“I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier.”
So the lyrics of The Killers “All These Things That I’ve Done” rang out around the Nou Camp (after a rather hollow rendition of “El Cant del Barça).
Appropriate they were too after the most courageous of performances from Chelsea as the Blues completed victory in the Champions League Semi Final over Barcelona.
How it was done is implausible. Not many have survived that sort of onslaught from Barça. What’s more, this was a team just over a month ago devoid of composure, badly needing discipline and yet on the greatest of stages, in one of the biggest arenas in World Football, they followed up their fantastic performance at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday with another heroic effort. It wasn’t without event either.
Ten minutes before half time, Chelsea were a goal down as Sergio Busquets tapped in. With Barça pressure building, John Terry’s decision to knee Alexis Sanchez in the back looked a stupid and costly one as he was red carded. When Iniesta scored shortly after, it was hard to see any comeback materializing.
Yet seconds before half time, hope came. Like in the first leg, Chelsea took advantage of one of the few scraps they were given as Ramires impudently chipped the ball over Valdes thanks to an accurate reverse pass from Frank Lampard.
Game on going into the second half, or so it seemed as Barcelona were given a chance to regain the initiative. Fabregas was brought down by Didier Drogba in the penalty area. Lionel Messi was going to end his goal drought against the Londoners. The Argentinian obviously didn’t anticipate the crossbar denying him as Chelsea were further galvanised.
Still, wave after wave of attack came from the home side. Like a relentless tide, Barcelona kept coming but Chelsea refused to budge. Messi hit the woodwork a second time late on with a low drive but then came the moment of elation in second half injury time.
Fernando Torres has been much maligned during his fifteen months at Chelsea as his scoring touch has all but vanished. When it mattered most, the Spaniard rediscovered it as he latched onto Ashley Cole’s clearance on the half way line. Through on goal, he didn’t pass up the opportunity, rounding Valdes and finishing.
His previous profligacy in front of goal suddenly forgiven as Chelsea knew they would now advance to the final. They’ll be in Munich missing key players like Captain John Terry due to suspension, a thought which won’t be at the forefront of Roberto Di Matteo’s mind, unless he’s sitting next to Geoff Shreeves on the flight back from Barcelona.
Meanwhile in Catalunya, even the philosophical Pep Guardiola might struggle to understand how his Barcelona side have endured such a miserable week. This defeat will only compound the emotion felt after their loss to José Mourinho’s Real Madrid on Saturday, concurrently handing a large advantage to them in the La Liga title race.
Chelsea fans are unlikely to care. They will feel justice has been done with the demons of 2009, when Andres Iniesta netted a late winner at Stamford Bridge, eroded. Most importantly, in Munich they’ll have the chance to rid the ones of 2008 too although either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will provide stern opposition.
Whilst they’ll be without the soldiers of John Terry, Ramires, Raul Meireles and Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea proved in Barcelona that they certainly have the soul required to the lift the Champions.
Read more of Archie’s work at Gone with the Rhind
[divider]
