Eden Hazard gave a stinging critique of Jose Mourinhos tactics after Chelsea went out of the Champions League to Atletico Madrid. The Blues were criticised for defensive methods employed in the semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid and in the Premier League win at Liverpool before tumbling out of Europe after a 3-1 home loss. Chelsea arent set up to play football, Belgian Hazard told beIN SPORTS French station. Michael Ballack and Jamie Carragher believe that Chelsea lacked creativity Chelsea are set up to counter-attack. It was a view shared by Sky Sports Jamie Carragher who added: This Chelsea team at the moment does not have enough creativity to open teams up. Carragher was also critical off Mourinhos substitutions after the Portuguese brought on Samuel Etoo early in the second half with Chelsea looking for a goal to take them through. Instead the veteran striker conceded a crucial penalty which Diego Costa converted. Chelsea arent set up to play football. Chelsea are set up to counter-attack Eden Hazard I just thought it was a little bit early to go two up front, said Carragher. It had been a tight game but as soon as they went two up front it started to open up. I just thought it was a little bit early and that Mourinho had patience in these big games. They only needed one goal and it was important not to concede another. Fellow pundit Gary Neville added. Hes usually the king. Hes renowned for waiting. I thought Chelsea would wait, probably until 10 minutes to go with five minutes of extra time there. Be at 1-1 and then think that in that little period they could build some pressure, keep the crowd up into the last part of the game. It was taken away from them in that 15 minute period after the substitution. Atletico Madrid captain gives his reaction to the win over Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final. Unless there is a twist in the Premier League title race, Mourinho is poised to finish without a trophy for a second successive season. Assessing his first campaign back at Stamford Bridge ahead of the closing Premier League matches, Mourinho said he clung to a dream which disappeared. We are realistic, but at the same time we are optimistic, he said. When things go in a certain direction, there is a moment where you dream and you think that things are possible, even if things are not. Jose Mourinho felt Chelsea were the better team until they conceded a penalty against Atletico in the Champions League semi-final. And because we did well in the Champions League and in the Premier League, there was a moment where we felt we could do it. In the Premier League it was the match against Aston Villa that made me believe that we had no chance to be champions. In the Champions League, its the same. We knew that teams had more potential than us and were more ready than us to win the competition, but because you go step by step and beat Paris St Germain after a 3-1 defeat, you build your dream. And today, I think it was proved that we had our chances. Until minute 61 we were completely in the game. And 2-1 for Chelsea, or 2-1 for Atletico. Arda Turan scores Atletico Madrids third goal, as they beat Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate. That moment was crucial and, from that moment, the game was over. In one minute, two actions decided the game. Atleticos goalkeeper (Thibaut Courtois - on loan from Chelsea) makes an impossible save from John Terrys header and instead of 2-1 to Chelsea, a few seconds later a penalty. The save is amazing and the penalty is a penalty. After that, there was only one team on the pitch. We had immediately the feeling the game was lost. Defender David Luiz also felt incidents early in the second half were crucial and said. They scored when they needed to score. We controlled the game for the first 40 minutes and then we conceded a goal at the end of the first-half and they were able to counter attack and they dictated the game. In the second half, they scored the second goal and then we headed the ball against the post. If it is 2-2, it is a different game and we are back in it but then they scored the third goal and that is it. The on-loan Courtois had an impressive night for Atletico - cementing his reputation as one of the worlds best young goalkeepers - and Mark Schwarzer believes he could provide some tough competition for Petr Cech next season. I thought he was outstanding, Schwarzer said. He had a great game tonight. If wed been a bit lucky and hed been a bit unlucky we could have got back in the game and there could have been a few more nervy moments towards the end for them. It wasnt the case. They are both world class goalkeepers and I wouldnt say that they are at different ends of their careers because Petr still has a long way to go with his career.
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 05:34:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015