Preview: Last chance game for Chelsea players against Barca

الأربعاء، 06 مايو 2009 - 10:45

كتب : Amro Hassan

Chelsea enter the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona with hopes of reaching the competition's final for the second successive season.

The Blues' resilient defence secured them a goalless draw at Nou Camp in the tie's first leg last week, and they now have the chance to make up for losing last year's final against Manchester United.

Manager Guus Hiddink believes that Wednesday's return leg is a final opportunity for many of his players to win the world's top club competition.

"These players don't have five, six, seven years more to have the same chances they've had in recent years," the Dutchman said.

"This is one of the last occasions for these players to get where they want to be."

Chelsea's squad is full of aging players as Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Juliano Belletti and Ricardo Carvalho are all above the 30-year-old mark.

Squad Changes

A solid display from Jose Bosingwa at left-back played a great role in paralysing Barca's wonder kid Lionel Messi at Nou Camp.

However, regular left-back Ashley Cole is now back from suspension and Hiddink might swap Bosingwa to the right flank in place of Branislav Ivanovic.

Drogba played as a lone striker in the first leg, but could be accompanied by the duo of Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka, or Malouda and Salomon Kalou.

Unlike his English opponents, Barca coach Josep Guardiola won't have the same luxury of choice as Hiddink.

The Catalans have centre-backs Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol out for injury and suspension respectively. Forward Thierry Henry is unlikely to play due to a knee knock.

Midfielder Andres Iniesta is expected to be pushed forward to join Samuel Eto'o and Messi up front.

Confidence

Guardiola doesn’t seem to be worried with such absentees, as he is confident his team will be in their best shape for the clash.

"I’m not worried one bit about not having Puyol and Marquez. Whoever I put in will compete, will fight and will go good job," the former Barcelona skipper said.

Uruguayan Martin Caceres is likely to deputize alongside Gerard Pique in Barcelona's back line.

The Blaugrana physically struggled against Chelsea in the first leg, and Guardiola is convinced that the second leg should be taken on with a different approach.

"We won’t go out to clash, because they're stronger than us, we will clash little and attack fast. If we try to challenge their physical style it will play into their hands.

"We won't avoid confrontation, but we know that is one of their big strengths and we need to use our own style of play if we are to get through," he added.

Barcelona are looking to reach their first Champions League final in three years, after the last won the competition in 2006 under the guidance of Frank Rijkaard.

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