CL Last 16

First topic message reminder :

Part Moyes, part the squad SAF left him. Naive in the extreme to think yesterday would've ended up any different with SAF at the helm

According to Sky, UEFA will try to step in and allow Atletico to play Courtois if they draw us. Typical UEFA. Butting in on an English clubs business. They say it's "not in the spirit" of the competition. Wonder if that means clubs with players on loan like Everton with Lukaku will go above the FA to UEFA so players can play their parent club.

Why can't UEFA leave English clubs alone?

Semi final draw

Real vs Bayern

Atletico vs Chelsea

So Atletico will have to use there no.2 keeper.

Bayern v Chelsea Final mark 2 coming!

UEFA are going to try and step in mysti.

We'll be away in the 1st leg. Get in!!!!

CFCNick wrote:UEFA are going to try and step in mysti.

don't think they have a legal leg to stand on though.

CFCNick wrote:UEFA are going to try and step in mysti.

It really has nothing to do with them.

Even if they somehow say that the chelsea contract is invalid - would Athletico go back on there word with chelsea. They dont want to cause stuff. They knew this was a possibility.

Let UEFA try and trip up Chelsea again. But I hope Athletico do the right thing and either pay to play him or dont play him. The two clubs have a good relationship. UEFA should butt out

nothing unusual about having a clause in a loan contract, happens all the time whenever there's a chance the two teams might meet.

nothing to do with UEFA either.

The Champions is the best of Europe. Play Courtois and see the best of Europe I say.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:The Champions is the best of Europe. Play Courtois and see the best of Europe I say.

Your club signed the contract.

Play him all you want, but you have to pay.

Whats the problem?

If they cant afford it- I am sure they could make an agreement with chelsea to swap the keeper for costa start of next season and play him.

The contract was in English. Nobody could understand it.   

In with UEFA on this one, hate that clubs can dictate when/who their loans can play against

Really hope Athletico win the whole thing, so i won't be rooting for an English team in the Semi Final im afraid. I think Chelsea's boring style of play will be enough to get past Athletico.

Think Bayern will just about edge it against Madrid, what a game that should be though. 

Think its looking like a Bayern vs Chelsea final again.

I'm with UEFA, too. They should be ambassadors of fair play and fair play to them that they are.

it would have cost them a lot more than 6M euros to buy Courtois, just saying

A loan is (essentially) letting another club have a player on a (temporary) free transfer, sometimes with some of his wagse already paid for, as well. Of course the club loaning out is going to have some say in things, it's only to be expected...

yes it would be lovely if Chelsea made a handsome gesture, we could all hold hands singing "what a wonderful world", etc. but that's not reality, is it?

Tell you what, if Atletico also made a gesture, such as giving us Costa for free at the end of the season, I'm sure Chelsea would let Courtois play. After all, one good turn deserves another

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:The contract was in English. Nobody could understand it.   

come on Kia lad- some common sense please mate.

Hey I would be happy for Chelsea to say- fine play him and just pay a lesser fee and be the 'bigger man'

But you cant just go back on contracts and Uefa need to stop thinking they rule over clubs legal contracts.

Chelsea wouldn't have loaned them the keeper if they didn't sign this contract. So in all honesty they wouldn't be where they are in the semi's if it wasn't for Chelsea's loan.

And if Atletico really cant pay 5 mill quid of whatever - there is some serious issue with the team.. 

Just play him- pay the money and get over it. If they are structured so badly that they cant afford 5 m, when they are guaranteed so much money for the games anyway and next years CL they must be in serious financial trouble and are over spending - therefore will be hit with the FFP rules anyway

(5m in football is like 50 quid in rugby terms mate)

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I'm with UEFA, too. They should be ambassadors of fair play and fair play to them that they are.

fail to see what's so fairplay about telling clubs to breach a contract they signed, but hey ho

Of course if the situation were reversed I'm sure UEFA would be doing the exact same thing... NOT!

At the end of the day its UEFA's competition, they can do as they please really

I'm only kidding!

I'd be raging if I were in your position. But what am I going to say? Tell you what we'll loan you Villa for free next year. He's just warming up.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I'm only kidding!

I'd be raging if I were in your position. But what am I going to say? Tell you what we'll loan you Villa for free next year. He's just warming up.

hahaha.

Just give them Costa- you clearly cant pay his wages anyway

Atleti do something dodgy. They're even better than Oporto at buying players at basement prices and then selling them for a small fortune.

The whole of Spanish football is riddled with corruption and dodgy dealings. How Atleti can be in debt is beyond me but in debt they most assuredly are.

Their deal with Courtois is the sweetest you can find. I'm sure there will be some backroom deal made to Chelsea but the guy is going to play.   

the problem is is that. if you play him and dont sort it out with chelsea first and dont pay based on Uefa's nonsense- Chelsea wont let you have the keeper next season.

So Uefa getting involved is only potentially hurting you long term

By the letter of UEFAs law such a clause is illegal. Chelsea will have to suck it.

2 interesting ties. Atletico can match Chelsea for organisation and work rate. Real Bayern probably the 2 best teams in Europe

Olly wrote:At the end of the day its UEFA's competition, they can do as they please really

so if UEFA suddenly turn up and say (for instance): "actually Chelsea can't select Terry as the FA found him guilty of racism and that goes against our kick out racism campaign (where we fine clubs a fraction of what we fine them for being a couple of minutes late after half-time, to show we're really taking this seriously )", that would be ok too?

Ok, slightly extreme example, but I don't like to see the UEFA meddling in club affairs, unsurprisingly once again coming down against an English club.

In any case, Chelsea have said they'll let him play, and were always going to do so (though I suspect as kia says they'll be something struck behind closed doors between both clubs), so that's the end of the matter.

Would be mildly amusing if after this fuss Courtois makes a howler which puts Chelsea through to the final

Well GSC we haven't seen any contracts  and none of us are lawyers.

but if there is no agreement in place between the clubs before the tie- Athletico will not be having Courtious beyond this season if they breach this contract(illegal in uefas eyes or not)

First tie will be crucial. Simeone won't want to concede an away goal to Chelsea but will feel they need to go to London with a cushion. They're good at adjusting but Mourinho is also a shrewd tactician so looking forward to it.

Athletico look really really good . I think its the worst tie for chelsea. Its an unknown team

well before the draw I said the team I wanted to avoid was Bayern, and I stand by that. Both Madrid clubs are of a similar level, though I may have prefered Real, who are more vulnerable in defense, particularly to teams who break at pace IMO.

Atletico is an intriguing tie, I'm not too fussed about the "unknown" bit, Mourinho will be prepared for everything (just look at the preparation for the PSG game, apparently Chelsea had practised every one of the formations they ended up using), but Atletico have some real quality and are very disciplined. I fancy this tie may be decided by a moment or two of individual brilliance.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

Olly wrote:At the end of the day its UEFA's competition, they can do as they please really

so if UEFA suddenly turn up and say (for instance): "actually Chelsea can't select Terry as the FA found him guilty of racism and that goes against our kick out racism campaign (where we fine clubs a fraction of what we fine them for being a couple of minutes late after half-time, to show we're really taking this seriously )", that would be ok too?

Ok, slightly extreme example, but I don't like to see the UEFA meddling in club affairs, unsurprisingly once again coming down against an English club.

In any case, Chelsea have said they'll let him play, and were always going to do so (though I suspect as kia says they'll be something struck behind closed doors between both clubs), so that's the end of the matter.

Would be mildly amusing if after this fuss Courtois makes a howler which puts Chelsea through to the final

Just read their statement and apparently its in their regulations so really Chelsea don't have a leg to stand on as they'd have breached the UEFA comp rules, which in this case I think I agree with and would like to see the footie league/Prem enforce as well

Will be a great tie nonetheless, Atletico are the best "team" left in the tournament for me, but whether that'll get them over the line against the cream of the crop over two legs is anyone's guess

Not for Mourinho. He's already tasted defeat in the final last year of the Copa del Rey but Atleti are even stronger this year.

I'm worried about the away match in Getafe this Sunday. Atleti will be tired and hopefully Costa is fully fit. It's important for Atletis confidence that they stay league leaders.

CFCNick wrote:UEFA are going to try and step in mysti.

Don't think Athelti will want to ruffle Chelsea's feathers. As Chelsea could just not loan him to them again next season.

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:

CFCNick wrote:UEFA are going to try and step in mysti.

Don't think Athelti will want to ruffle Chelsea's feathers. As Chelsea could just not loan him to them again next season.

Chelsea should keep him next season, he's better than Cech

Money will change 'hands' in offshore accounts. Or Abramovich will sell a pen on Ebay and Atleti will bid a few million for it. But you won't read about it in the papers.

Think it'll be a madrid final. Utd showed the way to play against Bayern and if Real do the same, they have the fire power we lacked to beat bayern if they only have one chance to score.

I think its atletico's fate to end up in the final. They are playing incredibly well and they play similar to jose's chelsea teams. I think the confidence of the barca result will make them favorites for the tie and i really hope they go through and indeed go all the way.

If UEFA rule that Courtois can play with no fee what's to stop us just recalling him?

CFCNick wrote:If UEFA rule that Courtois can play with no fee what's to stop us just recalling him?

Depends if you have a recall clause innit

CFCNick wrote:If UEFA rule that Courtois can play with no fee what's to stop us just recalling him?

the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations contain clear provisions which strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match.

Also recall wise that's not really going to help your chances signing Diego Costa is it.  

I don't want Costa

yes you do

CFCNick wrote:I don't want Costa

You might not but your manager clearly does.

Costa has a release clause anyway, and Atletico arent selling below it.

I'd rather have Rooney. Just because I'm genuinely worried about foreign strikers joining us. Apart from Drogba, Hasselbaink & Gudjohnsen (and one season of Crespo's two that he actually played for us) it's been awful.

You can have Rooney, hes useless.

On the loan thing. There was a similar situation between Celtic and another club in Europe. They played each other in a UEFA competition and UEFA agreed to stay out of it claiming the agreement is between the clubs and nothing to do with them.

They really do love English clubs don't they.

CFCNick wrote:On the loan thing. There was a similar situation between Celtic and another club in Europe. They played each other in a UEFA competition and UEFA agreed to stay out of it claiming the agreement is between the clubs and nothing to do with them.

They really do love English clubs don't they.

Why am I so unsurprised by that?

CFCNick wrote:I'd rather have Rooney. Just because I'm genuinely worried about foreign strikers joining us. Apart from Drogba, Hasselbaink & Gudjohnsen (and one season of Crespo's two that he actually played for us) it's been awful.

So you wouldn't want Suarez then? He is a foreigner.

More of an ugly truth that UEFA cares more about a CL Semi Final.

Imagine united without Rooney.

Be carefully what you wish for Ent.

However I do feel Rooney or rvp are better suited playing with mata on there own. But RVP looks set to leave

The problem with Rooney is hes such a streaky player. He'll be outstanding for 7-8 games in a row then do little for a few months.

That's pretty typical of most attacking players though.