Chelsea’s victory against Barcelona might be in the rearview mirror for the players with a big weekend of Premier League action ahead, but Alan Shearer is still thinking about Tuesday night.
After a period of absence from the Champions League, it’s nice to be back competing against the very best on a regular basis.
Barcelona are an elite side who just won La Liga and made a deep run in Europe last season, but something about their recent display at Stamford Bridge has the Newcastle legend baffled.
Chelsea held Barcelona scoreless for the first time since Christmas, but it was the Blaugrana’s play out of possession that has drawn the most criticism.
Hansi Flick during Chelsea vs Barcelona
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Alan Shearer shocked by Barcelona’s high line against Chelsea
Hansi Flick is known for his high-risk style of football, and it certainly catches the eye.
But he found little joy on Tuesday. Enzo Maresca started Pedro Neto up front to counter the high line, and it worked to great effect.
In the fallout of the result, Shearer couldn’t get over the approach from the Catalan outfit.
On the latest episode of The Rest Is Football, he said: “So honestly, I’ve never seen anything like that. As bad as I saw last night with this high line. It was absolutely pathetic what they were trying to do.
“It was, it was like, what is, am I watching? Honestly, at times I was thinking I’m watching like an under-16s team or something like that. But I had to pinch myself thinking I’m watching the great Barcelona.”
John Terry was wowed by Estevao’s display vs Barcelona!
“Wow, what a finish that was! Estevao, what a player you are.”
John Terry
Chelsea had no issues exposing the Barcelona defence. They did have a couple of goals ruled out as offside, but the pressure was unrelenting and the Blues were rewarded in the end.
Barcelona and Arsenal couldn’t be more different
The Spanish giants came to Stamford Bridge to play in their usual way. You would almost have to respect it if it didn’t end so badly.
Arsenal are the next due to visit Chelsea’s ground, but the league leaders will be a different proposition entirely.
Mikel Arteta is notorious for taking the pragmatic approach in away trips such as this one, so it won’t be the same free-flowing football that worked so well in midweek.
Finish this sentence: Enzo Maresca should start ______ on the right wing vs Arsenal
Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Maresca has some difficult decisions to make ahead of Arsenal, but one thing he certainly has to keep in mind is that chances will be in far shorter supply and a clinical touch will be needed from whoever leads the line.