UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE SEMIFINALS...
Chelsea FC (ENG) vs. FC Basel (SUI)
FC Benfica (POR) vs. Fenerbache (TUR)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINALS...
Real Madrid CF (ESP) vs. Borussia Dortmund (GER)
FC Bayern Munich/Munchen (GER) vs FC Barcelona (ESP)
In Europa, I would have to say that I'd like to see a Chelsea vs. Benfica final (obviously with a Chelsea win). Both are teams with something to prove, and I think that this title race is crucial for them, especially if they want to return to the top flight of Europea play. Chelsea especially, being the European Champions and all, they'd be the first to win Champs and Europa back-to-back. LET'S GET IT DONE BLUES <3 #KTBFFH
In Champions... who could have asked for a sweeter Final Four? The best of Germany and the best of Spain! Classic! Currently, Germany sit in second place behind comfortably first-placed Spain in the FIFA World Rankings. With arguably four of Europe's best teams going head-to-head, this could get intense. Now we have the suspense of waiting for a mixed final, an all-German final, or EL CLASICO! WOOHOO! :D Real is looking to redeem themselves after an uneasy start to this season's Liga campaign, and no one believes in Los Blancos more than myself when I say that I know this is the year of La Decima. We are the greatest club in history, afterall (no, that isn't up for discussion, statistically we have the most points and trophies and obviously UCL trophies #halamadrid). But I know that after mah Blues plunked Bayern out of last year's trophy, they'll be back with a vengeance. I strongly believe that they can beat Barcelona. Borussia has shown some great standouts in Marco Reus and Mario Gotze... but I think Real can get it done #biased. La Decima is at stake people! (For those not as internationally-inclined as myself, "la decima" translates literally into "the tenth." Should Madrid win this year's Champions League, they will be the first club ever to win the prestigious tournament ten times #HALAMADRID
Chelsea...
SO there's talk of Special One (Jose Mourinho) coming back to the Bridge. I am not sure how I feel about this. As you know, I am quite the fan of Real Madrid, but I bleed Blue. Do I want them to mix? Do I want Jose back at the Bridge? To help Chelsea, hopefully to more UCL wins, OF COURSE. But then what becomes of my Blancos? I don't know, for me, Jose just really fits at the Bernabeu. He makes it work. But Chelsea needs him. UGH INDECISION #BlueMadridista
FERNANDO TORRES. There will be haters. That is a given. But all I want to see is Fernando Torres smiling again. And when he was on that field these past two European matches against Rubin, he has been confident. He has been on fire. He has scored THREE goals. My goodness. After breaking his nose against Steaua Bucuresti, he has had just a total epiphany. A re-birthing. While the rest of the world frolicked around and watched/played World Cup Qualifiers, F9T spent his international break hard at work. Now, one year older, I am amazed by the transformation. He is back, everybody. And he is here to stay. See, it's that kind of stuff that's inspiring. That hard work. That desperation to succeed. That fight. My GOD the whole world was against him, his luck even, and then he breaks his face, and gets a black eye, and is required to wear a fiberglass mask for over a month, and doesn't get called-up for his country, and his own number (TATTOOED ON HIS ARM FOR GODSAKES) is given away to another player, and his team is not helping him, and his manager and owner have since lost hope in him... and he overcomes. He just does. Because he has to. What else can he do? THAT is why Fernando Torres is the greatest. Oh and believe me it's going to take time. It's going to be an interesting progression to keep improving from here. It is important at this point, however, that Rafa realizes that to maintain his confidence we need to start him after brace-wielding matches. But this is not just a mere goal-scoring fleet like the one that we saw at the beginning of December. I can feel it. His form. His confidence. He is FEELING IT. Oh I am so happy!! :)
NANDO STATS:
-First and only Chelsea player to score in 7 competitions in a single season
-4 goals in his last 3 European matches (1 STB2, 2 RK1, 1 RK2)
-Chelsea's highest scorer in all competitions this season
Chelsea vs. Manchester United:
Not much to say about this game. We absolutely dominated. We were just spectacular. I am so THRILLED!!!! Like I said. There is just so much to say, that there isn't even very much to say. Yes, that totally makes sense #KTBFFH
Chelsea vs. Manchester City (FA CUP): Sure to be a wonderful game. I consider City an extremely daunting side, even moreso than Manchester United really because City is dangerous like this; with Manchester United, you are preparing yourself for the worst, so you perform better and save a better squad and lineup because you're thinking, well these guys have got to be the best of the best. With City, who show just as much quality as their metropolitan counterparts (defeating them 2-1 in Monday's derby) is not feared the same way, in my opinion. But I think that we have sort of gotten the hang of not underestimating City... because last two times we did that, we got our butts kicked. So in preparation for this Sunday's FA semifinal, Rafa Benitez has effectively saved and rested Eden Hazard, Juan, Mata, and Demba Ba. AWESOME. While our backline is kind of in shambles with Gary Cahill (knee) and Ashley Cole (hammy) out on injury and Ryan Bertrand out with illness, this match should be interesting. Thankfully, Rafa only played Branislav for about a minute on Thursday, so we might as well include him in the list of "Players that we really need for the City game that THANK GOD didn't play against Rubin."
Chelsea vs. Manchester City (St. Louis): Chelsea begins a post-season tour on just May 23, playing Manchester CIty HERE IN THESE UNITED STATES. However, tickets are gone; they sold out in about 20 minutes.
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...
CHELSEA VS. MANCHESTER CITY (NYC): YES!!!!!!!! #perksoflivingintheGreaterNYCarea OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD asdfghfjdkl;foivncmdxksmda I AM GOING TO A CHELSEA GAME! OHMYSWEETJESUS Sjfmoscmjafal,skaKDM JUANITO I AM COMING! EDDIE I'm coming! NANDO! LAMPS! GEEZ! BRANA! AZPI! BERT! JT! GCAY! DEMBA! OSCAR! OBI! I AM COMING BLUES! I AM COMING! I LOVEYOU ALL SO MUCH! I SHALL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH! xx
excuse me while I go and *lose my mind.*
BECAUSEEEEEE
Not only have I got CHELSEA tickets....
I HAVE GOT
SKYBLUE FC TICKETS!
and
SPAIN vs IRELAND TICKETS!!!!
WHAT!?
HUH?!
AHA!!!!
ANDRES INIESTA?!?!?!!?!?!?!!!!!!!
DOUBLE JUAN!
ABBY WAMBACH!
KELLEY OHARA!!!
PEARCIE!
DOUBLE NANDO?!
Oh my. I literally cannot handle myself right about now. Typing doesn't do emotion justice.
Sky Blue FC:
So now that I have kind of introduced this topic, yes my very own Sky Blue FC has their season opener this Sunday. Tickets are still on sale. They are playing Western New York Flash (Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd... <3) and the match will be held at Yurcak Field... at Rutgers University in NJ! YES! #perksofbeingaJerseygirl! I am so excited to see my girls in action for the NWSL. This league will only be able to thrive with the aid of fan support so come on out to the match if you can, and be sure to buy merchandise in the NWSL shop! KO Jerseys, people! She is a FORWARD now!!! Aren't y'all excited? (If you are a WNT-head, you totally get the significance of KO being a striker #USWNTlove) GOOD LUCK GIRLS! (Watch out, the mighty Abby is a force to be reckoned with...). Sky Blue sports some very big names in the women's game, including households like Christie Rampone, Kelley O'Hara as mentioned, Sophie Schmidt, and the speedy Lisa DeVanna! Go SBFC!!!!!! <3 (so excited to see them again, I am not sure you actually have any idea)!!!! #NWSL
So yeah, I've typed a lot at this point. And I am tired. So I am going to go. Sunday is a big day people! Chelsea vs City @ Wembley, FOXSOCCER for you Americans, at 11 AM ET! Real and Barca to follow in their respective matches over on beIN sport! With the NWSL openers, including SBFC vs WNY streaming live online! ENJOY!
P.S. Updates:
-FELICIDADES A CESC FABREGAS! CONGRATULATIONS TO CESC FABREGAS ON THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD, LIA! The baby was born on Wednesday, Apr. 10, during her daddy's quarterfinal match vs. PSG :) Congrats, Cesc!!!
-Mesut Ozil's brace last weekend was clutch.
-Following a 3-3 tie at Germany and a 3-1 win against Netherlands, USWNT's Abby Wambach is only 3 goals away from reaching Mia Hamm's all-time international scoring record, for males or females. Incredible. Let's go Abby #ChasingMia
-Injury Report: Carli Lloyd (shoulder), Hope Solo (wrist), Jill Loyden (thumb?), Iker Casillas (hand), Gareth Bale (ankle), Ashley Cole (hamstring), Gary Cahill (knee), Oriol Romeu (still the knee), Fernando Torres (nose), Demba Ba (slight ankle? ok?), Lionel Messi (hamstring)
-Welcome back, ERIC ABIDAL!