Argentine Messi danger man when Chelsea visit Barcelona
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-20 16:34
LONDON, Oct 19 - Argentine Lionel Messi rather than Brazil's Ronaldinho looks
like the man Chelsea must beware of when they face Barcelona in their next
Champions league match at the Nou Camp in two weeks' time.
The quick Messi had a part in Barcelona's best chances when Chelsea won their
Group A match at Stamford Bridge 1-0 on Wednesday but Ronaldinho confirmed his
loss of form this season.
Messi forced the first save from Hilario and his one-two with Ronaldinho set
up Xavi for another shot that Chelsea's Portuguese keeper also covered well in
the first half.
Chelsea made a storming start to the second half and inside two minutes
Didier Drogba settled the match with a fine goal.
"We knew (the start of the second half) would be like that but, well, the
ball landed there for Drogba, he was a bit lucky, but he really finished very
well," Messi told Reuters.
"It hurts because no-one likes losing but it was also difficult to play," he
said of the few chances Barcelona had to show off their much vaunted ball skills
against a tight defence.
"I think in the first half we had chances that we were unable to take
advantage of and when they scored things got complicated because they closed up
at the back."
It was not quite the scintillating performance of last season at Stamford
Bridge when Messi announced his arrival on the big stage by running rings round
former Chelsea left back Asier del Horno before the Spaniard was sent off for
bringing the Argentine down.
Chelsea fans believe that Messi helped get Del Horno a straight red card when
he rolled over several times in a manner Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho called
theatrical after being caught in the midriff by the Spanish international.
"That (jeering from the fans) didn't bother me at all, I think it's normal
but I don't worry about it, when you're playing you don't even notice it," Messi
said. "This was a very different match, the other was a knockout and this one is
only in the first phase. We lost but we're calm because we still have three
matches left."
Chelsea have one foot in the next phase with a maximum nine points from their
three games. They are five points clear of holders Barcelona and Werder Bremen.
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