Chelsea rode their luck at times but on balance I think their industry and the way they played as a team merited the win. Just about. Apart from flashes of individual brilliance, of which there were many, Barcelona didn't really strike me as all that cohesive as a team.
I have to disagree on various points here.
I really don't understand some of the credit given to Chelsea's performance, not just by you, but by some of the press.
In 2009 they DID deserve all the credit because we had no chances and 0 shots on goal when the famous Iniesta goal, so that was a supreme defensive performance.
AC Milan in the last round, limited us to far less chances in the San Siro and created more than Chelsea, just didnt take them.
When a team creates two ones on ones with the goalie, two open goals from 5 yards, plus 3 or 4 decent half chances in the area I'm not so sure the other team can be said to have defended well. Yes they also made good last minute blocks, but that's going to happen with 10 men behind the ball.
I do give them huge credit for their efficiency up front, that was unbelievable, plus their effort and determination.
In terms of you comment that Barca only showed flashes of individual brillaint, that was exactly what we
didnt do. Messi didnt do any of his mazy runs, or did iniesta. All our chances came from long passing moves. The fact Chelsea didnt leave their half was becuase as a
TEAM we pressured well as usual and were tactically very well set up.
They got 2 goals hat off to them.
