http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?id=174346
Through to the knockout stages
Thursday, Nov 27, 2003
Although last night’s goalless draw puts Chelsea into the knockout stages
of the Champions League, it was a decidedly frustrating evening coping with
Sparta Prague’s negative defensive tactics.
With both matches in Group G ending in draws, the positions in the group
table remain the same. Chelsea proudly top it with 10 points, our final group
opponents Besiktas are in second place on seven points, followed by Sparta
Prague and Lazio, both on five points.
The only certainty is that the Blues will qualify irrespective of the
outcome of the final group match away to Besiktas in a fortnight’s time. A
draw will be enough to guarantee our passage through as Group winners, while
any of the three remaining teams can still also qualify.
Claudio Ranieri admitted to being slightly disappointed that his side had
failed to find the net against the unyielding Czech champions.
“If I am pleased, I am also frustrated,” he said. “Our attitude and the
performance were good. We tried to score, we tried to win, but I would like to
say well done to Sparta because they defended very well and closed all the
space. They were a fort. It was very difficult – but we have qualified.”
Sparta’s stubborn ten man defence came as no shock to the Chelsea head
coach.
“We knew this match would be difficult because Sparta Prague, in my
opinion, play better away from home. They close all the space and try to play
on the counter-attack.”
If Sparta’s game plan didn’t surprise Ranieri, the linesman’s offside
flag for Hernan Crespo’s first-half ‘goal’ did.
“We created four or five chances to score but I don’t understand why the
linesman put up his flag. I think we scored a good goal. I didn’t think there
was any offside,” he complained.
By contrast, Sparta coach Jiri Kotrba was desperate for an offside flag to
be raised when, in the dying moments of the match, Adrian Mutu was one-on-one
with the Sparta goalkeeper.
“Definitely it was the worst moment of the match with Mutu just a few
minutes before the end. I was really, really hoping it will be offside but the
linesman didn’t put the flag up so I shut my eyes and I will have to watch it
on the video!”
Kotrba certainly appeared by far the happier of the two coaches, the point
earned tonight having kept alive his team's hopes of joining us in the last 16.
“In view of the Besiktas and Lazio draw, we have won a very valuable
point.”
And generously he tipped the Blues to go on and win the competition.
"Chelsea are a very good quality team. Some of the very good players,
namely Veron and Desailly, haven’t been playing tonight. So I might not say
that they will win but they will be definitely one of the contenders at the
winning post."
Veron’s absence ensured a start for midfielder Joe Cole. Asked about the
youngster’s contribution tonight, Ranieri commented: “Very good. I’m
pleased with his performance. He tried to score and is full of skills. He can
create something special.”
So two weeks time, Besiktas away – at a so far undecided neutral venue
– will be our final group match. With our destiny in our own hands, Ranieri
summarised: "A point tonight is okay, we have achieved qualification, but now
it is important to get a point against Besiktas in the final game and win the
group."
Gill Lester
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※ 編輯: JamesCaesar 來自: 210.68.50.26 (11/28 01:17)