Sports
Lionel Messi goal felt like a hammer blow but Chelsea have recovered from self-inflicted setbacks against Barcelona before
It felt like a hammer blow, felt like it should be some sort of defining moment in another epic tie between these clubs.
Self-inflicted setbacks always feel like that, always seem to promise crueller repercussions, always seem to have greater significance.
That is why despondency was etched deep, not just into Andreas Christensen’s features but into Antonio Conte’s, into the outstanding Willian’s, into the thousands who poured from the Bridge deflated.
A solitary defensive aberration, punished by the regal composure of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, means the odds now favour Barcelona’s progression to the last eight. Of course they do.
Yet not only can Chelsea go into battle brandishing a record of eight games against Barcelona without defeat, not only do you have to go back a dozen years for their last reverse in the Nou Camp, there was enough in this captivating opening leg to give Conte considerable grounds for optimism.
Willian’s performance, for a start.
In a first half which featured territorial domination form Barcelona but a marked reluctance and inability to get Thibaut Courtois involved, sweetly-struck Willian efforts hit an upright apiece.
On both occasions, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was statically powerless as first his left and then his right post came to the Barcelona keeper’s assistance.
Willian was the wild card in Conte’s pack, one cutting run from deep ended only by the naked cynicism of Ivan Rakitic.
That is why it was no surprise when he sent Chelsea ahead.
Despite the clanging warnings of the first half, Willian was allowed to linger in his own exclusion zone just outside the penalty area for a corner.
When it reached him, via Hazard, there was only one item on the agenda and it was a finish that will get better with every viewing.
The dart to the side of Sergio Busquets gave him the room, the inside of his right boot did the rest, bending his hit around Rakitic and around colleague Antonio Rudiger.
It will go down as a finish in keeping with Willian’s status as a Chelsea performer – under-rated.
Willian has to be a key factor in Conte’s gameplan in the Nou Camp in three weeks’ time.
His fantastic contribution here would have been of even greater significance had Christensen not inexplicably sent a defensive cross-field pass into the path of Iniesta who eluded a desperate and ill-advised Cesar Azpilicueta and not only teed up Messi’s duck-breaking strike, but teed up what should be an epic second leg in Barcelona.
It should not be one that Chelsea approach with a lack of confidence despite Messi’s equaliser and despite some indifferent domestic form.
Possession and heat map-wise, it will be more of the same but with 73 percent of the ball here and with 887 passes to Chelsea’s 325, Barcelona had four fewer attempts at goal.
Even with Messi’s ball-on-remote-control brilliance, there was a distinct lack of incisiveness in this Barcelona display and even saddled with the thankless task of being a false nine, Eden Hazard showed enough to suggest he will be a considerable threat on the Catalan counter.
Likewise Willian, who might actually have headed off Barca’s comeback had he found N’Golo Kante at the end of one particularly threatening breakaway.
But this was, unsurprisingly, a contest of fine margins, just as the renewal in Barcelona is likely to be, just as it was back in 2012 when Chelsea, with ten men after the dismissal of John Terry, recovered from two goals down to draw and go through to the Champions League final.
Examples of recovering from self-inflicted setbacks do not come much starker than that.
Similar heroics will be required next month but for all the despondency after one costly moment, do not put those heroics past them.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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