The Champions League 2008 - 2009

Aggregate 1 - 1



Josep Guardiola

We tried to win the game, use the ball and create chances. We didn't create so much – I expected Chelsea to come out a little more but they didn't do that so it was difficult for us. I have a lot of faith in my team, we kept trying and don't forget we played for 25 minutes with ten men. It's fair to say Chelsea created chances on the counterattack but they were still a bit conservative because when you have players like Lionel Messi, they know we're a threat. It's difficult to play Chelsea with eleven men, never mind ten, but we kept trying and we are so, so happy. Chelsea are so good on the counterattack but we showed strength and bravery, hung on and created that chance right at the end. I'm very happy for Andrés, he's a great player who represents Barcelona in many ways. He gets a lot of criticism for not scoring enough goals but hopefully that will stop from today.

United are the defending champions, an unbelievable team, and have a coach with lots of experience. I expect them to sit back and challenge on the counterattack – that's what I think, although I have to watch our semi-final with them last season and their recent games. We will attack, I expect a nice game – they have some good players and are a great team, but so are we. We're going to try to win and maybe we'll deserve to get the trophy. Daniel Alves is suspended and Eric Abidal too, but we played today without [Rafael] Márquez and [Carles] Puyol, and Yaya Touré hadn't played in central defence for ten years but I think he did well. We will have different players in the final, but we will play the same – play the ball, move the ball and try to score goals.

Obviously I'm really pleased with how things have gone this year. I have to be honest and say I didn't expect so many good results in the first season. My first target is to finish off the league, then try to win the [Spanish] Cup final against [Athletic Club] Bilbao next week and then we can look forward to the final with United. To be in two cup finals means it's a good season.

Guus Hiddink

I'm still very disappointed, but I'm full of adrenalin and I have to try to calm down and give an analysis of what has happened. We played a very decent game, tactically well, but we should have decided the game already. At this level it's very difficult – two or three open chances we should have [taken] then we wouldn't have all this fuss. You have always glasses a little bit coloured but sometimes you have to give the benefit of the doubt to the referee. Players make many mistakes, coaches make mistakes, referees make mistakes, and that's why we talk about giving them the benefit of the doubt. That's all in the game.

It would have been nice to have another final, a repetition of last year, but there's disappointment in the dressing room that we didn’t finish the job. I can understand fully the emotions of the players.

by UEFA.com

Guus Hiddink would like to make surprises at chelsea

Chelsea officially announced that Guus Hiddink has been appointed the new pelatihnya Luis Scolari replaced with temporary contract until the end of this season. Without leaving their jobs now, it means that Hiddink should also share concentration between Chelsea and Timnas Russia.

After removal Luis Scolari, Guus Hiddink is the main target Roman Abramovich. Nearly no other candidate who was boss in the heart but the former Chelsea coach Australia, South Korea and South Korea is.

Hiddink own in his interview with the official club website said that it was Chelsea grateful to the Russian Football Union on the understanding and attitudes kooperatifnya that he take the opportunity to deal with Chelsea.

Abramovich factors that have helped many Russian football is also one of the reasons to want to deal with Chelsea as well as receive love feeling. "Abramovich has been doing so much for the Russian football so I want to give something as a sense of gratitude," said Hiddink.



Hiddink will not directly deal with Chelsea at the London club face Watford on Saturday next. The first time is expected to make a ranking of 3 Aston Villa at Villa Park on 21 February, and face Juventus in the enclosure (25 February) fight in the Champions League.

Hiddink is currently in Turkey accompanying Timnas Russia, he is expected to start at Stamford Bridge on Friday to come. Welcome to the Premier League, Hiddink.