As promised yesterday, here is the second part of the debate set up by Guillem Balague of Sky Sports. guillem is an expert on Spanish football and has his own website at http://www.guillembalague.com/ TheChelseaBlog was chosen as "the opposition", so if you want to keep up with what is happening at Chelsea check it out at http://thechelseablog.org/
Ok, so here is part two with Guillem's final verdict:
Guillem Balague: Neither of you identified Iniesta or Lampard as your key players. You’ll see why in a minute, but I’d like to hear how you think the pair of them compares – and what role might they play in these two games?
Chelsea Blog: Lampard’s having one of his best ever seasons for Chelsea. He takes much more of a lead role in games now and whilst his significance in a side that contains players like Ballack, Essien and Drogba might not have been noted quite so much by those outside Stamford Bridge before, this season, no-one can fail to see the impact his leadership has had. I’ve seriously lost count of the games Frank Lampard’s influence alone has turned around this season. Aside from the goals he scores himself, Lampard has the highest number of assists in the Premier League (10), another 5 assists in the Champions League (with only Xavi and Ribery having more), and only Lisandro and Ronaldo have more shots on target than him in the Champions League. So I don’t think Lampard’s influence against Barcelona will be any less noticeable than it’s been throughout the season. That’s not to suggest Iniesta won’t have a say in the game. He’s a handful for any defence when he’s on the ball and even if he doesn’t put away many goals himself, his contribution goes without saying. However, for all the skills Iniesta has, I wonder how well he’ll do in this game. These Barca-Chelsea games have never been without the sort of speculation that adds an extra edge and whilst someone like Lampard won’t shy away from a battle, Iniesta for me lacks the necessary aggression to really fight it out.
FCB News: Ha ha. It sounds like Chelsea are definitely looking for a physical battle and I would imagine if it were just a physical battle Chelsea would win. Fortunately, brains and technique also play an important part in football and this is where Iniesta and Barça have the advantage. Iniesta may not be big but he is stronger than he looks and he is also exceptionally brave, I think we all know that it's almost impossible to make it at this level if you are a bottler.Iniesta's importance to us has been increasing every season and he is currently in fantastic form (every month I give a Player of the Month award on my blog and Iniesta won it in February and March and is well on the way to winning in April too). A growing minority of Barça fans now see him as being even better than Messi which is quite remarkable. Messi is more spectacular and has the advantage of scoring a lot of goals but he also loses the ball a lot, Iniesta hardly ever loses the ball and rarely makes the wrong decision, his game against Sevilla last week was as close to perfection as you could possibly see on a football field. Iniesta is also excellent at winning the ball back, proving again that you don't have to be a battler to rob your opponent; it's all about speed of thought and reaction, and this is Iniesta's great strength. Lampard's record speaks for itself. He has shown for years now that he is a vital part to Chelsea's success. His goal record for a midfield player is phenomenal and he's scored twice against us in four games. The goal he got at Camp Nou in Chelsea's last visit also proved he is much more than a battler, he has a great deal of skill too, I just hope he doesn't get a chance to prove it anywhere near our goal.
Guillem Balague: Before I tell you what I think, let’s have your closing comments and predictions...
The Chelsea Blog: If Guus Hiddink hadn't agreed to step in temporarily this season it's unlikely we'd even be in the competition now never mind facing Barcelona, so getting this far is an achievement in itself. However, since we have got ourselves this far, hopefully the pain of losing last year's final will be enough to give us the edge. Prediction for first leg - I'm a bit superstitious when it comes to making predictions, so I'll just say I hope we can keep it below 3-0.
FCB News: I think it really all depends on whether we play at the level we are capable of. Chelsea will try to stop us, but I don't think any team is capable of controlling us if we are on form. Playing at home in the first leg could also prove to be an advantage as we have more chance to take the early initiative. I have no doubt that Barça is the better team, but over 180 minutes this is no guarantee of success, in football the best team does not always triumph. Of course I hope we win but this wish is also for neutral fans and fans of beautiful football, Barça play the game as it should be played, always looking to attack and with speed, style and skill. Pep Guardiola has moulded together a team that for me is better than Cruyff's dream team which won the European Cup and four consecutive league titles in the early 1990s. For the magnificent football they have played this season they really do deserve every success. Prediction: Barça 3 Chelsea 1
Guillem Balague: Fascinating stuff guys…but you know what? The Chelsea Blog I know you are playing the modesty card. I think you’re playing it safe and I don’t believe you really suspect that Chelsea will lose this tie in the first leg. You’re sitting on the fence – but I bet deep down you know you can make a stronger case for Chelsea! I’m in agreement with FCB News when you say that Barcelona play the game how it should be played, but I have picked up signals, particularly against Valencia, that not all is well at Barça. They finished the game strongly, but at times, notably at the end of the first half, the team suffered when Valencia threw everything at them. Chelsea must try and do the same. Guardiola has been talking to his troops about not conceding lateral free kicks (free kicks in forward wide positions). This has been a key factor this season as Barcelona have conceded more from corners than any other side in La Liga; but they have suffered less lateral free kicks than anybody else in the competition, which reflects a conscious effort not to get into trouble as defending set pieces really is their Achilles heel. Chelsea will try a high tempo, highly physical game and Barcelona will have to focus upon not getting sucked in. Pep Guardiola has made real progress and learned a lot this season, but we have seen his worst side in highly charged games – remember the Espanyol defeat at the Camp Nou for instance? The Barcelona coach is trying to ease the pressure by constantly repeating that they are happy to have reached this stage, but everybody will consider it a failure not to get to the Champions League final – and there is a tremendous burden of expectation and additional pressure coming from the wonderful football they have given us this season. The Chelsea Blog, this is where your boys can take advantage. This group of players at Barcelona is hungry for success and the Champions League trophy is a priority, but too much psychological tension might work against them. That said, across both legs, Barcelona will probably qualify - but it will be very tight at the Camp Nou. I’m going to disagree with both FCB News and The Chelsea Blog on the question of key players: my key player for Barcelona is Andres Iniesta. In my opinion he is the best player in the world right now and his influence goes beyond that of Messi and runs throughout the team. Always consistent; always at least an 8 out of ten in every game; providing assists; winning the ball; versatile and he has now added goalscoring to his repertoire. For Chelsea, Frank Lampard will be key – and I loved The Chelsea Blog’s expression: ‘games like these were made for him.’ Frank is a friend, so I am biased, but I think he is the cleverest English player around. He has made a lot out of his lack of an excess of natural ability: he is no Messi. But, as we say in Spain, he can get petrol out of nothing and his link with Drogba has been pivotal for Chelsea over the last four years. Prediction: 2-1 in the first leg.
OK, If you didn't see the first half of the debate check it out here - LINK 
13 Comments · Add yours
i think chelsea players blow lampard out of proportion so much. he was once excellent, once the best in england, but that was like 4 yrs ago. he has no where near the talent of either xavi or ineista, i mean not even on the same plant. 10 assists in the league? plz, xavi must have over 25 minimum. messi must have around 20 too.
i like seeing guillem's love for iniesta. its good to see people recognize how excellent he is. i also feel he could be key. i hope he has his shooting boots on like vs sevilla, i can see him being given more space than others, and if he can sniper one into the top corner again, it would be just fantastic.
i enjoy this little debate, and good with guillem to get it going. and congrads to nic for getting the attention from him about the blog. like ive said, i tried to go to other blogs in the past, but they were all rubbish. this one is really excellent with a few really clever and knowledgeable fans.
FORCA BARCA tonight!
excellent debate from fcb news and chelsea blog. @fcbnews, your prediction of 3-1 rings eco in my head. i really see that as the most likely probability. on the case of the best player, indeed iniesta is the best player in barca at the moment but certainly messi is the best player in the world. just look at the last sunday times preview of the match and you will unarguably believe that messi is the best. you can see that messi has been moer thn excellent in key games this season especially against the 'big clubs' which chelsea just joined not up to six seasons back. the only challenge from chelsea is their coach. to me, hindik is the best ever and most successful coach i,ve ever known. he's succeeded well in all tasks he had faced, just remember his time at holland, psv, austrailia, south korea...russia,he gets the best out of nothing. but guardiola is a well growing coach and seems to pick new tricks from every game and with the teams performance against getafe which i consider as the team with ngreater semblance to chelsea style of play, i don't think it would even be out of proportion to predict a 4-0 1st leg victory because i consider bayern a better and tougher opposition than chelsea. well, few hours from now will tell but even a defeat against chelsea today(0.001probability)doesn't mean barca is out coz the last time we won, our team was also in a fantastic form and we lost in camp nou but had a deserved victory at stamford bridge. barca for treble.VIVA BARCA
I'm confident Nic, but really very worried about Drogba looking to get in to those areas at right back vacated by Alves when he goes rampaging. Long diagobal ball in to those areas are going to drag the CB's across and leave great big holes for Lampard to run thtough in the middle. Wonder if Yaya or Sergi might be used to mark him....
It is essential that we TRY not to conceed at all . It may not be a realistic objective but our defence and goalkeeper should be at their best and error free . We can not conceed too many corners and we have to be careful in defending crosses . Free kicks can be of little worry since all Lampard or Ballack do is take a wack at goal with little or no accuracy a la Roberto Carlos . Total rubbish . I would rather win by 1-0 than 2-1 or 3-2 !!
Regarding the game I just dont want to concede an away goal. 1-0 is a good result as we will get chances against them. We had a couple chances at Old Trafford last year when we had our really crap team so I can imagine we'd get some @ Stafmord Bridge in the return leg.
Alves needs to avoid a yellow card as he will be needed 2nd leg but I have a feeling he will pick one up soon.
Like I said I would be happy with 1-0 but can see the score realistically being 2-1.
Note: Can someone PLEASE take Alves off free kicks. Henry scored a ton by free kick and is much more accurate then just hitting it into a wall every time. Xavi is also good from the left so either doesnt bother me.
@Titi186, I agree . Alves has no business taking free kicks . Xavi is much better . Keeping a clean sheet could be more important than scoring a few goals while conceeding almost as many . We will have our chances both at home and away BUT we have to convert them . Everybody has to concentrate . This is not the time to lose focus !!
ive been bitching about alves and freekicks for weeks now
Guys..i just heard somethin very disturbin..i just read that Barcelona offered Etoo to some English clubs...Is it true or what??? GOd..if it is, Barcelona board are bunch of morons..and this news couldn't have come at a worse time..
@ Maverick977,
Although a lot of the news reported by some leading English tabloid papers are total rubbish but in football anything can happen . Any club can buy or sell any player at anytime . I would NOT be surprised if Barça and Eto'o parted company this summer . The story and the denials by Manchester City coach sound fishy to me . They say where there is smoke there is fire . I guess we'll have to wait and see . This is the most important week of the season . We need to do one thing at a time !!
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I don't know but I have a feeling that we'll see a lot of goals tonight. They can put all the defenders on Messi they want but that leaves all our other guys with great opportunities. I hope they step up and take it.
5-2 Barca!
Regarding the free kicks I don't think anyone has really proven they can take these consistently. How many have we scored this year 2, maybe 3? I know Marquez and Alves scored one. Maybe we should get Barkero from Numancia for these. Hehe.
for comments on the game (until I get the match report done) please send comments to the match preview thread - LINK
Cheers
excellent views nic, you did a great job.