Chelsea-03 overcame Bayern Munich in dramatic fashion to win the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final. They may have won the final, and their captains, plural, held aloft the European Cup, but let’s not kid ourselves that the Blues are the best team in Europe. They are not!
Chelsea-03’s success coupled with that of the other nouveau riche club Manchester City-08, which won the English Premier League, is yet another sign that the heart and soul is being ripped out of football. Yes, many neutral fans celebrated Sergio Aguero’s winner against QPR that gave City the title, but that had more to do with Man United and Alex Ferguson being denied it than any affinity for City. In time City will be as disliked as Chelsea-03 and the two clubs could make English football a poker game between two billionaire owners. I hope not.
The European Cup used to conjure up images of faraway places, exotic sounding continental clubs and storied teams. The Busby Babes perished on their way back from a semi-final in Belgrade. Real Madrid’s all white strip shone brightly in the early years of the cup and never more so than at Hampden Park when they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3. Celtic’s Lisbon Lions, Man United’s all blue strip; Ajax and Bayern Munich’s three in a row and Liverpool’s Emlyn Hughes all provide memories of a competition that celebrated its heroes, star teams, and unforgettable football. It is tough to believe that fans of the sport in 40 years time will look back on the current holders with any fondness.
Chelsea-03’s success coupled with that of the other nouveau riche club Manchester City-08, which won the English Premier League, is yet another sign that the heart and soul is being ripped out of football. Yes, many neutral fans celebrated Sergio Aguero’s winner against QPR that gave City the title, but that had more to do with Man United and Alex Ferguson being denied it than any affinity for City. In time City will be as disliked as Chelsea-03 and the two clubs could make English football a poker game between two billionaire owners. I hope not.
The European Cup used to conjure up images of faraway places, exotic sounding continental clubs and storied teams. The Busby Babes perished on their way back from a semi-final in Belgrade. Real Madrid’s all white strip shone brightly in the early years of the cup and never more so than at Hampden Park when they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3. Celtic’s Lisbon Lions, Man United’s all blue strip; Ajax and Bayern Munich’s three in a row and Liverpool’s Emlyn Hughes all provide memories of a competition that celebrated its heroes, star teams, and unforgettable football. It is tough to believe that fans of the sport in 40 years time will look back on the current holders with any fondness.
Jose Mourinho coined the phrase “parked the bus” when Spurs had the temerity to go to Stamford Bridge, defend in numbers against his Chelsea-03 team, and come away with a result. The term has come to be used to describe all teams using negative tactics to get results such as those achieved by the Blues against Barcelona and Bayern Munich in this years CL semi-finals and final respectively. Chelsea-03 have emulated Man United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa in becoming English Champions of Europe. However, the team they emulated the most was Steaua Bucharest which won the 1986 European Cup with similarly negative tactics.
While his team were reminding us of the infamous Steaua team Roberto DiMatteo is the modern day Tony Barton. It was Barton who took over Aston Villa mid-season and led the Claret and Blues to the 1982 European Cup where they beat Bayern Munich in the final. Two years later he was fired for failing to build on that initial success. If DiMatteo remains at Stamford Bridge he will struggle to match his accomplishments of the past month. Chelsea-03 needs an overhaul and, judging by some of the league results and performances under DiMatteo’s leadership, there is a reason his team finished sixth in the EPL. And Andrea Villas Boas is not to blame.
While his team were reminding us of the infamous Steaua team Roberto DiMatteo is the modern day Tony Barton. It was Barton who took over Aston Villa mid-season and led the Claret and Blues to the 1982 European Cup where they beat Bayern Munich in the final. Two years later he was fired for failing to build on that initial success. If DiMatteo remains at Stamford Bridge he will struggle to match his accomplishments of the past month. Chelsea-03 needs an overhaul and, judging by some of the league results and performances under DiMatteo’s leadership, there is a reason his team finished sixth in the EPL. And Andrea Villas Boas is not to blame.
John Terry was sent off early doors against Barcelona in the semi-final second leg at Camp Nou. He received his marching orders with his team trailing 1-0. They then drew the game and won the tie in his absence. As a result of his dismissal Terry was suspended for the final which his team won. So let’s get this straight, in the two biggest games of the season and possibly the club’s history, Chelsea-03 won one and drew the other without their leader, their captain, their Mr. Chelsea, having played a meaningful part. Is there a moral to this story?
And it was nauseating to see Terry being the classic narcissist by wearing his kit, running onto the field to celebrate his team’s victory and then lifting aloft the European Cup. Does the man have no shame?
Didier Drogba was named Man of the Match for his role in Chelsea-03’s win. It is hard to argue with the award considering the Ivorian scored the equalizer for the Blues to take the final into extra time and then converted the decisive penalty to win the cup. However, Petr Cech deserves an honorable mention for his role in the game. The Czech star did his homework and saved an Arjen Robben penalty and followed it up with another stop against Ivica Olic in the shoot-out.
And it was nauseating to see Terry being the classic narcissist by wearing his kit, running onto the field to celebrate his team’s victory and then lifting aloft the European Cup. Does the man have no shame?
Didier Drogba was named Man of the Match for his role in Chelsea-03’s win. It is hard to argue with the award considering the Ivorian scored the equalizer for the Blues to take the final into extra time and then converted the decisive penalty to win the cup. However, Petr Cech deserves an honorable mention for his role in the game. The Czech star did his homework and saved an Arjen Robben penalty and followed it up with another stop against Ivica Olic in the shoot-out.
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