Even before last Tuesdays incredibl (y lucky) result against Barcelona last night, I had a feeling that Chelsea were going to progress. It just had that feeling about it. One of those things. In the way Arsenal were meant to win the Champions League in 2005. (hmmm)....(sulk)
Looking at the stats over the two legs, they are nothing short of in-cre-di-ble.
Barca Chelsea
Shots on Target 29 5
Possession % 143 67
Goals 2 3
ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY THREE PERCENT out of 200. thats extraordinary. Unsurprising, perhaps, but extraordinary nonetheless, that the winning team had 67 percent share of the 200 pie. in another way thats less than 3/8ths. and this is football that is meant to be balanced. Even if a team parked the bus, that would be a unfair representation of of what Chelsea managed to achieve.
It must have been a bendy-bus....
An even more amazing stat is that Chelsea, in 180 minutes of play, had just 5 shots on target, and scored 3 of them. Thats a 60 % conversion rate. and for that they must be commended. In comparison Barca's success rate was just under 7%. What?......
Instead of match reporting, I want to focus on who Chelsea will play on May 19 in Munich.
Not Real Madrid, no, but European champions of 2000, Bayern Munich. And personally, I had a feeling it would be the Germans who would progress to the final in their own back yard. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo giving the spaniards a 2 nil lead after 15 minutes, it only meant a slight advantage of a solitary goal, and with Bayern already having had chances to notch the oh-so-important away goal, it came as no shock that Robben scored from the spot in the 27nd minute, after Pepe felled him in the Real penalty area.
So followed another 93 minutes of goalless football that resulted in the ultimate lottery of the penalty shoot out. Being contested by the most efficient of world footballs' takers; (xenophobia aside) Zee Germans!
And so it proved - after one of the worst displays of twelve-yard kicking - to be the Germans, who, once again, pulled through when it mattered.
This will be Bayern's second european final in three years. In 2010, the Germans lost 2 nil at the Bernabeu, thanks to a Diego Milito brace, inspired by a - Bernabeu bound - Jose Mourinho's Inter side. There is one thing for sure; Bayern Munich will not want to lose another final, let alone in their own back yard of the Allianz Arena. This for me will be key...
Chelsea will be without at least 2 key defenders in Terry who was foolishly sent off for a knee in the back of Alexis Sanchez and Branislav Ivanovic, who was booked - and subsequently suspended - in the aftermath. (Geoff Shreeves, what a guy). Add to that Cahill and David Luiz still struggling to be fit in time (although I suspect they will) and the Blues could be faced with a defensive nightmare of pairing Jose Bosingwa and Paulo Ferrerira along the back line.
shudder...
They will also be without Meireles, but perhaps most crucially, Ramires, who has been a total revelation for Chelsea this season. In a sea of egos, he seems to be the most grounded individual. His loss come 18 nights from now will be key. Chelsea will have a shout, with the irrespressible Juan Mata behind the main striker, whether it be Torres or Drogba and his support with Salomon Kalou.
Bayern too will be without key members of the team. David Alaba has been superb at left back since his Juup Hyenckes installed the 19 year old from March. He can be covered tho in the form of Phillipp Lahm, his natural position and - as Luiz Gustavo is suspended also - if not him Rafinha. The biggest problem could be the absence of Holger Badstuber, now a national team stalwart. The ukranian Tymoschuk or Van Buyten may be utilised, but both lack agility and this could be where Chelsea thrive.
Where the game will be won, I feel, is the presence of Robben and Ribery. These two will expose Chelsea's core and be able to Supply talisman Mario Gomez. Also Bayern can call upon Toni Kroos and Schweinsteiger to be the ball winners for the Germans in midfield.
So it's tough to call but because of home advantage and Bayern's supreme home record, I would shade Bayern, say 2-1...
I shall return with my views on the impending England managerial appointment
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