Champions League Final 2012. Chelsea V Bayern.

[buzzy]

I'm not a particular Chelsea fan, in fact I've never really liked them, but yesterday was the pinnacle of tactical mastery. Sure, some luck was involved, sustaining pressure from Gayern for such an amount of time, conceding corner after corner after corner.

But they were well-prepared, didn't and couldn't just run into Gayern's open arms, instead waiting for their chance to come.

That is smart play. And whomever's calling the Champions League a "joke of a competition" has no clue. Chelsea qualified for this year's competition legally and made their way to the final. They showed tremendous resilience and determination by overcoming a 3-1 deficit against Napoli, then went on to eliminate FC fvcking Barcelona. Yes, FC fvcking Barcelona, a team comprised of Spain's and the World's finest football players. Again, some luck was involved but Di Matteo and his backroom staff had the team set up ideally (at one point with only ten men, mind you).

This cup is Chelsea's - but now, I wouldn't mind them not winning anything for a while. Just like Gayern.

your missing the piont where did chelsea finish last season respond and i will then ask you the next question

[MC Prussian]

your missing the piont where did chelsea finish last season respond and i will then ask you the next question

I know where they finished last season (2nd) and yes, they deserved to win this year's Champions League.

They reached the final and won the trophy through sheer determination and will power, against highly-favoured opposition.

After all, it's only football.

[buzzy]

I know where they finished last season (2nd) and yes, they deserved to win this year's Champions League.

They reached the final and won the trophy through sheer determination and will power, against highly-favoured opposition.

After all, it's only football.

you dont have a clue read up on the old format and then you might see where i am coming from . the smaller clubs who win the domestics leagues in there country have **** all chance of winning this competion because these so called teams you dont finish top of there leagies ie england spain italy france etc etc are getting more and more money. you will never see celtic or a ajax win it again football is slowly dying for this smaller clubs in europe

[Guest ttfn]

Same with Ashley Cole.

Ever so consistent and the best left back in the world, IMO.

Got a load more time for Ashley Cole than Terry though. EBJT really sickens me with his ludicrous on-field tubthumping, shirtless-armband-wearing persona. Despite the fact that Ashley Cole is clearly a monstrous bellend off the pitch, as a player he's a cut above.

Cole was magnificent last night. Didn't make a single mistake in defence, bailed out the rest of his teammates repeatedly and took a genuinely brilliant penalty. Man of the match by a distance last night.

[Captain...]

you dont have a clue read up on the old format and then you might see where i am coming from . the smaller clubs who win the domestics leagues in there country have **** all chance of winning this competion because these so called teams you dont finish top of there leagies ie england spain italy france etc etc are getting more and more money. you will never see celtic or a ajax win it again football is slowly dying for this smaller clubs in europe

The old format was becoming a joke, it was pretty much a formality for the big teams until the Quarter finals, the new format is much more exciting and throws up exciting fixtures all the way through.

The reason why Celtic and Ajax will never win it again is because they currently play in shit leagues that nobody wants to watch, whereas the premier league, Italian, Spanish and German Leagues are all much more exciting and marketable, so they get more money pumped into them, through TV rights, and therefore sponsorship and attract the best players.

In the old format the smaller clubs would get one (pay)day in the sun, and then get knocked out, now at least if they make it to the group stage they have a much bigger cut, and if they don't they get into the Europa League and get much more exposure than they used to.

Football has changed a lot, and money talks, the champions league is just a small symptom/cause, but one that I do think has been beneficial, Ajax will never be the kings of europe again because they cannot keep their young players and build from their youth team like they did before, now young players are transferred before their balls have dropped, and loyalty has become a dirty word in football, and that is down to money not the champions league.

[Free Falling Foxes]

Anyone else the flag amongst the Chelsea fans that read ..........over land, sea & Leicester?

[Jimothy]

I've sobered up a little from last night, and I still don't get it! I thought when I woke up it would all be a dream and Bayern would be champions! How the **** are Chelsea champions of Europe?!?!?

[I am Rod Hull]

Anyone else see the flag amongst the Chelsea fans that read ..........over land, sea & Leicester?

No, but the Germans had one with "over land, sea & Poland" on it.

[Matt]

That twat Drogba cost me £90!!!!

I don't like it when people say that bet lost me such and such amount when the include the winnings....no it didn't, it cost you the stake of the bet, but I had £15 on a treble, I was almost collecting the winnings then that twat pops up!

[buzzy]

The old format was becoming a joke, it was pretty much a formality for the big teams until the Quarter finals, the new format is much more exciting and throws up exciting fixtures all the way through.

The reason why Celtic and Ajax will never win it again is because they currently play in shit leagues that nobody wants to watch, whereas the premier league, Italian, Spanish and German Leagues are all much more exciting and marketable, so they get more money pumped into them, through TV rights, and therefore sponsorship and attract the best players.

In the old format the smaller clubs would get one (pay)day in the sun, and then get knocked out, now at least if they make it to the group stage they have a much bigger cut, and if they don't they get into the Europa League and get much more exposure than they used to.

Football has changed a lot, and money talks, the champions league is just a small symptom/cause, but one that I do think has been beneficial, Ajax will never be the kings of europe again because they cannot keep their young players and build from their youth team like they did before, now young players are transferred before their balls have dropped, and loyalty has become a dirty word in football, and that is down to money not the champions league.

old format was not seeeded so the big guns could draw each other while the smaller teams could play each other upto the final.if they got lucky but there not many smaller teams get through to the group stages and if they do do not reach the knockouts.i thought it was called the champions league because it supposed to be the champions of each dosmestic league in europe. its a complete farse and is starting to drive me away from professnal football

[Guest MattP]

Its far better now, look at the absolute shit Celtic beat to get to the final.

Quarter-finals FK Vojvodina 0–1 (a) 2–0 (h) 2–1 Semi-finals Dukla Prague 3–1 (h) 0–0 (a) 3–1

[Captain...]

old format was not seeeded so the big guns could draw each other while the smaller teams could play each other upto the final.if they got lucky but there not many smaller teams get through to the group stages and if they do do not reach the knockouts.i thought it was called the champions league because it supposed to be the champions of each dosmestic league in europe. its a complete farse and is starting to drive me away from professnal football

Your argument seems to be mainly that the naming is misleading, if it was called the European Cup, of Kings of Europe Club competition, then that would be ok?

You cannot disagree that the tournament is much stronger for the inclusion of Madrid and Barca, Milan and Inter, United and Arsenal, it was a bit silly that the secondary european competition (Uefa Cup) had more big teams in it than the champions league.

There is plenty wrong with football at the moment, but I don't think the qualifying format for the champions league is one of them.

[Mack]

I have to say I agree that the Champions League format seems fine.

If for example Dutch football had some better seasons in the competition then based on that they would get more places in the tournament.

The problem for these leagues in the home grown investment in their teams not being sufficient to sustain success leaving them selling their best players to other European leagues.

[BlueSi13]

Staggering result last night, as someone who lived and worked in Munich for quite a while i was a little torn though was obliged to back the English club (easier to do as 1860 Munich are much more likeable in my opinion).

As for people saying the competition should revert back to being a strictly "Champions" League....are they saying they'd honestly prefer round after round of:

KS Dinamo Tirana Vs Pyunik FC

Sk Sturm Graz Vs PFC Neftchi Baku

FC BATE Vs FK Borac

etc

Or:

Barcelona Vs Manchester United

Bayern Munich Vs AC Milan

Benfica Vs Arsenal

etc

etc

etc

I know which games id tune in for.

[Durnerz]

Dismal final in truth, Bayern huffed and puffed but their finishing was nowhere near good enough.

Good defensive display from Cole and Cahill in particular from Chelsea and up the other end Drogba turned it on as per.

What was with ITV last night feeling it more worthy of showing Roman Abramovich celebrating for 2-3 minutes rather than his players who had worked hard for the 90 and finally landed the elusive trophy?

Platini looked sickened having to hand the medals over to another english club. The only real plus of the night.

[Finnegan]

Lmfao tactical mastery lol.

Chelsea leaked endless chances, reasonable ones as well, Robben and Gomez just didn't bring their shooting boots for which they are immensely fortunate.

I'm not suggesting Bayern deserved to win or that Chelsea didn't put a reasonable effort in but they hugely rode their luck and anyone who thinks wasting the chance to send attacking threats like Torres, Drogba, Malouda and Kalou against a donkey of an old Ukrainian midfielder, stuck out of position, was some sort of strategic master stroke is not just biased but ****ing retarded.

Chelsea need be thanking whatever god is theirs for Didier Drogba's aerial ability and Arjen Robben's lack of composure and that's about all.

If Gomez had buried any one of three or four very good chances we'd be calling Chelsea's failure extremely limp wristed and Di Matteo hugely tactically naive. That he didn't was to no merit of the Blue's back four.

[AyewJoking]

On another day they would have been thrashed but thats football and Chelsea are worthy winners. Congrats.

[MC Prussian]

[Haydos]

Fvcking loved Ashley Cole last night, was absolutely everywhere. Disappointing get caught out for the goal because it was about the only mistake he made all night.

Drogba's goal as well, so much determination to reach that ball that he had no right to win and a piledriver of a header to match, capped off with the winning penalty. What a night for him.

[Fox in the North]

Just hope the English players that performed well carry it on for the euros and that includes penalties!! X)

[Guest ttfn]

ENGLISH FOOTBALL IN CRISIS!!!

[Raj]

He may be is a cvnt of the highest degree,but Cashley Cole is a bloody top defender...

Bayern had so many chances it wasnt even a contest...BUT if you dont put it in...they dont mean fcuk!!!

Drog is immense...earson should buy him!!!

[Finnegan]

ENGLISH FOOTBALL IN CRISIS!!!

I think I just hate people who buy in to hyperbole either way. Clearly English football isn't in crisis but also neither are English teams the strongest or the Premier League noticeably superior to the other top flights in Europe.

I feel the people who need to passionately assert either point vehemently annoy me. Especially those who take these one off results out of context and rub them in everyone's faces as if they're making a valid point.

Like the people who got highly sarcastic when Chelsea beat Barca in the semis and started eye rolling at the perceived "fan boys" "bumming" Barcelona expecting us to now see Chelsea as the stronger team. Is anyone stupid enough to believe Chelsea would finish ahead of either the Catalans or the Bavarians over a league season?

But by the same token, anyone professing the death of the Premier League just because City and United had a poor season in Europe needs to calm down and lay off the tabloids.

As I said in the other thread, I love the CL and it throws up some fantastic entertainment but a few rounds of knock out football you can draw your way through isn't really the greatest measuring stick of true brilliance.

[Soar Fox]

Just watched the celebrations at the end and I've got to say that Bosingwa is one annoying cvnt.

[Guest ttfn]

I think I just hate people who buy in to hyperbole either way. Clearly English football isn't in crisis but also neither are English teams the strongest or the Premier League noticeably superior to the other top flights in Europe.

I feel the people who need to passionately assert either point vehemently annoy me. Especially those who take these one off results

out of context and rub them in everyone's faces as if they're making a valid point.

Like the people who got highly sarcastic when Chelsea beat Barca in the semis and started eye rolling at the perceived "fan boys" "bumming"

Barcelona expecting us to now see Chelsea as the stronger team. Is anyone stupid enough to believe Chelsea would finish ahead of either the Catalans or the Bavarians over a league season?

But by the same token, anyone professing the death of the Premier League just because City and United had a poor season in Europe needs to calm down and lay off the tabloids.

As I said in the other thread, I love the CL and it throws up some fantastic entertainment but a

few rounds of knock out football you can draw your way through isn't really the greatest measuring stick of true brilliance.

Well exactly.

Question: which was the better team? Liverpool 05 (Traore, Biscan etc, but Gerrard and Carragher at their peaks, Xabi Alonso running the show) or Chelsea 12 (Bertrand, Bosingwa, half the team over 30 but some real quality)