'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Much has been said about Jose Mourinho and his exploits against the mighty and the invincible Barcelona team. When Inter Milan beat Barcelona in that epic semi-final clash of the 2010 Champions League, many considered the “Special One” to have finally broken through “THE” most special team of the era. He not only single-handedly inspired a comparatively weaker Inter side to victory that night but also led them to European glory through the much talked about “defend for your lives tactics”.
However, little did one notice how this very tactics almost back-fired when Barcelona earned themselves a late goal to spice up the tie. It took a great amount of luck and desperate scrambles for Inter, to get past the finishing line, much to Mourinho’s relief.
However, the chink in the armor was not left unexploited for long. Mourinho couldn’t quite manage to do the same when he undertook the cause of Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid. A 5-0 thrashing in the league followed by another Champions League ouster meant Mourinho was unable to rediscover the same magic that he did with Inter Milan.
With all due respect to Inter Milan, Mourinho certainly had a better bunch of players under him this time and it was the same Barcelona team that were playing against them. But then why did he fail to relive the moments of the past? Surely there must be something wrong about the approach ! Well, Yes there was! As I went a year back to the Mourinho’s Inter triumph, I exactly figured out just why it was NOT Mourinho who was closest to decode “The Barca Code” but it was the veteran master-tactician Guus Hiddink.
It was the summer of 2009. An unbeatable Barca side was fresh from simply demolishing the German Champions Bayern Munich that saw the tie almost over within the first 30 minutes. With just one step away from the final, there seemed no way to stop this goal-scoring machine. However, in their way stood a rather unpredictable Chelsea side who although rejuvenated after an epic encounter with Liverpool in the quarter finals under the guidance of care-taker manager Guss Hiddink, but was surely no way near the class and might of the Barcelona side. The hype surrounding the match was immense and in one of the news-paper columns I remember reading Hiddink’s claim that he is going through sleep-less nights in order to figure out a way to stop this Barcelona juggernaut.
Well, burning the midnight oil certainly did pay off for him and what he presented on those two eventful European nights was nothing short of an act of genius. Although went unnoticed due to the events that followed in the aftermath of the match, this tie had slowly and silently decoded the elusive code for the first time ever.
The First Leg, Nou Camp : The Catenaccio with the blend of Route One Football
Barcelona were ruthless in their home-performances that season, having demolished nearly everyone who had come to visit the fortress of Nou Camp. With an unmatched record of never having failed to score in their home turf that season Barcelona were a force that required some stopping. And so came Hiddink with his master-plan. The very first of his master-stroke, though came during his team selection when he decided to place Jose Boswinga, the in-form right back, in the left back position to replace the suspended Ashley Cole. And that piece of brilliance not only meant that Ivanovic (the then floater of the team) went to the right but also allowed Chelsea to have a full-back who can match Lionel Messi with his pace at the left wing. Chelsea defended and defended deep. Lionel Messi never managed to escape from the clutches of stand-in Chelsea left-back Jose Bosingwa; Samuel Eto’o was well controlled by John Terry and Alex; Branislav Ivanovic kept a sharp eye on Thierry Henry; and Jon Obi Mikel rarely let Xavi breathe.
Henry kept at bay
Although the tactics sounds more or less similar to the traditional Catenaccio which Mourinho deployed against Barcelona, there was a smart twist that Hiddink brought about. He realized that like in the Catenaccio style of play, Chelsea simply cannot afford to go with the patient build up after defending so deep. With the pace and slyness of the Barca players, Chelsea were bound to get caught in possession. Thus, he mixed it up with the direct route play in which Chelsea were very well adept in, with the likes of the big and strong Drogba hovering around the forward line. Hiddink was quick to understand that Barcelona were relatively unexposed to the direct route football method and this was one place Chelsea can over-power Barcelona with their sheer physical strength in the pitch. And so it proved as despite the Barca domination, the first clear cut chance fell to Drogba as he suddenly found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and had it been not an out of sorts Drogba that season, Chelsea would have got their well-deserved lead at the half way point. The match continued in the same trend and it ended 0-0. Barcelona for the first time in the season had failed to score at the Nou Camp and although termed by many as a boring match, it was rather fascinating to watch the tactics and the mind-games that unfolded in the match. It was a chess game played in the football pitch.
Unlike Mourinho, Hiddink not only defended the opposition’s strength by his deep defending tactics but also found out an equally dangerous ploy to exploit their weakness and feed the strength of his own team.
The Second Leg, Stamford Bridge : The Old Catenaccio with the blend of modern counter-attacking innovation-
Hiddink was well aware that the same tactics cannot be repeated again and realized Barcelona would not be foolish enough to fall prey to the same old trick. So, this time he resorted to the old traditional Catenaccio technique with two defensive minded players namely Michael Essien and Michael Ballack. The strong physical presence of Ballack was very well utilized in the sweeper position (which was quite unlike the Ballack position we know) and that also allowed Michael Essien to go forward on the rare occasions.
However, citing the weak back-line in absence of Carlos Puyol, Hiddink unleashed the biggest trick of the day. The one weapon that he safely guarded in the first leg- The phenomenal Frank Lampard. The route one was abandoned with and the lofted passes Lampard flung forward from midfield for Drogba left the visitors on the back foot. The link-up play was brilliant and he paved the way for Chelsea’s countless swift counter-attacks. And also Ballack, Essien and the four-man back-line presence meant Barcelona’s attack did not have the sting either. Ashley Cole masterfully shadowed Messi and was magnificent even when Alves sprinted up-field in an attempt to outnumber the full-back and so was Florent Malouda as he proved himself a nuisance in the left wing. In the 9thminute, the dangerous Lampard set up a long ranger volley for Essien who finished it off in a stunning manner and Chelsea got the early goal they wanted. The tough defending followed by the swift counter-attacks continued as things took an awkward turn. Not less than 3 penalty claims were denied controversially by the referee and just like the first leg Drogba misfired many clear-cut opportunities. However, Chelsea stuck to their plan and even though Barcelona dominated the possession, they did not have a SINGLE shot on target up until the 92nd minute of the match!!!! Such was the efficiency in Hiddink’s plan that Barcelona never had a clear sight of goal despite having a possession percentage of over 60%. A fact that should surprise any football fan.
Lionel Messi kept in Check by the Inspirational Captain
However, Football is harsh at times and Hiddink’s heroics went in vain as Andres Iniesta provided a moment of magic and brilliance as he slotted home an injury time equalizer from long range. Chelsea hearts were broken as Barcelona advanced on away goal rule.
Had the luck favored Hiddink, this might well have been a Barcelona demolition by Chelsea. Not only could they have won the first leg 1-0 but also could have thrashed them at home by a margin no less than 5-1. But little could Hiddink do when he saw his master-plans go down the drain with some horrendous referring, an erratic Drogba performance and a moment of magic.
His tactics were not only spot ON but also was an outline of how Barcelona can not only be defeated but also beaten comprehensively. The controversies that followed after the match meant that Hiddink’s contribution was lost in the dark pages of Football and hence no one since then has ever been able to take a control over Barcelona that he managed to take on those two epic European nights.
A Frustrated Ronaldo having to play Defensive : Clearly indicates Mourinho did not intend to feed his own strengths and rather wanted to check opposition's strength
As stated before in the article, stopping Barcelona is not just about choking their attack, but also finding the best possible way to utilize your own strengths which Hiddink was able to do but Mourinho couldn’t. He deviated from the typical Catenaccio style and managed to bring about two innovative brand of it in both the legs. However, Mourinho faltered when it came to bring about the variations, so as to produce the perfect combination with the team strength. Mourinho chose the most primitive form of Catenaccio to defeat Barca in both the cases. While I believe Catenaccio is a very good way to do it but you do need to bring about the slight variations and innovations and also make sure that does not hamper or overlook the very team’s strong points . That’s exactly where Guus Hiddink stood apart from the rest who tried to bring down the might of Barcelona.
Fortunately for Inter, they very well fitted into Mourinho’s rigid plans and hence co-incidentally it played to their strength, that is to, defend and counter-attack. Chelsea troubled Barcelona because they too made their strength( their strong physical presence) count. However, Mourinho deployed the same old formula with Real too when Real had players who were more suited to the attacking style of play. Hence, they failed to cope up with the traditional Catenaccio style. So, the bottom line is very clear- “Not only stop Barcelona’s strength to dominate but also let your strength count”
