Coach hails Barça’s never-say-die spirit
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The Associated Press
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 08, 2009 00:00
MADRID - Barcelona hailed its fighting spirit on reaching the Champions League final after Andres Iniesta's injury-time equalizer and made little mention of Chelsea's complaints about the standard of refereeing in the second leg of the semifinals.
Iniesta fired home from Lionel Messi's pass at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to give a 10-man Barcelona a 1-1 draw and send the Catalans through on away goals to meet defending champion Manchester United in Rome on May 27.
Michael Essien scored for Chelsea in the ninth minute. The first leg had ended 0-0. While Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink and his players were infuriated by the failure of Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo to award the Blues several penalties during the game, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he had noticed nothing untoward.
"I understand that the Chelsea people may be a bit disappointed, as I've been told there could have been some possible penalties, but to tell you the truth I didn't see anything," Guardiola said on yesterday.
Iniesta said his team had never lost heart, despite the two-time European champions having defender Eric Abidal sent off in the 66th minute.
"Until the referee blows (the final whistle) you have to have belief," Iniesta said. "If it had been the fifth minute, I might have sent the ball into the second tier of the stand but I fired with all my heart and the ball entered in the only place it could have."
Midfielder Xavi Hernandez agreed that Barcelona's heads had never dropped against physically tough opponents.
"This team never gives up and today we have shown it again," Xavi said. "We were the better team in the two matches. Today was a really rugged match but we did justice to football." Guardiola said he had told his players at halftime to keep giving their all until the final whistle. "I said if anyone feels like giving up then he shouldn't take the field, and stay in the dressing room," said coach Guardiola, who added his team was now feeling "dead, destroyed and worn out."
Messi relishes final
Messi said he welcomed the match against United, a three-time European champion. The teams met in last season's Champions League semifinal with United advancing 1-0 on aggregate.
"We are the best teams in the world at present. It's the final that people expected. I think it's going to be a really attractive final," Messi said.
After Wednesday's game, thousands of Barcelona supporters went to Canaletes fountain on Las Ramblas, the traditional site for celebrating the club's wins. Reports said seven people were arrested for acts of vandalism or public disorder. A thousand fans also welcomed the team at El Prat airport when it returned.
Michael Essien scored for Chelsea in the ninth minute. The first leg had ended 0-0. While Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink and his players were infuriated by the failure of Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo to award the Blues several penalties during the game, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he had noticed nothing untoward.
"I understand that the Chelsea people may be a bit disappointed, as I've been told there could have been some possible penalties, but to tell you the truth I didn't see anything," Guardiola said on yesterday.
Iniesta said his team had never lost heart, despite the two-time European champions having defender Eric Abidal sent off in the 66th minute.
"Until the referee blows (the final whistle) you have to have belief," Iniesta said. "If it had been the fifth minute, I might have sent the ball into the second tier of the stand but I fired with all my heart and the ball entered in the only place it could have."
Midfielder Xavi Hernandez agreed that Barcelona's heads had never dropped against physically tough opponents.
"This team never gives up and today we have shown it again," Xavi said. "We were the better team in the two matches. Today was a really rugged match but we did justice to football." Guardiola said he had told his players at halftime to keep giving their all until the final whistle. "I said if anyone feels like giving up then he shouldn't take the field, and stay in the dressing room," said coach Guardiola, who added his team was now feeling "dead, destroyed and worn out."
Messi relishes final
Messi said he welcomed the match against United, a three-time European champion. The teams met in last season's Champions League semifinal with United advancing 1-0 on aggregate.
"We are the best teams in the world at present. It's the final that people expected. I think it's going to be a really attractive final," Messi said.
After Wednesday's game, thousands of Barcelona supporters went to Canaletes fountain on Las Ramblas, the traditional site for celebrating the club's wins. Reports said seven people were arrested for acts of vandalism or public disorder. A thousand fans also welcomed the team at El Prat airport when it returned.