BRAIN GAME ... Guus Hiddink
Tuesday, 28 April
2009
Confused? Well that is because the matches took place
in Hiddink’s head as he prepared for the real clash at the Nou Camp
tomorrow night. The Dutchman’s obsessive preparation includes
playing out the entire game in his mind, trying out players,
formations and tactics.
His biggest worry remains fielding Jose Bosingwa at
left-back against Lionel Messi but Hiddink thinks he is well
prepared. And while the Blues boss was not giving much away, he is
quietly confident about his chances against ‘the best team in the
world’.
The Chelsea boss said: “You have to think ahead and I
have played Barcelona twice in my head. “In my head, I have never
lost a game in preparation! But you have to focus a lot on the
difficulty and the complexity of the job Bosingwa has to
do.
“In my opinion, Bosingwa is playing one of the most
attractive players in the world.” Bosingwa was subbed after less
than hour of Saturday’s 1-0 win at West Ham because of some
stiffness in the thigh he injured last month. But he should be fine
to start against Barca, while Alex will return in the centre after
the weekend off.
Hiddink is well aware of the threat Messi poses but
knows he is not the only danger to be controlled. He said: “We play
against the best team in Europe — probably the world at the moment.
“Although they like to attack, we like to attack as well, but when
you play Manchester United or Liverpool, it is a less controlled
game and can go either way. Like pinball.
“When you play Liverpool or United or they play us, the
pace of the game can go up any second. Boom! “But Barca are very
smart. They can turn the pace of the game up or down. You think you
are in control and then all of a sudden they strike.
“They are skilful and have very good possession and can
frustrate a team by having possession. “We must not get frustrated.
If they score then we must have the confidence that we can score at
any moment.”
Despite the enormity of their task, Stamford Bridge
favourite Gianfranco Zola has told Chelsea’s players they will
become legends if they win the Champions League.
Zola — voted as the Blues’ greatest ever player — says
Frank Lampard and John Terry will replace him in that category if
they achieve glory. The Hammers boss said: “I’m sure there will
always be someone who beats records and who beats the previous
guys.
“Hopefully, that will be people like Frank and John
because they love the club. Chelsea have fantastic fans and I hope
they can give the same respect and love they gave to me to others
like John and Frank.”
The Italian played against Barca in 2000 and was on the
wrong end of a 5-1 thrashing. But while many are predicting the
Catalan team will win, Zola thinks it will be much closer. He
added: “I don’t think there were many people giving Chelsea too
much of a chance when they played Liverpool in the quarter-finals
and they made it.
“This team has the desire to win so don’t be surprised
if they produce an incredible game and maybe win on Tuesday. “The
core of the team is strong and they will try everything to
win.”
Meanwhile, Michael Essien has vowed to put a nightmare
season behind him and inspire Chelsea to Champions League glory.
The man many believe is their most important player, spent six
months out after picking up a cruciate knee ligament injury while
on international duty with Ghana. And now the 26-year-old
believes he is about to hit top form as Chelsea jet out to
Barcelona today.
He said: “I’ve not returned to my best level yet, even
though my first few games have been satisfactory. “I was struggling
a bit to finish matches at the start but it’s going better and
better.”
Essien’s first start after his injury was the last-16
second-leg tie with Juventus in Turin. Chelsea held a 1-0 lead from
the first leg but Juve scored after 19 minutes to rattle the
Londoners. But Essien struck on the stroke of half-time to give
them a 2-1 aggregate lead. The game finished 2-2 and Chelsea were
through, thanks in no small part to Essien’s awesome
contribution.
With three Premier League clubs in the semis for the
third year in a row, English football is the dominant force in
Europe’s elite competition. Essien added: “English clubs dominate
in Europe because every week in the Premier League we have to fight
to win.
“Against Liverpool, they continued to attack even at
4-4 when they were virtually eliminated.” The midfielder, who
signed a new four-year deal last summer, wants to finish his career
at Chelsea.
He said: “At Chelsea, we’re playing for the league
title every year, the Champions League and the FA Cup and we have a
chance of winning. Every week I play in front of capacity crowds
and I live in London. Why change?”
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