The last time Chelsea failed to score in a Champions League match was a 1-0 loss to Marseille in 2010, in the group stage. An away goal is crucial, especially in the knock out stages of the competition. Benfica are obviously good, but I personally rank them below Napoli and as such think we have a greater chance against them. And hence the Champions League, semi final.
Now anytime we have reached the semi final two things will happen... Either go to the final or be knocked out controversially. (Am not just saying this, it has happened twice. Luis Garcia half goal in 2005 and of course we all remember Ovebro, the Norwegian referee who proved not good enough to officiate Gor Vs Afc match)
One thing I like about two leg encounters, is the fact that you have a greater chance of reversing the score and more so, if the second encounter is in your own tuff.
Looking at Chelsea last Saturday, the performance was not the best and in fact, were it not for Cahill and Cech being on top of their game, we would have lost the match. And in the end, Totenham had 16 goal attempts while Chelsea only managed half as many. I therefore remembered 2005, when Liverpool won the Champions League. They actually were 5th during the season having lost the top four position to Everton. They however went ahead and won the competition and automatically qualified for the following year's Champions League.
We have been very awful in the league to say the least. Could this be the year that we finally lift the Champions League? And remember, at the time when Liverpool won the league, they were the underdogs, especially having knocked Chelsea out with the "famous goal that never was". Their performance in the league was equally poor and just like our performance in the recent months.
That, together with the fact that 5 out of 6 teams who have knocked out Chelsea out of the top European elite competition have gone a head to win it....I just dont see Benfica fitting into this class of teams. Yet again, the gods are on our side....just like they were a couple of weeks ago when Napoli came calling. In the end, it was decided for all to see that indeed a tot of Chelsea gin is way stronger than a tot of Napoleon. We have all the reasons to look forward to this match......It could just be what Chelsea players have to play for this season.
Its even sweeter that we are the only english team in the Champions League. Wait a second, we are the only english team in Europe!! Man U and Man City have already been knocked out, Twice!!! We, the blue fans have all the rights to be proud! Ktbffh!
No comments:
Post a Comment