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Hiddink bids to outwit Barca

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 27/04/2009

Jose Mourinho may no longer be Chelsea's manager but the Special One remains the chief character in the Blues' recent European clashes with Champions League betting favourites Barcelona.

This season's eagerly-awaited Champions League semi-final encounter is the fourth time in five years that the two teams have met in the competition.

Mourinho guided Chelsea to a controversial 5-4 aggregate victory against the Catalan giants in 2005, a tie which was steeped in controversy.

The current Internazionale boss accused Frank Rijkaard, the then Barcelona coach, of speaking to referee Anders Frisk at half-time during their Camp Nou clash.

Mourinho complained to UEFA with Frisk eventually announcing his retirement after receiving email death threats over the issue while the Portuguese coach was handed a two-match touchline suspension.

Predictably after such a furore the two teams were paired together again 12 months later with Barcelona this time prevailing 3-2 on aggregate thanks largely to a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in the first leg.

In the group stages of the 2006-07 campaign the two teams once again crossed swords with Chelsea drawing 2-2 at the Camp Nou after edging home by the only goal of the game in west London.

With Mourinho now keeping Italian football writers busy, the more prosaic coaching styles of Guus Hiddink and Pep Guardiola take centre stage.

Guardiola has revived Barca's fortunes this season and they remain on course for a famous La Liga and Champions League double despite a few domestic wobbles recently.

They are close to racking up a century of goals in the league thanks largely to the talents of Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi but have the not insignificant sideshow of El Clasico sandwiched between the two legs of the semi-final.

Guardiola will also be fully aware that Barcelona have under-achieved in Europe's premier competition, winning the trophy only twice, beating Sampdoria in the 1990 Final and Arsenal three years ago, and they have struggled against English opposition in recent years.

After Chelsea knocked them out in 2005, Liverpool ended their hopes two seasons ago and they lost in the semi-finals to Manchester United last term.

Hiddink has certainly improved Chelsea's fortunes since replacing the hapless Luiz Felipe Scolari just over two months ago.

The veteran Dutchman may have given up overhauling Manchester United in the Premier League title race, but he has guided a previously disjointed and under-performing team to next month's FA Cup Final against Everton as well as the last four in Europe.

He seems certain to be heading out of Stamford Bridge at the end of next month but could still manage to do something Mourinho failed to do while with Chelsea, actually win the Champions League Final.

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