Chelsea‘s Ramires has come out in defence of the defensive tactics deployed by the team to win the Champions League last season.
Chelsea were criticized for “parking the bus”, especially against Barcelona, but Ramires says that style of football should not be synonymous to the Blues.
“This anti-football is not Chelsea’s style, we only played that way in those games against Barcelona, when we played against Napoli, we needed to score a goal and we did it, when almost nobody believed we would,” he told Radio Estado ESPN.
The Brazilian considers the usage of defensive tactics against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final to be a shrewd tactical move on the part of manager Roberto Di Matteo.
“If we tried to play as equals against Barcelona, we would have conceded five or six goals. We watched some videos of Barcelona and decided for that strategy,” Ramires stated.
“We knew we could beat them on counter-attack and we were happy for achieving that. If you don’t play that way, you can’t beat them.”
Citing the Catalan side’s La Liga rivals Real Madrid, Ramires pointed out that Chelsea were not the only team that appreciated the importance of a defensive performance.
“It’s not only Chelsea that plays that way against Barcelona. We watched that game where Real Madrid beat them 2-1, playing the same way we did,” he said.
“Barcelona move the ball around a lot, tiring opponents that have to run after the ball. In our case, we scored that goal and then we took a defensive stance. If we always win playing that way, I’ll choose to win.”
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I wonder what PAUL FERREIRA,,,Mickael Essien,FLORENT MALOUDA,,,,ROSS TURNBULL,,,HILARIO are STILL DOING IN CHELSEA….Thanks God that Jose Bosingwa and Salomon Kalou have left CHELSEA..
Daniel Sturridge is a SELFISH player.
Abramovich we need players Like EDINSON CAVANI,,HULK,,FALCAO,,
Pls somebody should advise FRANK LAMPARD to stay behind..
I cannot get this park the bus thing. One would have thought the scores was a slim 1-0 or something and we never ventured outside our 18yard box and fielded 10 defenders and 1 goalkeeper while they fielded 11 strikers. THE SCORES WAS 2-2 FOR GOODNESS SAKE, WITH 10 MEN AT THAT. What else do we have to do, how many clubs have achieved that against the almighty Barcelona. YES we parked the bus, but we also came with a twin engine fighter jet. Guess the names of the engines, yeah that’s right, Torres and Ramires. It was a “where eagles dare” achievement. We overcame in Nou Camp and Allianz Arena where Real Madrid lost. Give it up for the 2011/2012 CHAMPIONS.
what is written has been written,last time barca beats gunners with 4 goals 4rm messi no complain,when we were robbed in 2009 no story,now they were defeated diffrent story,check ur record “only chelsea know how 2 beat barca,done deal.
Let’s them say what they like concerning our game of ball.All i know is dat we have won the champions league and we are d king of Europe for now.!!UP BLUES!