La Blaugrana knocked out the Blues from the Champions League three years ago at the same stage of the UEFA Champions League.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 were on the receiving end of one of Andres Iniesta’s famous goals in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final fixture in 2008/09.
The injury time shot continues to haunt the Stamford Bridge faithful who were dreaming a replay of last year’s Champions League final against Manchester United.
A lot has been made of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604’s past meeting with Chelsea ahead of their semi-final showdown, with reports from West London claiming that the Pensioners want revenge for that fateful result.
However, reflecting on the topic, La Blaugrana manager, Pep Guardiola commented that he believes otherwise. La Masia academy graduate stated that the objective of both teams is to secure a place in the final and revenge has nothing to do with the ambitions
of the English outfit.
Continuing on the topic, the witty tactician remarked that what happened in the past cannot be changed and both semi-finalists are equally aware of this fact.
Guardiola had words of praise for Chelsea, who have managed to hold on to their core set of players through tumultuous times at the Stamford Bridge. He added that the English outfit will cause problems for them with their unmatched pedigree on counterattacks.
The Barcelona head coach anticipates a tough fixture against the Blues, who have a run of 9 wins in their last 12 matches on their back.
"I do not think Chelsea are playing for revenge, but to be in the final," he reasoned. "What you have lost in football, is lost.”
"Chelsea have spirit and the same core team from 2009 and this generation of footballers [that they have] is unique. It's admirable.”
"And it will be more complicated this time around. We're the reigning champions now and a good team want to beat us. In addition, few teams can execute counterattacks [like Chelsea]."
Barcelona will hope to get a positive result on the away fixture with a tricky La Liga match awaiting them on their return home. The Catalan outfit take on the challenge of Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in a match which can have a bearing on the title race
come May.
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