Chelsea FC captain John Terry is down for Ronaldinho.


The hunt for FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho is still on. If not anything, it has taken a higher dimension. Not only has Chelsea's billionaire owner given his public backing for the Barca dynamo, Chelsea's captain, John Terry has endorsed an invitation for Ronaldinho to come to Stamford Bridge. Terry, who holds the Blues defence area, spoke out with enthusiasm for the presence of Ronnie in the Chelsea midfield. The English man's message was clear, open, unpretentious and precise. Get Ronaldinho ! Terry began by praising Ronnie's qualities, then imagining how the Brazilian will fit into the English squad:

It would be a great acquisition to get a player of that ability. I’ve seen him, seen what he’s all about and he’s a very difficult player to mark. He’d give us a different option if he does come, and it would be great for the Premier League to get the likes of Ronaldinho. He can give us something that not many in the world can give. I suppose if he’s doing it going forward then I’m sure the manager will let him off a little bit.

Speaking on the press and media hype about the Chelsea swoop on FC Barcelona's gem, Terry said:

It is exciting. I’ve seen the coverage, but then going into training today no one mentioned it at all. He was close to joining Manchester United a few years ago. But if we could get him it would be great for me personally, Chelsea and everyone else around. I’d like to think he could fit into the team. We’ve got wide men going forward but they’ve got defensive responsibilities as well.

It is highly unlikely that Ronaldinho will leave Camp Nou for Stamford Bridge. Barca's sport director, Txiki Begiristain said:

Ronaldinho is our player and I am totally convinced that he will remain at the club. In this aspect the decision of Barcelona is clear.

John Terry and Frank Lampard talked to the Spanish journalists in the press room at Camp Nou after Chelsea was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League competition last Tuesday.
Some English media such a Daily Mirror publishes Terry's words today.


John Terry admitted FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho was unstoppable in Chelsea's Champions League defeat on Tuesday at Camp Nou.


Chelsea's captain revealed his admiration for Ronaldinho who he could face again in the World Cup this summer.



England defender Terry said:

We tried to stop him with three players but we found it impossible.

It wasn't just any three players - we are talking top defenders. But looking back there is nothing more we could have done to stop Ronaldinho.

Team-mate Frank Lampard also had honourable words for Ronaldinho:

I watch Ronaldinho on the pitch and I see what a fantastic player he is and as a man he seems very humble.

Ronaldinho struck the body blow, 12 minutes from time. Ronnie took the ball from Samuel Eto'o 35 yards out and ghosted away from a diving challenge from Ricardo Carvalho, brushed aside John Terry's despairing stop, and drove the ball past Petr Cech.


STRENGTH,BALANCE,TOUCH AND PACE: SIMPLY SENSATIONAL !!

Match Report: Tuesday 7/02/2006 20:45 (GMT+1): Champions League 2nd Leg
FC Barcelona – Chelsea FC

Camp Nou, Barcelona – attendance: 98.500

1 - 0 Ronaldinho '33

1 - 1 Lampard '92 (penalty)


Referee:Markus Merk (Germany)


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Váldes – Oleguer, Marquez, Puyol, Gio – Motta, Edmilson, Deco, - Messi (Larsson '24), Eto'o, Ronaldinho – Manager: Frank Rijkaard


FC Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech - Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho, Gallas - Duff (Gudjohnsen '57), Makelele, Lampard - Cole (Huth '83), Drogba (Crespo '57), Robben - Manager: Jose Mourinho


A magical goal from Ronaldinho helped Barcelona draw 1-1 with Chelsea tonight to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and avenge their elimination by the same side a year ago.


The World Player of the Year lived up to his billing when he bamboozled three Chelsea defenders on the edge of the area and fired a low shot past keeper Petr Cech.


Chelsea were given brief hope of a dramatic comeback when Frank Lampard converted an injury-time penalty after John Terry went down but the game ended immediately after to give Barca a deserved 3-2 victory on aggregate.


Barca, who were knocked out by Chelsea over two acrimonious legs at the same stage last season, were in charge throughout, depriving their opponents of the ball and gaving Jose Mourinho's side a masterclass in possession football.


There were few of the fireworks, however, which might have been expected given the controversies that had characterised the previous three meetings between the two sides over the past year.


Instead, this was a slow-burning tactical game and although the tension was still high, Chelsea went out with a whimper rather than a bang in a disappointing performance for a side that has yet to live up to expectations in Europe.


The only stain on Barca's victory was when skipper Carles Puyol picked up a booking that will see him miss the first leg of the quarter-final for an unnecessary foul on Gudjohnsen.


For Barça the win put them into the last eight for the first time since 2003 and their performance will give them real hope that FC.Barcelona can finally win a second European Cup.

Beating a team with a great coach always makes you really happy,
Ronaldinho told Spanish television station Canal Plus.

...There's nothing better than winning a game like this one. Revenge wasn't on our minds.

Ronaldinho you are simply the best!!


Ronaldinho undoubtedly deserves all the accolades he will get from the world press. But in reality, the entire Barça team deserves the men-of-the-match award for the way they played over 180 minutes against a Chelsea side that has cost more than 300 million euros to assemble.


On Friday, Barça will find out their quarterfinal and eventual semifinal opponents in a draw at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland. Juventus and Villareal have already qualified for the quarterfinals, and the rest of the teams who will accompany them will be determined after the remaining second leg matches are played on Wednesday. But culés tonight go with the feeling that when playing with such determination as they did against Chelsea, Barça are more than capable of outperforming any opponent that stands in their quest to lift the Champions League trophy at the Stade Denis in Paris on May 17, 2006.




VISCA EL BARÇA!! OLÉ, OLÉ BARÇA, OLÉÉÉ!

Ronaldinho looks very focused on revenge after last year's exit from the UEFA Champions League. After remarks by John Terry that the Barça star would receive some “extra special treatment” he responded completely unconcerned: "I am not worried or scared."


As for the prospect of a physical encounter promised by the Chelsea defenders, Ronaldinho just smiled:

This doen't bother me. I'm training as much as I can so I can escape any markers. The only thing that interests me is that I play my best and help the team to win,"
adding: “We aim to do well and we are only thinking about victory. The match in London will be vital and the objective will be to get a good result so we can celebrate in the Nou Camp.

Here are the odds for the game.


Chelsea FC 2.10

Draw 3.20
FC Barcelona 3.20


To place your bet click here