Remember that Fernando Torres goal which sealed Chelsea’s famous 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona in the semi-finals of the 2012 Champions League? Of course you do!
We all know how this move ended – with Torres rounding the goalkeeper to give Gary Neville a loud orgasm in the commentary box – but let’s remind ourselves how the incredible counter-attack began…
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As you can see, nine Chelsea players – all of them except Torres because the Blues were down to ten after John Terry’s 37th-minute red card – were in their own 18-yard box 11 seconds before the net bulged at the other end.
Chelsea’s tactics were unusual to say the least. They took parking the bus to the next level. But, with luck on their side – Lionel Messi missed a penalty, remember – it worked for manager Roberto Di Matteo.
However, recent quotes from legendary Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who played at left-back for much of the second half on that fateful night in Catalonia, suggest that Di Matteo was not the man responsible for his team’s successful tactics.
So, who was the mastermind behind one of Chelsea’s best results of all time? Apparently, it was divisive defender Jose Bosingwa…
Drogba is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: “The players really stepped up to take responsibility. The manager was telling Branislav Ivanovic to play centre back but Jose Bosingwa said, ‘No, no, I will play centre back’, and carried on to say where he thought others should play.
“‘I don’t care”, I remember saying. ‘I can play left back if necessary. We don’t need a striker. I’ll play striker and left back, whatever it takes’.”
Bosingwa left Chelsea later in 2012, after spending four years at Stamford Bridge. He then had one season at Queens Park Rangers, suffering relegation with the Hoops before moving to current side Trabzonspor.
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