Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink admitted he could understand why his players had cried “conspiracy” after a string of controversial refereeing decisions denied Chelsea a place in the Champions League final.
Andres Iniesta’s stoppage-time equalizer earned Barcelona a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening and sent the Catalans into a final meeting with Manchester United on the away goals rule.
Hiddink admitted his side, who had performed with superb discipline in the goalless first leg and gone ahead in the tie through a stunning Michael Essien strike, had contributed to their own downfall by failing to take the chances they had to kill the match.
PHOTO: AP
But that did not stop him from branding the performance of Norwegian official Tom Henning Ovrebo — who turned down a string of strong penalty appeals by Chelsea — as the worst he had seen in his long coaching career.
“Of course, players make many mistakes, coaches make many mistakes and referees can make mistakes,” Hiddink said. “Okay, so it happens. It’s all in the game. But when you see two, three or four situations waved away, then, yes, it is the worst I have seen.”
The Dutchman acknowledged Chelsea should have capitalized on the extent to which they dominated Wednesday’s match, with Iniesta’s late, late strike the first shot the visitors had got on target all night.
PHOTO: AP
“It is quite a disappointment that we did not finish it,” Hiddink said. “We can be critical of that. But it was the overall feeling of being robbed, of an injustice. That it why it was so hot and angry in the dressing room. I could fully understand the feeling of the players.”
Chelsea might have had as many as four penalties and some of the players were quick to link the referee’s performance to a belief that UEFA did not want another all-English final in the wake of last year’s dull stalemate between the Londoners and Manchester United.
Hiddink, however, distanced himself from such theories.
“Conspiracy is a very tough word and, if there is, you have to prove it,” he said.
Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola acknowledged Chelsea may have had grounds for complaint but said the Londoners also contributed to their own downfall by attempting to sit on their lead.
“I can understand that Chelsea can be disappointed about the performance of the referee,” Guardiola said. “I did not see the penalties they say there were but it is possible that there were. You have to give us credit though. We tried to win the game, we tried to take the ball and create chances. We did not create so much but I expected Chelsea to create a little bit more pressure.”
Barcelona looked dead and buried when Eric Abidal was sent off (another mistake by the referee) with almost 25 minutes left, but Guardiola never lost faith.
“We kept going and we were persistent to the end,” he said. “Don’t forget we played 25 minutes [with] 10 against 11 and Chelsea stayed back. It was difficult enough 11 against 11 so we are so happy to have scored.”
Despite Guardiola’s positive spin, Barca did little in either leg of the semi-final to suggest they are capable of preventing Manchester United from becoming the first side to retain the European Cup since the introduction of the Champions League format.
Chelsea thoroughly deserved the lead they established with a goal that breathtakingly demonstrated that the Catalans do not enjoy a monopoly on technical excellence.
Frank Lampard’s attempted chip was deflected by Yaya Toure into Essien’s path and, from just beyond the arc on the edge of the penalty area, the Ghanaian midfielder unleashed a left-foot volley that rattled into the net off the underside of the bar.
Barcelona, in contrast, failed to muster a shot on target until Iniesta’s late strike and Chelsea might have won at a canter with a different official.
Daniel Alves was fortunate not to concede a first-half penalty in a wrestling match with Florent Malouda that started outside but continued into the area.
Abidal’s tug on Didier Drogba’s shirt might have earned a spot-kick soon afterwards and handballs by Gerard Pique and Samuel Eto’o also went unpunished after the break.
But it was also true that Drogba twice failed to find the net when he had only Victor Valdes to beat and Hiddink acknowledged that Chelsea had to look at themselves with the same scrutiny they applied to the referee.
“Outside of the penalties we had two or three chances in open play which we should have taken,” Hiddink said. “Then we would not have had all this fuss about the penalties.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely