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Why Stamford Bridge Is The New Anfield:

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In past years, so many players, managers and commentators have spoken of those ‘famous’ nights on Merseyside, as Liverpool stormed to historic results at Anfield in Europe’s greatest club competition, the Champions League. Knockout victories over the Spanish giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as triumphs over domestic rivals Chelsea and Liverpool can rank amongst the top of some truly spectacular nights.

Yet, as Liverpool slipped down into the Europa League, and now even failing to qualify for Europe through the Premiership, there was a new fortress arriving. After Tuesday nights incredible victory for Chelsea against the holders Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, there is a general feel that no team wants to be drawn in West London.

Boasting 5 semi-finals in 9 years, it is clear that Chelsea are developing European pedigree despite having never lifted the trophy. The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is often complained against by rival fans within the English league, yet on these European nights it is becoming something of a cult experience. During the knockout stage, every single fan recieves a club flag, and these are waved with gusto and the players enter the field of play to the Champions League theme true.

Tuesday night was a case in point, as Chelsea entered the game massive underdogs in a game they were widely expected to struggle in. It was 77 seconds before they even touched the ball, and this was due to a foul on Cesc Fabregas by Ivanovic. When the Blues finally did get the ball under control, it was greeted with great cheers. Comparing this back to some of the league games in SW6 this season, it is a marked change.

This season, Chelsea was won every single game they have played at home in the Champions League, dispatching reputable sides like Leverkusen, Valencia, Napoli and Benfica – scoring 11 goals and just conceding the 2. This all game before a stunning 1-0 win over Barcelona yesterday. Their record cannot be argued against, and you can wager that nobody is relishing a trip to Stamford Bridge any time soon. Whatever happens in the 2nd leg in the Nou Camp, or indeed the rest of the season for the Blues, that win will rank as one of the greatest nights in Chelsea’s relatively short yet successful European history.

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  • Neil Patterson says:

    Most clubs don’t need to give away flags to help create an atmosphere. If you look at all the scarves round Anfield on big nights, they’re all bought and paid for. There were empty seats at the Bridge for Barca, if they can’t fill the stadium for a game like that, a CL Semi no less then there’s a hell of a long way to go before the atmosphere rivals that at Anfield.

    More importantly Chelsea fans are the worst behaved in the country. Racist chanting against Anton Ferdinand, disrupting the minutes silence for the 96 dead at Hillsborough, both disgraceful and the club should face heavy sanctions from the F.A.. Not that those useless suits will do anything about it.Granted, Chelsea have had a couple of good home results in Europe this year but I think it’s incredibly premature to be hailing the Bridge as the new Anfield, and as long as Chelsea continue to harbour that kind of scum on their terraces, their fans can never be considered as the best.
    http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
    http://live4liverpool.com/2012/04/view-from-the-kop/do-we-really-need-another-comolli

    • Harry Aitkenhead says:

      You’re completely wrong because the empty seats are due to UEFA regulations about segregation. As for Liverpool fans question behaviour, two words for that – Heysel Disaster.

      • Genghis K says:

        Funny how they always forget about Heysel isn’t it…
        Only remembering their ‘history’ when it suits them…
        YNWA?
        You Never Wememer Atwocities!!
        Good work to Woy, too 😉

  • Jay says:

    Firstly, the seats that were empty weren’t being sold to fans. All our CL home games have sold out, even when many of us were threatening to boycott the Genk game due to extortionate prices.

    Secondly, I’ve been to every knock out game at the bridge this season and I can guarantee that the flags are not the reason european nights at the bridge are a great experience. The bias of opposition fans will never allow them to admit it but as a Chelsea fan I’ve loved those experiences. Not to mention we’ve won every CL home game this season so the support obviously counts for something.

    Lastly, I am a Chelsea fan and refuse to be held accountable for the actions of a few mindless idiots. In fact it’s such a small amount I’ve never encountered these problems at the bridge. Any large group of people will have it’s idiots, e.g. those Liverpool fans who sung about the Munich disaster earlier on in the season, not to mention the ones who felt that the best way of supporting Suarez was by being racist themselves. However, I wouldn’t dare disgrace all Liverpool fans for it.

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