Even the disappointment of registering their second consecutive 0-0 home draw in a UEFA Champions League semi-final against English opposition cannot convince Xavi Hernández that Chelsea FC, and not FC Barcelona, will be in the final in Rome come 27 May.
'Good feeling'
"I'm convinced we showed tonight that Barça are quite capable of going to Stamford Bridge in the second leg and not only dominating the game but scoring," the midfielder told uefa.com. "This team has the capacity to win against anyone, anywhere, even though it's going to be difficult to achieve that." The Spanish Liga leaders will be without the injured Rafael Márquez and Carles Puyol, who is banned, for the second leg but Xavi remains confident, adding: "It's a real shame we'll have to do it without them but we've still got a good feeling about what we can achieve in the second game."
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First-leg frustration
Frustration was the key sentiment among Josep Guardiola's players after a first leg in which Chelesa harried and pressed them from start to finish. The optimism that the failure to win or even score at Camp Nou, a shortcoming which proved costly against Manchester United FC a year ago, will not be decisive this time around stems from the chances created despite Chelsea's blanket defence, with Samuel Eto'o, Bojan Krkić and Aleksandr Hleb all passing up presentable openings. "It's not as if this is a terrible result, but the problem is that we deserved much more from our performance," Xavi admitted.
'Only missing elements'
"We should have scored at least one goal because we were the ones who went for the victory, we were the team who tried to play football from start to finish," he went on, with Barcelona – the top scorers in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League with 29 goals – having found the net in all 27 home games in all competitions this season prior to Chelsea's visit. "Chelsea came out in an ultra defensive mode but we still managed to craft four really good chances. That suggests to me that the tie is still up for grabs. Barça put on a show which our fans enjoyed and the only missing elements were the goals and victory which we deserved."
Madrid test
Before the return leg in London on Wednesday, Barça now have to play their fiercest domestic rivals, Real Madrid CF, in El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu, a game which will have significant bearing on the outcome of the league title. However, with Márquez likely to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury early in the second period, Guardiola will have a great deal of preparation and planning to do to turn the disappointment of a missed opportunity in the semi-final first leg into a launch pad for strong performances in Madrid and London over the next week.
'Good feeling'
"I'm convinced we showed tonight that Barça are quite capable of going to Stamford Bridge in the second leg and not only dominating the game but scoring," the midfielder told uefa.com. "This team has the capacity to win against anyone, anywhere, even though it's going to be difficult to achieve that." The Spanish Liga leaders will be without the injured Rafael Márquez and Carles Puyol, who is banned, for the second leg but Xavi remains confident, adding: "It's a real shame we'll have to do it without them but we've still got a good feeling about what we can achieve in the second game."
Advertisement - article continues below »
First-leg frustration
Frustration was the key sentiment among Josep Guardiola's players after a first leg in which Chelesa harried and pressed them from start to finish. The optimism that the failure to win or even score at Camp Nou, a shortcoming which proved costly against Manchester United FC a year ago, will not be decisive this time around stems from the chances created despite Chelsea's blanket defence, with Samuel Eto'o, Bojan Krkić and Aleksandr Hleb all passing up presentable openings. "It's not as if this is a terrible result, but the problem is that we deserved much more from our performance," Xavi admitted.
'Only missing elements'
"We should have scored at least one goal because we were the ones who went for the victory, we were the team who tried to play football from start to finish," he went on, with Barcelona – the top scorers in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League with 29 goals – having found the net in all 27 home games in all competitions this season prior to Chelsea's visit. "Chelsea came out in an ultra defensive mode but we still managed to craft four really good chances. That suggests to me that the tie is still up for grabs. Barça put on a show which our fans enjoyed and the only missing elements were the goals and victory which we deserved."
Madrid test
Before the return leg in London on Wednesday, Barça now have to play their fiercest domestic rivals, Real Madrid CF, in El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu, a game which will have significant bearing on the outcome of the league title. However, with Márquez likely to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury early in the second period, Guardiola will have a great deal of preparation and planning to do to turn the disappointment of a missed opportunity in the semi-final first leg into a launch pad for strong performances in Madrid and London over the next week.
( Graham Hunter / UEFA )
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