SOCCER UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL, FIRST LEGS:JOHN TERRY has praised the Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink, for inspiring what he considers to have been "almost the perfect defensive performance" in resisting Barcelona's slick attacking play at Camp Nou to edge the club a step closer to a second successive Champions League final.

Chelsea became the first visiting side in a year to emerge unscathed from a brush with the Catalans and, while Barca cried foul at their uncompromising approach, there was much to admire in the Premier League team’s resolve.

Hiddink had drilled his players in a scheme to nullify the home side’s front trio of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o and avoid the fate suffered by Bayern Munich, beaten 4-0 in the first leg of the previous round.

“The manager was spot on,” said Terry. “We knew exactly what to do and the way he wanted us to play and from the moment we went out there we stuck to it. We had worked really hard on things during the week.

“If Messi comes inside, Florent Malouda had to track back which he did, and Michael Essien on the other side did the same. I never expected it to be quite as hard as it was but we did the manager and the club proud.

“We completely trust him. We knew there would be times when they would frustrate us by keeping the ball but we needed to keep our shape. We did that. If anything, they were getting more frustrated than us. It was as good a performance as I’ve been involved in.”

Barcelona will be without the suspended Carles Puyol and the injured Rafael Marquez for the return leg on Wednesday, leaving them vulnerable in central defence. Marquez, who was stretchered off at the start of the second half after falling to the floor clutching his left knee, will be out for 10 weeks after tests yesterday confirmed the Mexican has suffered meniscus damage.

Eric Abidal, more normally a full-back, is likely to move inside. In addition, the Catalans have no opportunity to rest players this weekend as they play a critical game against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday, with the league leaders having had their advantage at the top cut to four points over Juande Ramos’s side.

Chelsea, in contrast, have effectively admitted they cannot win the league and will be tempted to leave out the likes of Terry and Frank Lampard against Fulham on Saturday.

“We had this problem two years ago with Liverpool when they rested eight players [ahead of a semi-final],” said Michael Ballack. “Barcelona are under pressure in the league. It will be really, really difficult.”

On Tuesday Barcelona were outraged at referee Wolfgang Stark’s apparent unwillingness to penalise what they deemed an overly physical Chelsea performance. Their complaints, raised by the coach, Pep Guardiola, were maintained by Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. “We know referees allow more in European competition than they do in the Spanish league but there is a difference between that and letting teams do whatever they want,” said Iniesta.

“The referee was very poor,” added Xavi. “All that talk about fair play – it’s a shame they don’t put that into practice on the pitch.”

• Guardian Service