For all those whining about Chelsea playing defensively today?

Had you been Hiddink what would you have done?

a) Ensured you were solid in defense especially considering the fact that Barca were fielding Henry, Eto'o and Messi up front with Iniesta and Xavi behind them, with the intention of grabbing an away goal on the break (as Drogba almost did) yet ensuring to maintain a clean sheet against Europe's best attack?

or

b) Go on the all out-attack knowing that this is the EXACT way to allow Barca's mid and attack to rip into you, thus assuring to concede goals and most likely lose by a a minimum of 2 goals?

It's a CREDIT for Barca that teams need to ADAPT to their play in order to get their preferred result. It is Hiddink's job to turn THIS into an advantage for him rather than to allow the opponent to rip into them for the sake of "beautiful football" and "pleasing the crowd on Y!A".

How is it beautiful attacking football from Chelsea's viewpoint if they were to have walked away from the Nou Camp with a 2-0 loss?

Please give me your views and explain to me why, if you think Chelsea was wrong in their game plan today, they should have played differently.

I am not excluding that they could have done a little more, but from what I read in the last few Qs some people's ideas prompted me to write this Q
 
i would play

4-1-3-2


attack on the break with pace and with the front 5 players going forward,best form of defence is attack. at least get a goal,keep the possession.

cheslea just had drogba to chase the ball!!!! your Italian so you would like this "defensive football"
 
Only thing i said good about Chelsea tonight was HIDDINK.
Tactics:
1. Wait for mistakes
2. Counter-attacks
3. Fouls

It was smart and payed off (to some point) but it gave a terrible impression to everyone except Chelsea fans, a total madness to all Barca fans and just something really not popular. I dont want such football to win even if i was neutral, it is pathetic, and they will lose at Stamford Bridge.
 
i think the people whining about chelsea playing too defensively need to suck it up. Teams do what it takes to get a certain result that will benefit them. Maybe chelsea did overdue it, but from the way certain people talk about Barca, especially one in particular, you would think Barca would be able to score a goal today...but now the fans are just blaming chelsea's defensive play, it's pathetic.
 
I think Chelsea did a nice job and held their own.

Barcelona had 20 shots on goal or something like that and they couldn't score? That says it all.
 
How do you score vs 10 man in the box?

I'm one of those Barça fan that's happy with today's result. But I want to know from the great football minds on here how do you score vs 10 man in the box?
 
I agree. Hiddink did the right thing. It's a two legged draw and Chelsea will try to win it at home. Barcelona are an elite attacking team, there is no way Chelsea could have beat them at what they do best.
It certainly wasn't exciting to watch, but they did what they had to.
 
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