2 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea - match reaction

Frank Rijkaard, Barcelona manager:

“I never talk about the referees but one team was kicking the other team and wasting time. Those extra six minutes (of injury time) worked very well for Chelsea. They committed most of the fouls and wasted the time but got the benefit.”

“We came very close to winning the game and the team fought very hard against a Chelsea team who pushed us hard all the way. We started well, dominated and scored the goal, but they worked very hard physically and had several good chances.”

“I will not say we dominated the whole game but we deserved to go ahead. It’s an interesting situation (in the group) and we have just got to do it and try our best.”

Jose Mourinho, Chelsea manager:

“I think Frank Rijkaard is a lucky guy because Barcelona is Barcelona. The stars he has and the way they are protected match after match I think he is a lucky manager and I would like to be in his position. And for me it looked like two penalties for us.”

“We are not far from finishing first in the group. It was a very powerful performance, it was magnificent. It was very difficult when we conceded an early goal but the team played with a lot of confidence.”

Carles Puyol, Barcelona captain:

“They were the first ones trying to provoke things and not us. Drogba was diving on to the ground all the time asking for us to be booked.”

John Terry, Chelsea captain:

“Maybe Barcelona feel a little bit threatened by us. They were under pressure from their own fans going into the game after losing at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.”

“They were waving cards in the referee’s face and it is disappointing when he falls for it. He gave everything their way, but the lads stuck together right to the end. The result says an awful lot about us. We showed them what we are really like as a team.”

“I thought we deserved the win, but they are a lot more disappointed than us because they are struggling to qualify.”

Edmilson, Barcelona midfielder:

“The worst thing about playing against Chelsea is having to listen to the stupid things that Mourinho says. He thinks he is king of the world, but in life you have to be more humble and work hard. Their last goal was worse than a defeat. I would prefer to lose 3-0 than draw a game like that.”

Deco, Barcelona midfielder:

“It is a real shame my goal served for nothing. Now we have no choice but to win against Levski and then fight to the death against Werder.”

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea - Match Report