if chelsea are that worried about them...
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006460402,00.html
Barca are dune up like a kipper
SAND BOYS ... Chelsea staff work on Stamford Bridge pitch
By ANDREW DILLON
October 06, 2006
JOSE MOURINHO faces a new turf war with arch-rivals Barcelona over Chelsea’s controversial pitch.
Tons of sand were dumped on it on Wednesday — just a fortnight before the Champions League showdown.
Mourinho’s Blues were accused of deliberately allowing their sandy, pot-holed surface to deteriorate before last season’s bitter battle at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea also turned on the sprinklers before Frank Rijkaard took a training session with his Barca players on the pitch ahead of February’s game.
On Wednesday, groundstaff with tractors got to work on the goalmouths and spread large amounts of sand all over the playing surface in a move that is bound to trigger suspicion in Spain.
Last season Barca claimed Chelsea were trying to knock them out of their stride by providing a poor playing surface.
Even Chelsea stars complained to Mourinho after suffering cuts because of the amount of sand being used.
It backfired spectacularly with Barcelona winning 2-1 in London in the knockout stage clash as Chelsea full-back Asier Del Horno was sent off.
A 1-1 draw in the return saw Barca continue their march towards the trophy.
Chelsea replaced their woeful pitch within days of that first leg and eventually cruised to their second successive Premiership title in May on silky-smooth new grass.
Two years ago tempers flared as Blues dumped Barca out of the Champions League, with Mourinho falsely accusing Rijkaard of talking to ref Anders Frisk at half-time.
UEFA handed Mourinho a two-game touchline ban.
Chelsea would not comment last night but claim the work is ‘essential maintainence’ to improve drainage.
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proof!
no charlton player has ever signed for barca, yet when the former european player of the year allan simonsen had the oppotunity to better himself, he did just that by signing for charlton from barca.
they are our feeder club. (tongue in cheek smiley thingy)