Stats from their Barcelona game

[der Berliner 3,267]

As it happens, UEFA has their own neat site for CL games.

 

While the Guardian has the possession during the Barca vs Hooped Horrors game at a staggering 82-18%, the impartial BBC at a watered-down 78-28%, the UEFA lay the facts bare:

 

Possession 90-10

Shot on goal: 26-4

Corners: 15-1

 

I assume they will still claim that they deserved a point?

[pete 2,499]

Don't believe all the UEFA stats as they had one player in the Ajax-Man. game having done 18 kilometers after about 25 mins. Given that football is a stop start game, that is a professional marathon time.

[ian1964 10,429]

BIG MOUTH Bernd Schuster has launched an astonishing attack on Celtic by insisting Neil Lennon’s team don’t deserve to be playing in the Champions League.

 

The former Barcelona star flew into an on-air tirade over Lennon’s tactics at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night, where Scotland’s champions came within a few seconds of holding arguably the greatest team in the world to a draw on their own ground.

 

Eventually, Lennon and his players were floored by a sucker-punch deep into injury time when full-back Jordi Alba netted with the last kick of the ball to secure a 2-1 win for the Catalan giants.

 

But while Lennon and his players mounted a magnificent effort just to come so close to claiming a precious Group G point, gobby German Schuster has slammed their “ultra defensive” strategy.

 

He even called on UEFA to beef up the qualification process for their elite event to make sure that in future the chaff is separated from the wheat before the group stages begin.

 

Speaking on Spanish radio station ABC Punto, one time Real Madrid manager Schuster said: “I am tired of watching matches like Barca-Celtic on television.

 

“I don’t know what a team like Celtic are doing playing in the Champions League.

 

“They have watched too much of the videos of Chelsea playing last season and have tried to copy the system. This ultra defensive style is not football.

 

“For me, Chelsea has set a very bad example for football, it was dreadful.

 

“It is a sad reality that they used this style of football to become the champions of Europe last season and that has now influenced the coaches at Celtic.

 

“You see Celtic defending with 10 men and being close to winning a point at the home of the best club in the world? That’s unjust.

 

“UEFA need to change the qualification phases for this competition if they want to recuperate the level of the Champions League.

 

“Celtic don’t deserve to be in it if they play with this style of football.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-dont-know-what-celtic-are-doing-1400152

[ian1964 10,429]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-barca?cc=5739

 

Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez has criticised Celtic's approach to their Champions League clash with Barcelona, insisting he would be ashamed to adopt those tactics when Rayo face Barca in La Liga on Sunday.

 

Rayo v Barca

GettyImagesRayo Vallecano suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat to Barcelona in April

 

• Mascherano suspended for Rayo clash

 

Celtic were heavily scrutinised following their 2-1 defeat at the Camp Nou after conceding almost 80 per cent of possession and 26 attempts on goal during the match.

 

After grabbing an early goal through Giorgos Samaras, Celtic switched their focus to defence and rarely gained control of the ball. Jemez believes that negative style of football will not yield a result for his side against the La Liga leaders and would deter many supporters.

 

"I could use the same approach as Celtic, but personally I would be too ashamed to look fans in the eye," Jemez said. "We would also get torn to pieces on the pitch. I don't want them to watch Barca dictate the game. We might lose, but we'll decide how we play against them.

 

"Barca is a team that can adapt to whatever pitch it plays on, regardless of the difference in size, play well and win. We have to believe we can win. We all know how difficult it is to beat Barca, but it's not impossible.

 

"No one has come away with a victory so far, but no team in the world is unbeatable. Why can't it be us on Saturday? We will have to be at our best and believe we can cause them problems and keep the ball. We're up against one of the best teams in the world and that is something that satisfies us."

 

Barcelona suffered a blow on Friday with Javier Mascherano suspended for the trip to Rayo despite appeals from the Catalan giants to have his red card from last weekend rescinded.

 

But despite the midfielder's absence, Barca still possess attacking potency and Jemez is adamant he will employ a well-rounded defensive tactic to break down their opponents rather than focusing on Lionel Messi.

 

"Let's suppose we contain Messi. If we think that is enough to go on and win the game, we are mistaken," he said. "Messi can pop up at any point and that's why he's the best in the world. But we also need to stop the likes of Fabregas, Pedro [Rodriguez], Alexis Sanchez and others."

[Super_Ally 0]

Not in this country. Leggo's blog on this was actually pretty decent imo.

[ian1964 10,429]

I wonder what/who/why for their defeat to Killie today?,first time Killie have won there since 1955!

[BlueMazza 0]

And how fitting for Liam Kelly to score against them today.