Ronaldinho ‘smashed up fridge’ in tunnel bust-up after iconic Chelsea goal

Mirror

Ronaldinho was so furious after Barcelona’s Champions League exit to Chelsea in 2005 that he “smashed up a fridge” during a post-match fracas.

The acrimonious two-legged affair was settled by John Terry’s late header at Stamford Bridge as the Blues progressed 5-4 on aggregate in a pulsating encounter.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at the Camp Nou, the second match was an all-time classic with the hosts taking a three-goal lead before Ronaldinho inspired a Barca comeback.

The Brazilian maestro netted two goals included an iconic toe-poked goal to level the tie on aggregate and give his side an advantage on away goals.

Terry’s late header settled the knockout tie in Chelsea’s favour and ended the Blaugrana’s hopes in the competition, culminating a bad-blooded affair.

Jose Mourinho was in charge at Stamford Bridge and the Portuguese never missed an opportunity to rile up Barca, where had previously worked and was allegedly later turned down for the role with Pep Guardiola preferred by the club hierarchy.

Speaking to Jamie Carragher on The Greatest Game podcast, Cole explained: “I’ve never experienced this…

“But when Ronaldinho scored that goal, I’ve never seen a stadium… he like paused the stadium, it was unbelievable.

“Then there was a bit of afters, afterwards, which is always nice in the tunnel.

“It felt like a Champions League game, but an old school game, like when we first came through. There were mega stars everywhere.

“Ronaldinho was in it [in the tunnel afterwards], he smashed up the fridge.

“Ronaldinho was smashing up the fridge.

“I was well away, celebrating – but there was a little melee.

“I think it all bubbled from the first leg, with Jose when he was up to his tricks as we lost in the Nou Camp.

“John Terry won it with a header, that’s the best game I’ve played in. It had everything.”

This two-legged tie was the first of three successive seasons in which the two clubs met in the Champions League.

The two also met in the group stages of the 2006/07 campaign, with Chelsea winning their home game 1-0 and Didier Drogba scoring a last-minute equaliser at Camp Nou to draw 2-2 – prompting an iconic Mourinho knee-sliding celebration.

This Story First Appeared At The Mirror