Pep and Di Matteo agree battle far from over
Reuters - Wednesday 18 April 2012, 22:37
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola
and Chelsea counterpart Roberto Di Matteo agreed that their
Champions League semi-final was evenly poised after holders
Barca lost 1-0 in the first leg at Stamford bridge on Wednesday.
Guardiola said he expected, and got, a tough game against
Chelsea and anticipated another one next week at the Nou Camp
after the European champions were beaten on a rainy night in West London.
"A team does not reach the semi-finals of the competition
six times in nine years without being a strong team," Guardiola
told reporters after seeing his side totally dominate Chelsea,
but still end up losing to Didier Drogba's goal late in the
first half.
Guardiola, whose side created 24 scoring chances of their
own without finding the net, added: "I wasn't expecting to
create so many chances. Nevertheless, we did, but we could not
score and that was the issue.
"We knew it was going to be a challenge and it was going to
be difficult but we will have to see what happens in the second
leg. It is never easy coming to Stamford Bridge.
"But at home next week we will try and create as many
chances but it is never easy against a team that defends so deep
but we will try it."
Although his players were disappointed to have lost for only
the third time in 63 matches this season, Guardiola said matters
could be very different in the return leg.
"It doesn't matter how we feel now. Our focus and our target
is to win the Champions League again and it will be a different
match. It will be tough, but we are focused."
In a sense, Wednesday's result was a form of revenge for
Chelsea's interim boss Di Matteo. Twelve years ago to the day,
Guardiola was in the Barcelona side that beat a Chelsea side
containing Di Matteo 5-1 in a Champions League quarter-final,
but the Italian was more concerned with the events of Wednesday
and next week rather than the past.
UNIQUE STYLE
"I watched them against AC Milan and against Real Madrid."
he told reporters, "and they did exactly the same. They have a
unique style of playing and with quality players that's what
they do to you.
"The balance has to be good within your own team to beat
them. You need to be able to close down the spaces as much as
possible and limit the threat as much as possible... it was not
just the defence it was a defensive team effort tonight."
Drogba's goal was Chelsea's only shot on target but Di
Matteo added: "I think that when you score a goal and win the
game you deserve to win. Certainly they had more possession and
a few more chances but they always do so. You have to be
clinical when you play Barca and take any chances you get."
Looking ahead to the second leg, he said: "I don't think it
makes us favourites. You know what to expect when you play at
the Nou Camp. It's going to be very, very difficult but we have
to believe we will score a goal there. We have to be at our best
there."