Barca outclass Chelsea on and off the pitch

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

BARCELONA, Mar 8: Barcelona can claim two victories over Chelsea after knocking the Londoners out of the Champions League.

Not only did the Catalans give the runaway Premier League leaders a footballing masterclass on the pitch, but Barca coach Frank Rijkaard gave opposite number Jose Mourinho a lesson in sportsmanship off it.

Barca provided an exhibition of skill, discipline and maturity to outclass the Londoners.

''It was a great game and a great victory,'' said Ronaldinho, scorer of a magnificent solo goal that helped Barca to the 1-1 draw yesterday that put them into the quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate.

''Nothing beats winning a game like this and I'm delighted to have helped the team with my goals.'' Barca deprived Chelsea of possession in the first half at the Nou Camp stroking the ball around the midfield and probing for gaps in their iron-clad back four.

Although they enjoyed a handy 2-1 advantage after the first leg, they still showed more ambition than Chelsea.

Chelsea sat back and waited to pounce, hoping to trap Barcelona in midfield and then hit them on the break or manufacture a goal from a set-piece, but unlike last season Barca refused to take the bait.

Barca proved that they had learnt more from last year's defeat by Chelsea than the Londoners had from their victory.

The Catalans still possess devastating power in attack, but they now have a more steely midfield and defence which showed that it was more than a match for Chelsea's much-vaunted back four.

SLOW-BURNER The game may not have produced the fireworks of the previous encounters, but this tactical slow-burner exploded into life with Ronaldinho's brilliant goal 12 minutes from time. The World and European player of the year lived up to his billing when he bamboozled his way past two defenders on the edge of the area, shrugged off a heavy challenge from Ricardo Carvalho and fired past Petr Cech.

Frank Lampard's stoppage-time penalty was scant consolation for Chelsea.

Barca won their only European Cup 14 years ago and they still have a long way to go if they are to win it again. Unlike any of their predecessors in the last decade, however, this side has the combination of skill and strength needed to reclaim the crown.

''If we carry on like this we can achieve some big things,'' said defender Rafael Marquez. ''We've got a great chance of winning the Champions League, but we have to take it step by step, game by game. We know it won't be easy to get to the final.'' Far from crowing over his side's triumph, Rijkaard showed the sort of grace in victory that has eluded Mourinho.

''I'm not a guy who believes in revenge,'' said the Dutchman.

''It was a very important to go through in a wonderful tournament. For me it doesn't matter who we beat, we have to go on. Revenge doesn't come into it.'' ''I have nothing specifically against Chelsea or their coach.

I have great respect for what he is doing and I think he does a great job.'' Even when he congratulated Barca on their victory, Mourinho could not resist a dig and made much of the fact that his side played most of the first leg a man down.

''Barca have a great team, but they still haven't been able to beat us in a match of 11 players against 11,'' he said.

REUTERS

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