Lessons to be Learned From the UEFA Barca-Chelsea Match

Ok friends, I know that most Chelsea fans are still seeing red (anger that is), over Chelsea's failed bid to make it to the UEFA Champions League Finals on Wednesday...

(The UEFA Champions League is one of the premier football competitions for European football clubs...it is held annually.)

Everyone is blaming Norwegian referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo, for his bad refereeing decisions during the match between Barcelona (Barca) and Chelsea on Wednesday....in a finals that will be talked about for a long time.

For those who missed it...Chelsea drew 1-1 with Barcelona, in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal match on Wednesday. (The match was played at Stamford Bridge in England.)

Since Barca scored a goal away from home, and their first leg semifinal match with Chelsea was drawn 0-0, Barca got two (2) points, which propelled them into the final match with Manchester United, on May 17.

But what many will be taking about are:

1) Norwegian referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo's failed decision to award four penalties to Chelsea, based on two blatant hand balls in front of goal and two fouls on Chelsea players, in front of goal.

2) The angry reaction of Chelsea's players...especially Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba, after the decisions had been made. (The inset video above shows Didier Drogba's angry reactions after the match, so much so, that he was yellow-carded after the match.)

Chelsea fans are so angry that there are reports that UEFA had to smuggle referee Ovrebo out of England, for fear that he would have been killed. He has since been under police protection in his home in Norway.

Well I guess Chelsea fans can say that the referee did not play fair...

I say that Chelsea, being the seasoned football club that they are, should never have underestimated Barcelona (Barca)...

For in the second minute of overtime, Andres Iniesta of Barcelona, scored a surprise goal which secured Barca's place in the finals, even though Barcelona were down to ten (10) men.

=== Sponsored Ads from DunhamsSports.com start ===

=== Sponsored Ads from DunhamsSports.com end ===

So what lessons can be learned from the Barca - Chelsea match?

1) In sports, as in life...there will be moments of unfairness. Let's face it friends...life is unfair..and you must prepare to meet life's unfairness, head-on.

Chelsea, after scoring that goal in the 9th minute of play, should have secured their place in the final, by scoring at least two more goals.

Fooling around with Barca - a hungry, lion-hearted football club, was a very wrong strategic decision by Chelsea's coach, Guus Hiddink.

2) Always expect that a very crucial match..one essential to your winning - ultimately or directly, will be refereed/umpired by some knuckle-head.

This happens in so many different sports, it's not funny...the tournament officials choose referees/umpires for essential or final matches, who may be inexperienced or who may be having an "off-day"...teams must learn that they must  play their best and have some in reserve, to offset bad umpiring/refereeing decisions.

3) No matter how bad the refereeing/umpiring is, don't get overly-angry with the referee/umpire...you will suffer some dire consequences if you do. There is always the opportunity for your club to make an official complaint to the match officials.

If the officials don't take your complaints seriously, you can always boycott the games and rally other prominent clubs to boycott the games, until the officials do take your complaints seriously.

(Didier Drogba has been apologizing profusely for his behavior on Wednesday. It has even affected his image as a role-model for young kids in Britain.

He is to face UEFA officials next week when he will be fined and penalized for his behaviour after the match.)

4) Never underestimate your opponent...no matter how dead or disabled you think he/they may be, finish him/them off, with a decisive win..

...Many opponents "act wounded", so that you will let  your guard down (you'll underestimate his/their ability to fight you and hence you'll play around with him/them). When you do, he'll/they'll pounce on you and you won't be able to recover...

Chelsea underestimated Barca's will, hunger and ability to win, because Barca was down by one goal and only had ten (10) men on the field...only to have Barca rally in overtime and score.

5) Last, but certainly not least - It ain't over 'til it's over...in football, as in any other sport, or in life for that matter...never give up, always try, be tenacious, you just may be able to eke out a win, as Barca did in the 2nd minute of overtime!

Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog wishes Barca our heartiest congratulations and to Chelsea we say, we grieve with you, but please don't grieve for too long. Please put your energies into how you will win the UEFA Champions League, next year, God willing!

(I would like to thank WEWONTBACKDOWN for the use of their inset YouTube video, above.)

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Chelsea-Barcelona UEFA Champions League Match, via CVM Television, May 6,2009

2) Article, "Norway Police Monitor Home of Chelsea-Barca Ref", via Javno Sports, May 8,2009.

3) Article, "UEFA receives ref's report from Champions League semi", via FoxSoccer.com, May 8,2009.