UP THERE WITH THE BEST

To be honest I am still reeling from that performance on Sunday evening. Considering the state of play a couple of months ago I cannot believe anyone, not even the most ardent Blue, could have believed Chelsea would go on such a fantastic run culminating in such a devastating demolition of Spurs. First of all it was a superb spectacle with chances at both ends as well as excitement and controversy from start to finish. I must admit I expected a tiredness to overcome some of the Chelsea players as the game wore on, in contrast however they simply grew in confidence, stature and belief while the legs seemed powered by an ever-increasing invisible force. If Frank Lampard is really getting past it, then how can he still get from box to box throughout leaving enough energy to blast an unstoppable free kick past Carlo Cudicini? What about Didier Drogba as well? That was a performance to rival just about any of his best throughout his career. I have mentioned before on this page that big players keep big performances for big games and that was certainly the case here. It helped the big man that Juan Mata also had by far his best game so far in a Chelsea shirt. He routinely carved open the Spurs defence that in the end looked dazed and confused by his vision and skill. Then there was Ramires who suddenly rediscovered all the pace and energy that was the hallmark of his best performances for the Blues. Going forward he was immense and his goal from a typically unstoppable gallop forward was truly fitting. More than that, his cover play against the running machine that is Gareth Bale matched the offensive work. The more I thought about it, it wasn't just the best display this season by the team, but for large parts it was up there with the very best performances from the team for many years. One of the things you need in sport is timing and boy are Chelsea timing their late run fantastically well…so far. The slight worry is just how long this can be kept up. With David Luiz injured then carried off and a few other niggles creeping in, you just hope that it can last in what is an extraordinarily important and busy period.In plain terms, even with the fine run, Barcelona were probably not hugely worried before the weekend. Now however they will be totally focused knowing there is the possibility that they will be pushed all the way by a Chelsea team that has a point to prove and the odd wrong still to right. Right now the overriding question on every Chelsea fan's mind is how we manage to overcome Barcelona over two legs. Here is the easy bit; we have to have something from the first leg to build on at the Nou Camp. How to do that is a bit trickier. Every player is going to have to be at his best not only physically, but crucially mentally too, for the second time in just a few days. More than any other team in the world, maybe even any team in history, if you switch off for a second or leave a gap anywhere, they will find it and punish it. If the players involved will all have to play at the top of their games, it is just as vital that Roberto Di Matteo does exactly the same. Many hours and indeed days, not to mention nights, will have been spent deciding on who to play and what system to adopt. Do we change to stifle Messi, Xavi and Iniesta or do we try to overpower them with our own strengths? Before the weekend there may have been one plan, after Wembley the confidence may be there to be more aggressively positive. Even Real Madrid in last season's semi-final adapted to Barça. Jose Mourinho himself with all the talent at his disposal didn't fancy taking them on in an open game of football, he went for four defenders and three sitting midfielders in front of the back line to squeeze the area Barcelona prefer to attack through, specifically the area in front of the 'D' of the 18-yard line. It nearly worked, but only nearly. It was ugly, it was anti football if you like but it was also almost effective. Will Robbie be tempted to try a similar tactic? It is a thought, but only one of many. What about up front, we will almost certainly need a goal at least in the first leg? Well after Didier's powerhouse display and strike against Spurs can you leave him out? There must be a consideration of playing him up top and sending Fernando Torres down the right wing, I am sure Carlos Puyol would not enjoy the pace or vitality of Nando running at him, but then that may prove a block to Ramires' marauding runs. There has to be enormous energy throughout and in the first half against Spurs it showed exactly what is needed from the likes of Lampard and Ramires, who doubtless will be the first names on the team sheet. Like at Wembley a bit of luck is probably going to be needed as well, luck and brilliant defending. The luck was there when Spurs hit the post from a cross and the referee had a 'Liverpool' moment when the ball didn't cross the line and there was great defending when JT cleared off the line at the same end. The fact that he and other Chelsea defenders do that fairly regularly underlines it isn't luck but knowledge of what to do and where to go when your keeper is exposed. For all the talk, and consideration about this tie, strangely I don't find this period to be the most stressful. That is probably because in many ways it is so unexpected. Maybe the players are feeling that as well and as such it is freeing them up to produce their best. Most people feel that Barcelona are still huge favourites and the positive side of this is that all the expectation is on them, not always the best situation to find yourself in. I just hope that the team can give another magnificient display against barca. Pat Nevin(Chelseafc columnist)