Guus Hiddink does not believe Champions League opponents Barcelona will be significantly weaker without their two first-choice central defenders.
Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol will both miss the return leg of the semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. Marquez is out of the season after damaging knee ligaments in the goalless first leg at the Nou Camp while Puyol's yellow card means he is suspended.
"They can replace, rather easily, the two players," said Hiddink.
"If you see what happened with Marquez, it was nothing to do with Chelsea. "Normally, some like to create an atmosphere of: 'Look, injured players, the opposition must be at fault.'
"But they are well equipped, not just in their way of playing but also in their double positioning in many positions in the team.
"They can, rather easily, bring up a team which is able to play well. It won't make a huge difference."
Meanwhile, Hiddink is glowing in his praise of young midfielder John Mikel Obi. The Nigerian was outstanding in their draw with Barcelona when he shared a holding role with Michael Ballack.
"I'm impressed with his development," said Hiddink. "He's still young, a very strong guy.
"We've practised with him to improve him. He's showing that he's coachable. He's got a lot of potential, physically, and he's growing tactically into the job he has in midfield.
"It's good to see a young player open to improvement and not thinking that, because he's at a big club, he's made it."
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dokosimi, wot do u tink? u tink chelsea is just any team? dont be sentimental, talk football
all i know is that chelsea is like a hot drink but believe me barca will drink them with or without some ice for more than 24 years madrid has not lost to nobody by the margin of 6 goals but barca rewrite that and take my word there is no place that barca cant score even in iraq or palestine, this barca second name is goal.to chelsea fans the stamford bridge game will ended 2-2 and barca will be champion for third time.
all i know is that chelsea is like a hot drink but believe me barca will drink them with or without some ice for more than 24 years madrid has not lost to nobody by the margin of 6 goals but barca rewrite that and take my word there is no place that barca cant score even in iraq or palestine, this barca second name is goal.to chelsea fans the stamford bridge game will ended 2-2 and barca will be champion for third time.
Mr Barca... you seem to miss the point somewhat. No doubt you are elated because of Barca's demolition of Real Madrid 6-2 but bear in mind that Real are not the team they were- they lost 4-0 to Liverpool and Liverpool where put out of the CL by Chelsea whom you will face. To compare the EPL with La Liga is a complete waste of time. The fact is that Manchester United, as most English teams, have to play more games without a winter break and against physically harder opposition. Although Barcelona is undoubtedly a strong attacking side they failed to score at home against Chelsea and that fact may, or may not, come back to haunt them. As for your attacks on Manchester United, well when it has counted United have usually carried the day against Barca. Another fact that you fail to note is that for much of the season key United players, in defense have been plagued by injury and this has had an effect on the overall performance of a team- like a highly tuned F1 car. Now apart from that I suggest you go away and learn English before you write more drivel on English threads...
For all you ManSHITster fagssssssssss, let's clear something out. Barca too won the double in 2006, and they ended up dominating their opponents in Champions League and La Liga, unlike ManSHITster, who hardly won CL against chelsea in penalties, and hardly won PremierSHIT on the last game. So don't go talking trash about Barca. And for you that say Barcas defence is bad, check the records, because Barca has conceded 12 goals in CL and scoring 29 goals, ManSHITster has conceded 5 goals, but only scored 15, and Chelsea, they conceded 12 goals, just as much as Barca, but only scored 19. So the facts show that Barca has conceded just as much as Chlsea, but has scored almost double of what chelsea and manSHITster has score, so quit talking about Barcas defence, because they have an attacking that makes up for everything. Henry Eto'o Messi, have scored 69 goals in La Liga, and 90 goals total in all competitions, More than manSHITster and chelsea as a team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!For all you ManSHITster fagssssssssss, let's clear something out. Barca too won the double in 2006, and they ended up dominating their opponents in Champions League and La Liga, unlike ManSHITster, who hardly won CL against chelsea in penalties, and hardly won PremierSHIT on the last game. So don't go talking trash about Barca. And for you that say Barcas defence is bad, check the records, because Barca has conceded 12 goals in CL and scoring 29 goals, ManSHITster has conceded 5 goals, but only scored 15, and Chelsea, they conceded 12 goals, just as much as Barca, but only scored 19. So the facts show that Barca has conceded just as much as Chlsea, but has scored almost double of what chelsea and manSHITster has score, so quit talking about Barcas defence, because they have an attacking that makes up for everythin
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