Barcelona Unsettled by Hiddink

The Spanish backlash which greeted Chelsea's Champions League semi-final first leg stalemate at Barcelona, was quite predictable and quite misguided. Different variants of the 'Chelsea's tactics are killing football' theme were banded about; it's fair to say that Catalonia was not overly enamored with the way in which they set about achieving 0-0 parity. 

Brilliant as Guardiola's team are to watch, they have adopted a rather arrogant view that aesthetically pleasing attacking football is more worthy than good quality defensive play. Few would argue that Barca's brand of total football is more easy on the eye, but the points system in football doesn't work like that of an Olympic diving contest. It's all about the result, and Chelsea deserve praise for securing a decent one. Far from do anything wrong, they did a lot right.

Believe it or not, defending is as much an art-form as attacking. John Terry is as impressive an exponent of his role as Thierry Henry is of his. The comments emanating from the Catalan camp seem almost to be accusing Chelsea of some form of cheating. "It's difficult to play against a team which doesn't want to play football," lamented Guardiola after the first leg. No Pep, they just didn't want to play your brand of football.

And what a good decision that turned out to be. Were Chelsea really meant to adopt a high defensive line and cavalier attitude towards protecting Petr Cech's goal, just like Real Madrid did on Saturday? Then they too would have found themselves four goals down by the end of the night. Important as it is to show the locals respect in a foreign country, that would be taking it a couple of notches too far. 

Barca's 6-2 mauling at the Bernabeu further underlined just how good a result 0-0 at the Nou Camp is. It also highlighted a tactical deficiency in the Spanish side's make-up; the lack of a Plan B. Admittedly, Plan A is very effective and has brushed aside all-comers in La Liga this season. However, upon encountering the Chelsea brick wall, Barca's only answer was to try and neatly pass their way through it. Unable to get their own way, they reverted to spoilt child mode and harmless jibes.

If Barcelona only know one way to play, then Chelsea, and in particular Guus Hiddink, know a number more. The plans the Dutchman has masterminded for his different teams over the years extend from Plan A right down the alphabet, and doubtless tonight's game will see Chelsea try something a bit different.  

It's fair to assume Barcelona wont, which should make for a fascinating tie. At this stage in the competition, there is much to be said for having tactical nous on your side.