Chelsea, Well played.
Chelsea last night performed the impossible and it is nights like these that every footballer lives to experience. Stamford Bridge was rocking last night and rightly so, Chelsea’s players put on a show to behold. Fresh from the sacking of their young manager Andre Villas Boas, Chelsea faced the inevitable task of scoring 2 goals more than Napoli. The side that contained the mercurial threats of Cavani, Lavezzi, Hamsik. They started the match in style and controlled the game more or less throughout. Every player on the pitch tried to be better than his team mate and such team work resulted in this glorious win.
What a dream Roberto Di Matteo is living, sacked a year ago by West Bromwich Albion, he was brought in to be an assistant manager but after the sacking of AVB, Di Matteo was given the role of interim manager and boy, has he responded. 3 wins in 11 days points to the remarkable change of fortunes for Chelsea. The team that he put out raised a few questions because David Luiz, who is no doubt a terrific player, has question marks over his defending. Many thought Cahill and Terry would share defensive duties but as it was, Di Matteo took a gamble and Luiz started alongside Terry. Essien was handed his first start of the Champions League and it showed because he was shocking. The rest of the team performed admirably throughout and Ramires, despite being played on the left put in a perfect cross for Didier Drogba who put the home side in front after 28minutes. Then who else but Captain and the heart and soul of Chelsea football club, John Terry headed in to give Chelsea the advantage that they desperately needed. Stamford Bridge was alive at this very point and they spurred on Chelsea to victory despite a thunderous pile driver from Inler late on after which Frank Lampard scored a penalty to take the game into extra time.
Chelsea just never looked like losing and never gave up. They passed the ball and ran the full pitch time and time again and displayed the type of passion and aggression Manchester United wished they had today after their exit against Athletic Bilbao. Torres had one of his usual days now in which he keeps proving that even the best can fall and fall so hard. It was eventually left to Branislav Ivanovic to score the winner and the crowd went berserk. The question now is, Will this be enough for Abramovich to hand over the job permanently to Roberto Di Matteo? He has the Chelsea stars on his side and is himself a Chelsea legend. The problem AVB had was he wanted to induct youth but you can’t possibly do that in one season by dropping Frank Lampard or John Terry or players that define who Chelsea FC are today. That takes time, he wanted to make a point but as we all know, Roman Abramovich always wins. AVB being young doesn’t have to do anything with his sacking. There is the shining example of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona performing so well as we all know. AVB was just too impatient otherwise he seemed to be a good coach and his touchline antics will be missed dearly. What Abramovich decides to do is anyone’s guess but their performance against Napoli proved, Chelsea are still a major European force and long may that continue for the sake of English European football. Can They go all the way and win it? Let's see.
GeoSuper