Sunday, April 29, 2012

'German Messi' Marko Marin

On Saturday, Chelsea confirmed the the signing of Marko Marin from Werder Bremen for a reported fee of €7 million to €8m.

The Germany international earned himself the nickname 'the German Messi' following a string of fine performances early in his career, but his progress seems to have stagnated as he has failed to make much of an impact in Bremen in the last couple of years.

Nevertheless, this didn't stop Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich from snapping up the 23-year-old. Perhaps the Russian believes he has signed the real Messi ...

Thanks for the memories...

Pep Guardiola ended speculation over his Barcelona future on Friday by confirming his departure from Camp Nou at the end of the season.

During his four-year spell in charge, the Blaugrana were ruthless, sweeping team after team aside en route to three consecutive Primera Division titles and two Champions League triumphs, among a host of other trophies.

With his place in the club's history assured, however, Guardiola decided it was time for a break...

Michel reacts to Bayern v Chelsea showdown

There was a sense of shock when Chelsea and Bayern Munich, against the odds, both progressed to the Champions League final at the expense of their more fancied opponents. Barcelona and Real Madrid were unsurprisingly red-hot favourites to stage a Clasico decider, with some even going as far as to say that the blockbuster clash was already in the bag.

Uefa president Michel Platini had admitted in early March that a meeting between Barca and Real would make a great final, but after Chelsea's resilient defending forced the Catalans out and Bayern sunk Los Blancos in a penalty shoot-out, the Frenchman will have to redecorate the Champions League trophy ahead of the May 19 final at the Allianz Arena.

Blues will not be following their leader

John Terry missed out on a chance to redeem himself for his penalty miss in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, after a moment of madness from the Chelsea skipper saw him knee Alexis Sanchez in the back in the first half of the Blues' semi-final second leg against Barcelona at Camp Nou.

The ensuing red card means Terry will miss the final itself this time around, as his team-mates went on to defend valiantly for the best part of an hour without a recognised centre-half to book their ticket to the May 19 final in Munich in the most thrilling of circumstances.

The Chelsea bus rolls on to their next destination, but Terry will have to hitch a ride in the Lionel Messi boat after the Argentine fluffed his penalty and will also miss the final.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Chelsea bus arrives at Camp Nou

Chelsea managed to defy the odds when they kept Barcelona off the scoresheet and secured a 1-0 semi-final win over the reigning Champions League holders at Stamford Bridge last week, but will they be able to repeat the feat at Camp Nou in the second leg?

The Blues' interim coach Roberto Di Matteo has insisted that his side will take the game to the Blaugrana in Catalunya in a bid to extend their advantage. Pep Guardiola, however, remains wholly confident that his Barca outfit will be able to defeat the west Londoners and that Lionel Messi will return to form having failed to score in the club's previous two fixtures.

Will Di Matteo keep his word and attack Barca from the start, or will he opt for the old park the bus routine?