'Some players don't understand when to raise their game, Didier does. He can really take it to the level needed. Emotionally, you see the difference, the step up. You see the look in his eyes. Quite literally, he changes, and you know he's ready for it.'

'He goes into his pre-match routine and he gets more and more pumped up and you know he's in the zone. When we played Barcelona, when we played Liverpool at Wembley, he just gives everyone around him such confidence. He'll come through his ritual and then you can't even speak to him. You can see in his face, he's gone.'

'He's not Usain Bolt, but he's fast enough and so powerful that, even if you catch him, you can't get a foot in to make the tackle. You would have to run around him and you haven't the time to do that. So he's unplayable. In certain positions, there is literally nothing you can do.'

What he does, it doesn't just happen. He works hard at the gym, he puts extra time in at training on free-kicks. You see young lads who want to be like him, or Frank, but they don't want to put in the same time and effort. He wasn't born this way, he delivers an incredible amount of work to do it, but when you see how he seizes the moment in big games, it's worth it.

William Gallas is a top centre half, but did you see what Didier did to him when we were playing Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final?

You can make all the best plans, but then he'll do something to which you have no answer at all. And you'll never have an answer. He's just bigger, or faster, or harder to manoeuvre. And that is the way it will always be.

And Bayern Munich know that, too. And that's what makes him…'Unplayable.'

An opportunity.

Think back to mid-March, just prior to our second leg against Napoli. Now, fast forward to the present. Examine the road to this moment – the lows, the extreme highs, the FA Cups and the monumental exhibitions of teamwork and unity. Would you have ever thought, in your wildest daydreams, that this team would be in this position? If you did, then you need to be playing the lottery, sir.

Think about it. This is pretty amazing stuff. You know, it’s an amazing story. Endearing even. A throw-away assistant binds with a bunch of “throw-away” veterans to create something special – something unforgettable. Someone call Spielberg. Or at least get Penny Marshall on the text.

Does that mean we should be complacent? Should we settle for what we have, i.e. doing what no one thought possible? Of course not. But we really need to take a few minutes to look back on what’s been accomplished since the firing of Andre Villas-Boas and smile a genuine smile. Win or lose Saturday, this has been a ride that none of us will ever forget.

Now, let’s go on and win the damn thing.

Who: Bayern Munich (est. 1900)
What: UEFA Champions League Final
When: 19 May, 8:45pm local time (2:45pm EST)
Where: Allianz Arena (69,901)
How: FOX (check local listings)

Why: Are you kidding me? I’m not even sure why I even included the ‘why’ in this, the final match preview of the season. It really is a question that needs no answer. This, by a slight margin, is the most important match in the history of Chelsea Football Club. What else needs to be said?

Them
Ah, Bayern Munich.

This is quite the team. There have a wonderfully vibrant trident of world class attacking talent in Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and the industrious Mario Gomez. There’s also the criminally underrated – well, at least outside of Germany – Toni Kroos. The name Bastian Schweinsteiger speaks for itself throughout intelligent footballing circles.

What about Manuel Neuer? For some this man is the best goalkeeper breathing at the moment. Phillip Lahm is still regarded (for good reason) as one of the finest multi-faceted fullbacks on the planet.

Oh, and don’t forget, Jose Bosingwa will be charged with shackling Ribery. I don’t even want to fathom how this is going to play out right now.

But still, there are several reasons to be confident. Bayern, like Chelsea, will be without three pivotal pieces because of yellow card accumulation. Holger Badstuber is probably the club’s most competent central defender. David Alaba is a dynamic prospect at left fullback (not going to miss not seeing him on Saturday) and Luiz Gustavo is a pretty damn good holding midfielder.

The suspensions leave Bayern with several personnel problems. The average at best Diego Contento will fill in for Alaba. That’s good news for Chelsea. Daniel Van Buyten could potentially step in alongside Jerome Boateng in the center of defense, but seeing as the Belgian made his first appearance for four months on Friday in a reserve match following a severe foot injury, it’s unlikely he’ll be trusted. That means Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, a deep-lying midfielder, is probably going to be converted for this showcase. That’s even better news for Chelsea.

As for Gustavo, it looks as if Kroos will be pushed back into the double pivot to team with Schweinsteiger while Thomas Muller will move into the hole just behind Gomez. That will not only stunt Kroos’ effectiveness, as he is clearly much better more forward, but also push Muller into the spotlight. And for a supremely talented player who has not been as productive as expected, that’s a pressurized position in which to be thrown.

Still, as everyone knows, this side, despite the suspensions, is going to be incredibly dangerous. Playing at home, too? In seek of vengeance for the defeat to Internazionale in the 2010 final? Yeah, this is going to be a hellacious ask of Chelsea.

Projected XI:

Us
The Bavarians, playing in Bavaria, are going to require a Vesuvius-like ascent to overcome. But, of course, amid embarrassing lows, we’ve scaled Vesuvius-level heights all season. Of note: Valencia in the group stage of this competition, a knockout round second leg against Napoli that no one believed we could win much less win by enough goals to advance.

And Barcelona. The grandest team in all the land; hell, the grandest team perhaps of all time. A goal down, then a man down, then two goals down – it mattered little. These soldiers, these winners, batted not one eyelash in the face of potential tragedy.

They rose, not just to the occasion but also to new levels of triumph. Who’s to say they cannot do it once again.

To do so, Chelsea will have to cope with the absence of four key players. Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic, and Raul Meireles are out of the final because of yellow cards. John Terry, meanwhile, is not involved because of sheer idiocy. The less said about that incident the better.

Ramires is, for me, hands-down the biggest loss for Chelsea, as the Brazilian has transformed into one of the more complete wingers in England over the past couple of months. His tireless workrate, impressive defensive shifts and ever-improving offensive repertoire has been a joy to watch this season. Add in the fact that he’s beginning to finish his chances in front of goal, and you have the potential for one of the great players in world football if he continues on this trajectory. Replacing everything he brings to the table is impossible.

Bane, too, represents a massive loss. There’s just no comparison between the Serbian and Bosingwa. This isn’t going to be Bos at center-back, either. He’s going to be out on the flank in charge of marshaling Ribery. May the Gods smile down upon the Portuguese international on this day.

Though Terry’s absence is a blow, at least it won’t be as catastrophic as it could have been. Both Gary Cahill and David Luiz appear to have recovered from hamstring injuries, and are expected to start Saturday in Munich. Sure, it’s not ideal to start two central defenders who are likely not fit and are also short on match fitness, but it’s far better than the alternative of having Bosingwa and a Michael Essien or John Obi Mikel in there. Think about that for a second.

Elsewhere, it looks as if Florent Malouda (hamstring) may not be able to go in any capacity on Saturday. That may seem like a good thing, but, really, it’s not. Considering our lack of depth, Flo’s defensive ability could have come in handy in a pinch. It would be nice to have him on the bench at the very least.

The rest of the side picks itself. You know, I know it. How Juan Manuel Mata handles the middle of the park against Schweinsteiger may be the key to the entire match. Then again, the image of Ribery toying with Bosingwa continues to invade my mind. David Luiz up against Gomez is another pivotal battle. In fact, there are any number of individual clashes that are going to have a reverberating effect on this match.

And what of Fernando Torres? If he starts on the right side ahead of Daniel Sturridge, which I believe he will, the Spaniard will be under more pressure than maybe ever at Chelsea. He has performed well in a playmaking capacity this season, though, and, furthermore, he’s shown glimpses of good form in recent weeks unlike Sturridge. I’d be tempted to go with Sturridge for his game-breaking speed, but Torres is the more solid option at the moment and may well provide this center stage event with its centerpiece moment.

Projected XI:

Form, last five matches
Bayern Munich L W W L W
Werder Bremen 1-2 Bayern Munich
Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich 2-0 Stuttgart
FC Cologne 1-4 Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund 5-2 Bayern Munich

Chelsea W L W L W
Chelsea 6-1 QPR
Chelsea 0-2 Newcastle
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
Chelsea 2-1 Blackburn

The facts
• Home advantage. Bayern have won seven straight at the Allianz in reaching the final.
• Bayern have won 13 of their last 14 European home fixtures. Chelsea, meanwhile, have won only once away during this season’s Champions League.
• Chelsea won 6-5 on aggregate the last time these two clubs meet in the competition, the quarterfinal round in 2005.
• With victory, Bayen will hoist their fifth European Cup, joining Liverpool as the third most successful club in the competition’s history.
• This will be the sixth final between German and English teams. The German side has one only one of those six meetings.

Conclusion
I don’t have one.

This is going to be a mesmerizing match, a cagey one with (hopefully) a few goals thrown in for good measure. To call a winner is proving too difficult for me at this stage of the proceedings. Describing my feelings is also proving arduous. I’d say I’m quietly confident. Not overly confident by any stretch, but I’m not filled with gloom, either.

That’s it for this preview I think. But we’re not done, no sir. There is even more analysis to come from The CO, with Devin preparing an in-depth look at Bayern Munich as we speak. Yeah, I can’t believe this match is nearly here. It feels like we’ve been waiting an eternity. Bring on the Germans I say.

Bonus: A promotional video compilation for the final. If you’re not in a severe emotional state after watching this, you’re not just not a supporter – you’re not human.

The new Nike commercial managed to stun the football world with an amazing role play which finds the most important world football players gathered on the same pitch.

He scored 35 goals in this season during his debut camping, and those efforts helped Atletico secure Europa League glory, even though they failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Falcao is now being intensely courted by Chelsea who want to improve on their squad for next season.

Falcao said to Sports TV, “I am enjoying the moment with Atletico Madrid, I can’t waste that. Moreover, I have four more years on my contract and I am only thinking about this.

“I think I am experiencing a special moment in my sporting career. I have obtained objectives that I had been thinking about for a long time, but I have a greater desire to continue growing and conquering other projects or dreams.”

The reports from Spain claimed that the matter might not be in the hands of Falcao, as the club has failed to qualify for the UEFA Championship and it is also interested in making a swap deal between Falcao and Chelsea fans’ favorite striker Torres.

Hearing all these rumors, Falcao said that he is confident to see the same squad at Atletico next season.

He also said, “Obviously Gil said there was a necessity to qualify for the Champions League due to the economic side of things, but the club is making efforts to maintain the squad and we will have to wait and see how the make-up of the team is resolved in the coming months.”

Do you think that Chelsea will continue to try and bring the Columbian striker to the Premiership?

Bayern Munich will meet Chelsea in the Champions League final on 19 May after they both knocked off favored Spanish opposition.

Amazingly, Chelsea and Bayern have only met once before in the Champions League and that was in the quarter-final in 2004/05 which Chelsea won 6-5 on aggregate.

When this match-up was first set, the consensus was that Bayern would win easily. They had just beaten Real Madrid and were playing at home in the final.

But after getting thumped 5-2 in the German cup final last week, Bayern’s defensive frailties were there for everyone to see. This Bayern side reminds me of the Champions League final in 2010 when Bayern lost to Inter in the final. Then, as now, Bayern’s weakness was its center backs and that day Diego Milito took advantage of that to score two goals that won the trophy for Intr. Can Didier Drogba do the same on Saturday?

Injuries and Suspensions
Both sides have been hit with suspensions for the final and Bayern Munich will be without the services of defenders Holger Badstuber and David Alaba and midfielder Luiz Gustavo.

Anatoliy Tymoschuk and Diego Contento are expected to come into the defence to replace the absent duo whilst Thomas Muller may take Gustavo’s place in midfield, with Toni Kroos playing a more withdrawn role.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are without John Terry after his red card against Barcelona, while Branislav Ivanovic and midfielders Ramires and Raul Meireles are also banned.

The Blues also have injury problems although both Gary Cahill and David Luiz are expected to be fit for the final, after hamstring problems, despite neither having played since April.

Elsewhere John Obi Mikel is a doubt with a knee problem and Florent Malouda could miss out after picking up a hamstring problem against Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

Possible Line-Ups
Bayern: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Tymoshchuk, Contento, Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Muller, Ribery, Gomez

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Kalou, Lampard, Mata, Drogba

Prediction
Bayern are still the favourites, but with the injuries and suspensions impacting both teams back fours, I think that this will end up being a higher scoring game than most people anticipate and that ultimately Didier Drogba will break Bayern’s hearts, just like Milito did two years ago.

Score: Bayern Munich 2 Chelsea 3

What do you think the score will be?

Roberto Di Matteo says that he is “very hopeful” Gary Cahill and David Luiz will be fit to start Saturday’s Champions League final.

The defenders returned to training ahead of the match against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.

Cahill and Luiz have both been missing with hamstring injuries while Florent Malouda will train on Friday night after a hamstring problem of his own.

Despite Chelsea captain John Terry missing the game through suspension, Cahill believes that JT will play a significant role in motivating the squad on Saturday.

“He’s a big presence in our team and our dressing room. He won’t be playing but he’ll be involved in the build-up.

“He’ll be a big part of the day and we’ll all see his influence.”

The one player who might miss the final due to injury is Florent Malouda who had to leave last weekend;’s match against Blackburn after straining a hamstring.

“We’ll still assess Florent and it’s going to be touch and go for him to be available for Saturday,” added interim boss Di Matteo.

Fabio Capello has made it known to Chelsea’s hierarchy that he is eager to take up the reins at Stamford Bridge this summer as the former England coach seeks a return to top-flight club management.

Eye contact

OK then.

I’m not sure how to react to this. Wait, yes I am. No thanks.

I like Capello, I do. He has received mostly a bum rap from the English media and England supporters alike for doing just about the best he could with a distinctly average – and distinctly pampered – England team. He’s still an excellent coach who has one of the best resumes in world football.

However, he’s old.  Soon to be 66, Capello is looking for maybe one, two more jobs (of the defining variety) to close out his illustrious career. Chelsea should not be one of those. We need to break the trend of paying out the ass initially and then paying out the ass again when we sack big name guys.

Let’s focus on rebuilding this side, right? If it’s not Roberto Di Matteo then we should be pinpointing younger, more diverse characters to lead this new era. I trust you all agree.

Portugese side Porto’s Uruguayan defender Alvaro Pereira has revealed his wish to leave Porto at the end of the season, after he almost made the switch last summer to English side Chelsea.

The 26-year old was Chelsea’s former boss Andre Villas-Boas’ primary target as he took over the helm at Stamford Bridge. Even though Villas-Boas could not last at Chelsea , the Blues still reportedly wish to lure the right-back.

They failed in their attempts last year, and are looking to rekindle their interest in Pereira, and many believe that Chelsea would be making a bid soon. Pereira himself wishes to end his tenure at Porto and move to another club. Speaking to the Uruguayan newspaper Ovacion, he said, ”I had a great opportunity to go but the Porto refused to sell me and I accepted the decision.”

“I am signed for another four years but when the transfer market opens I do not know what will happen.

“I’ve given my all for three years for Porto and I am very grateful for the deal but I think now is the time to make decisions.

“If the opportunity arises I hope they’ll let me go.”

Another anonymous bidder, which many believe are English side Chelsea, are targeting Italian club Fiorentina’s star striker Stefan Jovetic and are planning a bid very soon, Italian media report.

Jovetic has been the only shining star for Fiorentina this season as he scored 14 goals in 27 appearances, even though they did not help much as Fiorentina ended the season in a disappointing 13th position in the table. One cannot be blamed for thinking that the youngster is ready to leave the club in search for one which matches his ambitions.

An unnamed English club is close to making a formal bid for Jovetic’s services, claim Italian newspaper La Nazione. They say that London club Chelsea are the club working on preparing a bid which could tempt Fiorentina in lettin the 22-year old leave.

Having been linked to the likes of fellow English club Liverpool previously, Chelsea now are eying the frontman as they look to better their league performance, having finished the season in a disappointing fifth spot.

First of all, is the mystery bidder Chelsea? And if they are, will the Blues get their man? What do you think?

• Start in a 4-3-1-2 formation
• Three central midfielders to break up possession and move the ball forward quickly.
• Juan Mata to play through the middle, in behind the front two. 
• Didier Drogba AND Fernando Torres to start the game up front
• Lampard, Mikel and Essien to not venture forward much - to keep the defensive shape
• Ball into Mata at every opportunity to force Schweinsteiger backwards 
• Chelsea must hurt Munich with quick counter attacks down the side Lahm is playing.
• Drogba or Torres to run in behind Lahm and into space he leaves behind him.
• Drogba or Torres to move Boateng about all over the place to create more holes in their defence
• Chelsea must use aerial threat of Drogba and pace in behind of Torres as often as possible.
• Didier Drogba up against a holding midfielder playing as a centre back needs to take advantage.

Group Stage:

Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen:

Where else to begin but with the first Champions League match of the season? I was abroad and invited two of my good friends, up-and-coming Chelsea supporters, to join me at a pub called Mike’s Place to watch the match. As they were relatively new to regularly following Chelsea’s every game, I gave them a quick rundown of the competition and the team we would be playing. We settled in comfortably with our beers and food, and I remember thinking to myself, here we go again. Another season of Champions League-how far will we go? What could this be the start of? What I did know then was that it was a great game, with Mata scoring on his Champions League debut, and of course the joy of seeing David Luiz score a goal, compounded by my friends’ growing excitement and pleasure in watching Chelsea, which would continue throughout the competition.

Genk 1-1 Chelsea:

A dreary day in New York City found a friend and me at the New York Blues’ haunt, Football Factory at Legends, to watch the game. After a home defeat against Arsenal, this was a match I think most thought would be a good win to lift the spirits. Instead, it was a disappointing one, to say the least, with many missed opportunities. I was not very entertained, and it was hard to believe that this was the same team we had effortlessly thrashed 5-0 not three weeks before. I did love Ramires’ goal (and the celebration), and while Luiz missing what I thought was a well-taken penalty was unfortunate, it was more upsetting that we went to sleep (as was slowly becoming characteristic of Chelsea), and let in a stupid goal, throwing away two vital points. To think that I had seriously considered going away to Belgium! Obviously everything is always a million times better when you’re there, but I was glad I saved the money for a trip to London later on.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea:

A low point in the season, at the time possibly the lowest; it still may be for me. There is nothing like starting out a Champions League night with a Drogba goal, but soon after it all went pear-shaped. You couldn’t possibly think, that after all the times Petr Cech denied one of our former own, Michael Ballack, that anyone would score. Or that we would lose, forcing it down to the wire for our very last game of the group stages. Special shout-out to Jack Keane at Legends, who took pity on the poor, anxious, Chelsea girl at the bar, and gave her a second Guinness on the house. Didn’t help the result, but it did ease the tension.

Round of 16:

Napoli 3-1 Chelsea:

When we first drew Napoli for the Round of 16, my mind flicked immediately back to last spring in university, where I had an Italian guy in my class who was a Napoli fan. I distinctly remember him speaking about his side’s qualification for the Champions League and found it ironic that we would be playing them. Of course, I was hoping we would have the pleasure of seeing his side out.

I was abroad again, and took up my usual spot at Mike’s Place, along with my regular companions for Champions League nights. This time, in addition to there being Chelsea supporters in the pub, there were a handful of Napoli fans as well. As far as they went, two things amused me: 1) One fan did not realize they were playing at home, and was ecstatic about the fact that they had scored 3 away goals. I rained slightly on his parade by telling him that I was absolutely 100% sure that the game was in Naples, and as I had a ticket to attend the next leg at Stamford Bridge, I was very much hoping I would not show up in London only to find the game was actually in Italy. 2) Their profound interest in Eva. They actually oohed every time she was shown on the screen. I think they were hoping for Chelsea injuries for more reasons than one.

Anyway, the starting XI was shown, and I think I am not alone in saying that my first reaction when I saw it was, ‘what the f***, AVB?’ I could not understand the reasoning behind leaving the likes of Frank Lampard on the bench. (So much so that when Frank actually did come on, I jumped up and cheered so exuberantly that I knocked my chair over backwards, and some kind Chelsea fans did me the favour of picking it up and setting it right).

I had thought Juan Mata’s brilliance was a step in the right direction, but as I watched, I felt it was only a matter of time before they scored. I was ok settling with a 1-1 draw, but a 3-1 loss? That was hard to take. A 2-0 win at the Bridge was not unachievable, in fact was very likely doable, but I left the pub feeling somewhat downtrodden. I also got the feeling (or maybe it was more of a hope by this stage) that the possible/probable end of AVB’s short reign at Chelsea was drawing even nearer.

Chelsea 4-1 Napoli:

Well, leave it to our gloriously unpredictable Chelsea to do it the hard way. This was my first Champions League game at the Bridge, and my tremendous excitement was matched only by intense, overpowering, mind-numbing nervousness. The faith and belief were there, but I am a realistic (pessimistic) person by nature, and I just didn’t know if we would do it. But do it we did, and in the best way possible. Every time I watch highlights or replays of the night, I feel that same excitement, and can’t believe how lucky I was to have witnessed it from my seat in the Shed End Lower (first time there too, as I usually like to sit in the Matthew Harding Lower). I had to watch a replay when I returned home after the match as I couldn’t believe it had actually happened.

I experienced a little personal happiness/glory as well. A close friend of mine, who had started following Chelsea regularly within the past year or so, joined my sister and me for the game. She was studying in London for the semester, and was thrilled when we were able to get her a ticket for the match. Little did she know what she was getting herself into: a 4-1 win, extra time, the first Champions League match under a new manager, and a powerful Stamford Bridge atmosphere. We were only able to get her a ticket at the opposite end, in the MHL, next to someone she had never met before (a friend of a friend, but still, a stranger), which, for someone relatively new to following football, could have been shocking. We chucked her, alone, into the MHL for a massive, blood pressure-raising, stadium-rocking adventure. We had to text her after the 90 minutes were up to explain that we hadn’t actually won yet and she should stay where she was for extra time. No transition season for new Chelsea fans! Of course, after the match it was straight to the Hand and Flower on the King’s Road for a few post-match Guinnesses (plural?) with the Chelsea Football Fancast boys, and hundreds of other Chelsea fans.

From creating for ourselves an uphill battle in the first leg, to AVB’s sacking, to the ageing of our has-been, overly powerful, dictating Old Guard, we were written off from the first minute. But only by those who underestimated the fortress that is Stamford Bridge on European nights; or those who don’t understand that Chelsea thrive when labeled as the underdogs, as there is not a whiff of complacency or arrogance to be found, and every player feels lucky enough to be selected, thereby giving everything he’s got with every fibre of his being.

I am always proud to be a Chelsea fan, but after that victory I was prouder than ever. It stands out as the best night of my life to date, something I knew it would be even while it was happening, no matter the outcome. Standing amongst fans who had travelled from all over, cheering the boys on at the top of their voices, watching Didier’s header, then Terry’s, fly in, Lampsy’s unsaveable penalty, and Brana’s striker’s goal, the very foundations of Stamford Bridge shaking, I was the happiest person on earth, although I could not believe what I was seeing. Even after the heartbreak of Inler’s out-of-nowhere hit landing in the back of our net, I knew we would rally and come out on top (just praying it wouldn’t go to penalties, because I didn’t think my heart could take it). Props to all those who accurately predicted the score, because I never could have envisioned a night like that.

Quarterfinals:

Chelsea 2-1 Benifca:

Run Meireles, now pass the ball, pass it now before it’s too late, come on, you’ve got Ramires on your left, don’t shoot, please don’t shoot, no, he’s shooting-OH MY GOSH! YES!!!!

That should sum it up adequately.

Semifinals:

Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona:

The main thing on my mind: revenge. 2009 still burned painfully in my heart, and I wanted our dues for the suffering and injustices. Whatever anyone else was saying, and despite the crescendo of nerves that had started immediately after the final whistle at Wembley and ultimately kept me up until 4 am the night before the match, I knew we had it within us to do it. It’s true we may have had a little luck on the night, but don’t we deserve it? It’s not as if we didn’t play well. Back in NY at a packed-to-capacity Legends, the place seemed to explode when the brilliance of Lampard (nicking it off none other than Messi!), Ramires and Drogba combined to send the ball past Valdes. What a moment.

And we managed to hold on and see out the match, denying Barcelona an away goal. Indeed, maybe it wasn’t Barcelona’s night, but in defence we were true class. Cahill neutralized Messi like an experienced professional, Cole’s goal-line clearance was immense, and Cech’s saves were phenomenal, keeping us in the tie countless times. Although I struggled to overcome the boredom perpetuated by Barca’s incessant ‘pass, pass, pass’ routine, my heart was in my mouth from the first minute to the last.

After the final whistle, it was like we had just won the Champions League. The singing and celebrations were incredible, the joy was felt throughout the room, the second leg of the tie mometarily forgotten. One fan even lead us in a resounding set of Chelsea Alouette (not a very lady-honouring song, to be sure). As the pub emptied, I felt that the demons from the two sides’ last encounter at the Bridge had been exorcised. One Step Beyond.

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea:

What can I say that hasn’t already been discussed, written about, or posted on YouTube? I believe that the reactions experienced at each point of the match were the same for every single Chelsea fan across the globe, whether they were watching at home on TV/the Internet, in a pub, or at the Nou Camp.

Again, I found myself at a completely full Legends, having arrived early, nervously clutching a Guinness for dear life. When Bosingwa came on for Cahill so early on in the game, I felt a sense of impending doom. We all knew Barcelona would score on their turf; the question remained how many times. This didn’t feel like a good omen, and it wasn’t, as we eventually conceded. The real shock was, of course, Terry’s red card. As the incident was off the ball, I don’t think anybody watching realised at first what was going on. There was general confusion, prolonged by Terry’s look of disbelief, his face then livid at being sent off. I honestly stood there with my mouth hanging open for a good couple of minutes. There was no time to analise what had happened, to be angry at JT, just wonderment at how we were going to be a bastion of defense-and score a goal-with only ten men, against Barcelona, on their own patch. It seemed it would be our undoing.

Our fears were validated when Meireles gave the ball away and Iniesta slotted home. As a dejected-looking Ivanovic went to pluck the ball out of the back of our net, there was a panic that seemed to suggest, how many more are we going to let in now? It all looked very bleak and hopeless.

But then, almost out of nowhere, Ramires passed to Lampard, and Lampard in turn found Ramires, who was off, chipping the ball over Valdes for the goal of the season. The pub erupted; we were now back in it! The Barca players’ faces said it all: after 45 minutes of football, they were back at square one.

And now it was a matter of defending for our lives once again. It didn’t help that we gave up a penalty, but the relief and elation at Messi’s continued inability to score against Chelsea turned into loud chants of ‘who are ya’ and a number of creative hand gestures hurled in his direction. Easily the most disappointing moment of the half was when Guardiola took off Cuenca, and we were now unable to shout in unison the lovely word, frequently directed at those on the pitch, that sounded remarkably like his name whenever it was mentioned by the commentator. And then it happened.

It is difficult to put my emotions following each of the goals into words. However, I can say that when Torres was running with the ball, with only Valdes to get past, time seemed to stand still. Sure, a memory of the game at Manchester United in September infiltrated the fog that was my brain, but this felt different; it was going to go in. I was already imagining the cathartic release it would provide in knowing that we were basically safe, that those agonizing moments each time the ball crossed into our half of the field wouldn’t be as bad. As the ball crossed the line, tears literally sprung to my eyes, beer was flying through the air, and liquid Jack was spraying from the bar drenched me from head to toe. My sister physically picked me up, the whole pub was celebrating, hugging, high-fiving, screaming until no one had any voice left. I had no idea what else happened in the last minute of the match, even completely missed Gary Neville’s scoregasm. I looked just in time to see the final whistle blown, which caused another explosion, and another round of Fernando Torres and anti-Barcelona songs.

Whereas Torres’ goal capped off the match for me, this second leg against Barcelona was the crowning moment of my season. Revenge-plus a place in the Champions League final-were well and truly secured, Robbie was a hero, and while Barca could, at times, play some beautiful football, we had still remarkably beaten them under extraordinary circumstances. We didn’t even have to lose 2-1, which would have been enough to qualify via away goals; we beat them over two legs, by showing them that there is more than one way to play football. The high brought on by these emotions lasted days. In fact it’s still going on, and not a day has gone by since that match that I have not watched at least parts of it, or even just Torres’ goal, which still makes my eyes moist.

And now we are off to the final. It is safe to start counting down the hours. Chelsea fans the world over are buzzing in some way or another about Munich. All the times they said we couldn’t do it, it was too steep a mountain to climb-we did it, and we are about to compete in our second Champions League final in our history. We have another chance to finally add this coveted trophy, the only cup that has eluded us, to our ever-growing collection. We have a chance it do it for Robbie, who bleeds Blue; for Roman, as a thank-you; for the old boys, who have been through so much in this competition, and may not have the chance to do it again. And of course, for the fans, who have supported the club through thick and thin, over land and sea, who have hoped and hurt, patiently waited over the years, and throughout this crazy rollercoaster of a season, to bring the cup to SW6, where it belongs.

I won’t be at the Allianz Arena, or in Munich at all, but from what I’ve heard/read, I am practically the only one! For all those of you who have headed out, give those Germans hell from us all. Show them who Chelsea are, what it means to be Blue, and make them realize who it is that deserves to be champions of Europe.

Group Stage:

Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen:

Where else to begin but with the first Champions League match of the season? I was abroad and invited two of my good friends, up-and-coming Chelsea supporters, to join me at a pub called Mike’s Place to watch the match. As they were relatively new to regularly following Chelsea’s every game, I gave them a quick rundown of the competition and the team we would be playing. We settled in comfortably with our beers and food, and I remember thinking to myself, here we go again. Another season of Champions League-how far will we go? What could this be the start of? What I did know then was that it was a great game, with Mata scoring on his Champions League debut, and of course the joy of seeing David Luiz score a goal, compounded by my friends’ growing excitement and pleasure in watching Chelsea, which would continue throughout the competition.

Genk 1-1 Chelsea:

A dreary day in New York City found a friend and me at the New York Blues’ haunt, Football Factory at Legends, to watch the game. After a home defeat against Arsenal, this was a match I think most thought would be a good win to lift the spirits. Instead, it was a disappointing one, to say the least, with many missed opportunities. I was not very entertained, and it was hard to believe that this was the same team we had effortlessly thrashed 5-0 not three weeks before. I did love Ramires’ goal (and the celebration), and while Luiz missing what I thought was a well-taken penalty was unfortunate, it was more upsetting that we went to sleep (as was slowly becoming characteristic of Chelsea), and let in a stupid goal, throwing away two vital points. To think that I had seriously considered going away to Belgium! Obviously everything is always a million times better when you’re there, but I was glad I saved the money for a trip to London later on.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea:

A low point in the season, at the time possibly the lowest; it still may be for me. There is nothing like starting out a Champions League night with a Drogba goal, but soon after it all went pear-shaped. You couldn’t possibly think, that after all the times Petr Cech denied one of our former own, Michael Ballack, that anyone would score. Or that we would lose, forcing it down to the wire for our very last game of the group stages. Special shout-out to Jack Keane at Legends, who took pity on the poor, anxious, Chelsea girl at the bar, and gave her a second Guinness on the house. Didn’t help the result, but it did ease the tension.

Round of 16:

Napoli 3-1 Chelsea:

When we first drew Napoli for the Round of 16, my mind flicked immediately back to last spring in university, where I had an Italian guy in my class who was a Napoli fan. I distinctly remember him speaking about his side’s qualification for the Champions League and found it ironic that we would be playing them. Of course, I was hoping we would have the pleasure of seeing his side out.

I was abroad again, and took up my usual spot at Mike’s Place, along with my regular companions for Champions League nights. This time, in addition to there being Chelsea supporters in the pub, there were a handful of Napoli fans as well. As far as they went, two things amused me: 1) One fan did not realize they were playing at home, and was ecstatic about the fact that they had scored 3 away goals. I rained slightly on his parade by telling him that I was absolutely 100% sure that the game was in Naples, and as I had a ticket to attend the next leg at Stamford Bridge, I was very much hoping I would not show up in London only to find the game was actually in Italy. 2) Their profound interest in Eva. They actually oohed every time she was shown on the screen. I think they were hoping for Chelsea injuries for more reasons than one.

Anyway, the starting XI was shown, and I think I am not alone in saying that my first reaction when I saw it was, ‘what the f***, AVB?’ I could not understand the reasoning behind leaving the likes of Frank Lampard on the bench. (So much so that when Frank actually did come on, I jumped up and cheered so exuberantly that I knocked my chair over backwards, and some kind Chelsea fans did me the favour of picking it up and setting it right).

I had thought Juan Mata’s brilliance was a step in the right direction, but as I watched, I felt it was only a matter of time before they scored. I was ok settling with a 1-1 draw, but a 3-1 loss? That was hard to take. A 2-0 win at the Bridge was not unachievable, in fact was very likely doable, but I left the pub feeling somewhat downtrodden. I also got the feeling (or maybe it was more of a hope by this stage) that the possible/probable end of AVB’s short reign at Chelsea was drawing even nearer.

Chelsea 4-1 Napoli:

Well, leave it to our gloriously unpredictable Chelsea to do it the hard way. This was my first Champions League game at the Bridge, and my tremendous excitement was matched only by intense, overpowering, mind-numbing nervousness. The faith and belief were there, but I am a realistic (pessimistic) person by nature, and I just didn’t know if we would do it. But do it we did, and in the best way possible. Every time I watch highlights or replays of the night, I feel that same excitement, and can’t believe how lucky I was to have witnessed it from my seat in the Shed End Lower (first time there too, as I usually like to sit in the Matthew Harding Lower). I had to watch a replay when I returned home after the match as I couldn’t believe it had actually happened.

I experienced a little personal happiness/glory as well. A close friend of mine, who had started following Chelsea regularly within the past year or so, joined my sister and me for the game. She was studying in London for the semester, and was thrilled when we were able to get her a ticket for the match. Little did she know what she was getting herself into: a 4-1 win, extra time, the first Champions League match under a new manager, and a powerful Stamford Bridge atmosphere. We were only able to get her a ticket at the opposite end, in the MHL, next to someone she had never met before (a friend of a friend, but still, a stranger), which, for someone relatively new to following football, could have been shocking. We chucked her, alone, into the MHL for a massive, blood pressure-raising, stadium-rocking adventure. We had to text her after the 90 minutes were up to explain that we hadn’t actually won yet and she should stay where she was for extra time. No transition season for new Chelsea fans! Of course, after the match it was straight to the Hand and Flower on the King’s Road for a few post-match Guinnesses (plural?) with the Chelsea Football Fancast boys, and hundreds of other Chelsea fans.

From creating for ourselves an uphill battle in the first leg, to AVB’s sacking, to the ageing of our has-been, overly powerful, dictating Old Guard, we were written off from the first minute. But only by those who underestimated the fortress that is Stamford Bridge on European nights; or those who don’t understand that Chelsea thrive when labeled as the underdogs, as there is not a whiff of complacency or arrogance to be found, and every player feels lucky enough to be selected, thereby giving everything he’s got with every fibre of his being.

I am always proud to be a Chelsea fan, but after that victory I was prouder than ever. It stands out as the best night of my life to date, something I knew it would be even while it was happening, no matter the outcome. Standing amongst fans who had travelled from all over, cheering the boys on at the top of their voices, watching Didier’s header, then Terry’s, fly in, Lampsy’s unsaveable penalty, and Brana’s striker’s goal, the very foundations of Stamford Bridge shaking, I was the happiest person on earth, although I could not believe what I was seeing. Even after the heartbreak of Inler’s out-of-nowhere hit landing in the back of our net, I knew we would rally and come out on top (just praying it wouldn’t go to penalties, because I didn’t think my heart could take it). Props to all those who accurately predicted the score, because I never could have envisioned a night like that.

Quarterfinals:

Chelsea 2-1 Benifca:

Run Meireles, now pass the ball, pass it now before it’s too late, come on, you’ve got Ramires on your left, don’t shoot, please don’t shoot, no, he’s shooting-OH MY GOSH! YES!!!!

That should sum it up adequately.

Semifinals:

Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona:

The main thing on my mind: revenge. 2009 still burned painfully in my heart, and I wanted our dues for the suffering and injustices. Whatever anyone else was saying, and despite the crescendo of nerves that had started immediately after the final whistle at Wembley and ultimately kept me up until 4 am the night before the match, I knew we had it within us to do it. It’s true we may have had a little luck on the night, but don’t we deserve it? It’s not as if we didn’t play well. Back in NY at a packed-to-capacity Legends, the place seemed to explode when the brilliance of Lampard (nicking it off none other than Messi!), Ramires and Drogba combined to send the ball past Valdes. What a moment.

And we managed to hold on and see out the match, denying Barcelona an away goal. Indeed, maybe it wasn’t Barcelona’s night, but in defence we were true class. Cahill neutralized Messi like an experienced professional, Cole’s goal-line clearance was immense, and Cech’s saves were phenomenal, keeping us in the tie countless times. Although I struggled to overcome the boredom perpetuated by Barca’s incessant ‘pass, pass, pass’ routine, my heart was in my mouth from the first minute to the last.

After the final whistle, it was like we had just won the Champions League. The singing and celebrations were incredible, the joy was felt throughout the room, the second leg of the tie mometarily forgotten. One fan even lead us in a resounding set of Chelsea Alouette (not a very lady-honouring song, to be sure). As the pub emptied, I felt that the demons from the two sides’ last encounter at the Bridge had been exorcised. One Step Beyond.

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea:

What can I say that hasn’t already been discussed, written about, or posted on YouTube? I believe that the reactions experienced at each point of the match were the same for every single Chelsea fan across the globe, whether they were watching at home on TV/the Internet, in a pub, or at the Nou Camp.

Again, I found myself at a completely full Legends, having arrived early, nervously clutching a Guinness for dear life. When Bosingwa came on for Cahill so early on in the game, I felt a sense of impending doom. We all knew Barcelona would score on their turf; the question remained how many times. This didn’t feel like a good omen, and it wasn’t, as we eventually conceded. The real shock was, of course, Terry’s red card. As the incident was off the ball, I don’t think anybody watching realised at first what was going on. There was general confusion, prolonged by Terry’s look of disbelief, his face then livid at being sent off. I honestly stood there with my mouth hanging open for a good couple of minutes. There was no time to analise what had happened, to be angry at JT, just wonderment at how we were going to be a bastion of defense-and score a goal-with only ten men, against Barcelona, on their own patch. It seemed it would be our undoing.

Our fears were validated when Meireles gave the ball away and Iniesta slotted home. As a dejected-looking Ivanovic went to pluck the ball out of the back of our net, there was a panic that seemed to suggest, how many more are we going to let in now? It all looked very bleak and hopeless.

But then, almost out of nowhere, Ramires passed to Lampard, and Lampard in turn found Ramires, who was off, chipping the ball over Valdes for the goal of the season. The pub erupted; we were now back in it! The Barca players’ faces said it all: after 45 minutes of football, they were back at square one.

And now it was a matter of defending for our lives once again. It didn’t help that we gave up a penalty, but the relief and elation at Messi’s continued inability to score against Chelsea turned into loud chants of ‘who are ya’ and a number of creative hand gestures hurled in his direction. Easily the most disappointing moment of the half was when Guardiola took off Cuenca, and we were now unable to shout in unison the lovely word, frequently directed at those on the pitch, that sounded remarkably like his name whenever it was mentioned by the commentator. And then it happened.

It is difficult to put my emotions following each of the goals into words. However, I can say that when Torres was running with the ball, with only Valdes to get past, time seemed to stand still. Sure, a memory of the game at Manchester United in September infiltrated the fog that was my brain, but this felt different; it was going to go in. I was already imagining the cathartic release it would provide in knowing that we were basically safe, that those agonizing moments each time the ball crossed into our half of the field wouldn’t be as bad. As the ball crossed the line, tears literally sprung to my eyes, beer was flying through the air, and liquid Jack was spraying from the bar drenched me from head to toe. My sister physically picked me up, the whole pub was celebrating, hugging, high-fiving, screaming until no one had any voice left. I had no idea what else happened in the last minute of the match, even completely missed Gary Neville’s scoregasm. I looked just in time to see the final whistle blown, which caused another explosion, and another round of Fernando Torres and anti-Barcelona songs.

Whereas Torres’ goal capped off the match for me, this second leg against Barcelona was the crowning moment of my season. Revenge-plus a place in the Champions League final-were well and truly secured, Robbie was a hero, and while Barca could, at times, play some beautiful football, we had still remarkably beaten them under extraordinary circumstances. We didn’t even have to lose 2-1, which would have been enough to qualify via away goals; we beat them over two legs, by showing them that there is more than one way to play football. The high brought on by these emotions lasted days. In fact it’s still going on, and not a day has gone by since that match that I have not watched at least parts of it, or even just Torres’ goal, which still makes my eyes moist.

And now we are off to the final. It is safe to start counting down the hours. Chelsea fans the world over are buzzing in some way or another about Munich. All the times they said we couldn’t do it, it was too steep a mountain to climb-we did it, and we are about to compete in our second Champions League final in our history. We have another chance to finally add this coveted trophy, the only cup that has eluded us, to our ever-growing collection. We have a chance it do it for Robbie, who bleeds Blue; for Roman, as a thank-you; for the old boys, who have been through so much in this competition, and may not have the chance to do it again. And of course, for the fans, who have supported the club through thick and thin, over land and sea, who have hoped and hurt, patiently waited over the years, and throughout this crazy rollercoaster of a season, to bring the cup to SW6, where it belongs.

I won’t be at the Allianz Arena, or in Munich at all, but from what I’ve heard/read, I am practically the only one! For all those of you who have headed out, give those Germans hell from us all. Show them who Chelsea are, what it means to be Blue, and make them realize who it is that deserves to be champions of Europe.

Do what the album suggests, Uli.

Uli has been talking shite for a few weeks now, sticking his nose in all sorts of inappropriate places. He’s done it again in the past couple days, throwing Roman Abramovich – and other billionaire club owners – under the proverbial bus with a verbal salvo akin to something a brash 6-year-old would blurt out at the shy kid in the schoolyard.

Embarrassing stuff this:

I get angry every week when I go to buy petrol. The oil mafia takes money out of my pocket to invest it in footballers. For me this stinks to high heaven and I include Mr Abramovich in all this. We need to beat clubs like Chelsea on the field of play. Chelsea are a club with their backs to the wall as a result of their patchy league season. If they lose they won’t be in the competition next year.

If Bayern win it, we will make around £20million. That is what the game is all about: sporting success based on sound economic sense. Mr Abramovich has put £900m into Chelsea. If he pulls the plug on them, you’ll be able to pick the club up for the price of a puzzle magazine from a newsstand.

And I thought Uli’s comments on Pep Guardiola were hilarious.

What is this man’s glitch? Here he has a chance to present himself, and more importantly his club, in a respectable manner yet he chooses to take the petty insult route. What does Chelsea having an owner who enjoys investing in his club have to do with your fat ass? Shouldn’t you be focused on how your side is going to recover from being decimated by Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup Final? I don’t know, that seems a more pressing matter than your frustration with rising fuel prices.

I think everyone on fucking earth is frustrated with escalating fuel prices. If you’re so upset with it all, go get yourself a Vespa. Kick it economy mileage style yo.

As for the rest of your porous rant, I really don’t think Chelsea are going to be available for the price of a “puzzle magazine” any time soon. Sorry, bro.