Euro curse returns as Chelsea fall agonisingly short again

There have been ghost goals', penalty shoot-out defeats and now a last-minute wonder strike from Andres Iniesta — Chelsea have every right to feel the Champions League is cursed for them.

Manager Guus Hiddink has taken great pride in the way his players have fought against adversity in matches since he took over in February.

But Iniesta's sucker-punch hit the men in blue with such force one wonders if the current team will be able to climb up off the canvas and
ever challenge for the Europe's elite competition again.

Five semi-finals in six years is a remarkable achievement but rendered meaningless because the greatest prize in club football is still not in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet.

Fortune may not have been on their side, yet questions should also be asked about whether there is a missing ingredient of quality in the team.

Their desire, heart and passion can never be in dispute but to fall short on so many occasions can't be considered a coincidence. The performance against Barcelona in both legs displayed all of the former. However, when a team
cost millions, surely it should do more than spend the majority of time defending?

Four years ago, Chelsea secured a 4-2 victory over the same opponents in a thrilling last-16 tie to progress to the quarter-finals. They took on the might of Ronaldinho and Co head on and beat them at their own beautiful game.

It was a different story last night as Chelsea surrendered possession for long periods and fed on the scraps on the counter attack. The game-plan continued even when they were playing against 10 men for most of the second half after Eric Abidal was sent off.

Hiddink will argue his tactics were working brilliantly and, in fairness, Chelsea made Barcelona's much-vaunted attack look ordinary.

The Dutchman's formation may have started out looking like a 4-3-3 but, in truth, it was more of a 4-5-1 with the wide players Florent Malouda
and Nicolas Anelka tracking back constantly to help contain their counterparts in the Barcelona team as well as their marauding full backs.

Once Michael Essien put the home side in front with a stunning volley after just nine minutes, the visitors had plenty of the ball but did little with it.Lionel Messi's claims to being the best player in the world are surely on hold after another anaemic display and he took his tally against English clubs to 10 games without a goal.

In the end, all of Chelsea's ire was focused on referee Tom Henning Ovrebo for denying them four penalties.

Of those claimed, two looked clear cut. In the first half, Abidal pulled and then tripped up Didier Drogba as he was through on goal and, in the second half, Gerard Pique blatantly handled as Anelka tried to run through.

Drogba brought more shame on the club with his angry rant at Ovrebo on the pitch at the final whistle. The striker accused the Norwegian of being a disgrace' and yet it was his poor finishing in both legs which cost Chelsea just as dearly.

There is no doubt Ovrebo appeared out of his depth. However, Drogba's inability to score when clean through on goal in the Nou Camp and at the Bridge was crucial.

Barcelona could also feel aggrieved by Ovrebo because Abidal was shown a straight red when Anelka appeared to trip over his own feet. He will now miss the final, as will right-back Daniel Alves after being shown his third yellow card of the competition.

Still at least they have a chance to win the trophy thanks to Iniesta's strike, which was their only shot on target in the whole game.