Wednesday, April 29, 2009

morning papers barcelona away 0-0


The Times
Guus Hiddink's tactics frustrate Catalan giants
Barcelona 0 Chelsea 0
Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent
Hiddink's tactics frustrate Catalan giants
Amid all the eulogies to this Barcelona team of many talents, it was overlooked that they, like everyone else in Europe these days, struggle to find a way past the English. Throughout a compelling clash of cultures, skill against will, craft against graft, Chelsea never strayed from Guus Hiddink's battle plan and, after riding their luck at times, they are now 90 minutes away from a second consecutive Champions League final against Barclays Premier League opposition.
It is unlikely to be as straightforward as all that, since a goalless draw away from home is not quite as positive a result as it can often seem in the knockout stages of the Champions League, but Hiddink is entitled to feel that Chelsea can finish the job at Stamford Bridge a week today.
They survived a series of onslaughts at the Nou Camp, with Petr Cech emerging among the heroes on a night when his stock rose once more, and John Terry and his team-mates will feel that they earned their luck through perspiration.
There were catcalls for Chelsea's players at the final whistle, much as there were for Manchester United here last season and Liverpool the year before. Barcelona's supporters and indeed their players will never comprehend how a team can come to the Nou Camp and be content to defend, but England's recent success in European competition has been based on such performances.
Barcelona will bitterly testify to that. This was the fifth consecutive match in which they have failed to overcome English opposition here in the Champions League and, for all the majesty of Lionel Messi's footwork and the passing of Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta, they did not truly carve Chelsea open until Bojan Krkic and Alexander Hleb, the substitutes, missed clear chances in stoppage time.
Hiddink's blueprint involved trying to deny Barcelona the space they thrive on, but it is easier said than done. Even with John Obi Mikel and Michael Ballack stationed in deep central midfield positions, just in front of the back four, Chelsea frequently found Xavi and Iniesta playing neat triangles around them in the opening stages, with Messi and Thierry Henry seeing more of the ball than Hiddink would have liked.
Henry was certainly up for it, trying to whip the crowd into a frenzy, much as he used to in his Highbury pomp. For all the talk of Messi, it was Henry, along with Xavi and Iniesta, who carried the greatest threat in the early stages. The former Arsenal forward skated around the outside of Branislav Ivanovic twice in the opening half-hour, each time prompting the Chelsea defender to bring him to the ground. Alex was shown a yellow card for a crude block on Messi and the visiting defence was being stretched.
The half-time statistics showed that Barcelona had enjoyed 70 per cent of the possession, but they did not fashion a clear goalscoring opportunity. Samuel Eto'o flashed a header across goal from Messi's free kick in the second minute, with Cech nowhere, and Cech made a good save low down to his right to save Henry's shot in the 34th minute, after a typical link-up between Messi and Iniesta, but, if not quite comfortable, Terry and his colleagues reached the interval with their clean sheet intact.
Indeed the half-time scoreline could have been even better for Chelsea, with the best chance falling to Didier Drogba six minutes before the break. The forward had been chasing shadows to that point, but, when Rafael Márquez hit a weak and far too casual pass, he was on to it like a shot. Opportunity knocked, but Drogba's shot lacked the required power or accuracy to beat Víctor Valdés, the goalkeeper, who blocked the first effort and recovered to stop the forward putting away the rebound. Moments later Frank Lampard tackled Gerard Piqué and almost sent Drogba away again. It was as if light was appearing at the end of the tunnel.
The start of the second half also brought signs of encouragement. Daniel Alves, an extravagantly gifted full back who was targeted, unsuccessfully, by José Mourinho in the summer of 2007, personified Barcelona's frustration, carping at the referee and sneering at opponents when he was having trouble enough dealing with Florent Malouda. A foul by Alves on Malouda led to a free kick, whipped in by Drogba, from which Ballack sent a header just over the crossbar.
Messi was, if not quiet, then a little less menacing than might have been feared. José Bosingwa's decent shift as a makeshift left back, in Ashley Cole's absence, was enhancing the theory that a right-footer might in fact be better equipped to handle Messi, whose instinct is to drift inside rather than down the touchline. But Messi was still a threat. On the hour, he was picked out 20 yards out from a corner by Xavi. The ball was on his wrong side, but a rasping left-foot volley whistled just over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Alves burst past Michael Essien and hit another powerful shot that Cech, his nervous opening now forgotten, beat away.
Barcelona were turning the screw once more. Eto'o span around Alex and forced his way past Terry before his shot was saved by Cech. Something needed to be done and Hiddink made the bold decision to take off Lampard, sending on Juliano Belletti, the Barcelona old boy, so that Essien, hitherto marginalised on the right, could beef up the centre of midfield.
Then came the penalty shout, Henry falling under slight pressure from Bosingwa, and the misses from Bojan and Hleb in stoppage time. Chelsea had survived. Now they must finish the job.

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Telegraph:
John Terry is Chelsea's hero as Barcelona are kept out

For all the breath-taking beauty of Barcelona’s football, for all that Catalan pulses were set racing by Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, Camp Nou was reminded on Tuesday night that football is about defending, as well as attacking and John Terry gave the locals a master-class. For the first time this season Barcelona had failed to score at home.
By Henry Winter at the Nou Camp

Terry was immense, a captain leading by example, the rock on which Barcelona’s celebrated attacking ambition foundered. He kept clearing danger in the air and on the ground and his example inspired all his team-mates. Alex impressed alongside him while Petr Cech made vital saves from Dani Alves and Alexander Hleb.
Chelsea would have loved an away goal, and will be aware that a mistake at the Bridge next week would leave them a mountain to climb. Yet such was Barcelona’s dominance of possession last night that Chelsea were entitled to a deep satisfaction for keeping Iniesta and Messi at bay.
Drogba finds sweet end to sour nightThe Catalans had not been short of confidence, their fans whistling derision at the visitors before kick-off while holding up a massive banner showing a map of Europe, their ports of call in this season’s Champions League and saluting "all the victories carry us to Rome".
Barcelona’s belief was rooted in the abilities of attackers like Thierry Henry, whose pace and control had embarrassed Branislav Ivanovic within 70 seconds of a chastening first half for Chelsea. Ivanovic simply could not live with the speed of the former Arsenal striker, and hauled him to the ground. Chelsea survived that scare but the warning was clear. Menace came in many forms here.
Barcelona’s technical class, their joie de vivre and quicksilver movement were all on parade. Andres Iniesta, outstanding in central midfield, glided around Michael Ballack and Alex in swift, elegant succession. Camp Nou almost gasped in disbelief when Lionel Messi miscontrolled the ball. He was human after all. Soon, though, the little Argentinian, prematurely compared to Diego Maradona but exuding the potential to reach such heights one day, began to live up to his billing.
Soon he was displaying remarkable acceleration to race away from Jose Bosingwa, who emulated Ivanovic, fighting flair with fire, introducing Messi to the floor. The ball seemed almost intoxicated with Messi’s company, almost beseeching to be placed permanently under the No 10’s cultured command. One pass from Messi to Dani Alves, squeezed through a thicket of thicket of yellow shirts, defied geometry, let alone belief.
Messi was mesmerising, joining Iniesta in running the show, delighting Barcelona fans and all who love the Beautiful Game. Here was an exhibition of how football should be played: with hunger, energy and sumptuous skill, taking on an opponent with a feint here, a flick there and no end of dribbles. Camp Nou was a canvas and Messi’s vivid brush-strokes were all over it.
His starting position on the left was merely a base camp for scaling the heights. Messi kept cutting inside, playing one-twos with Henry, then Samuel Eto’o, creating shooting opportunities, none taken.
The local prints had predicted a culture clash along the lines, make that headlines of "Beauty and the Beast’’. Chelsea had little compunction in using physics to combat the arts of Barcelona. Florent Malouda, usually as hard as Camembert, followed through on Victor Valdes. John Obi Mikel, starting ahead of Nicolas Anelka as Hiddink flooded midfield, clattered Xavi. Camp Nou was incensed, screaming for the experienced German referee, Wolfgang Stark, to clamp down on the visitors’ nihilistic streak.
Stark, commendably, was keen to play advantage, an approach that helped Barcelona, and started reaching for the yellow card only when the challenges increased in spite, particularly when Henry was targeted. First Alex poleaxed Henry, who was then caught nastily by Michael Ballack, another venomous incident for the Germany-France scrap-book.
While Stark reached for the book, Barcelona reached for the stars. Iniesta was putting on a glittering display, full of fine passing and surges through the middle. Iniesta has this neat way of rolling away from a marker, dragging the ball with him, so confident in his technique that he never fears losing possession. As the half wore on, as Barcelona dominated, Iniesta linked instinctively with Henry, whose shot was saved. Then Iniesta went himself, bringing a save from Cech.
Chelsea were in danger of being passed to death, their mettle and mobility tested by Barcelona’s pass masters. As the siege intensified, John Terry and Alex stood firm at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, heading away danger – but it soon returned.
Set up in 4-2-3-1 formation, Chelsea broke out only infrequently in the first half. Early on, Malouda and Michael Essien combined to set up Frank Lampard, whose shot curled wide. Seven minutes before the break, Drogba was gifted a magnificent opportunity. Rafael Marquez squared the ball across his box far too lazily, imparting insufficient power in the ball. Drogba scented blood, chasing down the ball, and sending it flying goalwards.
Sadly for Chelsea, Valdes was alive to the danger, rushing out and saving. Drogba was first to the loose ball, which he attempted to lift over the Barcelona keeper, who again impressed by clawing the ball away.
Chelsea supporters were finding their voice. They had failed to take up their full allocation, sending back 1600 tickets, but made themselves heard as the second half unfolded, particularly when Ballack headed a Drogba free-kick just wide.
Barcelona came calling again, re-examining Chelsea’s character. Dani Alves lacks exceptional defensive qualities but the Brazilian is formidable going forward, and unleashed a shot that Cech did well to see, let alone stop. For all the talk of Chelsea sweeping into town, attacking relentlessly, they had known the storm blowing towards them.
Hiddink’s centre-halves were outstanding. Terry slid in to nick the ball ahead of Xavi with Cech exposed. Then Alex leapt high to head clear an Eric Abidal cross. Alex was then outpaced by Eto’o, who would have scored but for a magnificent save from Cech.
The giant Czech Republic keeper has come in for criticism in recent times, but he was a towering figure here. With Barcelona sweeping forward in ever increasing waves, Hiddink made a defensive move, withdrawing Lampard, who had seen little of the ball, and sent on Juliano Belletti, who had scored for Barcelona in a Champions League final but was now charged with frustrating his erstwhile colleagues.
With Drogba increasingly isolated, barring occasional breaks from Malouda, Chelsea were living dangerously and Bosingwa was incredibly lucky that Stark did not spot his tug at Henry’s shirt, a ruse that knocked the French international off-balance. Worst offences have scarred elite fields this season but it was still a penalty. Chelsea had escaped.
Chelsea’s defending was awesome. Terry stooped in ahead of Messi to clear. Lady Luck then smiled on Chelsea, Bojan heading over when unmarked and Alexander Hleb denied by Cech and then firing wide. The Bridge promises to be tense.

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Mail:
Barcelona 0 Chelsea 0:
Guus's yellow brick wall - Pep's stars can’t find way past Hiddink
By Matt Lawton Chief Football Correspondent in Barcelona

So this was what Guus Hiddink had in mind when he visualised this Champions League encounter.A plan that was plucked from the darkest recesses of his tactical brain. A plan that betrayed the natural attacking instincts of a coach from Holland but a plan that, against this brilliant Barcelona side, worked impressively well.This, presumably, was what Hiddink meant when he said that reality can sometimes be cruel on the eve of this intriguing tie. It was cruel on those who came here anticipating a gran clasico of a contest and cruelon a team who, for all their efforts to demonstrate their considerable style and skill, ran into an impenetrable yellow brick wall.When Hiddink was asked just before kick-off how he planned to survive when no team had left the Nou Camp this season having stopped Barcelona from scoring, hisresponse was short and to the point. ‘By becoming the first.’
He might have declared an intention to fight fire with fire at his pre-match press conference and he might have insisted Chelsea knew only one way to play. But the deployment of a five-man midfield exposed a touch of mischief in those declarationsand proved that Lionel Messi and his colleagues can be stopped.Hiddink met Barcelona’s artistry with attrition, and attrition escaped with a goallessdraw that gives Chelsea a fighting chance of progressing to a second successive Champions League final. He even took off Frank Lampard last night, adding further steel to a midfield already including John Obi Mikel and the magnificent Michael Essien by sending on anotherdefender in Juliano Belletti.Reaching Rome on May 27 will not be easy. Not when Barcelona enjoyed so much of the ball and not when Petr Cech had to make the kind of saves that might just convince him that he remains among the finest goalkeepers in the world.And not when a more ambitious performance at Stamford Bridge next week may leave Chelsea vulnerable to an away goal.
Even in this match the Catalans proved how dangerous they can be given a bit of space.Hiddink will, however, be heartened not just by Manchester United’s result against them in last season’s semi-final but by the more recent history of the competition.United reached the final after following a goalless draw here with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford and, since 1999, 10 of the 14 teams who secured a goalless draw away from home in the knockout stages went on to win their tie.There were further sources of encouragement, not least the loss of Rafael Marquez to what looked like a nasty injury and Carles Puyol to suspension.Such setbacks leave Barca coach Pep Guardiola with something of a defensive crisis and a situation that Didier Drogba and his teammates could yet exploit.Drogba actually enjoyed the best chance in this first leg, seizing on an underhit backpass from Marquez but then failing to beat Victor Valdes not once but twice.Still, he went closer than Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, who were both substituted by Guardiola as he went in desperate search of a goal.That said, Henry did appear to have a decent shout for a penalty in the second half when he was pulled down by Jose Bosingwa.In coping with Messi, Bosingwa nevertheless did well and so did the rest of the Chelsea defence in the absence of the suspended Ashley Cole and the injured Ricardo Carvalho. John Terry was a rock at centre half, while Alex was also outstanding.
With Barcelona enjoying more than 70 per cent possession, there were times when the pressure almost proved too much. Not least in the opening two minutes when a surging run from Henry forced Branislav Ivanovic to concede a foul deep in Chelsea’s half.Xavi swung in the free-kick, Cech flapped hopelessly and Eto’o sent a header bouncing dangerously across the face of the goal before Marquez saw his shotdeflected over the crossbar.The sight of Messi then failing to trap a simple ball must have eased the sense of anxiety in Chelsea’s ranks. As did a neatly executed move which ended with a shot that Lampard curled wide of Valdes’s left hand post.On that occasion Malouda did well to beat Dani Alves down the left flank before delivering the ball to the feet of Essien.For Messi the night was a little disappointing. He dazzled occasionally, not least when he combined with Alves down Barcelona’s right.One ball, in particular, that was delivered between Malouda and Bosingwa to the feet of a fast-advancing Alves was sublime. And he looked just as threatening when completing a rapidly-executed one-two with Eto’o with a blistering left-foot shot.After the break and still the home side dominated, Messi going close when meeting a corner from Xavi with an audacious left-foot volley.
When Alves then unleashed another thumping effort, Cech did well to parry, as he did when Eto’o muscled past Alex and had his shot deflected wide by the Czech goalkeeper’s left leg.He did it again when he denied Aleksandr Hleb the opportunity to step off the bench and score.Xavi and Andres Iniesta continued to create in midfield. Iniesta was wonderful at times.And when Alves sent in a teasing cross from the right in the final few minutes, Bojan Krkic probably should have scored what amounted to Barcelona’s best chance. As it was, he directed his close-range header over Cech’s bar.

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Indy:
Hiddink's special spirit is too much for Barça party
Chelsea 0 Barcelona 0
By Sam Wallace at the Nou Camp

Not the beautiful symphony of attacking football we expected, instead the jarring clang of Catalan invention on Guus Hiddink's implacable, unrelenting defence. No one spoils a party like Chelsea and last night at here they stopped European football's biggest carnival in its tracks.

Their performance was proof that Hiddink can play the Jose Mourinho way when the situation requires. Chelsea can stifle, defend and frustrate with the best of them and, come this morning, most of European football will hate them for the manner in which they stopped Lionel Messi and his men. But if you looked hard enough at this performance there was much to admire in Chelsea, chiefly the spirit of a team that refuses to lie down no matter who the opposition.
His weapon of choice is aggression, he provides 90 minutes of sheer irritation for the opposition but Didier Drogba is astonishingly effective. He led the line on his own, isolated from a Chelsea midfield that defended in their own half. John Terry and Alex were indefatigable and the star of the show was Petr Cech. Even Florent Malouda put in a shift that severely curtailed the attacking threat of Daniel Alves.
It will win Chelsea no friends, but it might just win them this Champions League semi-final when they meet Barcelona in the second leg a week today. As for Josep Guardiola's team, they were exhilarating to watch at times but they played far too much of their football in front of Chelsea rather than behind them. They have the Arsenal syndrome of over-elaboration and it cost them at times last night.
The other problem that looms for Barcelona is the booking for Carles Puyol that rules him out of the return leg, compounded by the injury to Rafael Marquez that looks certain to keep him out too. Without two of their centre-halves this will be a tall order for Barcelona in west London, where they will surely be tested in defence rather more than they were last night. In seven days' time Chelsea will have to demonstrate they can create as efficiently as they can destroy.
What happened to Messi? He flickered more than once in the first half, especially when he held off Drogba to play in Alves for a shot that Cech saved. Then gradually the Argentine was edged to the margins, his partnership with Alves broken up by Jose Bosingwa and Malouda and he drifted out of the game. Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry, the two other parts of that lavish attacking force, were both substituted. It was that kind of a night for Barcelona.
Only on three previous occasions this season have Barcelona failed to score and yet they so nearly did in five tense minutes of added time. The substitute Bojan headed over from four yards out when Alves crossed. Then Cech saved brilliantly when Alexander Hleb, another substitute, was played onside by the prostrate Michael Ballack. It was the last of four crucial saves made by the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Henry made some early inroads in the space behind Branislav Ivanovic at right-back but by the time he was substituted the Frenchman was exhibiting the familiar signs of frustration that were his trademark at Arsenal. He, like the largely ineffective Eto'o, found himself chased and harried in his every move. Hiddink's strategy was that Barcelona should never be permitted to express the rhythm of their football and that in turn enraged the Nou Camp.
The home crowd called out for more bookings for the men in yellow shirts, and wanted a penalty when Henry and Ivanovic clashed in the area on 74 minutes – a request that looked borderline at best. This stadium is not accustomed, in recent years, to not getting things their own way and they will have bleak memories of last night. Manchester United eliminated Barcelona in similar circumstances in last year's semi-final with a goalless draw in the Nou Camp.
Never has Terry cleared, Peter Kay-style, as far as he could upfield to no one in particular. Rarely have so many Premier League luminaries, like Frank Lampard and Ballack, been content to occupy secondary roles as tacklers and spoilers. When Hiddink claimed that he was minded to go for the throat of Barcelona on the flight to Spain he was evidently bluffing. That or he lost his nerve somewhere on the drive from the airport to the hotel.
He dropped Nicolas Anelka and brought in John Obi Mikel to play alongside Ballack in a holding midfield pair in front of the back four that made Chelsea's formation look more similar to that favoured by Rafael Benitez at Liverpool. In the first flurry of attacks that rolled towards Chelsea you had to wonder if the line of yellow Chelsea shirts – sometimes 11 behind the ball, never less than 10 – would hold. But gradually they wore down Barcelona's spirit.
Alex took a crafty booking to bring Messi down in mid-run in the first half. Alves at right-back became preoccupied with a row with Malouda that spilt over into an argument with Drogba. It all served to distract the home team from the job in hand. To top it all, Drogba almost scored with six minutes left of the half which would have been the ultimate indignity to a Barcelona team who had 70 per cent of the first-half possession.
The chance came from a terrible back pass from Marquez which allowed Drogba to run at goal through the left channel. He snapped in his shot low and Victor Valdes saved. Marquez was later carried off in the second half, his knee giving way with no one around him.
Eto'o slipped the ball through Terry's legs at one point and got away from Alex but his shot was saved by Cech. Hiddink substituted Lampard for Juliano Belletti and switched Michael Essien from the right wing to the centre of midfield for the last few minutes of the game. It was clever stuff designed to give fresh impetus to Chelsea's defensive action.
It can take a lot of effort to appreciate Chelsea: you have to be a connoisseur of grim defending and rigid tactical discipline. But you also have to respect a team that can come to a stadium as intimidating as this one and stick so unflinchingly to the plan. The first part of their mission is complete but next week they will have to show us there is also some beauty in the beast.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Alves, Marquez (Puyol, 52), Pique, Abidal; Xavi, Touré, Iniesta; Messi, Eto'o (Bojan, 82), Henry (Hleb, 87). Substitutes not used: Jorquera (gk), Gudjohnsen, Keita, Sylvinho.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bosingwa; Mikel, Ballack (Anelka, 90); Essien, Lampard (Belletti, 71), Malouda; Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Di Santo, Kalou, Mancienne, Stoch.
Referee: W Stark (Germany).
Att: 95,000

Man for man marking

Barcelona
Victor Valdes
Believed to be suspect on crosses but given few to deal with. Good save from Drogba 7/10
Daniel Alves
Charged forward as usual, only to cross poorly until late on. Kept Malouda quiet 6
Gerard Pique
Former Man United man was mostly solid and produced fine pass to give Alves a chance 7
Rafael Marquez
Bad error let Drogba in for his double chance before twisting his knee 4
Eric Abidal
The France international offered some good support to Henry down the left 6
Yaya Toure
Kolo's younger brother was more than a holding man. Saw plenty of ball and used it well 6
Xavi
Always in the mix, playing little passes to Messi and Iniesta, with great success 6
Andres Iniesta
Under-rated midfielder kept his team ticking as ever and got some shots in. Much fouled 8
Lionel Messi
Frequent changes of position but in the end, threatened more than he produced 7
Samuel Eto'o
Man City fans will have loved one early turn and shot. Denied by Cech when through 7
Thierry Henry
Reborn after a difficult first season, he worried Ivanovic and could have had a penalty 7
Substitutes
Carles Puyol 6; Bojan Krkic: Missed Barça's best chance late on; Alex Hleb.
Chelsea
Petr Cech
Missed his first cross, dropped second, but recovered to make important saves 7/10
Branislav Ivanovic
A difficult night against Henry for the hero of Anfield, who barely held his own 6
Alex
Booked early on for a foul on Messi and had to tread carefully thereafter 7
John Terry
Lost Eto'o once but took no other chances. Went up for set pieces without success 7
Jose Bosingwa
Did reasonably. Unsure sometimes whether to go with Messi when he nipped inside 6
John Obi Mikel
Unexpected selection, too often found Barça's midfield technicians playing past him 5
Michael Ballack
Played behind Essien with little attack scope. Booked and could have been sent off 5
Michael Essien
Few opportunities to forage forward until moved centrally after Lampard went off 6
Frank Lampard
Forced too deep by the home team's surfeit of possession, so couldn't make or take chances 5
Florent Malouda
Drawn into a feud with Alves which did nothing to help him maintain improvement 5
Didier Drogba
Had too little support. Thwarted by Valdes when presented with a good chance 6
Substitutes
Juliano Belletti (70): On to help Ivanovic n/a
Nicolas Anelka (90): Came on too late to make impact n/a
Steve Tongue
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Guardian:
Cech holds the line for Chelsea to blunt Barça's blades
Barcelona 0 Chelsea 0
Kevin McCarra at the Camp Nou

The resilience of Chelsea was formidable and it has protected their hopes of a return to the Champions League final. A minor yet telling honour was collected here since they are the first visitors to keep a clean sheet at the Camp Nou this season. Chelsea survived one vigorous penalty appeal and saw the substitute Bojan Krkic head over in stoppage time. After that, Petr Cech still had to block at the feet of another ­substitute, Alexander Hleb.
The Chelsea goalkeeper was critical to the tie and the night would have had a wholly different character had he not thwarted Samuel Eto'o after 70 minutes. This was, all the same, a highly practical exercise by the visitors, with no compunction shown by the manager, Guus Hiddink, in taking off Frank Lampard when the need was for fresh energy.
The value of the result remains, ­however, a matter of guesswork. No one, for instance, will have too much difficulty envisaging a goal for Pep Guardiola's side at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday. ­Containing Chelsea could be a ­different matter. The Barcelona centre-half Rafael Márquez suffered a freak left knee injury and had to be replaced by Carles Puyol. Introducing him exposed the clubcaptain to the risk of suspension and he duly collected the yellow card that rules him out of the return leg.
Chelsea understand all the perils they will still face after being unable to notch an away goal, but the scope barely existed to mount the counter-attacks at the Camp Nou that Hiddink had envisaged. While Víctor Valdés did pull off an outstanding double save from Didier Drogba, it would be absurd to pretend that the Premier League club had ever taken the fight to Barcelona.
That, in itself, will be a cause of ­discomfort to Guardiola. In this campaign he must have come to believe that no opponents could secure a draw here ­simply by stifling Barcelona. Now the team has learned that its verve is not irresistible after all. Even in the absence of the suspended Ashley Cole, Chelsea stopped Lionel Messi from doing ­terminal harm. Jose Bosingwa, an emergency ­left-back, had enough helpers to erect a barrier, even if it was fragile at times.
For the most part, they mustered the numbers to stop Messi from making inroads. There is no cause for suggesting that Hiddink had come up with a gleaming masterplan. He did what he could, but it is not feasible to stop Barcelona from ­making games here an ordeal.
Chelsea were under stress almost from the kick-off and it was their well-known durability that narrowly kept them in the match during the first half. Hiddink had implied that his side must take the fight to these opponents. Chelsea's scheme was visible in the formation the manager had devised but not in the execution.
Michael Essien, Lampard and Florent Malouda were a bank of attacking ­midfielders who were supposed to assist the lone forward Drogba. In reality, they were compelled to back-pedal until they stood shoulder to shoulder with Michael Ballack and Mikel John Obi. That still had some benefit in creating a throng in ­midfield to prevent the opposition ­achieving fluidity.
Before the interval the best opening was, against all odds, Chelsea's. ­Márquez underhit a back-pass and released Drogba. The first attempt by the Ivorian was blocked by Valdés and the goalkeeper then threw up a hand to parry as the attacker attempted to convert the rebound. A goal for the visitors would have mocked the logic of this game.
Thierry Henry, as if invigorated by a whiff of old Premier League rivalries from his Arsenal days, was full of vigour. A foul on him in the second minute ­provided Barcelona with one of their best ­opportunities. Xavi took it from the left and Eto'o, stationed beyond the far post headed it back in the middle, where ­Márquez was close to converting.
Room remains for debate about how good Barcelona truly are. A year ago, before the appointment of Guardiola, it was possible to keep Barcelona in check and Manchester United, scoring at Old Trafford, went through to the final on a 1–0 aggregate. Chelsea have earned the right to envisage themselves repeating that exercise.
Even before Márquez had to be ­withdrawn, there was at least a ­suggestion that the tempo set by Barcelona was ­dipping a little. The visitors were far from serene, but their opponents did show signs of vexation. Even by Messi's ­standards, for instance, it was optimistic to attempt a ­volley from distance after a corner dropped to him. The ball flew high.
Yet Barcelona's menace was not wholly ­stifled. Eto'o beat John Terry to run free from halfway in the 70th minute and after he had evaded a recovery challenge by Alex, it was the boot of Cech that kept his finish out of the net. Barcelona then had strong claims for a penalty rejected as Bosingwa grabbed at Henry.
Chelsea, undistracted, made their ­tortuous way to the clean sheet that had been their principal ambition.
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Sun:
Barcelona 0 Chelsea 0
From SHAUN CUSTIS at the Nou Camp

So gus Hiddink was having us all on, the wily old fox.
The Dutchman said Chelsea would fight fire with fire, that they would take the game to free-flowing Barca.
We were promised thrills and skills and a feast of attacking football.
Instead, Chelsea dug the trenches, put their bodies on the line and, with goalkeeper Petr Cech back to his best, they frustrated the life out of their illustrious opponents.
Barcelona’s ‘Holy Trinity’ of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o, who had rattled in 90 goals between them since September, suddenly forgot where the net was.
It was the first time all season that Barca had failed to score at the Nou Camp and the Blues deserve enormous credit for getting back to London with a 0-0 draw.
It was a tall order for the Blues given their defence has not looked the most solid in recent weeks — conceding four against Liverpool in the quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge before scrambling home 7-5 on aggregate.
But you still would not like to bet which one of these two will make the Champions League final.
A goalless draw in the first leg is one of those scores which often leaves the home side vulnerable in the return, knowing they cannot afford to concede an away goal.
And, as Barca have so many attacking options, Chelsea will find it tough keeping them out again.
They can take heart, though, from the fact Manchester United drew 0-0 here in last year’s semi-final and went through.
Chelsea sailed pretty close to the wind at the end, however.
As the game went into stoppage time, Dani Alves swung over a cross from the right and teenage substitute Bojan headed over from a couple of yards. It was an absolute sitter.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Alex Hleb could still have given his team the advantage after that as he broke down the left but Cech came out well to block his shot and Hleb then blasted the rebound into the side-netting.
Chelsea had only one clear-cut opportunity all night and Didier Drogba will feel he should have taken it, having seized on a woeful Rafael Marquez backpass late in the first half.
His first effort was saved by the diving Victor Valdes and, when the rebound fell at the Ivorian’s feet again, he tried to chip the ball over the keeper — only for Valdes to get both hands to it to thwart the danger.
Chelsea also had a chance with a flick header by Michael Ballack which went just over the bar.
It became obvious from the moment Hiddink handed in the teamsheet that he had conned us about his approach to the game.
He employed two holding midfielders in Ballack and John Obi Mikel and had the defensively-minded Michael Essien on the right of the three supporting Drogba.
The effect was to stifle the creativity of star man Messi.
The Argentinian never got a grip on the game and full marks to Jose Bosingwa, who had to fill in as an emergency left-back because of the suspension of Ashley Cole.
Maybe if Bosingwa had been booked when he took out Messi early on, it might have been a different story because he could not have afforded another lunge. But the Portuguese escaped and went on to do a commendable job.
Messi could not find space down the flank and, when he cut inside, he just ran into a wall of Chelsea players.
Henry meanwhile struggled to create any room on the left and was restricted to shots from outside the box which Cech saved well.
The Frenchman was, however, pretty miffed at not getting a 74th-minute penalty as he turned in the box and had his shirt tugged by Bosingwa.
It was one of those which defenders get away with most of the time but, just occasionally, a ref spots it. Fortunately for the visitors, German official Wolfgang Stark did not.
Striker supreme Eto’o was also well snuffed out by skipper John Terry and his Brazilian partner Alex.
Cameroon international Eto’o did get past Terry once in the second half when he nutmegged him just inside the halfway line and also evaded the challenge of Alex — but Cech again got down well to save with his legs.
At times it was all very untidy — and Barca players spent a lot of time rolling around on the ground claiming various forms of assault. Alves had a running battle with Drogba but Chelsea did no more than apply a little bit of muscle in all areas of the park, which did not allow those with the twinkle toes to work their magic.
The irony was that it was actually Barca who were punished most when sub Carles Puyol, on for the injured Marquez, fouled Ballack. The shaggy-haired defender was shown a yellow card and is now out of the second leg.
In the event they only had themselves to blame for failing to take those late chances which might just have opened the door to a second successive final for Chelsea.

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Star:
HIDDINK HEROES HOLD ON
Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea

DIDIER Drogba was inches away from becoming a record-breaker last night. Guus Hiddink had warned Barcelona about the threat of the Chelsea striker.
The Ivory Coast hitman would have scored as well if it had not been for a brilliant double save by Victor Valdes.
The chance was completely against the run of play – but it was the closest the two sides came to a goal in the first half of this Champions League semi-final.
In the 39th minute he chased down what looked like a lost cause until Rafael Marquez under-hit his backpass to Valdes.
Drogba pounced on the loose ball only to shoot straight at Valdes. As it bounced up, and with Drogba trying to nudge it goalwards, the Barca keeper swiped it away from the Chelsea striker at the vital moment to complete an impressive double save.
You would have put your house on Drogba scoring given that he had equalled the record against Liverpool of getting goals in five consecutive Champions League games.
Hiddink’s message to his team was to be bold and brave in the Nou Camp. He wanted Chelsea to show the courage to attack and over-power their illustrious opponents.
The Dutchman knew only too well that his team would need to go toe to toe with a Barca side which in Spain is being compared to Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team of the early 1990s when they won four titles and their first European Cup.
Current manager Pep Guardiola was part of that team, so it is no surprise that he has created such an attacking force. Barca have been unstoppable this season.
Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o have scored more goals than the whole of the Chelsea team together.
They have scored 90 times between them this season in all competitions, which is more than any other side in Europe’s grand total.
They have found the net in every one of their previous 50 games with 136 in total this year. In the Champions League alone they have scored 29, which is a staggering 10 more than Chelsea have managed.
And in the previous two European ties at the Nou Camp they have scored nine, putting four past Bayern Munich in the quarter-final during 43 blistering first-half minutes, and five past Lyon in the last 16.
Yet they couldn’t score against Chelsea last night. But then again Chelsea are no mugs. This was their fifth semi-final in the last six years.
They also have the drive and hunger to try and make up for the pain of last season when they lost the final on penalties to Manchester United.
Chelsea’s temporary manager Hiddink has already guaranteed a great end to his spell in charge with his side reaching the FA Cup Final, but this is the one they want most.
He is known for his tactical nous, so it was no surprise that he made a shock selection by playing Michael Essien wide right.
In a 4-2-3-1 system, he obviously felt the midfield man would give more protection to the side than Salomon Kalou or Nicolas Anelka.
Jose Bosingwa also faced a huge challenge playing out of position at left-back due to Ashley Cole’s suspension, with the job of trying to control Messi.
The little Argentine has recently been described as being like Luis Figo and Rivaldo mixed together because he provides the goals and the assists.
The first half was all about Barcelona trying to squeeze the life out of Hiddink’s side. Chelsea were on the back foot and, at times, disorientated by Barca’s intricate football.
But they held their nerve for the first 45 minutes, with great resolve in defence. Apart from Drogba’s shot, and a curled effort by Frank Lampard, Hiddink’s tactics were not working with Essien almost a passenger.
Eto’o, Messi and Andres Iniesta all created shooting chances only to miss the target at the vital moment as Petr Cech’s goal came under pressure. Iniesta and Henry again shot wide as more and more chances fell to Barca.
The former Arsenal striker then saw Cech pull off a great save from 12 yards as the Frenchman thought he had scored.
Chelsea at times were left chasing shadows with first Alex getting booked for fouling Messi, and then Michael Ballack for a lunge on Henry.
But Guardiola’s side, so used to blowing teams away, were becoming frustrated and Yaya Toure – brother of Arsenal’s Kolo – got himself booked for dissent as the Spanish side thought Chelsea were kicking them off the park.
At the start of the second half Chelsea had another great chance from a free-kick which was floated in by Drogba, only for Ballack to head over the bar from the penalty spot.
Rafael Marquez was then carried off after his knee locked up and was replaced by Carles Puyol.
Barca’s rhythm had been interrupted, but Messi was soon causing problems only for the 21-year-old to volley over the bar.
Cech was again in action in the 61st minute when he had to make a save from Dani Alves.
Chelsea had an escape in the 74th minute when Bosingwa pulled back Henry by his shirt in the area but ref Wolfgang Stark amazingly waved play on. And in stoppage time Cech made a great save from Alexander Hleb.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

sunday papers west ham away 1-0



Sunday Times
Chelsea stay in the hunt
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1
Nick Townsend at Upton Park


SOME personnel you confine to camp at times like this. Others you call to arms, whatever the mission. Guus Hiddink had unhesitatingly placed Frank Lampard in the latter contingent. “Even if I had suggested to Frank that he would be rested today, he would have given me the look that said, ‘Boss, don’t do that’. He wanted to play”.
You could understand the Chelsea manager’s rationale – even at the conclusion of this of all weeks, and with the prospect of Tuesday’s hostile terrain of the Camp Nou three days away. Lampard, criticised on a London radio show on Friday over comments made by his estranged partner, phoned in himself and took the presenter to task. Coincidentally, it had also happened to be the first anniversary of the death of his mother, Pat.
Some, mindful that this was a return to his former club, where there exists residual hostility at his departure, may have been content to join those who were rested. In the circumstances, the tasteless abuse from followers of a club he left eight years ago won’t have unduly perturbed him. And at the conclusion, “Fat boy”, as they still refer to him here, thrust both arms high in a victory salute, in the direction of the occupants of the Bobby Moore stand, before striding to the tunnel, grinning ear to ear, and gaining a hug from West Ham manager and former Chelsea teammate, Gianfranco Zola.
“They haven’t forgiven him,” reflected Zola sadly. “To see him have a problem with the crowd makes me sorry.”
Lampard had responded with one of those typical performances, of diligence and vision, that made one question the wisdom of his peers not to shortlist him at least for the player of the year award. His display reached its peak 10 minutes after the break. He sent up a tantalising ball from near the byline. Robert Green flapped at it and just did enough to propel the ball towards Salomon Kalou, who netted easily.
As a rehearsal for Tuesday, Hiddink cannot have asked any more. The Dutchman had left Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Michael Essien on the bench. Ashley Cole’s enforced absence on Tuesday night had prompted Hiddink to deploy Jose Bosingwa, naturally a right-back, whose forte is attack rather defense, to prepare for the task ahead. It didn’t actually prove too much. As a sparring partner, even Luis Boa Morte’s fiercest advocates would place him some way short of Lionel Messi. He rarely troubled the Portugal defender as West Ham performed as though in awe of their fellow Londoners.
The additional benefit for Hiddink was that Petr Cech has swallowed a confidence restorative in the past week. Clean sheets in successive games was achieved with a fine penalty save from Mark Noble.
Chelsea began as though suffering from a certain ambivalence. However, one expected rather more from the Hammers. Zola, who has signed a new four-year contract with the club, said beforehand that he regarded yesterday’s confrontation with Hiddink as “a privilege”. It’s a bit like Sir Edmund Hilary being confronted by a climber delighted with himself for having successfully ascended a Brecon Beacon. One is a world adventurer of more than 25 years’ standing as a distinguished coach at club and national level. The other still consults his route map, harbouring a belief that the career in front of him will prove equally rewarding.
The Europa League will suffice for now, even though that eventuality would make it likely that the Hammers would enjoy a congested season. The Hyacinth Buckets of football may have given the old Uefa Cup a posh new title, but for the seventh-placed Premier League qualifying team it will still require 19 games to win the trophy. Such foreign adventures look good in a manager’s portfolio, but its effects on a club can be decidedly double-edged.
Here the Hammers did precious little to demonstrate that they will secure that place. Admittely, Cech denied Kieron Dyer, who was starting his first game since August 2007, in an opening half in which John Mikel Obi also cleared off the line from Diego Tristan, who immediately after the interval spurned another promising opening.
Chelsea had seen Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka go close before the break. But Lampard finally provided the breakthrough. If Green was partly culpable for that, at least he atoned with a fine block from Nicolas Anelka, as Chelsea looked to secure victory while Cole’s venomous drive was just over. The Blues could have lived to rue those missed chances when Kalou felled Herita Ilunga in the area with 20 minutes remaining. But it was the Chelsea goalkeeper who guessed correctly and made the decisive move. And, where his critics are concerned: Cech mate.
WEST HAM: Green 5, Neill 6, Tomkins 6, Upson 6, Ilunga 7, Boa Morte 5 (Nsereko 72min), Noble 7, Dyer 6 (Sears 61min), Stanislas 6, Tristan 6, Di Michele 5 (Kovac 61min)
CHELSEA: Cech 7, Mancienne 6 (Ballack 82min), Ivanovic 7, Terry 7, Bosingwa 6 (A Cole 58min, 6), Belletti 6, Mikel 6, Lampard 8, Kalou 6 (Essien 73min), Malouda 6, Anelka 7
Star man: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Yellow card: West Ham: Stanislas
Referee: M Dean
Attendance: 34,749

----------------------------------------------------

Telegraph:
Chelsea warm up for Champions League with an easy win at West Ham


As Frank Lampard swaggered off the pitch, the last to leave, milking the adulation of the Chelsea supporters it marked a canter ahead of Catalonia. Chelsea didn’t so much as defeat West Ham as stroll past them. By Jason Burt at Upton Park
As a precursor for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final trip to Barcelona it was perfect. As, for Lampard, a contest to follow-on from his radio rant over the crude dissection of his private life it was a riposte that showed a defiant strength of character. The abuse bounced off him.
For Chelsea, there was even a fine penalty save by Petr Cech, to cap his rehabilitation and preserve the points although West Ham didn’t deserve a share. Lampard threw his shirt to a West Ham fan at the end. It was the closest anyone with claret and blue sympathies had come to getting hold off him all afternoon.
Guus Hiddink has guile to sort out Chelsea?s defensive problems“Big guys, big personalities want to play every game,” Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink declared. “He especially wanted to play here.”
It’s so quiet sang the Chelsea supporters. And it was. At a stadium, and in a fixture, that can be such a cauldron the pot barely bubbled beyond the predictable, tasteless baiting.
The only flashpoint came as Lampard and John Terry, who had suffered even more abuse that the former West Ham midfielder, because of the police caution for his mother following allegations of shop-lifting, ostentatiously celebrated Chelsea’s goal in front of the home supporters. A few plastic bottles were thrown on but they were as wayward as the West Ham players.
This was supposed to be a day of East End jubilation. Tilting for seventh place in the Premier League and celebrating the announcement of new four-year contracts for their management team of Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke.
“I have just signed a contract and I’m delighted to have signed it. We have a project here that we are taking forward,” Zola said afterwards, explaining the long delay before he attended his media conferences.
But West Ham, as they had feared, were also hit by the harsh reality that beyond their first-choice, strongest line-up they are scrabbling around. “I’m sorry for the supporters as probably they expected more,” Zola said. Not that this was a first-choice Chelsea. As promised Hiddink rang the changes.
“We have a very difficult, huge clash against the team I think is the best in the world,” he said while trying out, with limited success, Jose Bosingwa at left-back, with Ashley Cole suspended for the first leg, ahead of the Barca game. But they quickly took control.
Fresh legs added fresh impetus and soon West Ham were being stretched with Florent Malouda, in particular, prominent as Zola’s side were pegged back and the French winger dragged the first chance wide.
West Ham needed a foothold and almost got more than that when Diego Tristan looped a pass between Terry and Branislav Ivanovic for Kieron Dyer to run through. But with a clear sight of goal his shot lacked conviction and was easily saved by Cech. It looked like an effort from a man who, like Dyer, was making his first start since August 2007.
West Ham, improbably, gained another chance. A corner was won, Matthew Upson evaded John Terry to head goalwards, Tristan flicked out a boot and allowing John Obi Mikel to hack the ball off the line.
Finally there was a breakthrough. Again Lampard, inevitably, was involved, collecting Malouda’s pass, surging forward and then clipping a cross which evaded Robert Green’s fingertips and was poked into the net by Salomon Kalou.
West Ham struggled to rally and after Juliano Belletti released Anelka it was only a fine block by Green that prevented the score being added to before Ashley Cole, on for Boswinga, clipped a cross-shot against the top of the cross-bar.
The home side, drifting to defeat, needed a lifeline and appeared to have been thrown it when Kalou inexplicably pulled back Ilunga, as he ran on to Tristan’s back-heel, Mark Noble took the penalty but placed it too deliberately and Cech parried.

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Independent:
Inspirational Lampard has the last word
West Ham United 0 Chelsea 1: England midfielder is savagely abused by the home crowd but sets up Chelsea's winner and gets an apology from Zola
By Mark Fleming at Upton Park


Frank Lampard expresses himself well on the radio, but nothing like as eloquently as he does on the football pitch. Lampard's emotional outburst on a little-known radio chat-show concerning his split with his partner had left eyebrows raised at his state of mind ahead of Chelsea's journey to Barcelona for the Champions' League semi-final first leg.
But any thoughts that he might not be fully focused on Chelsea's priorities were dispelled in eye-catching fashion at the ground he used to call home. Lampard was given the predictable vitriolic abuse by the Upton Park crowd, who cannot forgive him for crossing London in 2001. His response was a mature display of precision and control. The only times he gave his emotions away were after he set up the game's only goal for Salomon Kalou and at the final whistle. Lampard was the last player to leave the pitch after enjoying the victory with the travelling Chelsea fans, and first to greet him in the tunnel was West Ham's manager, Gianfranco Zola, his former Chelsea team-mate.
Lampard was outstanding as he ran the show in the first half, without a Chelsea goal to show for his efforts. Ten minutes into the second half he put that right. Florent Malouda pierced the West Ham rearguard to release Lampard down the left flank. The midfielder took a moment before crossing to Kalou, who scored from close range.
Chelsea's captain, John Terry, who had also been subjected to unpleasant chants from the home fans about his mother's recent arrest for shop-lifting, ran over to join Lampard to celebrate before the massed Hammers fans in the Bobby Moore Stand, incurring a warning from referee Mike Dean.
Chelsea's manager, Guus Hiddink, said: "I rested players but I never thought of resting Frank. He would have accepted it but would have looked at me to say, 'Boss, don't do that'. He got some abuse but he is used to it."
Shortly after the goal, Chelsea conceded a penalty when Kalou tugged Herita Ilunga's shirt. West Ham could hardly credit their good fortune, but Petr Cech produced a save of world class to keep out Mark Noble's spot- kick. There was little wrong with the shot, which was hit hard and heading for the bottom corner, but Cech was up to the task. Hiddink immediately replaced Kalou with Michael Essien and gave the young Ivorian a lecture on the sidelines. Jose Bosingwa appeared to pass his personal test, in the side at left-back in place of Ashley Cole, who is suspended for the Barcelona game. He coped well, apart from a couple of hairy moments, and was replaced by Cole after 59 minutes. However, dealing with Luis Boa Morte is one thing, attempting to shackle Lionel Messi something else.
West Ham, urged on by the energetic Noble, had their chances despite chasing the ball for most of the game. Kieron Dyer, making his first start since a double fracture of his leg in August 2007, had a chance to mark his comeback with a goal after 20 minutes. Diego Tristan turned Terry and supplied the perfect diagonal pass to Dyer. But Cech, back at his best after a wobbly spell, was just too imposing and Dyer's shot was saved. Tristan almost scored just before half-time; Matthew Upson jumped high to win the ball from Noble's corner and Tristan flicked out a boot, but John Obi Mikel was on the Chelsea line to clear.
Chelsea's dominance was total after the break, and following Kalou's goal they had two chances to put the result beyond doubt. Juliano Belletti put Nicolas Anelka through on goal, but his shot was saved by West Ham's goalkeeper, Robert Green. Moments later Cole clipped the top of the bar, after a crisp exchange with Malouda.
Hiddink said: "We dominated but we made some errors in concentration. It is always hard to prepare for a game like this when you have such a big game as Barcelona coming up."
After the final whistle, Zola signed a four-year contract extension worth £1.6 million a year. "I have four more years after this one, so you are going to get fed up with me," he said. Zola also apologised for the abuse directed by fans at Lampard. "Frank has always been a good professional and a good boy. It's sad to see he has a problem with this crowd. It makes me sorry."
Attendance: 34,749
Referee: Mike Dean
Man of the match: Lampard
Match rating: 6/10
----------------------------------------------------

Observer:
Petr Cech saves Chelsea's blushes at Upton Park
West Ham United 0 Chelsea 1 Kalou 55
Amy Lawrence at Upton Park


As much as this meant to the two East London boys in Chelsea's team — and didn't the inhabitants of the Bobby Moore Stand test the eardrums of Frank Lampard and John Terry with some pitiless serenades — the man whose heart was most warmed by this routine win was Petr Cech.
The Czech goalkeeper, so twitchy of late, gave his confidence a boost with a classy penalty save. It was an action equally significant to the touch of the goalscorer, Salomon Kalou, and helped to give Chelsea the perfect warm-up for the Champions League semi-final. Not overly strenuous, a few rested bodies, and one happy goalkeeper. What more could Guus Hiddink have wanted?
His team was picked with bigger fish in mind. A particularly makeshift defence was built with Barcelona in mind. No Alex, no protection from Michael Essien until a late substitute's job, and — most tellingly of all — José Bosingwa had an hour stationed at left-back to gain some much-needed practice before he covers for the suspended Ashley Cole in the Camp Nou on Tuesday night.
"With all due respect it is different to play West Ham than Lionel Messi," confessed Hiddink. "It is a huge task but Bosingwa is confident. If he can neutralise Messi it would be perfect." Indeed.Here they could largely control uncharacteristically flat opponents. West Ham were not at their sparkiest, and relinquished pole position for next season's Europa League.
Gianfranco Zola apologised to the supporters, who he reckoned "expected more", but claimed not to be too disappointed personally. After the game he signed a four-year contract extension. "I am delighted," he enthused. "I am very thankful to the club, which has been looking after me. We have a project here that we are taking forward, and we will try everything to make it happen."
West Ham did muster a couple of chances in the first half, without being clinical enough to disturb Chelsea. When Diego Tristán split Chelsea's defence with a peach of a pass, Kieron Dyer, his first start for the best part of two seasons, clipped his shot straight at Cech.
Just before half time West Ham won a corner, and made a point of crowding around Cech. Matthew Upson won the ball and nodded to Tristán, but his dink was featherlight, and easily cleared by John Obi Mikel. Glimpses of goal aside, West Ham looked a bit inhibited by Chelsea, and allowed the visitors plenty of possession. Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka all peppered in first-half shots. All fell wide.
Not so after the break, as nine minutes into the second half West Ham were punished for untidy defending when Lampard hooked a cross over the goalmouth for an unmarked Kalou to tap in. Dyer responded with an angled drive on the break, which Cech tipped away.
Chelsea were ominous though. They looked comfortable, yet ready to pounce if an invitation presented itself. Anelka was blocked by Green, and substitute Cole skimmed the crossbar.
Typically of West Ham's afternoon, they couldn't bite at the carrot that came their way 20 minutes from the end. Referee Mike Dean pointed eagerly to the penalty spot when Kalou tugged back Herita Ilunga. Mark Noble struck his spot-kick firmly towards the corner, but Cech sprawled to his left to claw away superbly. This was by no means a penalty miss. It was a points-winning, point-making save, and Cech's roaring celebration suggests he knew it.
Hiddink was pleased. "We don't deny he had some difficult times before. When a goalie makes decisive actions it is good for him. But it wasn't just this game — he showed some good saves against Everton as well." Hiddink is adamant there is one way to avoid an onslaught at Barcelona. "What we must not do is drop back and wait until the storm is coming. If we can, we must try to harm them as well."
All the experienced hands, well rested and full of beans, will be at the pump.
---------------------------------------------------


Mail:


West Ham 0 Chelsea 1: Kalou goal gifts Hiddink's side three points as Hammers left to rue penalty miss PATRICK COLLINS


As Chelsea celebrated a bland and bloodless victory, Frank Lampard raised his arms to the Bobby Moore Stand.
The West Ham fans rewarded their old boy with a screech of abuse. Lampard shrugged and trotted away.
In the course of a dreary afternoon, he had made all the points he needed to make.
For Lampard had dominated much of this uninspiring game without ever touching the form which has distinguished his season.
So mundane was Chelsea's performance that Guus Hiddink felt obliged to insist that his team had been taking things seriously. Nobody believed him.
Chelsea had played with much of their attention on Tuesday's European semi-final with Barcelona.
They prized a clean bill of health above league points which now seem almost irrelevant.
And yet, even in their distracted mood, they came through with something to spare.
West Ham were miserably disappointing. Indeed, Gianfranco Zola appeared a touch embarrassed when he announced he had signed a four-year contract, which will keep him at Upton Park until 2013. He praised his players for their season's efforts, apologised to his supporters for an indifferent day and said that he 'fancied Chelsea very much' against Barcelona.
But he knows that a massive chasm separates the first four or five clubs from the rest of the Premier League, and this match simply reinforced that reality.
The first half was mediocre beyond tolerance. Chelsea were listless and predictable; West Ham incoherent, careless, unfocused. And yet they created the two chances which should have carried them clear.
On 21 minutes, Diego Tristan played Kieron Dyer clear, Petr Cech spread himself hopefully in the Chelsea goal and Dyer struck the keeper with a vapid shot.
Two minutes from the interval, Mark Noble's corner dropped at the feet of Tristan two yards out. He prodded feebly at the chance and John Mikel Obi knocked it gratefully off the line.
In truth, Noble's full-hearted contribution was one of West Ham's few consolations. He covered vast tracts of ground, used the ball simply and, after 26 minutes, flung himself successfully to block Lampard's drive.
But Lampard was patiently exerting his influence, despite the jeers which attended his every movement. It has been this way ever since he had the temerity to leave West Ham some eight years ago.
Abusing Lampard has become something of a West Ham tradition, like singing 'Bubbles'. But it is nothing like so appealing. As Zola remarked: 'To see that Frank has a problem with this club makes me sorry.'
We must hope that his hint is taken. John Terry was another who incurred Upton Park's displeasure, for no special reason. Terry is not a man who often inspires sympathy, but this chanting was unacceptably ugly.
And so the afternoon passed, slowly and soporifically, with whimsical interest centred on Jose Bosingwa preparing to face Lionel Messi by marking Luis Boa Morte. With all respect to the West Ham player, it was rather like preparing to face the young Mike Tyson by going six rounds with Melvyn Bragg.
But Chelsea raised their pace after the interval and within nine minutes they were rewarded.
It was a simple goal, with Lampard infiltrating down the left and chipping a cross in full stride. Robert Green's grope was insufficient and Salomon Kalou scored with ease.Lampard threw a dismissive glance at the home crowd. Somebody flung a West Ham scarf at him. The jeers rang out once more. But Chelsea had the lead and looked likely to hold it. Yet West Ham continued to create little and live in hope. Came the 70th minute, and their hopes were on the brink of fulfilment. Herita Ilunga made a hopeful run into the box, where he was witlessly tripped by Kalou. The penalty award was a formality, the execution a mess. Noble, who had missed his previous penalty for West Ham, struck this one nervously to Cech's left, and the keeper plunged to a confident save.
Upton Park fell strangely silent and Hiddink sent on some of his bigger guns for a spot of light exercise: Michael Essien, Michael Ballack. West Ham could not disturb them.Chelsea were home. Now they could raise their eyes above this corner of East London and start to think of Barcelona.
Hiddink confessed that it would be 'very difficult against the best team in Europe, or in the world.'
He said that his team 'should not drop back and wait for Barcelona to come at us. We must set out to do them some harm as well.'
He thought Lampard would have an important part to play. Lampard had been the last to leave the pitch.
He paused to embrace Zola, then tugged off his shirt and threw it to a fan. Another supporter disputed ownership and a policeman intervened.
The officer tossed a coin to end the standoff.
Lampard was long gone, leaving behind the curious cameo. A pity. He might have found it rather more diverting than the rest of the afternoon.
WEST HAM (4-4-2): Green; Neil, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga; Boa Morte (Savio 72min), Dyer (Sears 61), Noble, Stanislas; Di Michele (Kovac 61), Tristan. Subs (not used): Lastuvka, Lopez, Spector, Payne. Booked: Stanislas.CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech; Mancienne (Ballack 83), Ivanovic, Terry, Bosingwa (A Cole 58); Belletti, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou (Essien 73), Malouda; Anelka. Subs (not used): Hilario, Di Santo, Drogba, Stoch.Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Thursday, April 23, 2009

morning papers everton home 0-0


The Times
April 23, 2009
Chelsea left chasing shadows as challenge comes grinding to haltChelsea 0 Everton 0
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent

Guus Hiddink may be the ultimate managerial mercenary, but the well-travelled Dutchman is no miracle-worker. Chelsea’s interim manager has conjured a magic act of sorts in transforming a demoralised squad and keeping them fighting on three fronts, but even he conceded last night that the biggest domestic prize is now beyond them. At this stage of the season, Manchester United’s lead of six points over them — with a game in hand on both their main rivals — is less of a gap, more a yawning chasm.
The Champions League still looms on the horizon like a tantalising dream, but on this evidence winning the FA Cup will not be as straightforward as many imagined. An Everton team missing several key players gave as good as they got and not until stoppage time, when Didier Drogba turned in the penalty area before lashing a shot against the crossbar, did Chelsea look like finding a winner. Indeed, without a series of outstanding saves from the Petr Cech, they would have been beaten long before.
Chelsea’s title hopes last season were effectively killed off at Stamford Bridge 53 weeks ago by Wigan Athletic’s injury-time equaliser and although this setback lacked such drama, the feeling of anticlimax was familiar. There were a few isolated boos from some supporters at the final whistle, but in the main Chelsea fans were as lacking in energy as their players.
Chelsea recovered from dropping points against Wigan last year to earn one last chance by beating United at Stamford Bridge, but another twist looks unlikely in the coming weeks. David Moyes, the Everton manager, suggested that they may have been distracted by the prospect of facing Barcelona on Tuesday and Hiddink could be forgiven for resting players against West Ham United on Saturday.
The Dutchman took the opposite approach last night, sticking with the team who beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals, a gamble that backfired as many of his players were short of sharpness. Nicolas Anelka has not scored for 11 matches, while even Michael Essien was lacking his customary boundless energy.
Just like last season, Chelsea came up short in the Barclays Premier League when it mattered most, — although a glance at a bench featuring Jacob Mellis, an unknown teenager, for the first time revealed that Hiddink had few options. Their lack of depth has been evident all season, particularly on the flanks, a problem that they will try to solve with an extensive recruitment drive in the summer.
Everton’s squad, by contrast, stood up to the task of two matches in the space of four days and created more chances than they managed against United on Sunday. The front two of Tim Cahill and Jô were particularly potent, each playing the other through on goal in the first half only to be denied by good saves from Cech, and the Brazil forward contriving later to lose his footing with the goal at his mercy. They could also have had a penalty for Alex’s challenge on Leighton Baines.
For the second successive week, Hiddink was required to utter an expletive-strewn half-time team-talk at Stamford Bridge, although it failed to have the same effect as during last week’s 4-4 draw with Liverpool. There was a noticeable increase in Chelsea’s intensity, but they still needed Cech to keep them in the game. The goalkeeper made a smart save from a header by Cahill and dived in head-first at the feet of Jô, a remarkable show of bravery given that he suffered a fractured skull 2½ years ago.
Chelsea’s best chance was wasted by Anelka, whose form has dipped just as Drogba’s has revived, suggesting that Luiz Felipe Scolari may have been right about their incompatibility. Hiddink appeared to think so, bringing on Salomon Kalou for the France striker after an hour, but his finishing was equally erratic as he shot straight at Tim Howard. The Everton goalkeeper is likely to be equally difficult to beat at Wembley next month.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, Alex, J Terry, A Cole — M Essien (sub: J O Mikel, 61min), M Ballack — N Anelka (sub: S Kalou, 61), F Lampard, F Malouda (sub: F Di Santo, 77) — D Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilário, J Belletti, M Mancienne, J Mellis.
Everton (4-4-1-1): T Howard — L Jacobsen (sub: P Jagielka, 88), J Yobo, J Lescott, L Baines — L Osman (sub: J Rodwell, 89), P Neville, S Castillo, S Pienaar — T Cahill — Jô (sub: L Saha, 90). Substitutes not used: C Nash, A Hibbert, J Vaughan, D Gosling. Booked: Neville.
Referee: M Halsey.

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Telegraph:
Everton get better of Chelsea stalemate
As a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup Final, it was Chelsea who forgot their glad rags. And their lines. A draw against Everton, the other victorious team in last weekend’s semi-finals, Wednesday night pretty much ended any pretensions, however faint, that they could win the Premier League title leaving them surely too far adrift of Manchester United. By Jason Burt at Stamford Bridge
As a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup Final, it was Chelsea who forgot their glad rags. And their lines. A draw against Everton, the other victorious team in last weekend’s semi-finals, Wednesday night pretty much ended any pretensions, however faint, that they could win the Premier League title leaving them surely too far adrift of Manchester United.One trophy gone but still two to play for. However this was probably the worst performance they have delivered since Guus Hiddink’s arrival in February with the interim manager failing with that fabled golden touch even if Didier Drogba struck the bar with a powerful shot on the turn in injury-time.
Indeed Everton will rue not collecting all three points. Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar missed glorious chances in the dying minutes while Petr Cech suffered a clash of heads with Jo as he bravely denied the striker. It would have earned their first win against Chelsea for nine years and, more relevantly, propelled them into fifth place in the league.
Hiddink had promised no rotation. And, good to his word, it was an unchanged line-up. Given the goals that Chelsea are chasing, the stakes and intensity, this in itself was remarkable. But the power players were, again, asked to increase the wattage with Frank Lampard racking up his 50th appearance of the season.
Their opponents, who had stayed down in London since Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United, succumbed to the need to make alterations with manager David Moyes introducing four changes, including the return of the cup-tied striker, Jo. He was afforded the first opportunity. Inside seven minutes, Segundo Castillo released the Brazilian but, clear on goal, his low shot was blocked by Petr Cech with his legs.
It provoked a response. Michael Ballack’s shot was deflected, but Tim Howard held on and Chelsea poured forward with Florent Malouda stealing the ball away from a hesitant Lars Jacobsen and Lampard eventually firing over from distance. The pressure grew but so did Everton’s resistance with Joseph Yobo, twice, denying Didier Drogba the chance to strike and Howard clutching a cross before the Ivorian could head home.
After Steven Pienaar had jumped into a tackle on Michael Essien, provoking another free-kick, Ballack curled the ball over and then Lampard, harried by Tim Cahill, ballooned his shot into the crowd. Still Chelsea attacked. John Terry joined the charge but was ignored by Nicolas Anelka, whose effort was blocked. It inevitably meant they were vulnerable to the counter-attack and when Jo broke, again, the ball was eventually squared to Cahill who turned quickly and sent in a low shot that was alertly held by Cech.
Both sides continued to size each other up. Chelsea probed and pushed, Everton held firm and threatened with the odd, dangerous jab. Cahill and Leon Osman buzzed in support of Jo. The latter turned the ball to Leighton Baines whose speculative shot looped off a Chelsea defender, had Cech in a momentary panic but then dropped over. From the corner, Chelsea countered. Anelka tore away but with Malouda waiting, unmarked, his cross was picked out by Howard. A waste.
But then Everton were wasteful also. Pienaar threaded a pass through to Jo. With Terry closing him down the striker still had a sight on goal but slipped as he shot and the ball bobbled away. In truth Chelsea were, to Hiddink’s obvious frustration, labouring. Maybe he would need to administer another team-talk in which harsh words were spoken.
Everton had also been denied what appeared to have been a penalty when Alex caught Baines’ leg. There were few appeals and referee Mark Halsey waved play on but replays appeared to show the defender had been fouled.
Still Hiddink didn’t make any half-time changes. Nor did he, this time, send his players out early. But they were almost caught cold. Another burst forward by Baines led to Osman crossing, Cahill diving to head towards goal and Cech making another accomplished save.
At the other end and Baines did well to hold off Lampard, as he almost wriggled through. Anelka then did, from Drogba’s flick, but dragged his shot disappointingly across Howard. Hiddink had seen enough and ordered a double change. On came the younger pair of John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou. Immediately Howard had to turn away a fierce shot from Terry.
Chelsea’s frustrations grew and then boiled over as Yobo brought down Malouda. Lampard’s shot was blocked, Kalou headed over, when he should have scored but still there was an Everton threat. Jo was relentless in his desire to create chances. But consistent in his ability not to take them and, once more, he shot wildly and wide when teed up.
Again Howard saved, turning away Kalou’s shot from another corner before Drogba came closest of all after being released by Mikel. But Chelsea couldn’t break through.

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Mail:
Chelsea 0 Everton 0: Halsey fouls up as Chelsea fall short in FA Cup final dress rehearsal
By NEIL ASHTON

They were queuing up to take a penalty after their FA Cup semi-final heroics at Wembley last weekend, yet this time Everton’s players were denied the chance to salute another spot-kick king.
Quite how will remain a mystery after referee Mark Halsey waved play on following Alex’s clumsy challenge, which flattened Everton left back Leighton Baines towards the end of the first half.
‘He definitely touched me, he clipped me when I was in the box, but the ball was out of my control,’ said Baines, but Everton’s impressive full back was being charitable.
After their 4-2 shootout victory over Manchester United on Sunday, any number of players would have fancied their chances of scoring from the spot, using the opportunity to draw first blood on their FA Cup final opponents and end their ambition of winning the title.
They were denied the opportunity to do both, although a draw at Stamford Bridge has almost ended Chelsea’s ambitions to win a third Barclays Premier League title.
This morning, just 24 hours after temporary manager Guus Hiddink challenged his Chelsea players to win the treble, they are six points behind leaders United with five games to play. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team still have a game in hand.
They will not give up, not while Hiddink remains in charge, but the Champions League and the FA Cup are the realistic targets after Everton’s third successive draw at Stamford Bridge.
David Moyes has hit upon a successful system against the muscle men, something Everton’s manager will surely take into the FA Cup final on May 30, the showpiece at the end of the season for two successful teams. This was not a goalfest like Chelsea’s 4-4 draw against Liverpool in the Champions League last week or anywhere near the quality of Arsenal’s 4-4 draw at Anfield on Tuesday. This was more like a goal quest.
Chelsea will point to their second-half chances, when Frank Lampard skewed wide, when substitute Salomon Kalou’s effort soared into the stand and Didier Drogba’s tight turn and shot cannoned off the bar in the final minute.
In Moyes’s mitigation he made four changes to the team who finally overcame United in the FA Cup semi-final, sparing Marouane Fellaini from duty and naming Phil Jagielka, Tony Hibbert and Louis Saha on the substitutes’ bench.
That is not the way at Chelsea, where the same 11 players who lined up at the start of their semi-final against Arsenal on Saturday were pressed into action again, sent out to try to maintain their 100 per cent record at home under Hiddink in the Premier League.
They fancied their chances of overhauling Liverpool after the game of the season at Anfield on Tuesday, yet failed to break down a seemingly impregnable defence. Chelsea survived a scare when Petr Cech rescued them with his legs as Jo, still searching for his first goal away from Goodison Park since he left Manchester City on loan in January, raced clear.
Ashley Cole was electric in the opening spell, underlining his terrific form with several bursts down the wing, latching on to Frank Lampard’s curved ball or tuning into the same frequency as Florent Malouda.
The Chelsea forward is showing signs that he has come of age at the club. He is certainly in the best form since his move from Lyon for £13.5million in July 2007, scoring the equaliser against Arsenal on Saturday with a well-taken strike from the edge of the area.
But now Malouda and his teammates will be looking more for success in the Champions League, starting with the first leg of the semi-final against Barcelona next week and the FA Cup, in which Hiddink will make his final salute in the Wembley final, rather than the Premier League.
Hiddink will be out of town after the FA Cup final, on his way back to Russia to prepare the national team for two World Cup qualifiers at the end of the season.
But his present club side remain determined to win their first trophy since the 2007 FA Cup final. Such has been their confidence under the temporary manager that they always fancy their chances of scoring, and they were taking pot shots from all over last night as they attempted to break the resolve of Everton keeper Tim Howard. Michael Ballack’s deflected effort was easily gathered, Lampard’s attempt to follow in the footsteps of Andrey Arshavin’s third goal against Liverpool on Tuesday drifted wide of the upright and Michael Essien’s strike followed a similar path.
They needed to feed Drogba, loving life at the Bridge again after scoring nine goals in his previous 11 games, a considerably better return than he gave Luiz Felipe Scolari during the Brazilian’s troubled six-month spell in charge.
For the most part Drogba was shackled by the imposing presence of Joseph Yobo, who shadowed the Chelsea striker’s every move during a considered first-half display after being thrust into the side in place of Jagielka. Defensively Everton were sound again, with Phil Neville crunching into tackles in the centre of midfield, earning a booking when he overstepped the mark and clattered into Lampard.
This was nowhere near Chelsea at their very best — their supporters have to go back to the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa last October for that — but they still have the belief that they can build on their short-term success.
Somehow Chelsea survived their streaky moments, such as Alex’s clumsy challenge on Baines, but this result will serve as a warning to Hiddink’s team. Not for the rest of the Premier League season, but for the FA Cup Final.

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Independent:
Chelsea call off chase as Moyes' men stand firm
Chelsea 0 Everton 0
By Mark Fleming

The Chelsea juggernaut hit the Everton brick wall with a thud. David Moyes' team were probably the last side Chelsea wanted to meet after their epic endeavours of recent weeks. Few outfits work as hard for their points as Everton which was not good news for Treble-chasing Chelsea, contesting their sixth game in 18 days.
At the final whistle the Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink, accepted his side are now out of the title race. "I said before we could not afford to drop any points but the fact is we lost two points tonight so we have to be realistic," he admitted. "Mathematically there is a chance but you cannot afford to waste points. It is difficult. Now we have to focus on our other two roads, the Champions League and the FA Cup final with Everton."
Hiddink said he may now start resting his star players, starting with Saturday's trip to West Ham, with an eye on the Champions League semi-final with Barcelona next week. "We will see the analysis after the game," he said. "Some players may be in the overload zone. We have to focus more on the Champions League games, that's for sure."
Chelsea's effort could not be faulted. They threw everything at the visitors, particularly in a frantic second half, but the closest Chelsea came to scoring was when Didier Drogba hit the Everton bar in stoppage time.
Moyes' side in fact created by far the better chances, although they were on the back-foot for much of the match, and were it not for an inspired performance by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech the Merseysiders could have snatched a famous win.
Cech had come under fire for leaking eight goals in his previous three games before last night. But the towering keeper responded with a flawless performance and a string of saves that ensured Chelsea managed to avoid an embarrassing defeat to the team they will meet in the FA Cup final on 30 May at Wembley.
Twice in the opening 10 minutes Cech denied Everton's Brazilian striker Jo. The £17m striker, on loan from Manchester City, went close with a glancing header but should have done better than to shoot at Cech's legs when put clean through on goal.
Chelsea dominated possession but Everton maintained their concentration and defended with purpose to frustrate their hosts, a foretaste perhaps for what to expect from their Wembley encounter at the end of next month. Chelsea have profited from their height and power in recent games by scoring vital goals from set plays. But Everton stood firm and kept Chelsea' six-foot marauders at arm's length.
As the match started slipping from the home side's grasp captain John Terry decided to take matters into his own hands with a rasping effort from fully 40 yards that Everton keeper Tim Howard tipped round the post at full stretch.
Chelsea increased the tempo, but still it was beyond them to create clear chances. One of the best fell to substitute Salomon Kalou who headed over from six yards. The home side's desperation to score left them vulnerable to counter-attack, and Chelsea were fortunate to escape when first Tim Cahill and then Leon Osman fired shots wide late in the game.
In the final minute Cech showed tremendous bravery to dive in and head the ball away from Jo. The Chelsea bench feared the worst as Cech, who suffered a fractured skull at Reading in October 2006, fell to his knees. But fortunately the keeper was quickly on his feet and was able to resume.
For Everton the satisfaction came in stopping Chelsea's powerful side in its tracks. Moyes said: "It's another clean sheet, after 120 minutes against Manchester United on Sunday and now Chelsea. We can't afford to rest players. We have to keep ploughing away.".
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Ballack, Essien (Mikel, 60), Lampard; Malouda (Di Santo, 76), Drogba, Anelka (Kalou, 60). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Belletti, Mancienne, Mellis.
Everton (4-4-2): Howard; Jacobsen (Jagielka, 86), Lescott, Yobo, Baines; Osman (Rodwell, 88), Castillo, Neville, Pienaar; Cahill, Jo (Saha, 90). Substitutes not used: Nash (gk), Hibbert, Vaughan, Gosling.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Booked: Everton Neville.
Man of the match: Cech.
Attendance: 41,556.

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Guardian:
Lethargic Chelsea fail to awaken title hopes
Chelsea 0 Everton 0
Dominic Fifield

Chelsea's title challenge may just have run aground at last. Talk of securing an unlikely treble, aired briefly and rather reluctantly by Guus Hiddink in the build-up to this occasion, was choked last night by a wonderfully rugged and committed Everton team to leave the hosts frustrated and forlorn. Manchester United perch six points clear of the Londoners this morning with a game still in hand. Even Hiddink's ability to eke the best from this squad may struggle to bridge that chasm.
The home side's was a leggy display which only rallied in the closing stages once desperation had set in, and even then most of the best chances fell to the visitors. There can be few opponents a team would wish to confront less for a sixth game in 18 days than David Moyes' workaholic Everton. Their energy may have been draining by the end, but their tenacity remained and Tim Cahill, thrashing a shot into the side-netting, and Steven Pienaar might still have earned a first win over these opponents in nine years.
There had been a lengthy exchange prior to kick-off between the two managers, their conversation littered no doubt with congratulations at the other's achievement in steering his team to the FA Cup final next month. This had duly become a dress rehearsal for that show-piece, a chance for players on both sides to size up direct opponents even if the visitors' selection had rather hinted at a team keeping their powder dry.
Everton had opted against returning triumphantly to Merseyside following Sunday's FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United, staying instead in a plush Kensington hotel ahead of this fixture.
The quartet of changes made last night reflected an energy-sapping season rather than any lingering hangovers from the post-Wembley celebrations. Yet the momentum generated by that success in the penalty shoot-out was carried by the altered line-up.
The visitors were the slicker team initially here, the smouldering frustration that pursued Moyes, down the tunnel at the break a reflection that his loanee forward Jo, cup-tied at the weekend, had missed two glorious opportunities to force his team ahead. Chelsea, notorious slow starters in recent weeks, breathed easier where they might have been buried.
The chances were both neatly created, if reliant upon the hosts' uncharacteristically ragged back-line. Michael Essien was sprawled on the turf at the other end early on when Segundo Castillo put Cahill through on goal in the inside left channel, only for his shot to strike the on-rushing Petr Cech. That served to calm the goalkeeper's early nerves though, two minutes before the interval and with Everton's rearguard having rarely been tested, he might still have been beaten. The hosts surrendered possession too readily in midfield and Pienaar liberated Jo down the right, only for the striker to slip under vague pressure from John Terry as he prepared to shoot.
Moyes cursed such profligacy, though there was encouragement to be drawn from the home side's lethargy. Cahill, gathering Jo's cross before spinning and spitting a shot at goal that Cech did well to save, and Pienaar had also come close while Chelsea laboured. Alex, too, may have been fortunate to escape conceding a penalty to Leighton Baines' darting run, which ended abruptly with what might have been deemed a trip. Confirmation that United led Portsmouth at Old Trafford did little to up the Londoners' tempo.
Yet Everton had cause to fear the revival. A little over a week previously, an equally lacklustre – and increasingly jittery – first-half performance from Chelsea had seen them trail comfortably at home to Liverpool in the Champions League to threaten their apparently serene progress into the competition's last four. The rat-a-tat of goals thereafter reflected the furious reaction of Hiddink and some of his more senior players in the dressing-room. This team may start sloppily under the Dutchman, but they have rarely remained becalmed for long.
The best they had mustered were efforts from distance from Essien and Frank Lampard, though there was more fizz to Chelsea's approach once Cahill had provided yet another wake-up call early in the second period, the Australian flicking a header which was gathered by a diving Cech. Anelka dragged a shot wide of the far post after scurrying through and, once the striker had been replaced, even Terry ventured up-field to force Tim Howard into a wonderful save.
Yet, for all the home side's sudden desperate urgency and Everton's own weariness, there remains such resilience and purpose to Moyes' team that the visitors simply would not yield. Joleon Lescott's block on Lampard's shot, smothered just as the net gaped, summed up the effort and endeavour that might have merited more than a point. Didier Drogba might have denied them when his shot struck the bar at the death. Chelsea's title challenge may just have gone with it.

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Sun;
Chelsea 0 Everton 0
By IAN McGARRY
WELL, the party had to end sometime.
That all-singing, all-dancing advert for English football that has dominated the past week was brought back to earth with a crash last night.
And what a crash it was. Chelsea and Everton defied the goalfest of the past few days to serve up a game that was absolutely worthless.
No goals. No winner. And no entertainment.
At least Liverpool’s Premier League challenge ended with a 4-4 bang of a game against Arsenal. Chelsea opted for a whimper as they handed the title to Manchester United on a night of drab nothingness at Stamford Bridge.
The Guus Hiddink revolution was brought to a grinding halt in a match devoid of any spark.
Billed as the FA Cup Final dress rehearsal, the best this match did was to scare the hell out of anyone thinking of going to Wembley Stadium next month. OK, both sides were a bit tired after the weekend’s exertions getting themselves into the showpiece game on May 30.
But given what was at stake, for the home side at least, the fans who turned up had every right to expect more than was delivered.
Hiddink has won every league match in his charge at home but his team showed very little ambition to make this a repeat performance.
In fact, this match became something akin to torture — the longer it went on the more painful it got.
And no one was willing to surrender. The nearest anyone got to threatening the stalemate was in the final minutes.
Chelsea’s best chance of goal came from Didier Drogba in the closing moments and the striker capped a frustrating evening with a shot which almost broke the crossbar.
Other than that, there was, well, not much at all really.
It was Frank Lampard who warned against the Blues’ habit of not waking up until they were a goal down.
There was little danger of needing to react here even though his words went completely unheeded in the eighth minute when Jo was allowed to bear down on goal. Petr Cech raced from his line and blocked the Brazilian’s shot with a leg.
In reply Drogba tracked to the halfway line only to wish he had not bothered when Phil Neville hacked him down. The Toffees skipper was booked. In fact, it took 33 minutes for the first serious danger when Jo broke on the right and crossed for Tim Cahill to swivel and get a shot off.
Cech was more than up to the task of blocking the effort but the sense of malaise which was prevalent in the opening period never lifted.
Lampard was the only Chelsea player willing to have a pop from distance and it took until three minutes from time before they really threatened.
Nicolas Anelka broke directly when an Everton corner was cleared but Tim Howard anticipated his cross.
Two minutes later Jo again found himself in the kind of space strikers usually only get in training matches.
IN keeping with the general standard of play he tripped and sliced an embarrassing effort wide.
At least the visitors looked more serious about the match after the break. Leighton Baines fed Leon Osman who cleverly evaded everyone on the right and pinged in a great cross.
Cahill did enough to direct the ball goalward but Cech was just as wary and made the save look easy. Chelsea slowly began to look like a team who realised there was a game and points to be won.
Michael Essien was willing to carry the ball and also the attack to Everton. He laid off wide to Anelka whose ball in was within a hair’s breadth of setting Lampard free on goal.
That flurry was just about as good as it got for the home support who had turned up with genuine hope of seeing their team power on in the league.
Hiddink effectively threw in the towel afterwards and no one was in a mood to argue.
Even the Chelsea boss recognised it is futile to pretend you are fighting on three fronts when no one else believes you.
So one down and two to go for the Chelsea and their flying Dutchman. It is all about knockouts now the marathon has been won by United.
Chelsea, though, will look on this match as an example of how to lose trophies rather than win them.