[muffingg]

From a neutral aspect, what do you think and why? I know it doesn't matter since they won, but I'm just interested in what people's thoughts are because I was having an argument with a friend about this.

Arguments for:

* They beat Barcelona quite greatly
* They defended really well especially Ashley Cole
* They used their chances much better than Bayern yesterday
* Cech was absolutely brilliant
* They beat the reigning champion and arguably best team in the world (Barcelona)

Arguments against:

* They didn't play attractive football
* They didn't attack and at times were defending with 11 men
* They buy too many developed players rather than developing them
* They hardly had possession against Bayern
* Bayern had a lot more chances including the missed penalty kick

[TheHansa]

The team who wins always deserves to win imo.

The manager had a strategy which was avoid losing at all costs but don't go for all out victory and they stuck to it, it wasn't pretty but Cech was amazing, the defensive performance was fantastic all round and they made use of what chances they got better than Bayern.

[H903]

No team that buys trophies with money deserves to win.

[DaveSmith99]

They deserved to win, because Bayern deserved to win less than them for being as bad at finishing as Liverpool.

[Fusion]

When you knock out a team widely considered one of the best ever over two legs and down to 10 men away from home then I don't think you can ask that.

[internet tough guy]

I don't think they ''deserved'' to win in the sense that they done so through their own effort and ability. It was more like them stumbling blindly into victory than anything else. Fact is that they won by virtue of a huge amount of luck, not just in this game against Bayern, but over the two legs against Barcelona - I don't think anyone can dispute this. They defended well, but it was hardly a Di Matteo masterplan now was it? Just last night, they allowed Bayern at least half a dozen clear-cut chances to score.

[rickjames]

They got an inordinate amount of luck this year. Yes you need luck en route, but this was a bit ridiculous. Any chance wasted was sugarcoated with destiny and soon forgotten about as people bummed Chelsea's great defence. Ironically, they let Barcelona have the most chances I've ever seen against an English side over 180 minutes.

[Obadetona]

You win the trophy if you play better than your opponents. Barcelona and Bayern both had their chances and failed to put them away. Chelsea had minimal chances and took them. In terms of getting goals, they played better at the end of the day.

(Original post by H903)
No team that buys trophies with money deserves to win.

Every team that wins CL has bought it.

[rugbyladosc]

(Original post by H903)
No team that buys trophies with money deserves to win.

I hate that jealous-seeped argument. I bet you said exactly the same thing about city winning the PL. Topflight football has always been about money...

anyway i think chelsea deserve to win because of their amazing comeback against Napoli and holding out against barce. On paper Bayern were a much stronger team and they went in as underdogs but still (sort of) performed.

[Gumpert]

I would say that they have had a lot of luck, but you're gonna need luck along the way somewhere. Bayern should have won with the chances they missed, but Chelsea clung on and fought their way back into it.

Whichever team won, there would have been a case to say they deserved it. As much as it pains me to say it, Chelsea did deserve it.

There are different ways to play the game, not just all out attack, otherwise it would arguably be more boring. Maybe I'm biased there though as I'm a centre half.

[nacho1996]

Yes it was their time! They did get a little lucky but they deserved it. And good on them.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad Ap

[Callumhamby]

'ugly' id rather call it efficient, they played perfectly against Barca over two legs, that alone is an achievement, but to win 'ugly' against Bayern in Munich is a massive achievement, yes i do think they deserved to win it,

[QwertyG]

Inter never played attractive football and yet people loved em

[Jim-Jam]

I don't care about 'attractive football', the only thing it does is make you feel better if your team lose.

But look at the stats. Bayern dominated and so deserved to win. As a Liverpool fan this season, trust me, that can get ****ing annoying. To see Robben, Ribery etc choke on the biggest stage was also bullcrap too!

Well done to CHelsea for it though, great achievement but for them to still be the underdogs after 9 years of Roman's money is baffling.

[scotttb]

(Original post by muffingg)

* They beat Barcelona quite greatly

No, they didn't

(Original post by muffingg)

They defended really well especially Ashley Cole

No, they didn't.

In answer to your question, no they didn't

(Original post by QwertyG)
Inter never played attractive football and yet people loved em

Inter didn't play 10 defenders against average opponents in the final.

[silent ninja]

They scored more goals and more penalties, so I'd say yeah they deserved it.

You can hardly blame Chelsea for opponents' ineptitude in front of goal. Chelsea, on the other hand, were ruthless in front of goal. That Ramirez goal was probably the turning point. It came right before half time and had they gone in 2-0 down at half time, I think Barcelona would be holding that trophy. Ugly football but it was the 'best' football this year, so yes they deserved it.

Whoever thinks you can fluke a trophy is having a laugh. Even Greece didn't fluke it. Circumstances and strategies went their way but you can't call a whole campaign a fluke. That's plain silly.

This thread would be more interesting if you asked "was it worth Chelsea winning the CL to see Platini's disgust?"

[jackf1337]

Football isn't all about playing attractively. If Chelsea went all out against the likes of Barca and Bayern then they would have been on the end of a massive hiding, in fact, they probably would never have even got to the semi finals.
Chelsea played to WIN, they knew what they had to do. It is irresponsible to advocate a single style of play. This is one of the reasons why Arsenal haven't won anything for 7 seasons.

For the record, I'm a Villa fan. Fairly happy for Chelsea winning, how I would love to see Villa winning it though.

[silent ninja]

(Original post by jackf1337)
Football isn't all about playing attractively. If Chelsea went all out against the likes of Barca and Bayern then they would have been on the end of a massive hiding, in fact, they probably would never have even got to the semi finals.
Chelsea played to WIN, they knew what they had to do. It is irresponsible to advocate a single style of play.This is one of the reasons why Arsenal haven't won anything for 7 seasons.

For the record, I'm a Villa fan. Fairly happy for Chelsea winning, how I would love to see Villa winning it though.

You can't say that anymore. Dis-counting the last season where Arsenal football hasn't been that pretty, Arsenal are Barcelona-lite. Barcelona have shown you can play pretty, quick paced possession football with short guys and win things (-- remember how the PL was always about a typical big centre forward, and now it's the nimble quick guys like Aguero and Tevez that take preference). They play one style of football which is quite similar to Arsenal but of a higher standard-- one style of football that has won them a hell of a lot of trophies and football quality that every team would die for. Pundits were always going on about how you can't win anything playing like Arsenal, then Barcelona comes along and you stop hearing that. Most pundits are clueless and fickle, just like a lot of football fans incidentally lol

[jackf1337]

(Original post by silent ninja)
You can't say that anymore. Dis-counting the last season where Arsenal football hasn't been that pretty, Arsenal are Barcelona-lite. Barcelona have shown you can play pretty, quick paced possession football with short guys and win things (-- remember how the PL was always about a typical big centre forward, and now it's the nimble quick guys like Aguero and Tevez that take preference). They play one style of football which is quite similar to Arsenal but of a higher standard-- one style of football that has won them a hell of a lot of trophies and football quality that every team would die for. Pundits were always going on about how you can't win anything playing like Arsenal, then Barcelona comes along and you stop hearing that. Most pundits are clueless and fickle, just like a lot of football fans incidentally lol

You're absolutely right. I think I left that comment a little open to interpretation. I think what I was getting at was that if you're a passing side, and it's not working against your opposition, you need a plan B.
The difference between Arsenal and Barcelona's squad is vast. To play that style of football well and win things takes a full squad of players that are accustomed to that style, and that are comfortable with it. Arsenal have let a fair few players go over recent years that they haven't replaced with similar quality (most notably and recently, Cesc and Nasri). Whereas Barca have gone from strength to strength to strength with Guardiola.

[Marco Dilivio]

From a neutral and honest point of view...Chelsea did not deserve to win it at all.
Played anti football from the first minute and had no intention of playing decent not even good but decent football at all.
Playing with your whole team in your box isnt what a European Champions does and no offence to Chelsea... they are probably the worst champions I've ever seen.

I understand playing to your strengths is one thing but playing 10 players behind the ball is a bit ridiculous the game would still be going on now if there wasnt penalties. You could get 10 big rubgy players and stick them in front of the keeper and i doubt many teams will manage to score tbh. Its not an art or talent to play ultra defensively its just sad

Chelsea's players drogba, lampard, terry, essien, malouda, cole.cech the older guys do deserve a champions league medal for their careers I guess so Im happy they got that but for who Chelsea were I think they should have given the world a better display because Bayern were all over them and the only way chelsea could have scored was a set piece and they did.

Enjoy the victory chelsea fans sorry if I offended anyone but Im just being honest for the sake of football