UCL Round of 16 (Chelsea Edition) ~ PlayBeautiful

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

UCL Round of 16 (Chelsea Edition)

6:27 PM By PlayBeautiful Match 1 comment

He's back. Didier Drogba is back at Stamford Bridge. The stadium was filled with Drogba banners and warm chants that greeted the former Blues' player. The stakes were high and Chelsea came into this match with full determination.

In the first leg, Mourinho had placed Fernando Torres up front. This time, the Special One decided to incorporate Samuel Eto'o in Chelsea's starting XI. Throughout this match, Eto'o was phenomenal with the ball. His presence was evident and his work-rate was impeccable.

Playing Hazard, Oscar, and Willian behind Eto'o was crucial in this match. The H.O.W. trio worked together and contributed immensely. Individually, each player demonstrated why he was MOTM material.

Hazard was able to get through those small spaces and outwit defenders. For example, the way he slowed down at times and then accelerated in order to mislead defenders exhibited the sheer talent that this player possesses. Hazard had Eboue on the palm of his hand.

Oscar stood out with his ability to read the game fairly well. He oozed creativity with his dynamic passing and looked as if he was always in the right place at the right time.

Willian was all over the pitch. He was able to charge forward with the ball and track back when needed. His ability to keep the game free-flowing and maintain pace was not overlooked. He added composure and stability.

Lampard and Ramires made a suitable link-up between the back-line and the attacking midfielders. Ramires was easily able to dispossess the ball from Galatarasay and ruin their tempo. Lampard contributed in keeping the midfield organized and in closing down Galatasaray's players.

Chelsea's back-line was exceptional. With strong defenders like Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill, and Cesar Azpilicueta, it prevented Galatasaray players from shooting the ball. Once Chelsea players recovered the ball, they quickly countered and regained possession.

During the fourth minute, Oscar provided Eto'o with an exceptional pass which resulted in a goal. One may argue that this goal was crucial for Chelsea because it had set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Chelsea's second goal originated from a corner taken by Lampard. Terry attempted a header but it deflected off Muslera. This was exactly what Cahill needed in order kick it in goal during the 42nd minute.

Overall, I thought Chelsea displayed a wonderful performance. Their exuberant energy and focus resulted in a comfortable win for the Blues. Mourinho made the right decision by selecting a 4-2-3-1 formation since it allowed a sense of balance in midfield. Players were able to move forward and track back when necessary. For the most part, Chelsea were well organized and played consistently throughout both halves. Choosing a MOTM is extremely difficult due to the fact that each player positively impacted Chelsea's win.