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Chelsea's defensive juggernaut halted by Atlético Madrid's sheer vibrancy Chelsea's defensive juggernaut halted by Atlético Madrid's sheer vibrancy
(35 minutes later)
All good things - or bad, depending on your tactical tastes - must come to an end, and at Stamford Bridge Chelsea's depleted defensive juggernaut duly came to halt against an Atlético Madrid team too well-grooved, too canny and ultimately too vibrant in attack to be smothered for the second time in a week. José Mourinho has now lost in a Champions League semi-final for the sixth time out of eight. It is a fairly ambiguous stat: this is a hard competition to win. But there will surely be concern at the meekness of this defeat as a lop-sided, depleted team simply ran out of steel, defending its way to what was ultimately a meek 3-1 home defeat. There will no doubt be celebrations among the pro-football lobby, those moved to raise a scented handkerchief to their nose at the spectacle of Chelsea's extreme defensive stitching in recent matches. All good things - or bad, depending on your tactical tastes - must come to an end and at Stamford Bridge Chelsea's defensive juggernaut was duly halted by an Atletico Madrid team too well-grooved, too canny and ultimately too vibrant in attack to be smothered for a second time. Jose Mourinho has now lost in a champions League semi-final six times out of eight. It is a less telling stat than it sounds: this is a very hard competition to win. But there must still be concern at the enervated nature of this performance as a lop-sided, strangely-configured team ran out of steel, defending its way to a meek 3-1 home defeat.
Chelsea were poor here, outplayed on their own ground by a superior team of great spirit and energy. Although, never let it be said that Mourinho bends with the wind. This was an extraordinary selection from the start - and a failed one it must be said, almost a debauchery of defence. Before kick-off Chelsea's teamsheet almost resembled a piece of managerial satire, Mourinho responding to accusations his team is too defensive by picking five defenders and playing a centre-half in midfield. From Ashley Cole on the left to César Azpilicueta on the right, an iron curtain has fallen across Chelsea's defence in the last week and here was another patch of territory annexed. There will be celebrations not just among Atletico's full-voiced support, but also among the self-appointed pro-football lobby, those moved to raise a scented handkerchief to their nose at the spectacle of Chelsea's extreme defensive stitching in recent matches. Plus of course the rush will begin to cut Mourinho down to size, to claim that the magic dust has gone, the tactics are obsolete, the motivational superpowers decisively depleted.
It was all the more bizarre from Mourinho given this was a match in which Chelsea were under pressure to use not just the shield but the sword. Twice in previous rounds they had been presented with a must-win second leg at Stamford Bridge. On both occasions Mourinho had concocted a bespoke little moment of theatre, from the overblown festivities that helped disarm Didier Drogba to the muscular direct football against Laurent Blanc's French champions. Here Mourinho simply went with more of the same: more defence, more solidity. It never looked like enough - in fact it barely looked like anything at all. It is an over-correction. In many ways Mourinho has done quite well to take what is a lopsided, ageing team this far. This is not one of the top four playing squads in Europe and Mourinho's tactics were the right ones to drive Chelsea to within 50 minutes of a champions League final. A specialist in semi-final failure is a pretty good kind of specialist to be, not least when you are also a two-time winner.
As the match kicked off Azpilicueta, playing as a defensive right winger, was for a minute or two Chelsea's most advanced player. From the off they seemed to be simply carrying on a conversation started eight days ago, a conjoined defensive rearguard that was almost broken after four minutes here when Koke's long cross from the left curled on to the bar with Mark Schwarzer groping helplessly. And yet for all that Chelsea were genuinely poor here, outplayed on their own ground by a more balanced and mobile team of great sprit and energy. Although, never let it be said that Mourinho bends with the wind and it was an extraordinary Chelsea team from the start, a selection that bordered on a debauchery of defence. This was less a team sheet more a piece of managerial satire, Mourinho responded to accusations his team is too defensive by picking five defenders and playing David Luiz in midfield. From Ashley Cole on the left to Cesar Azpilicueta on the right an iron curtain has fallen across Chelsea's defence in the last week and here was another patch of territory annexed.
You do have to wonder about all this in a match Chelsea had to win and which too often saw Branislav Ivanovic and Azpilicueta fumbling between them on the right wing like a waltzing couple, each waiting for the other to take the lead. Mourinho was blessed here by the return of Eden Hazard and generally Hazard makes a huge difference to Chelsea's tripod of inside forwards. Hazard is the chief playmaker in Chelsea's transitions from defence to attack, but at least twice in the first half he beat his man and was then too easily crowded out. Similarly, the lively looking Fernando Torres often found himself a lone scurrying blue figure bounced like a pinball between red and white striped shirts. Mourinho is right to complain that his resources are limited, but there was no clear reason why Azpilicueta should play right wing ahead of André Schürrle. It was all the more bizarre given this was a match in which Chelsea were under pressure to use not just the shield but the sword. Twice in previous rounds they had been presented with a must-win second leg at Stamford Bridge and responded with brio. On this occasion Mourinho simply went with more of the same, more defence, more solidity. It never looked like enough.
It was a strange first half all round as Chelsea's crowd considered the tactical intricacies of the double full-back system in something close to silence. Atlético pressed cautiously, a team surprised to find itself ushered forward so readily away from home, while Chelsea's counter attacks lacked for nothing except a few attackers. And then from nowhere: Chelsea scored. It was a well worked goal. Willian wriggled into a pocket of space by the corner flag, Azpilicueta supporting well centred low and hard and Fernando Torres scored via a deflection off Mario Suárez. Torres half-celebrated half-apologised, doing neither for so long it began to seem a little strange. It was that kind of half, just as Atlético's equaliser just on half time was also baffling. Five defenders is all very well, but not if they defend like this. The ball was switched far too easily from the left by Arda Turan: perhaps Chelsea actually needed three right-backs. The ball was volleyed back across goal, Terry's miskick wrong-footed Cole, who also missed it, and Adrián López tucked it in on the bounce. At times in the first half defensive right winger Azpilicueta was Chelsea's most advanced player. And really, you do have to wonder about all this in a match Chelsea had to win and which too often saw Branislav Ivanovic and Azpilicueta fumbling between them on the right wing like a waltzing couple each waiting for the other to take the lead. Mourinho was blessed here by the return of Eden Hazard, chief playmaker in Chelsea's transitions from defence to attack, but twice in the first half he beat his man but found himself completely isolated. Mourinho is right to complain that his resources are limited, but counterattacking at speed is a specialist midfielder's skill and there was no clear reason why Azpilicueta should play ahead of Andre Schurrle.
Chelsea needed a change not just of tempo but of balance, as Koke and Turan began to find their stride. Off went the extra full-back, consigned to the dustbin of bizarre tactical gambits, and on came Samuel Eto'o as Chelsea, the team of no strikers, played with two up front, a sure sign of options running out. Eto'o's first act was to foul Diego Costa inside the Chelsea area and give away a penalty that Costa absolutely smashed home. The Atlético bench embraced wildly, the black-clad Diego Simeone waggled his arms about on the touchline like a stranded mafiosi enforcer deliriously hailing a helicopter, and Chelsea had half an hour to score twice, having scarcely built a coherent attack. Turan's third, twelve minutes later, killed the game. Mourinho remains the master of defence. He may have a tough time defending his extreme caution here. It was a strange first half all round as Chelsea's crowd considered the tactical intricacies of the double full-back system in something close to silence and Atletico pressed cautiously, a team surprised to find itself ushered forward so readily away from home. At which point Chelsea scored a fine goal. Willian wriggled into a pocket of space by the corner flag, Azpilicueta centred low and hard and Torres scored via a deflection off Mario Suarez. Torres half-celebrated half-apologised,. It was that kind of half, just as Atletico's equaliser before half time was also a muddle. Five defenders is all very well,but not if they defend like this. The ball was switched far too easily from the left by Arda Turan (perhaps Chelsea actually needed three right backs) and then back again. Terry's miskick wrong-footed Cole, who also missed it, and Adrian Lopez tucked it in on the bounce.
Off went the double full-back after the break, consigned to the dustbin of bizarre tactical gambits and on came Samuel Eto'o, whose first act was to give away a penalty that Diego Costa duly smashed home. The Atletico bench embraced wildly, the black-clad Diego Simeone waved his arms about on the touchline like a stranded mafiosi enforcer deliriously hailing a helicopter, and Turan's third twelve minutes later killed the game.
And really it seems a shame to focus on Chelsea's failings. As Koke and Turan began to find their stride, Juanfran attacked energetically and Costa radiated a bicep-flexing menace it was easy to see why Atletico have provided such a thrillingly concentrated presence in La Liga. This is a genuinely inspiring team built from parts and off-cuts and a core of excellent mature Spanish players. There may be a rush to junk Mourinho among those irritated by his demeanour and his win-at-all-costs approach which, when it fails, leaves him with no aesthetic ideals, no economic principles to hide behind. Perhaps the modern super-manager is a myth in itself: two of them have gone down now in the last two days. But at the end here Mourinho was duly deferential towards a beautifully balanced opposition who are worthy finalists.