Barca Punya Catatan Bagus di Camp Nou, Pep Guardiola Masih Optimis

koclokindoblog, 19 April 2012, London - Entrenador Barcelona Pep Guardiola tak berkecil hati dengan kekalahan 0-1 timnya atas Chelsea. Yakin dengan ketangguhan timnya dan tuah dari Camp Nou, Guardiola tetap percaya Barca bisa lolos ke final Liga Champions.

Barca menyudahi leg I semifinal dengan kekalahan saat melawat ke markas Chelsea di Stamford Bridge, Kamis (19/4/2012) dinihari WIB. Barca tunduk lewat gol tunggal Didier Drogba di menit-menit akhir babak pertama.

Meski begitu, Guardiola tak lantas pesimistis dengan peluang timnya hadir di partai final. Pasalnya, masih ada leg II dengan Barca gantian menjadi tuan rumah di Camp Nou.

"Kami tahu laga ini akan menghadirkan sebuah tantangan dan tidak akan mudah, tapi kami masih harus melihat leg kedua. Datang ke Stamford Bridge tidak pernah mudah," katanya di Reuters.

"Tapi pekan depan di kandang kami akan mencoba dan membuat peluang sebanyak mungkin kendati memang tidak akan mudah melawan sebuah tim yang bertahan sedemikian dalam. Tapi kami akan mencoba," tegas Guardiola.

Di Camp Nou, Barca memang memiliki catatan mengilap musim ini. Sudah menjalani 30 laga kandang, Infostrada mencatat Los Cules meraih 27 kemenangan dan tiga hasil imbang tanpa pernah kalah, dengan mencetak 104 gol dan kebobolan 16 gol.

"Sebuah tim takkan mencapai semifinal kompetisi ini sebanyak enam kali dalam sembilan tahun tanpa menjadi sebuah tim tanngguh," lugas Guardiola yakin. 

 

sport.detik.com

Mata eyes Barcelona scalp

koclokindoblog, 18 April 2012, Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata says beating Barcelona to reach the Champions League final would be a good end to a difficult season.

Roberto Di Matteo's side host the reigning European champions at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the first leg of their semi-final tie and their confidence heading into the fixture will be buoyed after securing a place in the FA Cup final following a 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Wembley on Sunday.

Mata admits that his first term at Stamford Bridge has failed to match pre-season expectations so far, but hails the advancement to two finals as a sign of improvement in the second half of the campaign.

"I came to England to win titles," Mata told Goal.com.

"Getting to the FA Cup final and having a chance (to advance) in the Champions League could change the balance of this season as things haven't been going as we had thought they would in the summer."

Chelsea are in danger of failing to secure a spot in the Champions League for next season as they sit two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League with five games remaining, and Mata concedes that his side may rue their inability to find a ruthless streak in front of goal this term.

"Inconsistency is killing us in the Premier League," he said.

"I don't know why but we haven't been able to kill off (our opponents) in a number of games and we have dropped points which we now could do with having.

"It will be hard to get into the top four but we are going to fight until the last day to get to the Champions League."

Despite uncertainty over the club's European qualification, the diminutive attacker is hoping to satisfy one of the ambitions that motivated his move from Valencia last summer by winning the FA Cup next month against Liverpool.

"I came to England to win titles and I know that the FA Cup is a very important competition," the 23-year-old said.

"Playing in the final and winning it would fulfil one of my first dreams on this adventure that I began last summer."

The Chelsea midfielder also hailed the recent displays of fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres, who is vying with Didier Drogba to start up front for the clash against Barcelona on Wednesday.

"Fernando Torres has been improving over the last few games," said Mata of his team-mate's turbulent season.

"His morale has increased and he is shooting better in training."

Champions League preview : Chelsea vs Barcelona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

koclokindoblog, 17 April 2012,
Chelsea and Barcelona renew hostilities when they meet in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

English Premier League giants Chelsea will be looking for revenge after Andres Iniesta's late goal in their 2008/09 semi-final tie put Barca into the final, which they won 2-0 against Manchester United.

Chelsea caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo's team, who booked their place in the FA Cup final on Sunday, welcome Barca to Stamford Bridge for the first leg.

In a blow to Chelsea, centre-back David Luiz could miss the match after being carried off the field with a hamstring injury in Sunday's 5-1 victory over Tottenham.

Di Matteo believes Barca have weaknesses his side can exploit, and said the focus would be on each of the European champions' players, not just the in-form Lionel Messi.

"It's not just about stopping a single player because obviously they have so many players that can hurt you," he said.

"It has to be a team tactic, a team strategy, to be able to limit their threat."

Di Matteo, who took over from Andre Villas-Boas in March, has helped inspire Chelsea's revival, with the Italian overseeing nine wins, two draws and just one loss in his time in charge.

Attacker Juan Mata will play a key role for Chelsea, with the Spaniard's ability to support striker Didier Drogba, as well as the Chelsea midfield, crucial.

Messi has scored 20 goals in his last 11 matches, an incredible run that has kept Barca in the hunt for the La Liga title.

The clash against Chelsea marks the start of a crucial week for Pep Guardiola's side, who meet Real Madrid in the El Clasico on Saturday.

Barca are unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions, although they needed a fortuitous penalty to record a 2-1 win at Levante on Saturday.

Iniesta, Dani Alves and Gerard Pique all started on the bench in the win, and the trio could all fit into the starting 11 against Chelsea.

Guardiola's team have only kept one clean sheet in their last four matches, an encouraging sign for Chelsea.

Di Matteo's side need a strong result at home if they are to upset a high-flying Barcelona in the tie and book a place in the final.

 

soccerway.com