The Times
Michael Essien helps Chelsea see off Claudio Ranieri and JuventusJuventus 2 Chelsea 2 (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent, Turin
On the eve of this match Guus Hiddink offered only platitudes when asked what qualities a team required to win the Champions League, but his players provided a far more eloquent answer. In a performance of bravery, resilience and no little luck, Chelsea booked their place in the quarter-finals by doing just enough to draw a spellbinding match, in doing so demonstrating that they have what it takes to return to Italy for the final on Wednesday, May 27.
Chelsea have become experts in navigating their way through the latter stages of this competition, reaching the semi-finals in four of the past five years, and this latest group of players have shown that they are equally tournament-savvy.
As with Liverpool, Chelsea’s main men seem to raise their games on the biggest of European nights, with Petr Cech, the goalkeeper, outstanding and Didier Drogba arriving in the nick of time to score the 83rd-minute goal that sealed their passage. Even those boys in blue short of their best, such as Michael Ballack, dug in to contribute when it mattered, the sign of a side who have yet to peak.
Chelsea were second best for long spells against a Juventus team whose energy belied their advancing years, but such is the self-belief instilled by Hiddink that they never looked like losing, even when the home side were laying siege to their goal midway through the second half. The transformation since that supine surrender at Old Trafford two months ago has been simply extraordinary. What a difference a manager makes.
Chelsea’s modus operandi does them few favours, though any lingering doubts that the club were correct to dispense with Luiz Felipe Scolari can now be dispelled. It is certainly difficult to imagine that these players would have absorbed so much pressure before striking on the counter-attack under the likeable Brazilian, but they are a different proposition under Hiddink. Were it not for the fact that he made such a spectacularly bad appointment in the first place, it would be time to lavish some praise upon Roman Abramovich, the owner.
In a little more than a month, Hiddink has turned a collection of unhappy, self-centred individuals into a team. Before last night his main contribution had been hard work and organisation, but even allowing for a perfectly good goal from Drogba being disallowed, another ingredient was added to the mix — luck. The Dutchman rolled the dice with an outrageously bold team selection and his numbers came up.
Hiddink’s gamble on Michael Essien’s fitness initially backfired as Chelsea were overrun in the first half, but it was eventually vindicated as the Ghana midfield player showed remarkable stamina to follow up Frank Lampard’s shot to tap in an equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Essien’s brain may have been scrambled by being played out of position on the right of midfield, but his legs, lungs and heart remain strong.
Hiddink’s removal of Essien just after an hour was also well judged, as by that stage even he was tiring and his replacement, Juliano Belletti, played a crucial part in seeing Chelsea over the line. The Brazil player was one of few players to distinguish himself under Scolari and he confirmed his status as an invaluable squad player, shoring up the midfield and getting into an advanced possession to square the ball for Drogba to score his team’s second equaliser of the night.
Chelsea would have gone through on away goals even without Drogba’s fourth goal in five matches, but were never comfortable and several obvious weaknesses remain. Given the lack of creativity elsewhere in his squad, Hiddink has little option but to persevere with Drogba and Nicolas Anelka up front, leaving them vulnerable against opposition able to attack with width.
Juventus did just that in an opening 45 minutes in which they dominated, Cristian Molinaro providing José Bosingwa and Essien with all sorts of problems down the left before Vincenzo Iaquinta gave the home side a deserved lead. The Italy striker, playing in a midfield role, drifted in from the left to play a beautifully judged one-two with David Trezeguet, bisecting Alex and John Terry with his run to shoot past Cech. Three minutes later, Ballack gave the ball away to Alessandro Del Piero, whose shot was tipped over.
Cech also had to be at his best during the second half as Juventus pushed for a second, even after being reduced to ten men when Giorgio Chiellini was sent off for a second booking. The Czech Republic goalkeeper denied Trezeguet from point-blank range, but he was powerless to prevent Del Piero giving Juventus the lead for a second time, from the penalty spot, to set up a thrilling finish. The return of Ricardo Carvalho from a hamstring injury should solve some defensive problems, as Cech cannot always be relied upon to save them.
Chelsea somehow found an extra gear to leave the Old Lady lamenting their fate as the fat lady sang, but will need to add greater quality to undoubted character if they are to take part in the Roman carnival in May.
Juventus (4-4-2): G Buffon — Z Grygera, O Mellberg, G Chiellini, C Molinaro — V Iaquinta (sub: S Giovinco, 61min), Tiago, C Marchisio, P Nedved (sub: H Salihamidzic, 45) — D Trezeguet (sub: Amauri, 78), A Del Piero. Substitutes not used: A Manninger, J Zebina, C Poulsen, L Ariaudo. Booked: Salihamidzic, Chiellini, Del Piero. Sent off: Chiellini.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): P Cech — J Bosingwa, Alex (sub: R Carvalho, 89), J Terry, A Cole — J Obi Mikel — M Essien (sub: J Belletti, 66), M Ballack, F Lampard — D Drogba, N Anelka. Substitutes not used: Hilário, F Malouda, Deco, S Kalou, M Mancienne. Booked: Cech, Drogba, Cole, Anelka.
Referee: A Mallenco Undiano (Spain).
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Telegraph:
Chelsea beat Juventus to reach Champions League quarter-finalsJuventus (1) 2 Chelsea (1) 2: Agg: 2-3 By John Ley in Turin
Michael Essien made a triumphant return in Italy last night, the midfielder scoring the goal that takes Chelsea into the quarter-finals of the Champions League in his first start for six months following knee surgery.
Guus Hiddink decided to gamble by recalling Essien, but if it was a risk, then Essien did not disappoint, his lungs and legs lasting admirably before being substituted midway through the second half. Once again, the Dutchman displayed an ability to do no wrong. He may be insistent that his tenure at Chelsea will last only until the end of the season but, with each success, he is making it increasingly harder for Roman Abramovich not to offer him the world to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea look to Roberto Mancini and Frank Rijkaard to replace Luiz Felipe ScolariIt was not all plain sailing here, however. When Vincenzo Iaquinta gave Juventus an early lead, restoring aggregate parity, Chelsea were under pressure highlighting a poor first half performance. However, Didier Drogba, whose goal in the first leg was to prove so important, saw an effort clearly cross the line just before the 45th minute goal, but referee Alberto Mallenco, unaided by his assistant, failed to give it.
Essien responded seconds later to regain the aggregate lead but drama followed with Juventus reduced to ten men, Giorgio Chiellini walking for two yellow cards before Alessandro Del Piero converted a controversial 70th minute penalty to make for a nervous ending. Chelsea were heading for the last eight on the away goals rule but Drogba, with his fourth goal in five games, ensured a numerical advantage.
Perhaps it was the full moon that affected the poor performance of the Spanish referee, but Chelsea can feel happy with a job well done. It was no frills football, but a performance, nethertheless, of determination and intelligence. And it gives England a 1-0 advantage in a three-game rubber, with Manchester United and Arsenal now charged with completing what could be a memorable hat-trick of successes over Italian opposition.
When the first chance was created it came from a blue shirt, with Michael Ballack venturing forward strongly before unleashing a half volley off target. And then Anelka was only narrowly offside as he tested Juve’s defence.
But just when Chelsea appeared to be settling, Juventus restored aggregate parity with a masterclass in finishing. Iaquinta fed Trezeguet then continued his run, accepting the return pass and finishing with style, right-footed into the bottom corner.
The goal was designed to measure Chelsea’s resolve but when Del Piero tested Petr Cech, his swerving effort had to be punched over by the goalkeeper. Another Del Piero attempt, a dipping free kick, was held comfortably by Cech.
Chelsea’s formation meant that they effectively lacked a presence on the left side of midfield, though Anelka did drift wide, as shown shortly before half time when the Frenchman delivered a healthy cross, only for the Juventus defence to clear easily.
But a poor attempt from Anelka only highlighted the poor first half performance, easily the worst during Hiddink’s tenure.
But with just 30 seconds of normal time remaining Chelsea appeared to have a perfectly good goal ruled out. Former Chelsea player Tiago handled and Drogba’s free-kick was met by Gianluigi Buffon, but unconvincingly, and the ball appeared to cross the line.
Chelsea’s players were clearly furious but within seconds they did score and this time it counted. Frank Lampard shot from 25 yards, it took a slight deflection and was pushed onto the cross bar but Essien was on hand to bundle the ball home, right on the stroke of half time.
Television replays confirmed Drogba’s attempt did cross the line so the value of Essien’s goal could not be over-stated. The away goal meant that Juventus now needed to score twice to halt Chelsea’s passage but with Buffon looking erratic – he had to punch clear another Lampard effort early in the second half – is was the Italians who seemed more vulnerable.
Chelsea were now in control, frustrating both Juventus and their boisterous fans with good, sensible possession. This was no frills football, engineered by strong defending, good running off the ball and a solid midfield.
When Chelsea did come under pressure, Terry made a telling clearance from Salihamidzic, while Cech saved easily from Del Piero. Cech then saved well was Trezeguet on a night when he produced one of his finest performances for some time.
The referee, who had a poor game, created confusion in the 72nd minute. Play was halted by more than a minute as Chelsea argued with the Spaniard as it became apparent that he had awarded a penalty, against Chelsea, after spotting a handball in the defensive wall, with Belletti guilty of illegally halting Trezeguet’s free kick.
When play resumed, Del Piero converted the kick, almost nonchalantly, to the left of Cech.
But to make their task harder, Juve were reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes when Giorgio Chiellini, already cautioned, received a second yellow card for shoving Drogba in the back.
The referee was losing control and caused confusion when he halted play before awarding Juventus a penalty, converted by Del Piero. That made the remaining 20 minutes nervous, for Chelsea at least. However, Drogba converted Belletti’s cross in the 83rd minute to make certain of their passage.
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Independent:
Drogba seals Chelsea passage
Juventus 2 Chelsea 2 (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)
By Glenn Moore at Stadio Olimpico
Didier Drogba, whose disaffection was symbolic of Chelsea's mood under Luiz Felipe Scolari, underlined his rejuvenation, and subsequent status as the key player in Guus Hiddink's successful start, with the crucial goal in Piedmont last night.
Two-one down on the night Chelsea were in jeopardy of an early departure from the Champions League when Drogba, whose goal separated the sides in the first leg, stole his fourth in five games with seven minutes of the game remaining.
That finally killed off a brave performance from Claudio Ranieri's Juventus who had drawn level on aggregate after just 18 minutes through Vincenzo Iaquinta. Chelsea struggled to assert themselves but Michael Essien, making his first start after six months out with injury, scored a precious away goal in first-half stoppage time. That seemed enough, especially when Giorgio Chiellini was dismissed with 20 minutes left, but the evergreen Alessandro del Piero converted a penalty four minutes later to put the tie in doubt once again. Drogba, however, had the last word, stealing a goal which will make his 31st-birthday today all the sweeter. "Drogba's form is very important to us," said Hiddink. "What is important for us is he shows his commitment and is always busy. He does not give a central defender an easy night, and it is even better when he scores. He is doing very well, the goal showed he is sharp."
As well as the jolt of conceding early Chelsea also had what looked a good goal ruled out though the ball had crossed the goalline. Chelsea did score almost immediately after, and their response to such adversity cheered Hiddink who added: "A team which shows a reaction like that can win seven or eight times out of 10."
The Dutchman had approached the tie cautiously, dropping Salomon Kalou in favour of Essien and deploying a four-man midfield in which John Obi Mikel was in the anchor role and the left side was left unstaffed.
It was Essien's first start since suffering a knee injury playing for Ghana in September and it soon became apparent his role was to stifle Pavel Nedved. This quickly became irrelevant as Nedved suffered a knee injury. Ranieri must have despaired. He already had four midfielders injured, which was one reason for playing Iaquinta alongside David Trezeguet with Del Piero, a veteran of four Champions League finals, three of them lost, in the hole.
Nedved's departure seemed to unsettle Chelsea more for Iaquinta struck as they adjusted to Juve's new shape. It was a poor goal to concede. The Italian international played a simple pass into Trezeguet and kept going, Trezeguet flicking the ball into his path for Iaquinta to drive past Petr Cech's left hand.
The crowd erupted. Suddenly the banner they unfurled before the match, which copied Barack Obama's slogan, "Yes we can", seemed realistic. Yet Juventus failed to build on their advantage, Chelsea stifling them before striking back.
In the circumstances the equaliser was richly deserved. The circumstances were that two minutes from the break Tiago handled and Drogba's free-kick appeared to be clawed back from behind the line by Gianluigi Buffon. The goal was not given, prompting both managers to add their voices to the clamour for the introduction of goalline technology, but it mattered not. Within two minutes Buffon was again stretching for the ball after Frank Lampard tried his luck from 30 yards. Buffon pushed the shot against the bar, it bounced down, possibly over the line. Essien settled all arguments by winning the foot race with two defenders to stab the ball in. The Ghanaian had not looked match-fit, but he was sharp enough when it mattered.
"We started sloppily," added Hiddink. "We lost too many duels and they could play easy passes into our defence. We were not marking well and they scored. But we knew we must not panic as we can score at any moment, which we did. In the second half we controlled the game more."
Juve's frustration at Chelsea's control, of the tie and of the play, manifested itself on the pitch, where Chiellini was booked for ploughing through the back of Michael Ballack, and off it as the crowd were moved to jeer both a mis-directed pass, and Ranieri's decision to withdraw Iaquinta.
However, the game was not yet safe and Chelsea's own nerves were exposed when Cech got in a scramble on the edge of his box, and handled outside it. He was booked and though the free-kick came to naught Juventus were encouraged.
The Italians then pressed again and Cech redeemed himself by tipping over a Trezeguet header following a Del Piero cross. Hiddink's response was to replace the tiring Essien with Juliano Belletti. More significantly Anelka was moved to wide left in a 4-5-1 formation.
Juventus' task became mountainous when Chielli was dismissed with 20 minutes to go for scything down Drogba from behind, his second yellow card. But the drama was not finished. Belletti handled a Trezeguet free-kick in the area. After what seemed an age, with the Spanish referee besieged by Chelsea protests, Del Piero calmly rolled in the spot-kick.
Juve, roared on, pushed forward, leaving gaps which Chelsea exploited when the tireless Ballack released Belletti on the right and Drogba slid in to convert the cross. Chelsea are through to their fifth quarter-final in six years but they will have to play better if they are to finally realise Roman Abramovich's dream.
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchisio, Tiago, Nedved (Salihamidzic, 13); Del Piero; Iaquinta (Giovinco, 61), Trezeguet (Amauri, 79). Substitutes not used: Manninger (gk), Zebina, Poulsen, Ariaudo.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex (Carvalho, 88), Terry, A Cole; Mikel; Essien (Belletti, 65), Ballack, Lampard; Drogba, Anelka. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Deco, Kalou, Malouda, Mancienne.
Referee: A Undiano Mallenco (Spain).
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Guardian:
Essien and Drogba draw the sting from 10-man JuveJuventus 2 Iaquinta 19, Del Piero (pen) 74 Chelsea 2 Essien 45, Drogba 83
Dominic Fifield at the Stadio Olimpico
Chelsea have their quarter-final and scars aplenty to show for this skirmish with the Old Lady. A frenzied evening marked by a flurry of goals and cards, a timely reward for a player whose season had appeared wrecked by injury, and some bizarre decisions from the officials ended with Guus Hiddink's side safely ensconced in the last eight. They may not have sent shockwaves across Europe, but at least there is evidence that the resilience is back.
It took a goal against 10 men finally to deflate Claudio Ranieri's side. Juliano Belletti, whose handball had presented Juventus with an unlikely late lead, eked out space down the right and crossed low for Didier Drogba, capitalising on the space left by the dismissed Giorgio Chiellini, to slide in the second equaliser. That was fine reward for the Ivorian, though it was Michael Essien's name that was chorused at the end, the midfielder having scored on his first start in over six months. There is more to come from the Ghanaian, and the same might be said of this team.
Chelsea had known this was likely to prove an uncomfortable occasion. Juve had overcome first-leg deficits to force progress in the knock-out phase of this competition four times in the past, and had shown flashes of class in thrusting the home side back in the first leg despite conceding an early goal. Hiddink must have feared seeing his side subjected to a scorching start and his selection was nothing if not bold, handing Essien a first start since August and with Nicolas Anelka, absent from training all last week nursing a toe injury, beginning up front.
The pair had an immediate impact, if not in the way their manager had envisaged. Both clattered Pavel Nedved in the early exchanges, forcing the Czech from the field before the quarter-hour mark clutching his ribs and leaving Juve apparently shorn of creativity. Even so they had forged level in the tie before, with the interval approaching, Essien proved his worth in more legitimate manner.
The visitors were still coming to terms with a linesman's insistence that Drogba's near-post free-kick, bent round the wall, had not crossed the line when, within seconds, Frank Lampard emerged from the midfield stodge to crash a shot from distance on to the underside of the crossbar via Buffon's touch. The ball cannoned down near the goal-line again with Buffon prone for Essien, marauding through the centre, to knock it into the net.
The Ghanaian has been through so much on the sidelines this season that he deserved the reward – celebrated with gusto and the coaching staff – and it was a dagger to Juve's hopes. For so long they had appeared destined to prosper, their midfield runners disturbing Chelsea's rhythm and the clever inter-play of their front trio threatening to expose the frailties which had surfaced too often before Hiddink's arrival.
The game had taken almost 20 minutes to erupt. Then David Trezeguet collected Vincenzo Iaquinta's pass and flicked an exquisite ball inside John Terry and Ashley Cole for the Italy forward to gather. His finish was emphatic and the Premier League team quivered.
In the aftermath of that goal the contest had appeared Juve's for the taking. Alessandro Del Piero, losing Mikel John Obi at will, had prompted and provided to make up for Nedved's absence. It was the veteran's free-kick that had Petr Cech palming up and away with little conviction, the goalkeeper gathering another swerving attempt as the home side, sensing vulnerability, toyed with befuddled opponents. Yet the manner of the riposte just before the interval knocked the belief from the Italians' approach.
Thereafter it was Chelsea who threatened further reward, conceding possession in the centre and waiting for Juventus's frantic players to over-elaborate before pouncing on the counter. Lampard, his influence restored, glided into dangerous areas. There was outrage in the Curva Sud when Cech handled outside his area, sliding out near the touchline to gather but was shown only yellow, the locals taking their ire out on the officials who had denied Drogba the first-half goal.
The tone of the tie had been transformed, the urgency all Italian but Chelsea restored to their dogged best, though the officials were not done influencing affairs just yet. Chiellini's second yellow card, this one for dissent, had appeared to have settled matters, but the Spanish official penalised Belletti for handball as Del Piero's free-kick veered into the area to present the Italians with an unlikely route back into the game. Del Piero calmly stroked in the penalty and Chelsea, so dominant, were fretting again.
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Mail:
Juventus 2 Chelsea 2: The Train is on time with vital goal as Juve fall
Chelsea win 3-2 on aggreagateBy Matt Lawton from Turin
Amid the chaos and confusion of an enthralling Champions League encounter, Michael Essien, known to his team-mates as The Train, arrived on time and so, more crucially, did a goal from Didier Drogba. Chelsea are through to yet another Champions League quarter-final but they made hard work of it here, almost contriving at one stage to succumb to a spirited Juventus side that had actually been reduced to 10 men. It was absorbing stuff. A bumptiously-executed penalty from the forever-young Alessandro Del Piero and suddenly the Italians had 16 minutes to score what would have been a decisive goal.
But from Juliano Belletti came a cross that made amends for the needless handball that had led to Del Piero's spot-kick; and from a rejuvenated Drogba came the goal that had Guus Hiddink shaking his fist in celebration at the final whistle. In fairness to the Old Lady, she probably felt as if she had been mugged, given how she dominated much of this contest. Chelsea were disappointing last night, as even Ray Wilkins admitted in his half-time verdict to the television cameras. 'We were poor,' he said. In fairness to Chelsea they did, however, have what replays suggested was a perfectly good goal disallowed when Gianluigi Buffon failed to stop Drogba's bullet free-kick from crossing the line in the 43rd minute.
Chelsea, down to what amounted to a wonderful opening goal from Vincenzo Iaquinta in the 19th minute, were struggling and the sight of the match officials signalling for play to continue in the wake of Buffon's controversial save only worsened their mood. Little more than three minutes later, though, in first-half added time, and Essien had demonstrated why his comparison to a locomotive goes beyond that awesome combination of pace and power.
Mussolini once made the trains run on time in Italy and even he would have admired the sheer perfection of Essien's arrival after seeing Buffon push a deflected effort from Frank Lampard against the bar. In the second or so Buffon spent trying desperately to regain his balance and possession of the ball, Essien had pounced ahead of Juve's central defenders to mark his long-awaited return to Champions League football in style. It must have been tough for Claudio Ranieri to take, especially when he had proved to his former employers that his tinkering is sometimes based on sound tactical thinking. The loss of Pavel Nedved to injury after only 13 minutes amounted to a major disruption but Ranieri reshuffled his side impressively, deploying Del Piero in Nedved's playmaker role, pushing Iaquinta alongside David Trezeguet in attack and sending on the excellent Hasan Salihamidzic to sit in central midfield.
Only six minutes later and the switch had produced a goal. A backheel from Iaquinta was followed by a great pass from Trezeguet that in turn was rewarded with a sublime finish from his new partner. If they made John Terry and Ashley Cole look rather foolish, it was as much down to the sheer quality of their football as it was the static nature of Chelsea's defending. It was exactly what both sides deserved, Juve for their invention and industry, Chelsea for naively believing they could sit back and protect the one-goal advantage they had brought from Stamford Bridge. Hiddink said it would be dangerous to sit so deep but that was exactly the approach his side employed, inviting Juve to extend their lead, forcing Petr Cech to make the first of a series of fine saves to deny Del Piero. Not once in those previous five games under Hiddink had Chelsea gone a goal behind but here they were in such a position and they appeared to be in trouble, albeit in a tie that was now perfectly balanced. Frustration began to surge through those blue Chelsea veins. Essien was incensed when a decision was given against him. Michael Ballack shook his head when a pass went astray. They seemed bereft of ideas. Sadly lacking in inspiration. Until, that is, they suddenly earned a free-kick shortly before the interval. A free-kick that would lead to a goal that would not be given but would succeed in injecting some life into this stuttering Chelsea side.
Hiddink said they might need a bit of good fortune as well as good football and it did eventually come in the form of the deflection that suddenly made Lampard's shot that much more difficult for the brilliant Buffon. A goal for Essien. Disaster for Juve. Thanks to the away-goal rule, Juve now needed to score twice to progress to the last eight but my how hard they worked in trying to trying to perform what appeared the impossible. After the break and the fluent football had given way to a more frantic approach but one that in some ways was more effective. Cech had to produce a world-class save to guide a Trezeguet header to safety and the Chelsea goalkeeper excelled again when he held a searching free-kick from Sebastian Giovinco. When Giorgio Chiellini was then dismissed in the 71st minute for a second yellow card for what seemed to be dissent, Chelsea must have thought they were home and dry. That, however, was before Belletti - on as a replacement for the exhausted Essien - decided in a moment of madness to raise a hand in stopping a free -kick from Trezeguet. This Del Piero did not miss, ignoring the disgraceful protests of an angry Chelsea mob and inviting Juve to make the final 16 minutes all the more compelling.
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Michael Essien helps Chelsea see off Claudio Ranieri and JuventusJuventus 2 Chelsea 2 (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent, Turin
On the eve of this match Guus Hiddink offered only platitudes when asked what qualities a team required to win the Champions League, but his players provided a far more eloquent answer. In a performance of bravery, resilience and no little luck, Chelsea booked their place in the quarter-finals by doing just enough to draw a spellbinding match, in doing so demonstrating that they have what it takes to return to Italy for the final on Wednesday, May 27.
Chelsea have become experts in navigating their way through the latter stages of this competition, reaching the semi-finals in four of the past five years, and this latest group of players have shown that they are equally tournament-savvy.
As with Liverpool, Chelsea’s main men seem to raise their games on the biggest of European nights, with Petr Cech, the goalkeeper, outstanding and Didier Drogba arriving in the nick of time to score the 83rd-minute goal that sealed their passage. Even those boys in blue short of their best, such as Michael Ballack, dug in to contribute when it mattered, the sign of a side who have yet to peak.
Chelsea were second best for long spells against a Juventus team whose energy belied their advancing years, but such is the self-belief instilled by Hiddink that they never looked like losing, even when the home side were laying siege to their goal midway through the second half. The transformation since that supine surrender at Old Trafford two months ago has been simply extraordinary. What a difference a manager makes.
Chelsea’s modus operandi does them few favours, though any lingering doubts that the club were correct to dispense with Luiz Felipe Scolari can now be dispelled. It is certainly difficult to imagine that these players would have absorbed so much pressure before striking on the counter-attack under the likeable Brazilian, but they are a different proposition under Hiddink. Were it not for the fact that he made such a spectacularly bad appointment in the first place, it would be time to lavish some praise upon Roman Abramovich, the owner.
In a little more than a month, Hiddink has turned a collection of unhappy, self-centred individuals into a team. Before last night his main contribution had been hard work and organisation, but even allowing for a perfectly good goal from Drogba being disallowed, another ingredient was added to the mix — luck. The Dutchman rolled the dice with an outrageously bold team selection and his numbers came up.
Hiddink’s gamble on Michael Essien’s fitness initially backfired as Chelsea were overrun in the first half, but it was eventually vindicated as the Ghana midfield player showed remarkable stamina to follow up Frank Lampard’s shot to tap in an equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Essien’s brain may have been scrambled by being played out of position on the right of midfield, but his legs, lungs and heart remain strong.
Hiddink’s removal of Essien just after an hour was also well judged, as by that stage even he was tiring and his replacement, Juliano Belletti, played a crucial part in seeing Chelsea over the line. The Brazil player was one of few players to distinguish himself under Scolari and he confirmed his status as an invaluable squad player, shoring up the midfield and getting into an advanced possession to square the ball for Drogba to score his team’s second equaliser of the night.
Chelsea would have gone through on away goals even without Drogba’s fourth goal in five matches, but were never comfortable and several obvious weaknesses remain. Given the lack of creativity elsewhere in his squad, Hiddink has little option but to persevere with Drogba and Nicolas Anelka up front, leaving them vulnerable against opposition able to attack with width.
Juventus did just that in an opening 45 minutes in which they dominated, Cristian Molinaro providing José Bosingwa and Essien with all sorts of problems down the left before Vincenzo Iaquinta gave the home side a deserved lead. The Italy striker, playing in a midfield role, drifted in from the left to play a beautifully judged one-two with David Trezeguet, bisecting Alex and John Terry with his run to shoot past Cech. Three minutes later, Ballack gave the ball away to Alessandro Del Piero, whose shot was tipped over.
Cech also had to be at his best during the second half as Juventus pushed for a second, even after being reduced to ten men when Giorgio Chiellini was sent off for a second booking. The Czech Republic goalkeeper denied Trezeguet from point-blank range, but he was powerless to prevent Del Piero giving Juventus the lead for a second time, from the penalty spot, to set up a thrilling finish. The return of Ricardo Carvalho from a hamstring injury should solve some defensive problems, as Cech cannot always be relied upon to save them.
Chelsea somehow found an extra gear to leave the Old Lady lamenting their fate as the fat lady sang, but will need to add greater quality to undoubted character if they are to take part in the Roman carnival in May.
Juventus (4-4-2): G Buffon — Z Grygera, O Mellberg, G Chiellini, C Molinaro — V Iaquinta (sub: S Giovinco, 61min), Tiago, C Marchisio, P Nedved (sub: H Salihamidzic, 45) — D Trezeguet (sub: Amauri, 78), A Del Piero. Substitutes not used: A Manninger, J Zebina, C Poulsen, L Ariaudo. Booked: Salihamidzic, Chiellini, Del Piero. Sent off: Chiellini.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): P Cech — J Bosingwa, Alex (sub: R Carvalho, 89), J Terry, A Cole — J Obi Mikel — M Essien (sub: J Belletti, 66), M Ballack, F Lampard — D Drogba, N Anelka. Substitutes not used: Hilário, F Malouda, Deco, S Kalou, M Mancienne. Booked: Cech, Drogba, Cole, Anelka.
Referee: A Mallenco Undiano (Spain).
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Telegraph:
Chelsea beat Juventus to reach Champions League quarter-finalsJuventus (1) 2 Chelsea (1) 2: Agg: 2-3 By John Ley in Turin
Michael Essien made a triumphant return in Italy last night, the midfielder scoring the goal that takes Chelsea into the quarter-finals of the Champions League in his first start for six months following knee surgery.
Guus Hiddink decided to gamble by recalling Essien, but if it was a risk, then Essien did not disappoint, his lungs and legs lasting admirably before being substituted midway through the second half. Once again, the Dutchman displayed an ability to do no wrong. He may be insistent that his tenure at Chelsea will last only until the end of the season but, with each success, he is making it increasingly harder for Roman Abramovich not to offer him the world to stay at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea look to Roberto Mancini and Frank Rijkaard to replace Luiz Felipe ScolariIt was not all plain sailing here, however. When Vincenzo Iaquinta gave Juventus an early lead, restoring aggregate parity, Chelsea were under pressure highlighting a poor first half performance. However, Didier Drogba, whose goal in the first leg was to prove so important, saw an effort clearly cross the line just before the 45th minute goal, but referee Alberto Mallenco, unaided by his assistant, failed to give it.
Essien responded seconds later to regain the aggregate lead but drama followed with Juventus reduced to ten men, Giorgio Chiellini walking for two yellow cards before Alessandro Del Piero converted a controversial 70th minute penalty to make for a nervous ending. Chelsea were heading for the last eight on the away goals rule but Drogba, with his fourth goal in five games, ensured a numerical advantage.
Perhaps it was the full moon that affected the poor performance of the Spanish referee, but Chelsea can feel happy with a job well done. It was no frills football, but a performance, nethertheless, of determination and intelligence. And it gives England a 1-0 advantage in a three-game rubber, with Manchester United and Arsenal now charged with completing what could be a memorable hat-trick of successes over Italian opposition.
When the first chance was created it came from a blue shirt, with Michael Ballack venturing forward strongly before unleashing a half volley off target. And then Anelka was only narrowly offside as he tested Juve’s defence.
But just when Chelsea appeared to be settling, Juventus restored aggregate parity with a masterclass in finishing. Iaquinta fed Trezeguet then continued his run, accepting the return pass and finishing with style, right-footed into the bottom corner.
The goal was designed to measure Chelsea’s resolve but when Del Piero tested Petr Cech, his swerving effort had to be punched over by the goalkeeper. Another Del Piero attempt, a dipping free kick, was held comfortably by Cech.
Chelsea’s formation meant that they effectively lacked a presence on the left side of midfield, though Anelka did drift wide, as shown shortly before half time when the Frenchman delivered a healthy cross, only for the Juventus defence to clear easily.
But a poor attempt from Anelka only highlighted the poor first half performance, easily the worst during Hiddink’s tenure.
But with just 30 seconds of normal time remaining Chelsea appeared to have a perfectly good goal ruled out. Former Chelsea player Tiago handled and Drogba’s free-kick was met by Gianluigi Buffon, but unconvincingly, and the ball appeared to cross the line.
Chelsea’s players were clearly furious but within seconds they did score and this time it counted. Frank Lampard shot from 25 yards, it took a slight deflection and was pushed onto the cross bar but Essien was on hand to bundle the ball home, right on the stroke of half time.
Television replays confirmed Drogba’s attempt did cross the line so the value of Essien’s goal could not be over-stated. The away goal meant that Juventus now needed to score twice to halt Chelsea’s passage but with Buffon looking erratic – he had to punch clear another Lampard effort early in the second half – is was the Italians who seemed more vulnerable.
Chelsea were now in control, frustrating both Juventus and their boisterous fans with good, sensible possession. This was no frills football, engineered by strong defending, good running off the ball and a solid midfield.
When Chelsea did come under pressure, Terry made a telling clearance from Salihamidzic, while Cech saved easily from Del Piero. Cech then saved well was Trezeguet on a night when he produced one of his finest performances for some time.
The referee, who had a poor game, created confusion in the 72nd minute. Play was halted by more than a minute as Chelsea argued with the Spaniard as it became apparent that he had awarded a penalty, against Chelsea, after spotting a handball in the defensive wall, with Belletti guilty of illegally halting Trezeguet’s free kick.
When play resumed, Del Piero converted the kick, almost nonchalantly, to the left of Cech.
But to make their task harder, Juve were reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes when Giorgio Chiellini, already cautioned, received a second yellow card for shoving Drogba in the back.
The referee was losing control and caused confusion when he halted play before awarding Juventus a penalty, converted by Del Piero. That made the remaining 20 minutes nervous, for Chelsea at least. However, Drogba converted Belletti’s cross in the 83rd minute to make certain of their passage.
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Independent:
Drogba seals Chelsea passage
Juventus 2 Chelsea 2 (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)
By Glenn Moore at Stadio Olimpico
Didier Drogba, whose disaffection was symbolic of Chelsea's mood under Luiz Felipe Scolari, underlined his rejuvenation, and subsequent status as the key player in Guus Hiddink's successful start, with the crucial goal in Piedmont last night.
Two-one down on the night Chelsea were in jeopardy of an early departure from the Champions League when Drogba, whose goal separated the sides in the first leg, stole his fourth in five games with seven minutes of the game remaining.
That finally killed off a brave performance from Claudio Ranieri's Juventus who had drawn level on aggregate after just 18 minutes through Vincenzo Iaquinta. Chelsea struggled to assert themselves but Michael Essien, making his first start after six months out with injury, scored a precious away goal in first-half stoppage time. That seemed enough, especially when Giorgio Chiellini was dismissed with 20 minutes left, but the evergreen Alessandro del Piero converted a penalty four minutes later to put the tie in doubt once again. Drogba, however, had the last word, stealing a goal which will make his 31st-birthday today all the sweeter. "Drogba's form is very important to us," said Hiddink. "What is important for us is he shows his commitment and is always busy. He does not give a central defender an easy night, and it is even better when he scores. He is doing very well, the goal showed he is sharp."
As well as the jolt of conceding early Chelsea also had what looked a good goal ruled out though the ball had crossed the goalline. Chelsea did score almost immediately after, and their response to such adversity cheered Hiddink who added: "A team which shows a reaction like that can win seven or eight times out of 10."
The Dutchman had approached the tie cautiously, dropping Salomon Kalou in favour of Essien and deploying a four-man midfield in which John Obi Mikel was in the anchor role and the left side was left unstaffed.
It was Essien's first start since suffering a knee injury playing for Ghana in September and it soon became apparent his role was to stifle Pavel Nedved. This quickly became irrelevant as Nedved suffered a knee injury. Ranieri must have despaired. He already had four midfielders injured, which was one reason for playing Iaquinta alongside David Trezeguet with Del Piero, a veteran of four Champions League finals, three of them lost, in the hole.
Nedved's departure seemed to unsettle Chelsea more for Iaquinta struck as they adjusted to Juve's new shape. It was a poor goal to concede. The Italian international played a simple pass into Trezeguet and kept going, Trezeguet flicking the ball into his path for Iaquinta to drive past Petr Cech's left hand.
The crowd erupted. Suddenly the banner they unfurled before the match, which copied Barack Obama's slogan, "Yes we can", seemed realistic. Yet Juventus failed to build on their advantage, Chelsea stifling them before striking back.
In the circumstances the equaliser was richly deserved. The circumstances were that two minutes from the break Tiago handled and Drogba's free-kick appeared to be clawed back from behind the line by Gianluigi Buffon. The goal was not given, prompting both managers to add their voices to the clamour for the introduction of goalline technology, but it mattered not. Within two minutes Buffon was again stretching for the ball after Frank Lampard tried his luck from 30 yards. Buffon pushed the shot against the bar, it bounced down, possibly over the line. Essien settled all arguments by winning the foot race with two defenders to stab the ball in. The Ghanaian had not looked match-fit, but he was sharp enough when it mattered.
"We started sloppily," added Hiddink. "We lost too many duels and they could play easy passes into our defence. We were not marking well and they scored. But we knew we must not panic as we can score at any moment, which we did. In the second half we controlled the game more."
Juve's frustration at Chelsea's control, of the tie and of the play, manifested itself on the pitch, where Chiellini was booked for ploughing through the back of Michael Ballack, and off it as the crowd were moved to jeer both a mis-directed pass, and Ranieri's decision to withdraw Iaquinta.
However, the game was not yet safe and Chelsea's own nerves were exposed when Cech got in a scramble on the edge of his box, and handled outside it. He was booked and though the free-kick came to naught Juventus were encouraged.
The Italians then pressed again and Cech redeemed himself by tipping over a Trezeguet header following a Del Piero cross. Hiddink's response was to replace the tiring Essien with Juliano Belletti. More significantly Anelka was moved to wide left in a 4-5-1 formation.
Juventus' task became mountainous when Chielli was dismissed with 20 minutes to go for scything down Drogba from behind, his second yellow card. But the drama was not finished. Belletti handled a Trezeguet free-kick in the area. After what seemed an age, with the Spanish referee besieged by Chelsea protests, Del Piero calmly rolled in the spot-kick.
Juve, roared on, pushed forward, leaving gaps which Chelsea exploited when the tireless Ballack released Belletti on the right and Drogba slid in to convert the cross. Chelsea are through to their fifth quarter-final in six years but they will have to play better if they are to finally realise Roman Abramovich's dream.
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchisio, Tiago, Nedved (Salihamidzic, 13); Del Piero; Iaquinta (Giovinco, 61), Trezeguet (Amauri, 79). Substitutes not used: Manninger (gk), Zebina, Poulsen, Ariaudo.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex (Carvalho, 88), Terry, A Cole; Mikel; Essien (Belletti, 65), Ballack, Lampard; Drogba, Anelka. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Deco, Kalou, Malouda, Mancienne.
Referee: A Undiano Mallenco (Spain).
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Guardian:
Essien and Drogba draw the sting from 10-man JuveJuventus 2 Iaquinta 19, Del Piero (pen) 74 Chelsea 2 Essien 45, Drogba 83
Dominic Fifield at the Stadio Olimpico
Chelsea have their quarter-final and scars aplenty to show for this skirmish with the Old Lady. A frenzied evening marked by a flurry of goals and cards, a timely reward for a player whose season had appeared wrecked by injury, and some bizarre decisions from the officials ended with Guus Hiddink's side safely ensconced in the last eight. They may not have sent shockwaves across Europe, but at least there is evidence that the resilience is back.
It took a goal against 10 men finally to deflate Claudio Ranieri's side. Juliano Belletti, whose handball had presented Juventus with an unlikely late lead, eked out space down the right and crossed low for Didier Drogba, capitalising on the space left by the dismissed Giorgio Chiellini, to slide in the second equaliser. That was fine reward for the Ivorian, though it was Michael Essien's name that was chorused at the end, the midfielder having scored on his first start in over six months. There is more to come from the Ghanaian, and the same might be said of this team.
Chelsea had known this was likely to prove an uncomfortable occasion. Juve had overcome first-leg deficits to force progress in the knock-out phase of this competition four times in the past, and had shown flashes of class in thrusting the home side back in the first leg despite conceding an early goal. Hiddink must have feared seeing his side subjected to a scorching start and his selection was nothing if not bold, handing Essien a first start since August and with Nicolas Anelka, absent from training all last week nursing a toe injury, beginning up front.
The pair had an immediate impact, if not in the way their manager had envisaged. Both clattered Pavel Nedved in the early exchanges, forcing the Czech from the field before the quarter-hour mark clutching his ribs and leaving Juve apparently shorn of creativity. Even so they had forged level in the tie before, with the interval approaching, Essien proved his worth in more legitimate manner.
The visitors were still coming to terms with a linesman's insistence that Drogba's near-post free-kick, bent round the wall, had not crossed the line when, within seconds, Frank Lampard emerged from the midfield stodge to crash a shot from distance on to the underside of the crossbar via Buffon's touch. The ball cannoned down near the goal-line again with Buffon prone for Essien, marauding through the centre, to knock it into the net.
The Ghanaian has been through so much on the sidelines this season that he deserved the reward – celebrated with gusto and the coaching staff – and it was a dagger to Juve's hopes. For so long they had appeared destined to prosper, their midfield runners disturbing Chelsea's rhythm and the clever inter-play of their front trio threatening to expose the frailties which had surfaced too often before Hiddink's arrival.
The game had taken almost 20 minutes to erupt. Then David Trezeguet collected Vincenzo Iaquinta's pass and flicked an exquisite ball inside John Terry and Ashley Cole for the Italy forward to gather. His finish was emphatic and the Premier League team quivered.
In the aftermath of that goal the contest had appeared Juve's for the taking. Alessandro Del Piero, losing Mikel John Obi at will, had prompted and provided to make up for Nedved's absence. It was the veteran's free-kick that had Petr Cech palming up and away with little conviction, the goalkeeper gathering another swerving attempt as the home side, sensing vulnerability, toyed with befuddled opponents. Yet the manner of the riposte just before the interval knocked the belief from the Italians' approach.
Thereafter it was Chelsea who threatened further reward, conceding possession in the centre and waiting for Juventus's frantic players to over-elaborate before pouncing on the counter. Lampard, his influence restored, glided into dangerous areas. There was outrage in the Curva Sud when Cech handled outside his area, sliding out near the touchline to gather but was shown only yellow, the locals taking their ire out on the officials who had denied Drogba the first-half goal.
The tone of the tie had been transformed, the urgency all Italian but Chelsea restored to their dogged best, though the officials were not done influencing affairs just yet. Chiellini's second yellow card, this one for dissent, had appeared to have settled matters, but the Spanish official penalised Belletti for handball as Del Piero's free-kick veered into the area to present the Italians with an unlikely route back into the game. Del Piero calmly stroked in the penalty and Chelsea, so dominant, were fretting again.
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Mail:
Juventus 2 Chelsea 2: The Train is on time with vital goal as Juve fall
Chelsea win 3-2 on aggreagateBy Matt Lawton from Turin
Amid the chaos and confusion of an enthralling Champions League encounter, Michael Essien, known to his team-mates as The Train, arrived on time and so, more crucially, did a goal from Didier Drogba. Chelsea are through to yet another Champions League quarter-final but they made hard work of it here, almost contriving at one stage to succumb to a spirited Juventus side that had actually been reduced to 10 men. It was absorbing stuff. A bumptiously-executed penalty from the forever-young Alessandro Del Piero and suddenly the Italians had 16 minutes to score what would have been a decisive goal.
But from Juliano Belletti came a cross that made amends for the needless handball that had led to Del Piero's spot-kick; and from a rejuvenated Drogba came the goal that had Guus Hiddink shaking his fist in celebration at the final whistle. In fairness to the Old Lady, she probably felt as if she had been mugged, given how she dominated much of this contest. Chelsea were disappointing last night, as even Ray Wilkins admitted in his half-time verdict to the television cameras. 'We were poor,' he said. In fairness to Chelsea they did, however, have what replays suggested was a perfectly good goal disallowed when Gianluigi Buffon failed to stop Drogba's bullet free-kick from crossing the line in the 43rd minute.
Chelsea, down to what amounted to a wonderful opening goal from Vincenzo Iaquinta in the 19th minute, were struggling and the sight of the match officials signalling for play to continue in the wake of Buffon's controversial save only worsened their mood. Little more than three minutes later, though, in first-half added time, and Essien had demonstrated why his comparison to a locomotive goes beyond that awesome combination of pace and power.
Mussolini once made the trains run on time in Italy and even he would have admired the sheer perfection of Essien's arrival after seeing Buffon push a deflected effort from Frank Lampard against the bar. In the second or so Buffon spent trying desperately to regain his balance and possession of the ball, Essien had pounced ahead of Juve's central defenders to mark his long-awaited return to Champions League football in style. It must have been tough for Claudio Ranieri to take, especially when he had proved to his former employers that his tinkering is sometimes based on sound tactical thinking. The loss of Pavel Nedved to injury after only 13 minutes amounted to a major disruption but Ranieri reshuffled his side impressively, deploying Del Piero in Nedved's playmaker role, pushing Iaquinta alongside David Trezeguet in attack and sending on the excellent Hasan Salihamidzic to sit in central midfield.
Only six minutes later and the switch had produced a goal. A backheel from Iaquinta was followed by a great pass from Trezeguet that in turn was rewarded with a sublime finish from his new partner. If they made John Terry and Ashley Cole look rather foolish, it was as much down to the sheer quality of their football as it was the static nature of Chelsea's defending. It was exactly what both sides deserved, Juve for their invention and industry, Chelsea for naively believing they could sit back and protect the one-goal advantage they had brought from Stamford Bridge. Hiddink said it would be dangerous to sit so deep but that was exactly the approach his side employed, inviting Juve to extend their lead, forcing Petr Cech to make the first of a series of fine saves to deny Del Piero. Not once in those previous five games under Hiddink had Chelsea gone a goal behind but here they were in such a position and they appeared to be in trouble, albeit in a tie that was now perfectly balanced. Frustration began to surge through those blue Chelsea veins. Essien was incensed when a decision was given against him. Michael Ballack shook his head when a pass went astray. They seemed bereft of ideas. Sadly lacking in inspiration. Until, that is, they suddenly earned a free-kick shortly before the interval. A free-kick that would lead to a goal that would not be given but would succeed in injecting some life into this stuttering Chelsea side.
Hiddink said they might need a bit of good fortune as well as good football and it did eventually come in the form of the deflection that suddenly made Lampard's shot that much more difficult for the brilliant Buffon. A goal for Essien. Disaster for Juve. Thanks to the away-goal rule, Juve now needed to score twice to progress to the last eight but my how hard they worked in trying to trying to perform what appeared the impossible. After the break and the fluent football had given way to a more frantic approach but one that in some ways was more effective. Cech had to produce a world-class save to guide a Trezeguet header to safety and the Chelsea goalkeeper excelled again when he held a searching free-kick from Sebastian Giovinco. When Giorgio Chiellini was then dismissed in the 71st minute for a second yellow card for what seemed to be dissent, Chelsea must have thought they were home and dry. That, however, was before Belletti - on as a replacement for the exhausted Essien - decided in a moment of madness to raise a hand in stopping a free -kick from Trezeguet. This Del Piero did not miss, ignoring the disgraceful protests of an angry Chelsea mob and inviting Juve to make the final 16 minutes all the more compelling.
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