🇷🇸 Branislav Ivanovic

[Special Juan 28,141]

What's more annoying about the whole thing is that they even looked at it.

[Chelsea Buzz 487]

What's more annoying about the whole thing is that they even looked at it.

Agree 100%. This was perhaps the biggest "non-event" event in the EPL in years. What a joke. The pundits tried to create an incident immediately following the match. Jose's "don't make me laugh" says it all.

[stroey 2,525]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/9719609/ivanovic-we-have-the-edge

We have the edge-Iva

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Rest him for the Burnley game and play Luis and Azp as the fullbacks

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic takes no prisoners and leaves no-one behind... he is a leader of men and so often a saviour

'For me, Chelsea's best player is Branislav Ivanovic. He's the best defender in Europe. I don't understand why nobody talks about him. It’s strange because I think he’s complete. He’s got everything. He's very strong, he’s got a good jump, he's fast and he's got good technique. He's a warrior.' It's fair to say Robert Pires isn't a bad judge.

The former Arsenal and France international has won a thing or two but it is never easy to pour such glowing praise on your old enemy.

As he proved at the Parc des Princes again on Tuesday night though, Ivanovic is a player every man on the street would like on his team.

He is a throwback to the defenders of old, ruthless, uncompromising, takes no prisoners, leaves no-one behind; he is a leader of men and, for Chelsea, so often their saviour.

His blood-stained right boot worn in the bruising Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool is primed for Chelsea's academy. It is an example to aspiring players of what really matters in sport.

It's not money, not flash watches but the commitment, dedication and pain it takes to get to the very top.

The other white, relatively unblemished Nike boot is to be framed and mounted in Ivanovic's Surrey home - but only if Chelsea win the Capital One Cup.

At half-time against Liverpool, Ivanovic limped back to dressing room, poured the blood out of his boot and asked to be cleaned up. A bullet-hole wound caused by a stud on the bridge of his foot was plugged, strapped and Ivanovic asked for an injection.

'It was really painful during the game, a lot of swelling, like any wound, but it’s all right. It’s just a wound, it’s open. I didn’t have stitches because they didn’t want to close the wound because of the inflammation.' That's OK, then.

Days later when Jose Mourinho surveyed the walking wounded he was selecting to face champions Manchester City his eyes focused on the burly defender he holds in such esteem limping into the dressing room. 'Are you ok Bane?' he asked. 'Don't worry about me. Just look after the others,' came the reply. Mourinho didn't expect anything else.

Manchester City marked a milestone for Ivanovic as a Chelsea player. He needed the aid of an injection but there was no way he was missing this, his 300th game.

Not one for too many mementos, Ivanovic kept the boots and shirt from that game to frame. Sadly, opportunist thieves stole them from his car later that night.

He still didn't make a fuss, even though it has taken a lot of hard work to make it this far. The early days were ones of despair when Avram Grant barely played him.

Often he battled to impress his new club. Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic recalled getting caught in a fight with his compatriot during a typically combative United-Chelsea encounter.

'I said: ''what are you doing? We are Serbs.'' Ivanovic said: ''Even if you were family I would fight you, I want to win''.'

As Ivanovic says: 'You need to motivate yourself. To go over the limit. Even if you don’t think someone is against you, you have to find motivation. It is important in winning matches to find extra motivation inside yourself. Sometimes we need to feel this extra pressure.'

Everton's James McCarthy may beg to differ after his throttling at the hands of Ivanovic, but that quality makes him a coach's dream.

Mourinho wanted Ivanovic when he went to Real Madrid. Monaco and Barcelona enquired and Paris Saint-Germain would still like to sign him now. Surprisingly, he has just 18 months left on contract and the fact he has turned 30 is Chelsea's excuse for, so far, postponing discussions over a new deal.

For Ivanovic, it's not about the money. It's about respect. Raheem Sterling said he is the scariest player he has faced, 'a human tank.'

His good friend, tennis star Novak Djokovic talks of a mutual admiration. Luis Suarez was grateful he didn't tell all about his infamous bite.

'Bane' shuns club attempts to get him on Facebook and Twitter. He turns down lucrative commercial deals because he simply doesn't see a need to take money for a product he doesn't like.

He drives the same Q7 Audi he bought when he joined Chelsea seven years ago. It's practical for taking his family around town.

An intensely private man, he enjoys nothing better than a family day with wife and childhood sweetheart Natasa, son Stefan and twins Andreja and Ana.

He doesn't wear a watch, the Rolex presented for being part of Chelsea's Champions League winning side gets an occasional dusting.

Parties and fashion are not his forte as his team-mates often jest - but he is still the man they turn to for advice. Ivanovic is on the Chelsea players' committee where senior figures help the younger ones with problems and liaise with management.

It's a compassionate and understanding side that many a trainee appreciates and he puts it to further use as the patron of 'Ballboys' a charity that fights the fight against testicular cancer. Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez has been grateful for his support.

'A competitive animal, a big heart,' was how Jose Mourinho described him. Understated, yes, but that's just how Branislav Ivanovic likes to play it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2958481/Branislav-Ivanovic-takes-no-prisoners-leaves-no-one-leader-men-Chelsea-saviour.html

[The Chels 2,502]

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic takes no prisoners and leaves no-one behind... he is a leader of men and so often a saviour

Oh really? I reckon Salah, Arda Turan, Lampard, Moreno and Okore would be among the most recent benefactors who would beg to differ about that.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

World class attacker.

In the dark Torres days, we would be more prolific with this guy upfront.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Play a real RB in big games, play super Ivan at RW.

[Jase 43,479]

Oh really? I reckon Salah, Arda Turan, Lampard, Moreno and Okore would be among the most recent benefactors who would beg to differ about that.

It's genuinely funny whenever the media and pundits praise Ivanovic for his defensive qualities, when he tends to make at least one mistake in every game.

[The Chels 2,502]

It's genuinely funny whenever the media and pundits praise Ivanovic for his defensive qualities, when he tends to make at least one mistake in every game.

The media, pundits, players and former players, the manager, fans. He is so overrated it is unbelievable. The wonders of being a Mourinho untouchable (and occasionally scoring a goal).

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

The world praising him, and only in here we're abusing him

[The Chels 2,502]

The world praising him, and only in here we're abusing him

Do you think 'the world' remembers (or even noticed) his lapses in concentration against the likes of Basel, Atletico, City, Liverpool, Everton and Villa or is forced to always watch his lackadaisical and inadequate defending? Of course not. I'm glad that not everybody is completely blinded by his occasional goals/assists or Mourinho's fondness for him, even if the majority clearly are.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Do you think 'the world' remembers (or even noticed) his lapses in concentration against the likes of Basel, Atletico, City, Liverpool and Villa or is forced to always watch his lackadaisical and inadequate defending? Nope. I'm glad that not everybody is completely blinded by his occasional goals/assists or Mourinho's fondness for him, even if the majority clearly are.

Every player make a mistake sometimes. We judge him from general point of view. Overall performance.

[tiby2979 175]

The world praising him, and only in here we're abusing him

You know, the TC forumers know more about football that the media, pundits, players and former players, the manager, fans, etc.

[the wes 7,212]

Branislav Ivanovic has scored 7 goals in the CL since 2009, more than any other defender. Giant.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

From a rock at defending to a goalscorer. What is next for Branislav?

I'm one of those people who think defending well is the priority for any defender, full-back or centre-back. Anything beyond that is a bonus. This is the reason I never even thought about considering Sergio Ramos as a world class defender, I don't care many times he saves Madrid's ass all I know is that he makes way too many mistakes and loses concentration very often.

With Ivanovic it's the same story. However, I used to like him a lot three or four years ago where he was a better defender while being a danger at set pieces as well. Right now he is the same at Dani Alves, he can only be a danger going forward. It's ridiculous to me how every pundit in the country is describing him as a monster of a defender while he is the complete opposite. For a top class team like us that is/or at least wants to challenge for the Champions League trophy he is just not reliable at defending.

I don't want to discourage the fact he has earned us a couple of points with his crucial goals, but like I said, that's not his job. He shouldn't be the one scoring those goals. He should be there when Moreno is raping the right side of our defence, when Salah is lurking behind him, when Okore tries to lose him, or when Milner is making a run behind him. Not only he has already costed us a few goals there could have been many more which he got away with. That first half against City is an example. The match could have been over in the first 45 minutes with City 3 goals ahead because of his poor passing and inability to concentrate. Against Liverpool, if it wasn't for Courtois we wouldn't have been in Wembley beucase of Ivanovic constantly being out of position.

I don't like seeing Dave at left-back any more either. While he is a fantastic defender, that knows when to press or when to cut passing lanes, I think he just cuts the team's momentum whenever he gets the ball. He constantly switches the ball to his right foot and then passes it to the middle, making it easier for the opposition, especially the ones in the CL, to press our midfield.

I think the ideal solution for us is to play Dave at right-back and Luis at left-back, Luis is a player who I admire greatly and I don't have a clue how he is not starting for us. I think Jose's inability to trust him in his first season, and blinding himself with Ivanovic's occasional goals have been the reason. It was obvious Luis was going to take time to settle in, more obvious when you're defender and we all know how hard it must be to settle to the fast paced game of England.

Luis presses incredibly well, is a good one on one defender and is very good with the ball. I really want him to succeed here.

[Jase 43,479]

From a rock at defending to a goalscorer. What is next for Branislav?

I'm one of those people who think defending well is the priority for any defender, full-back or centre-back. Anything beyond that is a bonus. This is the reason I never even thought about considering Sergio Ramos as a world class defender, I don't care many times he saves Madrid's ass all I know is that he makes way too many mistakes and loses concentration very often.

With Ivanovic it's the same story. However, I used to like him a lot three or four years ago where he was a better defender while being a danger at set pieces as well. Right now he is the same at Dani Alves, he can only be a danger going forward. It's ridiculous to me how every pundit in the country is describing him as a monster of a defender while he is the complete opposite. For a top class team like us that is/or at least wants to challenge for the Champions League trophy he is just not reliable at defending.

I don't want to discourage the fact he has earned us a couple of points with his crucial goals, but like I said, that's not his job. He shouldn't be the one scoring those goals. He should be there when Moreno is raping the right side of our defence, when Salah is lurking behind him, when Okore tries to lose him, or when Milner is making a run behind him. Not only he has already costed us a few goals there could have been many more which he got away with. That first half against City is an example. The match could have been over in the first 45 minutes with City 3 goals ahead because of his poor passing and inability to concentrate. Against Liverpool, if it wasn't for Courtois we wouldn't have been in Wembley beucase of Ivanovic constantly being out of position.

I don't like seeing Dave at left-back any more either. While he is a fantastic defender, that knows when to press or when to cut passing lanes, I think he just cuts the team's momentum whenever he gets the ball. He constantly switches the ball to his right foot and then passes it to the middle, making it easier for the opposition, especially the ones in the CL, to press our midfield.

I think the ideal solution for us is to play Dave at right-back and Luis at left-back, Luis is a player who I admire greatly and I don't have a clue how he is not starting for us. I think Jose's inability to trust him in his first season, and blinding himself with Ivanovic's occasional goals have been the reason. It was obvious Luis was going to take time to settle in, more obvious when you're defender and we all know how hard it must be to settle to the fast paced game of England.

Luis presses incredibly well, is a good one on one defender and is very good with the ball. I really want him to succeed here.

Think most of us would like to see that happen but as long as Mourinho is still managing us, doubt we are going to see Luis at LB and Azpi at RB happening any time soon...unless somehow Ivanovic suffers a serious injury (touch wood) or his form/performances go completely downhill. Not sure if this is true but Don Hutchinson mentioned before on PLTV that he once asked Steve Clarke who is Mourinho's favorite player at the club and his response was Ivanovic, because he will run through brick walls/do anything for Mourinho.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Now can be seen as one of the best defender in Chelsea history for me

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Now can be seen as one of the best defender in Chelsea history for me

B-b-bbbut he doesn't close down

[Rapkun 668]

Costa should fear for his place with this guy's current form.