Chapter 251: Facing Barça in the Quarterfinals — Li Ang's Smile!
In the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 that concluded over the past two days, Chelsea's overwhelming 8–1 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain stood out starkly among the other much tighter scores of 3–2 and 4–3.
This season, PSG once again shocked Europe—but in a very different way.
Last season, it was Ibrahimović who bloodily carried PSG to a stunning comeback victory over Barcelona, propelling the French club into the Champions League semi-finals and earning them widespread acclaim across Europe.
But now, with the Round of 16 completed, that reputation collapsed completely under the weight of media scrutiny and scathing fan ridicule.
Chelsea, who had annihilated PSG with eight goals over two legs, trampled over the corpses of last season's semi-finalists to restore their own fearsome reputation in Europe as a battle-hardened powerhouse.
Their defense now is as tenacious as ever—just like the iron-blooded Blues of old—but this version of Chelsea is far more than just a defensive team.
They excel in both quick counterattacks and positional play.
And even if opponents try to outplay them technically, Chelsea's midfield and forward lines show no fear whatsoever.
In fact, when provoked, they prefer to suppress their opponents with an almost maniacal midfield press and high line pressure, stabbing at their adversaries right at their doorstep.
This style of play has undoubtedly rekindled painful memories among European giants, reminding them of the terror Real Madrid inflicted in the Champions League over the past two seasons.
Originally, with Ancelotti's appointment this season, Real Madrid had dialed back their aggressive full-pitch pressing.
But before Europe could breathe a sigh of relief, Mourinho had successfully built another juggernaut at Chelsea!
Just stepping into the knockout stage, Chelsea delivered a double massacre that made it abundantly clear: they were a team designed to dismantle technical sides.
A similarly styled Atlético Madrid also crushed AC Milan in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie.
For the technical powerhouses of Europe, these results were anything but reassuring.
And one man, even after leaving Real Madrid, showed he hadn't lost an ounce of his ability to perform in high-stakes matches—Li Ang. He was now a major headache for both the Bundesliga's top clubs and the new titans of La Liga.
Bayern, Dortmund, Barça, and Atlético—all of them had suffered greatly at Li Ang's hands.
The players at Real Madrid needed no introduction—they knew all too well what Li Ang was capable of. In fact, they knew him better than his current Chelsea teammates.
But the same was true in reverse: Li Ang knew every one of them like the back of his hand.
And that was exactly why they didn't want to face any team with Li Ang in it.
Let's be honest—what would they do if Mourinho instructed Li Ang to lock down Alonso?
Without Alonso's long-range passing and organization, could Modrić and Casemiro alone maintain Real Madrid's high-powered offense?
Take it one step further—what happens when Chelsea's ferocious front line successfully steals the ball and charges directly at Madrid's backline?
How are Pepe and Ramos supposed to divide their attention between stopping Li Ang's long shots and dealing with Ibrahimović's towering presence in the box?
Some problems, if you don't think about them, seem manageable. But the moment you start connecting the dots, it becomes a nightmarish cascade of issues.
And based on UEFA's track record in recent years, the chances of Real Madrid drawing Chelsea in the next round are definitely not low.
Just look at Arsenal's previous bad luck. When UEFA wants to stir the pot, fans can rant all they want—it doesn't change a thing.
So, when the media began stirring speculation, Madrid fans couldn't help but imagine a brutal quarterfinal clash against Chelsea.
Both sets of fans were understandably tense.
After all, Chelsea supporters didn't want to face the Champions League's "final boss" this early either.
Granted, looking at Real Madrid's performance across three competitions this season, that "final boss" label might need a "former" prefix.
Still, their legacy remains undeniable.
If given the choice—if they couldn't draw a pushover—Chelsea fans would much rather face Dortmund or Manchester United. Even Barcelona would be a preferable option!
No team wants to go up against giants like Madrid or Bayern so early in the tournament.
That said, most Chelsea fans were already satisfied with the team making it to the final eight.
But if they could push through to the semi-finals? That would be a huge statement.
Reaching the Champions League semi-finals would be definitive proof that Chelsea had returned to the top tier—and as fans, they'd have every reason to hope for even greater achievements next season.
With that mix of hope and anxiety, Chelsea fans spent days enthusiastically discussing the upcoming quarterfinal draw.
Still, there was some time to go before the draw, and four matches from the Round of 16 hadn't yet been played.
Even if the likely outcomes were already fairly clear, fans would just have to wait.
While they waited, domestic league action returned with full intensity as the second half of the season kicked off in earnest.
In Premier League Round 30, Chelsea were scheduled to play away at Aston Villa.
Villa currently sat fourth from the bottom, just two points above the relegation zone.
But Mourinho and the Chelsea players weren't about to underestimate their opponents.
Because bottom-table teams in the Premier League at the start of the season are a different beast compared to the relegation battlers at the end.
In the first half of the season, top teams were happy to face relegation-threatened sides.
But in the final stretch, for title contenders like Chelsea and Manchester City?
They'd rather face solid mid-table teams than desperate clubs clawing to avoid the drop.
A perfect example of how tough relegation fighters can be? Wigan Athletic in the 2011–2012 season.
Before Round 30 that year, Wigan had only 22 points and sat second to last.
But from Round 30 onward, they went on a blistering run—seven wins and two losses!
To put that in perspective: they had only four wins in the 29 games before that.
Their late-season surge earned them 21 points, including victories over Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, and eventual champions Manchester United!
Yes, that was a relegation side unleashing incredible energy in a bid to survive.
Aston Villa may not be Wigan, and duplicating such a miracle would be extremely difficult.
But their determination to stay in the Premier League was just as fierce.
For Chelsea—who couldn't afford any slip-ups during the title race—every match against a relegation candidate required maximum focus.
Terry, Matić, and Ibrahimović, all of whom were rested during the last Champions League game, returned to the starting lineup for this one.
Mourinho also opted for a safe 4-2-3-1 formation.
He had no choice. Earlier that day, Manchester City—who had just been eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona—had beaten Hull City 2–0.
Now that they were out of both the Champions League and FA Cup, Guardiola could focus solely on the league.
That was a massive advantage for City.
And with that, Chelsea's mental burden increased significantly.
If City won every remaining match, Chelsea couldn't afford to drop a single point.
The eight-point gap looked comfortable—but if they lost their mental edge, that three-win buffer could disappear in just two weeks.
Chelsea had to win. There was no other option.
Unless they could maintain the gap until the final five matches, Mourinho wouldn't have the luxury to rest his aging stars.
At this critical moment in the title race, the veterans would need to push through.
And Li Ang—already dubbed the "New Iron Man" of European football—was definitely not missing any matches.
Three days after their Champions League thrashing of PSG, on the evening of March 15th, Chelsea's Premier League Round 30 match against Aston Villa kicked off at Villa Park.
Compared to Chelsea's somewhat conservative 4-2-3-1, Aston Villa came out with an aggressive 4-3-3.
Their Belgian striker Christian Benteke—whose form had dipped this season due to injuries—seemed to be fully fit again.
Before the match, Mourinho had repeatedly emphasized one thing to his players: shut down Benteke!
This young target man from Belgium had only played his first full Premier League season last year.
But he made quite the impression: 37 league starts, 23 goals, and 6 assists.
With 19 goals in the Premier League alone, he ranked fourth in the league's scoring charts.
For a young target man, those numbers were dazzling.
Even now, many pundits believed that if Benteke had stayed healthy this season, Villa wouldn't be fighting relegation at all.
In this match, Benteke showed exactly what he was capable of, helping Aston Villa hold their ground in the first half and go toe-to-toe with Chelsea on the attacking front.
Though Villa's counterattacking and crossing tactics were a bit rough around the edges, Benteke's constant ability to get on the end of the ball made a real difference.
Terry seemed half a step slow when facing him, and if it hadn't been for Čech's solid performance, Chelsea might have conceded in the first half.
Li Ang felt that Mourinho's "feign weakness" tactic had its flaws, but he didn't voice any objections during the half. He continued to devote most of his energy to defense.
At the halftime whistle, he jogged back to the dressing room ahead of everyone else and had a brief exchange with Mourinho to share his thoughts.
If Eden Hazard had started on the left as usual, Mourinho's conservative strategy might have made more sense. Hazard had the individual ability to tear apart Villa's defense even in limited attacking opportunities, creating chances for Ibrahimović and the surging Ramires.
But with Hazard rested and Oscar filling in as a makeshift left winger, things were different.
Oscar tended to drift centrally in his runs, clogging up space meant for Ramires's forward movements. On top of that, he needed a lot of touches and time on the ball to make things happen.
So, if Oscar didn't perform well, the problem wouldn't just be his. Both Ibrahimović and Ramires would suffer due to a lack of service in attack.
Still, Li Ang wasn't demanding that Mourinho "correct the mistake" by subbing off Oscar.
His suggestion was simple: if Oscar naturally gravitated toward the middle anyway, then just officially put him in a central role.
In this match, Benteke truly showed his capabilities. In the first half, he helped Aston Villa hold their ground, going head-to-head with Chelsea in a lively exchange of attacking plays.
Although Villa's counterattacking and crossing tactics were somewhat crude, Benteke always managed to get a touch on the ball.
Terry seemed a step slow when dealing with him, and if it weren't for Čech's solid performance today, Chelsea could have easily conceded in the first half.
Li Ang felt there were some flaws in this tactic of "feigning weakness," but he didn't say much during the first half, instead dedicating most of his energy to defense as usual.
When the halftime whistle blew, he jogged ahead of his teammates back to the dressing room and had a quick word with Mourinho, sharing his thoughts.
If Hazard had started on the left wing as usual, Mourinho's conservative approach would've been fine. Hazard had the ability to efficiently tear through Villa's backline even with fewer attacking chances, creating ample opportunities for Ibrahimović and the late-arriving Ramires.
But with Hazard resting today and Oscar starting on the left as a makeshift winger, things were different.
Oscar's counterattack runs tended to drift toward the center, not only occupying the space Ramires normally used to charge forward, but also consuming a lot of the team's attacking possession.
So, if Oscar didn't play well, the impact wouldn't just be on him—it would trickle down to Ibrahimović and Ramires, who wouldn't get enough touches in the attacking phase.
Still, Li Ang wasn't suggesting Mourinho should "correct" the mistake by subbing off Oscar.
He simply offered a tactical suggestion: instead of forcing Oscar to play on the wing but having him instinctively perform central roles, why not just shift him back into the middle?
Ramires could play wide on the right, and De Bruyne could switch over to the left without any problem—his passing wouldn't be affected.
With a slight tweak in formation and tactics, Chelsea's style of play would become much more fluid.
But that was just a suggestion—a new train of thought. Whether Mourinho took it or not was entirely up to him.
After making his recommendation, Li Ang quickly returned to his seat, wiped off his sweat, and changed into a fresh jersey and socks.
Mourinho, after a brief moment of contemplation, pulled assistant coach Holland aside for an emergency tactical discussion.
Soon after, he decisively announced to the players in the dressing room that Chelsea would be changing formation in the second half.
Li Ang didn't say anything, but he was clearly pleased and much more at ease.
In the second half, Chelsea decisively switched to a 4-4-2 formation. Oscar was pushed up front by Mourinho to partner with Ibrahimović as a double striker.
Ramires moved out wide to the right, while De Bruyne, who had started on the right wing, shifted over to the left.
Li Ang himself dropped a bit deeper than in the first half, sitting alongside Matić to secure the central midfield.
With this change, Chelsea didn't lose any defensive strength in midfield, but their counterattacks clearly became far more efficient.
Aston Villa, eager to press their home advantage and go on the attack, were punished when Chelsea caught them twice on the break and broke through their defenses!
In the second of those counterattacks, Oscar—now playing centrally—linked up with Li Ang to rip through Villa's slightly thin central defense with ease.
Oscar then drove into the left side of the penalty area and squared the ball across the box for Ibrahimović, who timed his run perfectly and slotted home!
With that goal, Aston Villa, who had been stubbornly pressing forward, suffered a massive blow to their morale.
And facing a Chelsea team that had now dropped deeper and focused on tight defensive counters, Villa—carrying a psychological burden—could no longer commit men forward like they had before.
Mourinho was relieved at this point, grateful for Li Ang's timely halftime suggestion.
With that goal in hand, Chelsea held all the initiative.
Whether to press or to defend, they could now adjust their tactics freely according to whatever best suited them.
For example, now that Villa found themselves caught between pressing forward and fearing another counterattack, their attacking efficiency dropped noticeably.
Seeing this, Mourinho signaled his players to stay composed and focus on defending, waiting for Villa to make their next move.
Sure enough, just ten minutes later, Villa seemed to have unified their tactical approach—apparently deciding to go all in and throw everything into attack.
Only then did Mourinho calmly issue new tactical instructions from the sideline.
Li Ang and Matić understood immediately. Ramires and De Bruyne also tucked in slightly, narrowing their positions.
Chelsea's four-man midfield now looked poised to plug every hole in the central zone.
But just when Villa committed numbers forward and looked ready to break through, Chelsea flipped the script.
Instead of sitting back passively, they turned aggressive, pressing high and fiercely against Villa's advance!
This time it was Matić and Ramires who combined to dispossess Agbonlahor.
And as Villa's players rushed to get back into defensive positions, Li Ang received the ball from Matić, took a quick glance, and launched a bold, long-range through ball over the top—crossing half the field!
Ibrahimović dropped back to fake a reception, drawing out Villa's main center-back Vlaar.
Meanwhile, Villa's other center-back, Nathan Baker—who was slightly slower—hesitated for just a moment and that was all Oscar needed to surge past him.
Li Ang's ball was pinpoint.
It landed perfectly just inside the edge of the Villa penalty area.
The pass was ideal for Oscar's sprint and first touch, and it also made Villa's keeper Guzan think twice about coming off his line.
And so, under the gaze of nearly 40,000 despairing Villa fans, Oscar calmly brought the ball down, adjusted, and slotted it into the near corner of the goal.
Over 5,000 Chelsea away fans in the stadium erupted in wild celebration.
On the sidelines, Mourinho gave a standing ovation and applause for Li Ang's bold and brilliant assist.
That second goal seemed to break Villa's spirit entirely.
For the rest of the match, they couldn't mount another threatening offensive wave.
By the final whistle, Villa's manager Paul Lambert was still dwelling on that second goal in the post-match press conference.
"Our performance today wasn't the problem. Even after conceding the first goal, my players still had the confidence to keep fighting.
But Li Ang delivered a devastating blow with that precision-guided long ball to assist Oscar.
At that moment, I turned to my assistant and said only one word—'Damn.'
Yes, for us, that goal was catastrophic.
But that's what great players do—and that's football. We just have to accept it... no matter how bitter."
Though Lambert didn't praise Li Ang outright, his words clearly revealed his admiration for him—and a little envy toward Mourinho.
Mourinho, in high spirits after the match, also took a moment to say a few kind words about Villa's performance.
With this league round concluded, Chelsea would now enjoy a full seven-day break. Mourinho, feeling relaxed, generously gave the entire first-team squad two days off.
By the time the squad returned from break and began preparations for their crucial second league clash against Arsenal...
The remaining four Champions League Round of 16 matches were finally underway.
The last to play were the three European powerhouses most talked about by the fans—Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Borussia Dortmund.
And just as the fans had predicted, there were no surprises.
Real Madrid dominated Zenit Saint Petersburg with a 6–0 aggregate win. United beat Schalke 04 with an aggregate of 4–1. Dortmund dispatched Galatasaray with a comprehensive 6–2 scoreline.
Only the match between Leverkusen and Olympiacos had some drama, going all the way to extra time.
But thanks to an outstanding performance by Kießling in extra time, Leverkusen scraped through with a 3–2 aggregate victory and made it into the Champions League quarterfinals!
Leverkusen's win caused quite a stir in South Korea's sports scene.
That's because their young winger Son Heung-min had also performed brilliantly in extra time.
It was his burst and pinpoint cross that found Kießling, who sealed the win with a decisive header.
With one goal and one assist across both legs, Son's performance was dazzling.
The excitement from South Korea's media and fans was understandable.
Only two days after the Round of 16 came to a close, the quarterfinal draw took place in Switzerland, right on schedule.
Real Madrid drew Dortmund, Atlético were paired with Manchester United—these four teams were placed in the top half of the bracket.
Bayern got incredibly lucky and drew Leverkusen—widely considered the weakest team among the final eight.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were drawn against their old Champions League nemesis—Barcelona!
These four teams were placed in the bottom half.
As soon as the draw ended, fans from all sides began discussing the matchups with great passion.
Chelsea fans were relieved—they'd avoided both Real Madrid and Bayern.
Barcelona wasn't an easy draw, but Chelsea had no fear of them either.
And then, just to add fuel to the fire, Li Ang posted a photo that evening: turning his head slightly toward the camera, wearing a subtly playful smile.
The caption was simple, but it immediately sent a chill down the spines of Barcelona fans:
"Long time no see. Miss me, Barcelona~?"
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