CFC Opinion

On the European Cup and Player Power

Penalties. Ze Germans. In their home. At their end. As Didier Drogba stepped up to take the potentially decisive penalty, years of drama and heartache in this most flirtatious of competitions must have been flashing before the eyes of many a Chelsea supporter.

Many must have even expected Drogba to miss and the inevitable despair that has become the norm in Chelsea’s history with the European Cup. It is not a sign of lack of support or distrust in the players – it is just common sense based on past experience. For Chelsea fans, Champions League = inevitable heartbreak.

A little bit of history:

In fact, the sense of injustice associated with the European Cup started as early as 1955, the occasion of our first league win. That year, this competition had been freshly introduced and as English Champions, Chelsea were rightfully one of the qualifiers.

However, the Football League secretary Alan Hardaker successfully lobbied for non-involvement of English teams in the competition as he thought it would mess up the league schedule. This wasn’t the first team the Blues have been scuppered by the English football authorities.

It took 45 long years for the club to finally play their first European Cup game, which by now had been rebranded the UEFA Champions League (it was initially a pure knockout cup competition). Our first entry in the tournament itself was portentous of the disappointments that were to follow.

After a thrilling run that involved magnificent nights against the likes of Milan and Galatasaray, we were paired up in the quarterfinals against Barcelona (another theme that would repeat itself later). In the first of truly momentous Champions League nights at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea beat our much-fancied opponents 3-1.

At the Nou Camp though, the Catalans would win by the same scoreline in 90 minutes and go on to win with two goals in extra time. The next outing was in the 2003-04 season where after an historic victory against Arsenal at Highbury, a spell of dodgy substitutions by Claudio Ranieri put paid to our hopes against Monaco in the semifinals.

That was in Roman Abramovich’s first year since taking over the club, and soon he would bring in European Champion Jose Mourinho to manage the side. As everyone in the media tells us (they apparently know Roman’s thinking inside out despite the fact that he’s never publicly spoken), the Champions League was his Holy Grail.

In the following years, it became apparent that the more desperation with which we chased the trophy, the more disappointment it had in store for us. In 2005, we again faced Barcelona, this time got past them, but only to lose to Liverpool via a goal that never was. We also witnessed several excruciatingly close misses, with Eidur Gudjohnsen’s drive across goal in injury time still haunting many fans’ memories.

The following season saw us again face Barcelona, this time in the first knockout round. After manfully playing on with ten men for most of the first leg, we eventually succumbed to their attacking qualities. The second leg proved too big a hurdle as we could only secure a draw.

Then again in 2007, we were drawn to travel to that exotic European destination – Liverpool. After a 1-0 win in the first leg at the Bridge, the second leg went to penalties and we lost. As always with penalties, it came with a crushing blow to the psyche.

In the next season, Mourinho had left and Avram Grant had been made manager. He had surprisingly broken the Liverpool hoodoo with heroics from Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard (and John Arne Riise). And it was on to Moscow in the final against Manchester United.

The stage was perfectly set. In the land where Abramovich made his money which had brought all these star names to the club, Mr Chelsea, Captain Leader Legend, product of our own academy, John Terry walked up to take the penalty that would send Chelsea fans into dreamland. He slipped. The ball came back painfully off the post. The bubble was burst. Penalties had done us again. Doom and gloom.

Most fans would have felt that that would be our worst ever memory in the chase for the European Cup, but as early as next year, we were reconsidering that opinion. This time with Guus Hiddink in charge, we had beaten Liverpool again, and again it had been a dramatic tie.

And another constant character in the Champions League story, Barcelona, were the semifinal opponents. We had gone to the Nou Camp and pulled off a clean sheet with a brilliant defensive display (which was derided as anti-football by a number of “experts”).

The second leg at the Bridge couldn’t have got off to a brighter note as an absolutely stunning Michael Essien strike sent us ahead. In a game where Chelsea attacked equally as (or more than) our opponents, no less than FOUR clear penalties were denied to us by Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo.

In the end, there was a sense of inevitability as Andres Iniesta struck the killer blow in injury time to send the hordes of people in blue back home wondering what other-worldly forces were keeping us away from the biggest club trophy in the world.

The two years under Carlo Ancelotti saw relatively less dramatic exits, but it seemed that the European Cup would only be associated in Chelsea history with pain and gloom.

And now you’re gonna believe us….

But not this time. To be fair, there was a sense of destiny to this season’s cup run. From the dramatic comeback against Napoli to surviving the Benfica scare and on to the steely display against the so-called “best team in the world”, people were beginning to think that it was written in the stars.

Yet, it is not as simple as a Liverpool-esque fluke run that sees us with the tag of European Champions. In the first knockout round, we pulled off what seemed impossible by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate Napoli with their much-vaunted forward players. Benfica were also dispatched with tactical brilliance by Di Matteo to introduce Ramires as a wide player.

Then it was familiar foes Barcelona who everyone agreed had improved from their already all-conquering days of 2009. But 180 minutes of blood, sweat, toil and tears (maybe not so much the blood part) sent us through, not to forget the quality incisive passing and clinical finishing at the attacking end.

We like to Munich Munich….

In the final itself, we had been handed the task of facing the strong Bayern Munich side in their own home. We were without four key players, and although Bayern also missed three of theirs, Chelsea’s were marginally the more crucial misses.

When all seemed dead and buried with Thomas Muller’s goal less than 10 minutes from time, up popped the King of Finals Didier Drogba to rekindle hope. Petr Cech made a good save to thwart Arjen Robben’s penalty. He also guessed the right direction in ALL 6 penalties he had to face on the night. Not lucky. Excellent research and even better instincts.

Don’t forget we faced teams from Italy, Portugal, Spain and Germany on our way to glory. These countries are widely considered the best leagues in Europe along with the English league. As a side note, we were also one of only five teams to beat English league champions Manchester City.

Player power?

We did not need ghost goals. We did not need refereeing blunders. We did not need slippery turfs. We did not need the cooperation of the FA. We did not need unfathomable amounts of injury time. We are Champions of Europe because of superb tactics, near-perfect execution and an unwillingness to accept defeat.

We are Champions of Europe because of Robbie Di Matteo, the Messiah who came when all seemed lost. Because of Ashley Cole who made last-ditch interventions in all three rounds preceding the final. Because of Frank Lampard who adapted to a new role brilliantly. Because of John Terry who led the team, notwithstanding his impetuousness in Barcelona.

Because of Ramires who ran his socks off and scored crucial goals. Because of Ivanovic who did the same. Because of John Obi Mikel, who slips under everyone’s radar. Because of David Luiz and Gary Cahill who threw their bodies in the way of everything throughout.

Because of Petr Cech, the best goalkeeper in the world.

Because of Didier Drogba, legend.

Yes, player power, but not the kind everyone talks about…..

You can find me on Twitter @Celeryphile.

Should Drogba Stay or Go? – Will Saturday Be His Final Game?

There is a distinct possibility that Saturday will be the last time we see Didier Drogba play for Chelsea Football Club.

This prospect leaves me confused as to whether I want  Didier Drogba to stay or do I want him to go, I honestly cannot decide as there are logical arguments for both particularly if he has spurned a one year contract.

The Drogba Factor

Both on and off the pitch Didier Drogba is an enigma, on form he is a beast but he is susceptible to mood swings and theatrics that detract from what he represents as both a player and an individual.

When he is in the mood he is unbeatable as Liverpool, Barcelona and Tottenham have found out to their expense in recent weeks, however when he is not in the mood he is about as useless as a chocolate teapot.

If he is unhappy on the pitch he will flounce about, throw himself on the floor and generally throw his toys out of the pram, unfortunately over the whole season this has been to common which explains why his goal tally this season has been poor.

Love/Hate

I have always had a love/hate conflict with our Ivorian particularly with his never ending hints at leaving only to profess how much he loves the club.

In 2008 I went to a Champions League away game and Didier Drogba was at his petulant worst and I came back fuming with him thinking that his time at the Bridge was over but in true Drogba style he soon seemed to be rehabilitated and back to his best.

As a footballer I love him, he has all the attributes you want from a forward player and he has been an integral part of our recent success, particularly when appearing at Wembley.

However it is his mental foibles and poor management from his agent that give me doubts.

Contract

On recent form Didier Drogba deserves a new contract, but I fear he may leave due to his ego getting in the way after being only offered a year.

At his age Chelsea should only ever be offering him a year extension, yet this does not sit well with Drogba who wants two and I don’t know if the club should gamble and ante up for the full two years.

So Long and Thanks For The Memories

 If Didier Drogba does leave he will be one of the greatest players to have played for us and contributed so much in his 8 years at the club.

Marko Marin: Chelsea’s New Boy

Before our FA Cup final victory over Liverpool CFC announced the signing of Marko Marin for around £7 million on a 5 year deal from German First Division side Werder Bremen. A small tricky winger Marin is certainly an exciting signing that typifies recent efforts by Chelsea to rejuvenate an ageing squad.

Early Career:

Marko Marin joined the Borussia Mönchengladbach academy from Frankfurt and made his debut in March 2007 aged 18. He made just under 70 appearances for Gladbach before leaving to join Werder Bremen in 2009 for €8.5 million. Whilst at Bremen he formed a devastating attack with Mesut Özil and Aaron Hunt.

The combination of these three was just one of the reasons that Bremen became such a strong title challenger before the turn of the decade. Sadly all good things must come to an end and since Özil signed for Madrid Marin’s form has started to fade but hopefully playing alongside another class playmaker in Juan Mata will give Marin the spark he needs to terrorise Premier League defenders next year.

Style of Play:

Marin can play anywhere in the front 4 of RDM’s 4-2-3-1 formation although playing him as a lone forward would be a bit of a risk. He is creative, composed in the finish and has outrageously quick feet.

 He has played over 80 games for Bremen and has an astonishing record of never recording fewer than 10 assists in a Bundesliga season (except for the current season due to his lack of games).

His creativity will hopefully provide more chances for Fernando Torres as well as allowing Mata to flourish fully in his preferred role behind the striker. There can be no doubting his talent and I believe the reason he has had a poor season is due to him being asked to fill the void left by Özil whereas he should be out wide with more freedom to roam.

He has suffered from the opposite problem to Mata who has been asked out wide too often and surely these two players will help each other develop even further.

Sound Business:

At £7 million Marin represents something of a bargain for Chelsea if you consider the rest of the potential front line next year cost £50 million (Fernando Torres), £23.5 million (Juan Mata) and £18.3 million (Ramires).

A season or two ago Bremen were demanding around £20 million for their starlet but a decrease in form and the fact that his contract is expiring next summer, combined with a number of injuries have allowed us to sign an extremely talented player for a very small sum. Although the reasons for his low price suggest that this deal represents something of a risk I believe that when played out wide and given a quality pre-season Marin can rediscover the form that led the global media to dub him the “German Messi”.

Overall:

I think that Marin will become an extremely important player for Chelsea given time to develop. A lot of people are saying that he will be a great impact sub but personally I think he could and should be more than that. The left side of our midfield has a huge hole that neither Malouda nor Kalou deserve to fill and I think that Marin should slot right in to allow Mata to focus all his efforts on playing as a number 10.

His signing seems to signify the end of Kalou’s career at Chelsea and this could possibly spell the end of Malouda now as well. The former is too frustrating and the latter is too old. Marin has experience and quality and will become a key player at Stamford Bridge.

4-1 Defeat Why Performances and Not The Result Bother Me

Having watched our ‘B+’ team capitulate at Anfield, the standard response would be to get upset, frustrated and looking to destroy my laptop for displaying such a poor performance.

It is never good to lose against Liverpool and tonight’s result looked at times like it could get humiliating.

However I simply cannot summon the energy to get angry.

With the FA Cup in the bag and a trip to Munich to look forward to, the league was effectively surrendered against Newcastle so little seems to matter.

I was pleased that some of our fringe players got a run out with Ryan Bertrand and Romeu featuring however that did not necessarily mean they took advantage of the opportunity.

Poor Performances

One thing that did anger me was the lack of effort from so-called senior players, notably Florent Malouda and Daniel Sturridge who were simply not at the races today.

With a place in Munich up for grabs I thought they would have been firing on all cylinders but they just didn’t seem up for it and I hope for that reason they are discounted from Roberto Di Matteo’s thinking for our game of the season.

Oriol Romeu

The final slight disappointment was that Oriol Romeu had a poor game, misplacing passes and not looking like the player we saw in the early days of AVB.

Here is hoping that for Oriol and Chelsea this is just an outlier that allows us to focus on Munich, at least now we can field a youth team against Blackburn.

Liverpool FC Infighting, Stealing and Urinating on The Floor

A team gets to Wembley and instead of enjoying their day, they spend it fighting amongst themselves, stealing tickets from their fellow fans and peeing on the floor.

Who is this team?

It is of course Liverpool FC

If you want to read about the ugly side of football you really just need to read this thread (which will probably get deleted).

http://www.liverpoolway.co.uk/forum/ff-football-forum/107465-wembley-block-511-a.html

Adding Balance

I will however add some balance, like everything that is good in life, it can be ruined by a minority and unfortunately for Liverpool their minority does seem larger than others.

I will also say that Chelsea fans are not exempt from having our own band of idiots, we have our own minority that have no business watching football and the booing of the Hillsborough silence was a case in point.

I have never seen such a catalogue at one game as on that thread though.

My Experience Of Liverpool Fans At Wembley

On the day I met quite a few Liverpool fans and whilst they weren’t exactly shrinking violets they were friendly enough and we had some good banter.

I got onto a tube a few hours after the final whistle and found myself in a carriage with 8 or 9 Liverpool fans, they clocked my colours immediately and burst into song.

I bantered back on my own (helped by a few pints) and held my own for the four stops we shared and when we got off they come up and shook my hand and enjoyed the banter.

Football as it should be.

Let us know what you think/initial reactions on Twitter @famous_cfc