Alves taunts Chelsea
Barcelona defender Dani Alves has lit the touch paper for Wednesday's Champions League semifinal with Chelsea by suggesting fear cost the Premier League side victory in the 2009 semifinals.
Chelsea were controversially eliminated by the Catalans in the last four three years ago following a string of hotly-disputed calls from Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, who turned down four penalty appeals.
However Alves told the The Independent on Tuesday that Chelsea only had themselves to blame for failing to clinch victory, after midfielder Andres Iniesta's injury-time strike sent Barcelona through to the final on away goals.
"There is no doubt that was the hardest game we've played, but a team with a man advantage playing at home and winning should have attacked us more," Alves told the daily.
"People say Chelsea should have won but for the referee, but that is not our problem. We were there to play football, to compete and try to get to the final. Chelsea did not reach the final because of fear."
Meanwhile Iniesta himself warned his team-mates to expect another tough night against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
"It's painful to be knocked out so close to the final. Now we are facing each other again and undoubtedly their desire to beat us and be in the Champions League final will be significant," he said.
"We hope that things will turn out well for us again this time."
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