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I’m happy Guus is not as thrilled about Chelsea’s 1-0 win as I am.
A bit of a side bar before I get into the news tonight. Chelsea are extremely lucky they are a goal to the good heading into their Champions League second leg. For starters, I don’t believe Didier Drogba’s goal should have counted. Frank Lampard was actively offside, and when Drogba and Lampard are both teeing up to shoot, sorry the referee has to throw the flag up.
Then there are the two obvious penalties that should have been called on both Petr Cech and Michael Ballack. Then the icing on the cake, the man in the middle completely blows the last kick of the game. Alex did get the last touch and the referee didn’t seem to care.
Guus Hiddink has every right to not be happy with Chelsea’s performance Wednesday night against Juventus. Yes the first half went by fine, but Chelsea mentally checked out in the second half. Guus was the first to <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1155784/Unhappy-coach-Hiddink-lays-underachieving-Chelsea-stars.html?ITO=1490" target="_blank">admit that</a>. He isn’t satisfied with a one goal advantage heading into the second leg, but that’s understandable knowing the task at hand heading to Italy. Being complacent on an away European night could result in their ultimate undoing.
If preparing for Real Madrid wasn’t enough, having reports over your head <a href="http://epltalk.com/bookies-suspend-betting-on-benitez-leaving-liverpool/4674" target="_blank">about your job</a> added to the difficult task Rafa had in front of him Wednesday night. The <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11945_4972446,00.html" target="_blank">first denials</a> about Rafa leaving hit my RSS feeder at 9:34 Wednesday morning, but nothing concrete from the ownership at Anfield.
Liverpool will be happy with their 1-0 victory. For starters they got that cliched away goal and got a road shut out. That is Rafa Benitez at his best. Every time Rafa has been under the gun, an European night has always given him comfort. Even his post match press conference was a happy place as he <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1155781/Rafa-stay-Benitez-pledge-Liverpool-rock-Bernabeu.html?ITO=1490" target="_blank">committed his future</a> to Liverpool. We’ll see come this summer.
Other Stories 
For those wondering, Middlesbrough are in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup after a <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1155783/Middlesbrough-2-West-Ham-0-Downing-delight-Boro-march-on.html?ITO=1490" target="_blank">2-0 win</a> over West Ham United. Now Gareth, can you get that result in league play?
And <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/hull-hope-cup-will-kickstart-stalling-league-form-1632186.html" target="_blank">Phil Brown</a> is hoping that an FA Cup win Thursday night will kick start Hull City’s dead form.
More FA Cup talk as Roy Hodgson is warning Manchester United that Fulham <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/hodgson-insists-that-fulham-can-shock-united-1632185.html" target="_blank">won’t be laying down</a>. The problem is, it’s Manchester United. Even if you don’t lay down you may end up rolled over.
So Kolo Toure <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/4807281/Kolo-Toure-yellow-card-most-embarrassing-moment-of-Arsenal-career.html" target="_blank">didn’t know the rule</a> about not coming onto the pitch until the referee said so once play resumed? Along with a new ritual, maybe a look at the laws of the game wouldn’t hurt.
Martin O’Neill has added his two cents into the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1155620/Aston-Villa-manager-ONeill-triggers-pitch-battle-Moscow.html?ITO=1490" target="_blank">artificial pitch</a> debate. Of course he had to use the Champions League Final jab in his comments.
So another Premier League player has been arrested. This time it was Stoke City’s <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1155059/Stoke-striker-Fuller-arrested-Staffordshire-police-driving-offence.html?ITO=1490" target="_blank">Ricardo Fuller</a>. What driving offense (or offenses) could it take to be brought in for questioning.
And finally, Tony Mowbray intends to use loan signing <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/menseguez-to-make-impact-from-bench-says-mowbray-1632179.html" target="_blank">Juan Carlos Menseguez</a> as a super sub for that extra spark off the bench. West Brom could use one from the start as well.

Not a Happy Guus While Rafa's Going No Where,

Not a Happy Guus While Rafa's Going No Where,  - World Soccer Talk

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Not a Happy Guus While Rafa's Going No Where,