UCL: Mourinho and the bus at Athletico Madrid

Atletico held by defensive Chelsea
22 Apr 2014 22:45:45
Jose Mourinho returned to
Spain to frustrate surprise
semifinalists Atletico Madrid
as his ultra-cautious Chelsea
secured a 0-0 draw in a
dreary Champions League first leg at the
Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.
Atletico, through to the last four of Europe's
elite club competition for the first time in 40
years, dominated the defence-minded 2012
winners and pushed hard for a goal but
failed to carve out an advantage ahead of
next week's return leg at Stamford Bridge.
Back in the Spanish capital for the first time
since quitting Atletico's city rivals Real at the
end of last season, coach Mourinho set out
to thwart the home team rather than attack
them and the result means his side will be
slight favourites to advance to next month's
final in Lisbon.
The Londoners lost goalkeeper Petr Cech
when he fell heavily and hurt his right elbow
in the 15th minute but neither his
replacement Mark Schwarzer nor Atletico
keeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from
Chelsea, were genuinely tested in a drab
affair.
UCL: Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Duration: 2 min, 0 sec
Highlights of the UEFA Champions league
match between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea
from Estadio Vicente Calderon Madrid, Spain
Home captain Gabi, who was booked and will
be suspended for the return leg along with
Chelsea midfielders Frank Lampard and John
Obi Mikel, said he and his teammates were
unhappy with the result.
"Atletico wanted to win the match at any
cost but they defended very well," midfielder
Gabi told TVE. "We knew they wouldn't want
to concede a goal and I think Atletico played
a much more attacking game.
"It leaves a bad taste in the mouth but the tie
is still very open and we will go to Chelsea
and try to win."
There was another cracking atmosphere
before kickoff at the 55 000-capacity
stadium next to the Manzanares river where
the fans have been flocking to enjoy what is
easily the Madrid club's best season in
almost 20 years.
Diego Simeone, coach of La Liga leaders
Atletico, deployed an attacking formation
with Diego Costa leading the line supported
by Raul Garcia, with Diego and Koke
providing the creative impetus just behind.
Mourinho, by contrast, had containment in
mind, with former Atletico captain Fernando
Torres alone up front and defender David
Luiz in a holding role in a five-man midfield.
EARLY CHANGE
The Portuguese had instructed his players to
sit back and try to catch Atletico on the break
and they were happy to let the home side
have the ball in a first half short on
entertainment.
Chelsea were forced to make an early
change when Cech was knocked to the
ground by a tumbling Raul Garcia at a corner
and he was helped off clutching his right
arm, an injury that will keep him out for the
rest of the season.
Australian Schwarzer, 41, making only his
second Champions League appearance,
became the oldest player to feature in the
knockout phase.
With almost the entire Chelsea team behind
the ball, the hosts managed only one shot on
target before the break, a weak Diego effort,
and the visitors none.
Midfielder Mario Suarez flashed a long-
range drive narrowly wide in the 34th minute
and Costa had a volley well blocked by Cesar
Azpilicueta but otherwise there was little
goalmouth action.
The second half was a similarly cagey affair
and there was more bad news for Chelsea in
the 73rd minute when captain John Terry
limped off after turning his ankle at a corner.
Gabi forced a decent save from Schwarzer in
the 76th minute and Costa had a chance with
a header late on as Atletico pressed for a
goal.
Chelsea, though, held out reasonably
comfortably and their players looked much
the happier at the final whistle.
"It's a positive result," said their Spain
fullback Azpilicueta. "We knew it would be a
difficult atmosphere.
"We fought hard and tried to keep the ball
but the important thing is that we have the
second leg at home. The players we will be
missing are very important but we will fight
to win."
Real Madrid entertain defending champions
Bayern Munich in the other semifinal first leg
on Wednesday.
© Reuters