It’s been some time since I saw such an interesting match. The second leg of the knock round is always something special. Fortunes keep fluctuating with every single goal. Every scoreline can possibly have different interpretations. Chelsea started as the favourites. After 25 minutes, Juventus were in control. After 45 minutes, Chelsea were in driver’s seat. After 75 minutes, it was Juve again with the momentum. After 80 minutes, Chelsea were on course to progress. It was really a tense match. For some reason, I was confident that Chelsea would score the goals as required and go through to the next round. We did just that.

This was not a great European performance by any means. Chelsea did just enough to progress. Typically, the first 20 minutes we weren’t there. By the time we could turn up, we went a goal down. Or should I say, we woke up after the Iaquinta goal. Early on, it did appear like Juve would run away with the match. The last hour of the match, Chelsea were in full control of the match. Over a period of 90 minutes, I think Chelsea had better chances to score. Petr Cech did make saves but only one of them stretched him, the rest were regulation saves for Cech.

Very very interestingly, Hiddink started with a 4-4-2 diamond which was necessitated by Essien and Anelka. With a diamond 4-4-2, Chelsea had no width of play. Any width had to be created only by the full backs. Ashley Cole was very good defensively but created very less when he went forward. Bosingwa did a good job as well but was trying to do Lionel Messi everytime he got the ball while he was going forward. Bosingwa is unable to run with the ball and because of that he keeps pushing the ball forward and chooses to chase it. Against good defenders this simply does not work. When possession was at a premium, he was testing my patience.

I was just hoping that we equalise by the half time. And that’s what I thought we did when Drogba blasted that free kick past the best goalkeeper of the world. Just note that Drogba beat Buffon in the near post where there was hardly a space of a yard through which the ball could go. The shot was a bit too quick for Buffon that he could catch the ball only after it crossed the line. I did not expect Buffon to tell the referee that it crossed the line. Not many players would do that. And not really from Serie A players who constantly complain of injustice by the referee. As you figured out, I don’t like Buffon. He may be the best, but I don’t like him.

Talking about the referee, this was not his best game. Not just because of the number of errors, he was also not able to control the situation at certain times. The Tiago handball that led to the Drogba free kick was not really a handball. Essien was kicked violently by Molinaro right in front of the linesman and that went unpunished. Cech did not handle the ball outside the penalty box but the Del Piero’s momentum which pushed Cech and the ball outside the box. Incorrect free kick there. The whole penalty situation was handled poorly. There was no need for all that ruckus by Chelsea players. It was an orhtodox handball by a wall player and it’s a penalty. Referee could not maintain the order there.

Both Drogba and Anelka didn’t do much for good part of the match. Anelka was often trying to do a Bosingwa, who was trying to do a Lionel Messi. Anelka lacks the ball holding skills in the middle of the pitch. Everytime he got the ball in the middle third, I was just screaming out loud for him to just pass it to someone. Because, he thinks he can use his both feet to control the ball and all that but when he is under pressure, suddenly he goes blank and his lack ideas gifts the ball to opposition. That’s my quota on Anelka. The worst Chelsea player of the night has to be Ballack. Very very reckless and irresponsible for a player of his stature and calibre in a European match of this importance. Terry did okay but must take responsibility for the first goal. That was scored right under his nose. All he did there was watching him score, pretty much what I did too.

Essien made a great comeback. You could feel his presence there. Though he could not create any attacks on his own, his presence was very obvious. He was his usual self with his coverage of the pitch and the unbelievable work rate. It was great to see him play again the way he always does. He must have been dreaming about scoring a goal in this match. I was pleased to see Essien score that crucial equaliser. And then there was Drogba. Love him or hate him, you can’t ignore him. He is a big match player. He is truly a big match player. The goals scored by Drogba carry a lot of weight, given the strength of the oppositions, the situation in the season and the pressure under which they were scored. Drogs is well and truly back. And what about Mikel? I thought he had a great match. Must continue to start matches despite Essien’s return.

I was impressed with the way Chelsea responded. The way Chelsea responded to the Iaquinta goal. The way Chelsea played in the second half was very impressive. There was no intention to sit back and protect the advantage. At the same time, our attacks were measured and controlled. Chelsea were able to attack without weakening the defence. I think Hiddink is working on the playing style with respect to tempo and control. I guess by April we could playing more complete football. Also, Hiddink was quick to respond to the match proceedings. When he saw that 4-4-2 was not working last night, he quickly changed it to a different system where Anelka was on the left wing but no one was on the right wing unless Bosingwa ventured forward. Overall, I was impressed with the way Chelsea played. There was always this belief, confidence and attitude to score and to progress.

This Chelsea of Guus Hiddink is not yet complete. He has brought us back to what we were but we’re not finished products yet. We seem to improve every match. Guus can take a lot of credit for that. Guus has come in at a very crucial stage, when the morale and belief were at the lowest, has won very key matches against good oppositions. My own confidence is sky high and I owe it primarily to Guus. Credit to Drogba as well with the way he’s hitting back form. When Drogba is in form, Chelsea is in form. Along with Lampard, Drogba is a high-beta player. I mean his level of performance positively correlates with the team’s level of performance. I’m mightily pleased that Drogba is back. If these two architects of Chelsea’s revival, Guus and Drogba, continue their form we can expect Chelsea to bring home trophies. Oh yeah, it is plural, trophies is what I said.

I’m very anxious and excited. Anxious because we’re playing Juve at Turin in a make or break match. Excited because the match would be telecast live instead of the Liverpool match. You might have read it a thousand times in the last few days – this is Hiddink’s biggest test. His Chelsea has won 6 consecutive matches in all competitions which included a home scalp of Juve themselves. A 1-0 result in the first leg at home is never enough. Our away form in the champions league has been pathetic. I see that the last away win in champions league was the 4-0 against Rosenborg in 2007. We’re now in 2009.

Hiddink’s actions have spoken more than his words. Both his words and actions have confirmed what his priorities are. He wants Chelsea to win. He wants Chelsea to control the games. He does not talk anything about the playing style and all that owner-friendly stuff. He talks like a astute tactician and his Chelsea has certainly improved since Scolari’s tactic-free days. Still we don’t control the game as much as we should. After we start controlling the games, we must start dominating the games. So we’re not there yet. There’s some more work to do. But there’s no denial that Hiddink has rejuvenated the team.

Sometimes, a significant change works. It worked in Real Madrid when Ramos stepped in. In Tottenham, it was the same Ramos who had to step out. Harry Redknapp even admitted that the change itself played a bigger role than himself in the short unbeaten run just after Ramo’s removal. The change has done wonders at Chelsea. It has brought back Drogba. It has stopped the leaking set pieces. It has brought back smiles to the faces of players and fans. Unlike the Harry Redknapp situation, I’d give a bigger credit to Hiddink because I see too big an improvement in the way we attack not to give the manager any credit for it.

Tomorrow’s match at Juve is way too significant to not progress. Sometimes, I even think that Roman sacked Scolari and at that time because he saw the risk of getting eliminated in the first knock out round in champions league. For him, progressing to the next round is very crucial. It’s now a matter of pride. The last time Chelsea were eliminated in the first knock out round was in 05-06 to eventual champions Barcelona, but Chelsea won the premier league then. This time, having won the first leg at home, we must consider ourselves favourites. The big question is, can we keep a clean sheet?

If I understand Hiddink well enough, he must expect a 0-0 at half time. That must put some pressure on the Juve players, make them impatient and nervous. Chelsea might look just for counter attacks, which fine by me. The counter attack that we made against Coventry City is a classic one. Just shows how dangerous we can be in counters. I think Chelsea would play a bit deep but apply full pressure on Juve to win the ball. When we don’t have the ball, every single player must work for the team. That’s when we’ll see the best of those players with all round capabilities. If Juve were to take a 1-0 lead, I won’t be surprised to see them take the tie to shoot outs where the result of Buffon vs Cech is written on the wall.

I guess Hiddink would play a 4-5-1. It’s a little too early for team news. I think Essien will be on the bench. The back four must be Terry, Alex, Cole and Bosingwa. I think we can even start with Belletti. Anelka is still unfit and that’s not the only reason why Drogba would start. Like Hiddink said ‘a happy Drogba is a dangerous Drogba’. Now Drogba feels fully fit too.

Thank god I feel 100 per cent physically. Now I have to work a little bit more to improve my chances in scoring goals in games. It is good when you score goals, your confidence gets higher. I’m feeling good and it is important to get games, because the more you play the more you score. I was out from injury and then when I came back it was really difficult for me, but that’s football. When things are going well nobody speaks but when you have some bad or difficult moments everybody is asking why, this is football. I work and work. When you work and want to improve something good will happen to you. I kept working hard and scoring and now people will forget the last few months.

It’s very difficult to predict champions league matches. Any result is possible. Chelsea are good enough to beat Juve. Likewise Juve are capable of beating Chelsea. Chelsea can get a clean sheet or Juve can win with a two goal margin. Anything is possible. My guess is it could be 1-1. I don’t see Chelsea getting eliminated. 0-0 at worst.

Will Chelsea progress?

• Yes, Chelsea will progress


• No, Chelsea will be eliminated



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