Europa League 2013 topic

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Come on You Spurs

Chelsea have first leg away = Advantage Chelsea

Chelsea vs. Benfica final then? Think that's the most likely result.

the Dutch McLaren thinks Benfica are the team to beat

I think so too, Chelsea and Benfica are the strongest teams in the competition, were at the quarter finals as well. Chelsea should win it I think if they want it enough.

Benitez doing quite alright at the moment - top 4, and 2 trophies in sight.

Gus Hiddink won the FA Cup as a caretaker manager and was lauded as brilliant, if Benitez does the double and secures top 4, I wonder how he will be remembered.

Anyone of the teams could make it to the final wa are people just jumping off and saying CHE v BEN?

Crimey wrote:Gus Hiddink won the FA Cup as a caretaker manager and was lauded as brilliant, if Benitez does the double and secures top 4, I wonder how he will be remembered.

As that ex Liverpool boss the fans all hated ........................sadly

TheBrahmaBull wrote:Anyone of the teams could make it to the final wa are people just jumping off and saying CHE v BEN?

That's my predicition...

I think Chelsea will be in for a very tough night against personally and im not calling that one yet. However Benfica will be fine against Fenerbache (spelling) IMO.

Not sure why people are going hyper over Benfica. If you'd watched both legs vs Newcastle you would know this team is average. There's a reason why Celtic beat them in the CL group. We basically gifted them this tie, still pains me right now. Santon's pass back and a gifted penalty handball all within 5 minutes of each other killed us. Newcastle were comfortable in Portugal and if Cisse could finish and not hit post every time we would of had three away goals and been through now. Benfica are average, no getting around it. We had a B team out last night in prep for Sunderland and despite not scoring we were totally comfortable. We bought on ben arfa & marveaux and were totally dominated them for half an hour and could of had three or four. Only reason they scored in injury time was we had basically 8 players up front or something ridiculous. Also Benfica will have four first team players suspended for the first leg which will hurt.

Chelsea vs basle will be a good game but would expect chelsea's professionalism and first team to do them. Spurs without bale, lennon, defoe, gallas etc nearly did them so just think what a fully fit chelsea team can do. Would be typical if Benitez won this trophy after all the stick he's received. there even in the semi final of the f.a cup......ridiculous.

Chelsea fighting like beavers, but i smell a goal for Basel coming soon!

NickisBHAFC wrote:Chelsea fighting like beavers, but i smell a goal for Basel coming soon!

I think you just smelled a beaver, goal for Chelsea!

hahahha but then David Luiz strikes.

Fantastic game of football and a great advert for the Europa League.

never a penalty for Basel , justice in the end

Benfica showing why they aren't anywhere near the standard they were a couple of years ago. Can't believe we lost to them in the QF's, if only Cisse could finish........

Chelsea's name is all over this trophy and Benitez once again picking up a European trophy and silencing his critics.

John wrote:Benfica showing why they aren't anywhere near the standard they were a couple of years ago. Can't believe we lost to them in the QF's, if only Cisse could finish........

Chelsea's name is all over this trophy and Benitez once again picking up a European trophy and silencing his critics.

I doubt that will happen.

Well Chelsea fans are probably the most stupid people I've ever spoken to, so it's not surprising if they still want him out. Benitez should just win the Europa and then put two fingers up at Chelsea and walk into another top job. Chelsea will go back to appointing another foreign manager and as soon as the results go pear shaped the chants of 'sack him' will echo around that dump of a ground stamford bridge. Back to square one with Abramovic sacking another and the cycle will continue.

Rafa has the easiest job in the world at the minute.

Everyone expects him to fail and many are actively looking for him to fail in order to justify their dislike of him. He's getting a shedload of money and will be getting a whacking great pay out at the end of the season irrespective of his results. Doesn't have to get the best out of Torres either(as Torres appears to be something of a busted flush and Rafa doesn't possess a time machine able to take him back to the 09/10 season)

Money for old rope.

John wrote:Benfica showing why they aren't anywhere near the standard they were a couple of years ago. Can't believe we lost to them in the QF's, if only Cisse could finish........

Chelsea's name is all over this trophy and Benitez once again picking up a European trophy and silencing his critics.

how is it?
why are you ruling out the chances of Fenerbache who could win it? or Basel who could fight back? or have you already seen the future?

I'm saying it's my opinion that Chelsea have this in the bag. Benfica were woeful against Newcastle and Fenerbahce are average at best. This Chelsea squad will walk this and already have one foot in the final. Benitez is laughing all the way to the bank but he's done a good job really, ok, the Carling cup was quite poor against Swansea but if he finishes third in the EPL and wins Europa he can pat himself on the back and say, 'good job' and my reputation has improved dramatically after Inter Milan.

How good are the Basel fans #Legends

Basel have impressed me no end, both the team and the fans

Chelsea have been great though!

Chelsea vs Benfica should actually be a very good final.

Going for a 2-1 Chelsea win!

Congratulations to Chelsea , it will be a tough final against Benfica but lets hope you do it

0-0.

Benfica win 3-2 on pens

I think there will be plenty of goals to be honest

Luiz is probably the most offensively talented defender in the prem, pity his defending is so..

Chelsea only been given an allocation of 9,000

NickisBHAFC wrote:Chelsea only been given an allocation of 9,000

That's shocking , the Amsterdam Arena holds 52,000+ so there are lots of corporate tickets then

Good luck to both Champions League drop outs. May the best team win.

Finish in the top 4, win the Europa League and it will be a fantastic season for Benitez. Hope he finds a club next season that appreciates his talents.

PSG

Can maybe seeing it being Tottenham.

Jose to Chelsea
AVB to Real
Rafa to Tottenham.

One thing is for sure, he does deserve a club that appreciates him.

I think the most likely one is Mourinho to Chelsea, Ancelotti to Madrid, Benitez to PSG.

Ancelotti is off to Real.

Can't see Spurs going for Rafa. He and Levy don't see a happy couple

I could see Rafa to Real if they can't get Ancelotti though.

Crimey wrote:I could see Rafa to Real if they can't get Ancelotti though.

I'm not sure hes attack minded enough for Real , their fans want goals goals goals . Rafa its result first entertain second

Chelsea to bottle tonight?

I'd hardly call losing to Benfica bottling it.

Aren't they unbeaten in there domestic league this season?

NickisBHAFC wrote:Chelsea to bottle tonight?

Benfica are a good side with some very talented individuals that should not be underestimated. We praise the EPL so much that we think going up against any other European team other than Barcelona, Real or Bayern will be easy. Chelsea got hammered by Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup and Man Utd got taught a lesson by Bilbao only last season. It's a neutral ground and anything can happen in finals. Chelsea are only favourites because they are current 'Champions of Europe'. If they lose, I wouldn't call it 'bottling', just another example of people not realising the quality of other European leagues of a lesser stature.

Chelsea team to play Benfica: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole, Lampard, Luiz, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Torres

Luiz chosen to play in the middle of the park.

Going to be the night of Torres i recon.

I see radio 5 live are bigging up the Europa league now as an English club has made the final.

Thoughts on its standing?

Benfica starting off very well, all over Chelsea.

Going to be 1-0 at half time.

Ent wrote:I see radio 5 live are bigging up the Europa league now as an English club has made the final.

Thoughts on its standing?

It has no legs to stand on

Been an even game.

Best chance probably fell to the man of today, Frank Lampard but a very good save from the Benfica game.

The pitch is ruining the game really, can't be as neat as they'd like with the pitch being so wet.

0-0 ht, probably been even so far. Although benfica don't look like they can cope with ramires, Oscar and mata

It doesn't really feel like a final. I don't know whether it's the sound or not but there's no atmosphere I can hear.

Fair play to Torres could easily have gone down twice there but stayed strong and puts Chelsea 1-0 up