Juventus – Chelski FC: First Knockout Round, Last Chance

By: roberto | March 9th, 2009

$Juventus\' players warm up during a training session at the Olympic stadium in Turin March 9, 2009. Juventus will play Chelsea in a Champions League soccer match on Tuesday. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (ITALY SPORT SOCCER)$

Uefa Champions League – 10 Marzo 2009

Second Leg – Stadio Olimpico – Torino

Three years. Three long, hard-fought years. Each of you Bianconeri out there know exactly what I’m talking about. We’ve endured our fair share, but today my friends is our chance to claim something back. Mister Ranieri, we ask but a few things from your men. We ask them to play with heart and determination. To play with organization, speed, grit, and imagination. Press forward men and never look back. Roll the dice and dance with the devil in the pale moon light. These might seem like extraordinarily tall orders, true. But never forget my friends, this is an extraordinary club.

The Old Lady will once again call upon her two favorite sons. Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet. For these two don’t have one thing in common, they are one thing in common. Ranieri will be counting on this time tested relationship for any hope of a goal.

Tiago, Tiago, Tiago, I will tell you this: “Win the crowd and you will win your freedom”- from the doghouse. Marchisio (I hope), play with all your heart my boy. Be fearful of no one and fight with the vitality you’re blessed with.

Nedved. Oh my beloved Nedved. Will this be your last champions league game? You’ve been a soldier your entire career my friend. No one deserves to wear those colours more, or to lift this cup higher. I wish you all the best tonight. Brazzo what you lack in technique you must make up for with intensity. Keep the flow of goods steady on the right with consistency and promptness. Nothing fancy here, just grit and simplicity.

Molinaro, I’ve been hard on you in the past but I’m trying my best to think positive thoughts here. Run like you’ve never ran before. Grygera same goes for you, piu veloce. Mellberg and Chiellini- my new favorite pairing in our defence. These two are about as no non-sense as we’re gonna get. Stay strong back there boys and work together. Remember, first to the ball *always. And Giorgio, take all that’s yours lad. You are the future and this is the stage where you belong. Take the seat on the throne now Chiellini, you’re at home. Last but not least Gigi. If all goes to plan you won’t have much to do.

Aside from that, there’s really nothing else I can say. Our injuries are unfortunate, but we don’t make excuses. We know what needs to be done and that’s that. We can certainly turn this thing around. But if we get eliminated today having given everything we’ve got, then it’s a reality I will gladly live with. Until next year…

Statistics worth note from UEFA’s Match Press Kit:

Juventus

In the UEFA Champions League era, the Turin team have overturned a first-leg deficit four times in seven ties overall.
The 1996 winners have also built up an impressive home record in recent years, winning all three group matches at the Stadio delle Alpi in both 2004/05 and 2005/06. In Total, they played ten home games in those seasons, winning eight and drawing twice while conceding just two goals. With this season’s group campaign taken into account their home record is: P13 W10 D3 with just three goals allowed. Their last home defeat in the competition came against RC Deportivo La Coruna in the first knockout round on 9 March 2004, the Spanish club triumphing 1-0 on the night and 2-0 overall.
Juve have won ten of their 16 home fixtures against Premier League opponents in UEFA club competition, drawing three of the others. However they have encountered difficulties in their last three opponents, drawing two of them 0-0, against Arsenal FC in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and Liverpool FC at the same stage the previous season, bowing out on each occasion having already lost the first leg.
Juventus have scored seven goals since the start of the group stage, fewer than any other side in the first knockout round.
Amauri, Claudio Marchisio and Mohamed Sissoko will each incur a suspension with their next bookings.
Six of Del Piero’s seven goals in Serie A this term have come from dead-ball situations. The Bianconeri have scored in each of their last 19 home games in Serie A. The last time they drew a blank was against Torino FC on 26 February 2008.

Chelsea

Chelsea, meanwhile, have travelled with a first-leg advantage on three occasions in the UEFA Champions League proper mixed results. FC Bayern Munchen were overcome in the 2004/05 quarter-finals, but Liverpool FC (2006-07 semi-finals) and FC Barcelona (1999/00 quarter-finals) turned the ties around to end the London club’s interest in the competition.
Chelsea have a quick return to Italy after their meeting with AS Roma in the group stage when a 3-1 defeat on Matchday 4 meant that last season’s runners-up finished Group A in second place on eleven points, one behind Roma. In a total of five visits to that country it was their second defeat. They have drawn on two occasions and won in the other.
Chelsea failed to win on their travels in this season’s group stage, drawing with FC Girondins de Bordeaux and CFR 1907 Cluj.
Terry’s next booking will incur a ban.
Chelsea have been caught offside 31 times, more than any other team.
Chelsea have won five out of five games since Hiddink’s arrival. Chelsea have won their last six matches in all competitions and have been victorious in their last four away games.
Lampard is ever-present in the league this season, starting all 28 matches.
Quaresma is ineligible for the UEFA Champions League.
Essien and Carvalho both featured for Chelsea’s reserves in a 4-3 defeat at Aston Villa FC on 2 March; the former, who scored, unexpectedly played the whole match and the latter just over an hour. Joe Cole is still injured having undergone knee surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Ferriera will also miss the rest of the campaign after also damaging an anterior crusciate ligament last Thursday.

Predictions: Juventus 4 – Chelski 1

$Juventus\' fans celebrate at the end of the football match against Arezzo during the Italian Serie B championship at Arezzo \'s stadium 19 May 2007. Juventus defeated Arezzo 5-1 and won the championship 3 weeks before the end. Next year Juventus will play in the Serie A championship. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)$

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

Some Related Juventus Posts:

Category: Team News

« Photo of the Day: ‘Giorgio of the Jungle’ | Home | Chelski Post-Match Reactions »

San

Montolivio isint good hes overrated, toooooo inconsistent!
Weston (@wpazzurri)

san, we should buy giuseppe rossi!

g. rossi giovinco

iago marchisio ekdal f. rossi

de ceg. criscito chiellini ?

Buffon

it would confuse everybody having two rossi's!
i so wish balotelli wasnt so arrogant, then we could get him up front w/ g. rossi and put giovinco as AMC... montolivo would be a good buy too!
Sam Dj

nedved is out with rib injury and now with de ceglie also injured, it's time for giovinco to cement the starting position
A

Chelsea can't really complain about the 'goal-over-not-over-line' incident since the ghost hand ball that led to the free kick was just that, it did not happen.

But I agree, there was way too much play acting, from both teams. Yuk.
cap123

chelsea fan here, great game guys, great entertainment and you really had us on our heels at points in that game. Could have been a really different game as well, maybe if nedved hadn't been injured, that guy sent off, that little fast guy had started, the ref had given the free kick as having gone over the line or maybe that one of your players had been sent off for kicking essien in the back of the legs when the ball had gone out.

great first goal too.
serious things

goal.com ...LOL!
al

another piece from Goal.com:
http://goal.com/en/news/1717/e...
alex

are you all being serious?! molinaro is terrible hes a disgrace to the juventus shirt. to be fair though your 2 signings away from having a super team. david silva and gaetano d'agostino and you will play some amazing stuff. del piero should not be playing next season the mans 34 he had an amazing 2007-08 but whens the last time he scored from open play? how many has he scored this season?
you have the best natural talent in giovinco since cassano and i believe he can be better. hes been extremely patient and shown excellent maturity his time is now. trezeguet has to go as well its time to refresh the team. dont know why but ever since i found out pazzini was a juve fan i reckon you should buy him and stick him upfront with giovinco (when trez and del piero retire of course). and get in conte you cant have ranieri in charge next season he wont win anything his subs were really bad last night. if seba came on for pavel then you would have won it he was dynamite. but he brings on hasan. and he takes of iaquinta your most dangerous striker last night?!! thats really bad from ranieri
San

if he can do what he did with Lyon i would be ecstatic, he would be like a playmaker, he played like this without much freedom , he willl be better when he actually gets some freedom
A

I agree on Molinaro, he has improved, still don't know how good he will be or if this is it. As for Thiago, he ain't CL champion material, that's all I'm saying. He ain't no Paulo Souza or Conte and if you think you guys are going to win CL's with him as the fulcrum of the midfield, forget it. He played reasonably but that's all you're gonna get with him.
San

wtf, "A" u got it wrong i tohught tiago was prob our best player in midfield he distributed the ball fantastically, probably the best mid in the game for juve, and molinaro played a great game he bombed up and down the flanks i actually am starting to change my view on him htese dsays, he is improving!
A

and for fucks sake, isn't this an Italian team? shouldn't they know how to counterattack? gosh
A

And oh, Thiago is not CL champion material either...
A

One more thing, Del Piero (sad to say) had no business being in a side that was out there to outscore Chelsea, especially given the promise shown in Giovinco's cameo. A case of what might have been, I feel.

I have been telling your friend Alessio all season on his jaunts into the Milan pages here that Juve should have found a proper replacement for Nedved before this campaign started.
al

guys, article from C4:
http://www.channel4.com/sport/...

briefly:
- Juve exited Europe with honour.
- Christian Molinaro and Brazzo are not in Juve level.
- Pavel should soon be replaced
- Ranieri is partly to blame. (The writer forget to mention Secco)
- Gio and Marchisio should play more often
- Let us focus on the remaining domestic race

Forza Juve!
JC

I don't think that 2nd Chelsea goal made a huge difference, coz you'll would have lost on the away goal rule anyway..
San

and yeha lorenzo ariaudo ciouldnt be fit into the first XI!
San

yeha i dont really tyhink we nedd many reenforcements except like 2 defender and 1 or 2 midfeilders! we will be set i reckon right back, centre back amc or aml casue giovinco wil have to play one postion next yeqar preferable AMC so we need a great left winger and anther back up winger would be good seeign that camo and marchioinni arent always fit!
San

I SWER IN A FEW YEARS THIS IS OUR TEAM

---------------------BUFFON------------------------
buy someone------cheiliini-----criscto---de ceglie
----------Iago------Marchisio-----Fausto Rossi---
---------------------GIOVINCO-------------------
-----a target man young guy anyone---- Ayub daud!

that looks liek a decent team
Ozzy

if juve play like they played last night all year round, i will be the happiest fan... for once ranieri got his shit right and the team gave it all.. Juve rox ... we just need some reinforcements for next season and we will be right there with the best :)
Armando

To Vin -

Del Piero plays great as a trequartista. He obviously wasnt at his best against Chelsea, but he did help out. And it's his first game in this position in a long time, he needs to get used to it again. For example, in the 06 WC Semi-final against Germany he played great in a deep role, even scored the second goal.
Sam Dj

i wanna cry....:(
but now i really hope that ranieri would give giovinco more chance to shine now that we're only competing for coppa....unless inter lost tomorrow....
Weston (@wpazzurri)

damn.
im going to go crawl into a corner and die now.
incredible cock

1.very sad juve is out, but we must be honnest we weren't strong enough, ok red card , but see like liverpool, the created like 50000 oppertunities to score, juve didn't . and this was also not chelsea at his best, far from.

2.I very hope this knock out will be a good signal to the juve board to INVEST HEAVILY. one can see juve is far from the absolute european top.

3 THINK FOR GODSAKE ABOUT THE FUTURE: the fact that a 34 old del piero and 36 old nedved ar the ones who needs to pull the strings and carry the team is just with al do respect silly, there highly classed players for sure ,but its simply rediculous, so old guys are the strongholders of a team

especially if you see GIOVINCO play....I MEAN WHAT THE FUCK, the kid is a fucking genious and is one of the best talents i've ever seen. juve think future and build a team around him, the del piero era has coming to an end!! giovinco sweet jezus ? He can grow into the best trequartista italy has ever know , but he must play and develop in that role, not stink on the bench.

4 i repeat my points, juve think future, invest heavily, and build the fuck a team around giovinco goddamned, otherwise it wil take like 30 years before juve ever will be of some significance in europe

I rest my case
Amir

As a Roma fan i have to admit Juve gave all tonight. They played well and i thought the game was going to end 3:1 Chelsea played ugly but smart.
The little guy Giovinco was the difference maker and if juve didn't go at haft time with 1:1 not sure what would have happened in the second half. That guy is umbeliavable
English teams are very strong towards the end when everyone thinks its over.
Sorry for Juve. And sorry for Buffon who didn't deserve two goals.
Smirnoff triple distilled for

Cash Rules Everything Around Me CREAM Get The Money Dolla Dolla Bill Y'all
Juventini4lyfe

MOM mellberg
cris

i feel terrible for nedved. his last cl game and he has to go off like that. he would of gave chelsea all they could handle if he was healthy.
Julian

Also, hugely impressed with Giovinco and Marchisio today. Neither were intimidated playing in front of FC Money and Gio especially was a huge spark once he was subbed on
Julian

For all the talk of the utter dominance of the EPL, Juve sure made the peninsula proud. The true crime was not scoring in England and I hope it doesn't haunt Roma, too. Sorry to see you guys go out but I hope at least one of Inter/Roma make it through. I'm not going to be able to stand the press comments if all three teams go out
Brian

A few things from today:

1. Agreed with Armando. That formation should be used more often. With a ton of MF's hurt right now, why not play to an obvious strength (IE - the abundance of quality strikers)? Alternate ADP and Gio in the trequartista role.

2. Gio is magnificent to watch. He needs to play. A lot. Had a few Chelski fans mention that they cringed every time he touched the ball because he made players look foolish. Juve looks more dangerous whenever he is on the field.

3. No way is that the end for Pavel. It can't be.

4. I think the passion and guts that were displayed by Tiago today would allow more Juve fans to root for him. With his play the last couple of matches, I'm starting to warm to the idea of him staying.

That's it. I root for Roma tomorrow, but hell will freeze over before I root for Inter. Italy has got to have one team advance. Just wish it could have been Juve.
Nicoli (ASR)

Congrats Juve. i think u gave it all u got especially with ten men. Giovinco was excellent...brought him on wayy too late. I thought tiago wasnt bad as well and marchisio did his job quietly and effectively. i actually thought that ADP was ur worst player....evrytime he touched the ball he either lost it or went down...and did hardly nething with the free kicks.
Neway cheer for us tmrw, hopefully we will do italy proud!
vin

Armando, most Italian teams look better with the 4-3-1-2. :)
But then again, most Italian teams have someone who playes well as trequartista.
alex

Del Piero: 8.5
Trezeguet: 7.5

they are fucking mental! how on earth does del piero get an 8.5?!!!!! the worst website in the world but i find myself perversely attracted to its nonsense....
Armando

One more thing i have to say though is we certainly looked better with a 4-3-1-2 (or it may have been a 4-3-3, but it looked likea 4-3-1-2) just like i said all along. We should always use that formation now. Forza Juve!!!!
alex

"An effervescent display down the attacking left back and looked to make things happen. Nicely played. Has good style."

thats what goal.com said about molinaro. they have absolutely no idea what they are on about
vin

Sorry guys. :( Would've been nice to see an Italian squad go through. Juve actually had a chance. :(
Armando

But Chiellini should NOT have been sent off and that was a huge difference maker. I highly doubt Chiellini wouldve let that second goal happen. Forza Juve!!!!
Armando

Actually, now that i think about it, we may not have looked like the better team, because they had alot of good chances as well, but it was certainly a good game, and we did decent. I wouldnt say either team was better though, i mean, the game did end in a 2-2 draw.
i just want to beat an english

my bad for repetitiveness