Former Chelsea supervisor and membership legend Roberto Di Matteo believes his aspect defied all odds to beat Barcelona within the 2012 Champions League semi-finals.
Coming into the second leg with a one-goal lead, Chelsea nonetheless had loads of work to do in opposition to a Barcelona aspect managed by Pep Guardiola and containing the likes of Lionel Messi , Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Alexis Sanchez, Sergio Busquets and lots extra world-class stars.
Their job grew to become all of the harder late within the first half when Sergio Busquets levelled the tie, John Terry acquired a pink card for a petulant knee behind Sanchez and Iniesta then scored Barcelona’s second objective. The drama was removed from over on what proved an iconic evening for Chelsea of their historical past, although.
Chelsea legend Roberto Di Matteo recollects iconic Champions League win
Di Matteo celebrates (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Ramires scored a luxurious chip on the stroke of half-time to place Chelsea again accountable for the tie, with the away objectives rule nonetheless in place on the time. Messi then missed a penalty within the forty ninth minute to make sure Chelsea stayed within the ascendancy, with the subsequent 40 minutes of soccer a pure back-to-the-walls efficiency because the Blaugrana simply saved coming.
In fact, all of it culminated within the 92nd minute when Fernando Torres raced away, rounded Victor Valdes and compelled Gary Neville’s well-known commentary out of him. For Di Matteo, who was nonetheless solely in momentary cost of the Blues after Andre Villas-Boas’ sacking earlier within the season, a better energy seemed down on the Londoners that evening.
Messi’s penalty hits the bar (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“That was Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona with Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and the entire others,” Di Matteo completely tells FourFourTwo . “In that period, it was principally inconceivable to play in opposition to them.
“We knew we must defend and simply create a gap each time we might. We’d received the house leg 1-0 and it was a query of attempting to hold on on the Camp Nou. You may hardly clarify what occurred subsequent.
“Barcelona scored both aspect of us shedding Terry to a pink card within the first half, and as a coach you’re considering, ‘How are we going to do that?’ However then Ramires chipped among the best objectives in his profession and that fully modified the ambiance on the break, as we led once more [on away goals].
“I instructed them, ‘That is going to be the toughest 45 minutes of your entire life. However, as issues stand, we’re by means of to the ultimate. Maintain on to that with every part inside you!’
Fernando Torres celebrates his objective on the Camp Nou (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“We rode our luck, Messi lacking a penalty, however you want it. When Fernando killed the sport off on the finish, I knew that one thing divine had taken place. I used to be so proud.”
The miracles did not finish there for Chelsea of their Champions League run, triumphing over Bayern Munich on penalties within the closing after Didier Drogba had equalised in stoppage time of the sport and Arjen Robben missed an extra-time penalty.
