**** UEFA Champions League Prediction ****

[Simon]

heartbreaking doesnt really describe it, we got into a situation where we could have won, but it just wasnt meant to be. Im happy enough with the fact we made the semi finals and comprehensively out played AC Milan in the tie...

and how bout that last goal by Cocu wasnt that a cracker!

 

[aussie]

AC MILAN ALL THE WAYYYYYYYY , although i reckon liverpool could post a good challenge

 

[Magrat Garlick]

heartbreaking doesnt really describe it, we got into a situation where we could have won, but it just wasnt meant to be. Im happy enough with the fact we made the semi finals and comprehensively out played AC Milan in the tie...

and how bout that last goal by Cocu wasnt that a cracker!

That was awesome, yeah - probably quite a bit of luck involved but he certainly hit it perfectly

 

[marc71178]

Just a thought, but which side will be wearing their home colours?

 

[Sir Redman]

Surprise, surprise Mourinho is not taking his defeat humbly.

From the NZ herald website:

LIVERPOOL - Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho claimed "the best team lost" after Liverpool ditched his side out of the Champions League today.

Mourinho said Liverpool fans, who roared from start to finish, were magnificent but may have influenced the linesman, who signalled the fourth minute goal from Luis Garcia when his players felt the ball had not crossed the line.

"I felt (the support) was magnificent. It didn't interfere with my team but maybe it interfered with other people and maybe it interfered with the result. He made a mistake," said Mourinho, referring to Slovakian linesman Roman Slysko.

"Bring in the linesman and ask him why he gave a goal. To give a goal it has to be 100 per cent in and you have to be 100 per cent sure it was a goal.

"The best team lost that's for sure and didn't deserve to lose but football is sometimes cruel," said Mourinho, whose side wrapped up the English premier league title last weekend.

Chelsea had beaten Liverpool three times this season, including the League Cup final last February.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said he did not see the goal but suggested there should have been a penalty just before and also a red card for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who brought down Czech compatriot Milan Baros in the build up to the goal.

The Spaniard said it was hard to describe in another language how good it felt to win.

He suggested the difficulties of moving to another culture meant Liverpool had not succeeded in the domestic league where they are 33 points behind Chelsea.

"In the Champions League we have played very well for most of it," he said.

Liverpool were considered underdogs against Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea but overcame them all.

He will be happy if they stay that way for the final against PSV Eindhoven or AC Milan on May 25 in Istanbul.

Milan lead by two goals going into tomorrow's (NZ time) second leg in Eindhoven.



I'm a Chelsea fan but I wasn't too disappointed that Liverpool won - it would be good to see them win the Champions League.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Of course the best team lost - the Premiership table suggests that Chelsea are a little superior to Liverpool. Not good enough on the night though.

 

[Pratters]

Sportcentre Asia will supposedly have conclusive evidence about the controversial Luis Garcia goal using technology.

 

[shaka]

Chelsea have so many strikers yet they could not put the ball in the net in two games against Liverpool.

 

[Simon]

Sportcentre Asia will supposedly have conclusive evidence about the controversial Luis Garcia goal using technology.

not that it really matters now...

 

[Pratters]

not that it really matters now...

Agreed.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Chelsea have so many strikers yet they could not put the ball in the net in two games against Liverpool.

That's because their strikers were utterly inept in both legs, Drogba especially. They didn't miss a hatful of chances, they just kept miscontrolling the ball or giving it away before anyone could create a chance.

 

[Pratters]

Of course the best team lost - the Premiership table suggests that Chelsea are a little superior to Liverpool. Not good enough on the night though.

Barcelona was also not good enough on the night versus Chelsea. Doesnt mean they were a poorer team than Chelsea. If Mourinho can claim Chelsea is the best team, I can claim Barca is the best team too.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Barcelona was also not good enough on the night versus Chelsea. Doesnt mean they were a poorer team than Chelsea. If Mourinho can claim Chelsea is the best team, I can claim Barca is the best team too.

Chelsea's record in the CL this season: 6-2-4 (20 pts, 12 games)
Barcelona's record: 4-1-3 (13 pts, 8 games)

Add to that that one quarter-final they lost was due to complacency - they were 6-3 up in the tie and didn't bother to keep a clean sheet in injury time - plus the game they lost in the group stage was irrelevant (yes, I know Barca lost a game like that too)

I'd say Chelsea has been better over the whole season.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I wasn't too disappointed that Liverpool won.

I definately was!

What a bunch of idiots Chelsea are - whenever I don't want them to win, they do (all season, although once United were out of it I wanted them to win) and whenever I do they don't (Birmingham game, Liverpool game).

 

[Pratters]

Chelsea's record in the CL this season: 6-2-4 (20 pts, 12 games)
Barcelona's record: 4-1-3 (13 pts, 8 games)

I dont think the comparison would be fair considering different teams in different groups for the specific teams. For example Barca had AC Milan in its group who are the finalists at the moment.

 

[superkingdave]

I dont think the comparison would be fair considering different teams in different groups for the specific teams. For example Barca had AC Milan in its group who are the finalists at the moment.

They played 2 matches against AC, Chelsea played 2 against Liverpool who are also in the final...

 

[Pratters]

They played 2 matches against AC, Chelsea played 2 against Liverpool who are also in the final...

And Chelsea has played against the likes of Manchester United in the EPL, Barcelona have played the likes of Real Madrid.

I feel Barcelona is the best team despite the loss the same way Mourinho feels Chelsea is the best despite their loss. As Neil said for Chelsea losing because it was not their day, for me Barcelona had the same fate. On that day they werent good enough.

That is football.

 

[biased indian]

who ever wears red on 25 will win ,simple

 

[marc71178]

Barcelona was also not good enough on the night versus Chelsea. Doesnt mean they were a poorer team than Chelsea. If Mourinho can claim Chelsea is the best team, I can claim Barca is the best team too.

How can you base that claim on anything?

Chelsea and Liverpool can be compared on domestic league, Barcelona cannot be compared on that.

 

[Pratters]

How can you base that claim on anything?

Chelsea and Liverpool can be compared on domestic league, Barcelona cannot be compared on that.

Which is why it is ironic why people jumped on me when I said Barcelona is the best team and tried to prove me wrong. People can have different opinions regarding which the best team is according to them.

Also, with the kind of record Barca has in the domestic league, like Chelsea, it is not an outlandish opinion to hold.