‘High-energy Sevilla will ensure Mourinho will park the bus tonight’

Oli Fisher

Chelsea fans dissect their draw against Barcelona, our Man Utd readers preview a trick game in Spain and Liverpool fans debate their best XI of the last decade in Your Says of the Day.

 

Spirited Chelsea

Chelsea were superb tonight, save for one moment where we lost the plot which could prove decisive in the tie.

Pro players make so many little passes close to their own goal these days that the likes of us mere mortals wouldn’t even attempt, and rightly so for the top sides where possession is so important.

But one thing you just don’t do is pass the ball towards the centre of your your own box against Barca!

I love Christensen and believe he’s the future of our club, so as such he’s forgiven. But, it was a bad bad mistake, and could be a fatal one.

AshCFC

Good performance from Chelsea and as ash says one mistake away from the perfect result. Still all to play for and very much in the tie. Barca can only play one way and Chelsea are capable of scoring against them.

Shanksy

Chelsea were excellent last night and deserved more than the draw. For all barca’s possession we limited to very very few chances and had some great chances ourselves.

That was more like the chelsea of last year, solid at the back and dangerous going forward.

It again highlighted though that hazard cannot be a false 9. He had fairly good game dont get me wrong but he just doesnt see the ball enough or able to influence the game as much as he can playing in a deeper position. I’m hoping conte drops pedro for the return leg and plays either giroud or morata with willian and hazard in behind.

JayBelfast

 

Mixed feelings for Chelsea

I’m sat at home disappointed which is what I expected tonight but what I didn’t expect was a disappointment that we didn’t beat Barca. Yes they had a hell of a lot of possession but it’s what you do with that possession counts. We scored 1 and created a number of chances. As Fabregas said, on another night Willian could’ve scored a hat trick. Just before their goal, I thought Willian should’ve squared it to Kante but it’s done and dusted now.

For all Barcelona’s possession tonight they scored from our mistake. I’m not going to come on here and bad talk Christenssen’s mistake. It’s unfortunate, he’s young and still learning. I bet he won’t do that at the Camp Nou in the return leg. We’ve given ourselves a chance in the return leg, which is more than what I expected. I’m over the moon with the effort of the players tonight. They did the badge proud and were unlucky. In the return leg i wouldnt mind seeing Morata or Giroud starting up top. I think we’ll need it in the return leg. We need the ball to be held up by one of these. Not sure who’d I start, I’d be learning towards Giroud but thinking about mobility, so wouldn’t be surprised if Morata starts. Heads up a busy few weeks now.

On a bright note. Last time we played at the Camp Nou we were two nil down with ten men and scored 2. Another 2-2 draw would be nice to send us through on away goals. 🤞

Chelsea_Lee

Ok it was a good performance. Barca has only two shorts on target and scored. Willian made some poor decisions when we had 1-0 up. but credit to him he has been our best player. Hazard hasn’t done anything to convince Real Madrid. i think playing from the back led to the goal we have conceded. we cannot do that, or our players are equipped to do that.

Young_Blue

Outrageous pass by Christensen across his own box to present Barca with their goal. As long as he learns from it because he is a big part of Chelsea’s future plans. There is no doubt he is quality but that was just plain dumb.

Chelsea1967

Way better result than I expected. But Barca at Bernabeu will be different. I think the pitch is bigger there. Conte must find a different strategy. It would be a shame if we’re the only English club eliminated in this round. But it’s a likely case. Our failure to keep a clean sheet at the Bridge will be costly IMO.

Aindro

 

Tough test for United

Going to be a very difficult game. Think a lot of people are underestimating Seville. They play a high energy quick passing game. Which just happens to be what we struggle against. Fully expect the double decker to get parked by Jose. Problem with that approach is we aren’t exactly tearing up trees at home to get the job done in the return. Will be well pleased if we could get out of Andalusia with a draw!

N1xer

Seville aren’t as strong as they have been in previous years, languishing in 5th in the league, supplanted in the top four by Valencia.
They’re very hit and miss season, beating Atletico 2-1 in Madrid and losing 5-1 to Leganes so it’s hard to know which team will show up.
Doesn’t mean we don’t have to play well and be on our toes but we should be expecting to win the tie. A 1-0 win away and 2-0 in Old Trafford should be what we expect at a minimum.

Killyboye

Not too sure how we are looking on the injury front but i’d go like this against Sevilla:

DdG
Valencia, Lindelof, Bailly, Shaw
Herrera (McTominay if he’s not fit), Matic, Pogba
Sanchez, Lukaku, Martial

Should be good for a 1 or 2 goal win

Homerjay540

 

Spanish dominance fading?

It’s funny how the season has turned out, Barca have turned on the style, and proved many doubters wrong, including myself, where as domestically Real have been a car crash, with only the CL able to save their season. I still think the gap has closed between them and rest of us though, and I can only see it getting smaller for the time being.

d1rtyh4rry

How on earth are Barcelona a fading force and Real Madrid still on top when the former are unbeaten in the Primera Liga and are 17 points ahead of them? It’s like saying Arsenal are doing better than Man City at the moment.

It’s rubbish – Barcelona and Real Madrid will both remain top clubs for the foreseeable future; while Messi and Ronaldo are around at least.

Sympathy for the Devils

Real have been very quiet over the last couple of seasons in the transfer market with no major signings and whilst it could be argued given what they won over that period they didn’t really need them I expect Real to be very active this summer evolving into a different team designed to get them back challenging again for La Liga and the CL and they are favourites to reach the Qtr Finals again this season.

Barca without Neymar are a different team and the injury to Dembelle hasn’t helped them offensively whilst Coutinho is just settling in they are better defensively which can be seen from the reduction in goals conceded and will probably buy big again in the Summer. They have also had the problem of replacing Xavi and Iniesta and Coutinho is the solution to half if that problem.

La Liga is all but wrapped up by Barca and if they dispose of Chelsea which they are clear favourites to do they are Inn the Qtr Finals of the CL and you would be a brave man to bet against them.

The biggest threat to either of the Spanish club’s dominance in Europe are City but out of the next 5 CL’s a Spanish team will probably win 3 of them they are juggernauts and both will continue to dominate La Liga and likely Europe too.

nine nine nine

 

Liverpool’s team of the decade

Waiting on a call and thought what would have been the best Liverpool Starting XI in the last 10 years (Rafa, BR and JK).

Here’s mine (in a 4231 so please state your formation):

Reina (in his prime not the last year Reina)

Clyne (was tempted for Arbeloa but Clyne’s intensity won it for me)
Hyypia
Van Dijk
Robertson

Gerrard
Mascherano

Coutinho
Suarez
Salah

Torres

Was determined to put Bobby in there but at the expense of? So hard!

Rob Fort Worth TX

And a bit early for VVD in my opinion! And to not have Xabi in there seems wrong, so I’d have Suarez playing up top with Gerrard playing where you have Suarez and Xabi alongside Mash. I guess Carra would be in for VVD (you can’t select someone who has only played 4 or 5 games for us surely!

Honourable mention for Markus Babbel at right back though he just misses out in your time frame.

Hightown hope

Reina

Riise
Vvd
Hyppia
Clyne

Alonso
Gerrard
Mane
Salah

Torres
Suarez

Can also set up as 4231 as long as the front four is Mane Salah Torres and suarez 😂. Coutinho just missed out because of Mane and Salah’s pace and power.

Hightown sound argument with regards to VVd. But vvd just look exceptional and i have no doubt that he will be our best CB in years.

RedsForever

Reina

Arbeloa
Hyppia
Agger
Aurélio

Alonso
Gerrard
Coutinho

Suarez
Torres
Salah

VVD should take Aggers place in a few months

AK