Guus Hiddink's reputation is part tactician, and part magician - having found success at the domestic and international level, and has been able to do so with overachievers like South Korea (2002 World Cup), Australia (2006 World Cup) and Russia (2008 European Championships).
Knowing this, he will pull off one of his greatest coups if his Chelsea side can knock off Barcelona today at Stamford Bridge. He constructed a scheme that allowed Chelsea hold high-scoring Barca to a 0-0 tie in last week's first leg. It won't be as easy for Chelsea to spend the whole game Wednesday defending like it did at the Camp Nou.
We might see a more attacking Chelsea side playing at home, and Barcelona might be ripe to go at - they will be without captain Carles Puyol, who is suspended, and the injured Rafael Marquez in the middle of the backline.
Hiddink also left open the possibility that he could team Nicolas Anelka up front with targetman Didier Drogba."I like to have a flexible team," the Dutchman said. "I don't want them surprised with two strikers playing together."
Barcelona is coming off a 6-2 win over Real Madrid in Madrid on Saturday but may be without one of the stars of its win, Thierry Henry. The Frenchman scored twice against Real Madrid, but his availability for Wednesday's game is in doubt because of a knee injury he suffered on Saturday.
Chelsea has some unique defensive depth that favors them in this match-up: being able to choose from John Terry, Alex and Carvalho at central defense gives them an ideal axis in their back line; being able to deploy a midfield that includes both Michael Essien and Jon Obi Mikel helps them control the all-important battle in midfield. If playmakers Frank Lampard and Drogba can create and finish, they have the ability to close the door on Barca - opening the door for a rematch of the 2008 European Champions League final...against rival Manchester United.
Knowing this, he will pull off one of his greatest coups if his Chelsea side can knock off Barcelona today at Stamford Bridge. He constructed a scheme that allowed Chelsea hold high-scoring Barca to a 0-0 tie in last week's first leg. It won't be as easy for Chelsea to spend the whole game Wednesday defending like it did at the Camp Nou.
We might see a more attacking Chelsea side playing at home, and Barcelona might be ripe to go at - they will be without captain Carles Puyol, who is suspended, and the injured Rafael Marquez in the middle of the backline.
Hiddink also left open the possibility that he could team Nicolas Anelka up front with targetman Didier Drogba."I like to have a flexible team," the Dutchman said. "I don't want them surprised with two strikers playing together."
Barcelona is coming off a 6-2 win over Real Madrid in Madrid on Saturday but may be without one of the stars of its win, Thierry Henry. The Frenchman scored twice against Real Madrid, but his availability for Wednesday's game is in doubt because of a knee injury he suffered on Saturday.
Chelsea has some unique defensive depth that favors them in this match-up: being able to choose from John Terry, Alex and Carvalho at central defense gives them an ideal axis in their back line; being able to deploy a midfield that includes both Michael Essien and Jon Obi Mikel helps them control the all-important battle in midfield. If playmakers Frank Lampard and Drogba can create and finish, they have the ability to close the door on Barca - opening the door for a rematch of the 2008 European Champions League final...against rival Manchester United.
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