SOCCER/Barcelona v Chelsea:GUUS HIDDINK will send his team into Camp Nou this evening to confront the side he rates as the best in the world urging his players to prove they have "the guts" to take the initiative in this daunting tie and propel Chelsea closer to a second successive Champions League final.
The Londoners’ temporary manager called for his team to be courageous against the rampant Spanish league leaders and take an early grip on the tie, just as they did in the quarter-final first leg at Liverpool earlier this month. Hiddink conceded Barcelona will offer considerably more threat than the Merseysiders, but is convinced his team can prevail if they are bold, maintain their discipline and emerge from Spain with an away goal.
“We know we are facing maybe the best team in the world at the moment, and a team with a very attractive style, but we’ve got to put the brakes on them and take the initiative,” said Hiddink. “If we just wait and get scared by the actions of whoever – their strikers, or one or two of their midfield players – we lose this game.
“No disrespect to Liverpool, who are a big team as well, but Barcelona have many, many players who can make a difference. Liverpool have Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt who can make the important decisions – the last pass or to score – but Barcelona have several players who can do that so it will be even more difficult.
“My team have to show they have the guts to try to play and not just wait until they are beaten. We’ve said that in our team meeting. We have to have the courage to play. Chelsea are not a side who can sit back and wait to play on the counter. We are a team that must play courageously.”
The loss of Ashley Cole to a one-match suspension is untimely given Lionel Messi will start on the right of Barcelona’s mouth-watering forward line. The Argentine, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry have scored more goals this season, 66, than Chelsea have managed (56) in the Premier League. Yet Hiddink believes the Londoners boast the power to unsettle their hosts.
The Dutchman asked Michael Essien to man-mark Gerrard at Anfield, a ploy that paid off handsomely with the England midfielder starved of possession in dangerous areas, and he will ask for similar industry from the likes of the Ghanaian, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard in helping Jose Bosingwa, in an unfamiliar role at left-back, denying the Argentine the ball.
“You can focus on Messi when he’s on the ball, and you have to defend against him well, but it is even better if you can prevent a lot of balls coming [to him] and he can have less involvement,” said Hiddink. “That means the other ones in front of him on our side have to defend really well. Also, if we can bring players from their side into areas where they don’t like to play, it will be even better.”
Emerging with a precious away goal could yet prove critical over the course of the tie. “Scoring in Barcelona gives us a big chance at home,” added the Chelsea manager. “You play with a responsibility in a game like this because even the smallest error at this level is punished by your opponent. We must be very disciplined. Sometimes you can make an error in the Premier League but, because the opponent has too much energy, they stumble in their opportunity. But Barcelona are very cool and punish you.
“Chelsea have been involved in this competition in May, in semi-finals and last year’s final, in recent years and that is in itself a big achievement. They deserve a lot of credit for that. We are close to making the dream of getting to the final a reality again. That would be a perfect achievement for everyone, including me, but I’m thinking more in terms of the team.”
Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola and midfielder Xavi Hernandez have insisted the semi-final will not be decided tonight even though nine goals in two home matches resolved Barcelona’s ties against Lyon and Bayern Munich. There is a hint of caution about the Catalans, even as they insisted there will be no compromise on their commitment to attack – and despite the feeling the absence of Ricardo Carvalho and Cole could play into Barcelona’s hands.
“We won’t be able to finish it in the first leg,” Xavi said. “This game is not decisive; Stamford Bridge will be decisive. We have the experience to play over two matches . . . Chelsea are technically very good, with top-class players, but they also have physical power. Carvalho is a leader and both he and Cole are automatic starters so it’s good news that they are missing.”
Guardiola said his side were not tired despite continuing to fight on three fronts, declaring: “our tank is full. There hasn’t been a single game in which we’ve compromised our style and we’re not going to do that against Chelsea. But the tie will be decided in London, not Barcelona.”
