.

[Kieran. 6,317]

We'll obviously rest the starters vs City, we are too far back now. Man United will probably rest a few vs us so we'd probably do the same vs. them. Full strength both legs vs Barca. 

[manpe 10,861]

Classic tie, can't wait! Should bring back some not-so-old memories.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

RIP.