Chelsea's five greatest games
Chelsea Football Club have been involved in some great matches throughout their history and in May Roberto Di Matteo's men played out arguably the greatest game by beating the German giants Bayern Munich on penalties in their own backyard.
There's no getting around it, that has to go down as Chelsea's greatest ever game, and I will be reliving that with you in just a second, but I have also selected four other memorable games for you Chelsea fans to whet your appetite ahead of the new season.
If you agree with my selections or not, I'd love to hear from you.
CHELSEA 1 BAYERN MUNICH 1 (CHELSEA WON 4-3 ON PENALTIES)
2012 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
After a decade of frustration Chelsea finally landed their holy grail. Since buying the Blues in 2003 Roman Abramovich had invested millions in the pursuit of European football's top prize. A combination of missed penalties, lousy refereeing decisions and sheer bad luck had denied the Russian tycoon's quest for glory.
Abramovich must have been preparing to write another off year as rookie boss Andre Villas-Boas struggled to meet his owner's demands. But interim coach Roberto Di Matteo succeeded where the likes of Mourinho, Ancelotti and Hiddink had failed by winning the Champions League.
The Blues reached the final having knocked out Spanish giants Barcelona. Only Bayern Munich stood in their path. However, the Germans had the advantage as the final was being played in their home stadium and Chelsea were going to be without the suspended quartet of Terry, Ivanovic, Meireles and Ramires.
Buoyed by their home support, Bayern dominated the game. Mario Gomez squandered a succession of presentable chances while Chelsea rarely threatened. It came as little surprise when Thomas Muller headed the home side into an 82nd minute lead. The writing looked on the wall for the Blues. After been on the back foot for the a majority of the contest an equaliser looked remote.
Two minutes after falling behind Chelsea forced their first corner of the game. Juan Mata delivered to the near post where the waiting Drogba headed past Neuer. Once again Chelsea had found unexpected salvation.
Drogba soon turned from hero to apparent villian. The Ivorian conceded a penalty after tripping Franck Ribery. Former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben looked certain to restore Bayern's lead, but his weak spot kick was comfortably saved by Petr Cech.
The remainder of extra time failed to produce a breakthrough and the final went to penalties. In keeping with the proceeding 120 minutes Bayern held the upper hand, Philipp Lahm put the hosts one up before Mata missed. Gomez increased the German's advantage and piled the pressure on David Luiz. Luiz kept his composure and Chelsea trailed 2-1. Neuer and Frank Lampard exchanged successful penalties to make it 3-2 to Muinch. Then Chelsea grabbed a lifeline when Olic missed. Ashley Coled fired home to level matters before Cech denied Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. In his final appearance for the club, Drogba cooley sent Neuer the wrong way and Chelsea were European Champions.
Di Matteo was rightly acclaimed the hero. The former midfielder had won the Champions League at the first time of asking, making Chelsea the first team from the capital to land the top prize.
BARCELONA 2 CHELSEA 2 (CHELSEA WON 3-2 ON AGGREGATE)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL 2nd Leg
Football miracles can happen. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Barcelona v Chelsea. Despite holding a slender first leg lead Chelsea were still cast in the role of
underdogs.
Roberto Di Matteo's men were certainly facing an uphill task. The best club side on the planet included Lionel Messi, the greatest player in the world, and a supporting cast of World and European champions. Oh, and did I mention that Barcelona were the reigning champions of Europe. The Blues suffered an early blow when Gary Cahill limped off injured. The script seemed to have been followed when Busquets's close range finish levelled the aggregate score. The 35th minute goal put the hosts firmly in control.
Two minute later a moment of madness reduced the visitor's to 10 men. Chelsea skipper John Terry was sent off after kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the back of the leg. The dismissal looked terminal when Iniesta rounded off a typical free flowing move.
The rest of the game appeared a damage limitation exercise for the English side. Trailing on aggregate and missing their first choice central defensive partnership, the 10 men must have feared a real drubbing. Then on the stroke of half time the underdogs grabbed an unexpected lifeline. Ramires latched on to Frank Lampard's through ball and sensationally chipped the ball over the stranded Victor Valdez.
Amazingly Chelsea now led having scored a precious away goal. Surely the boys in blue couldn't repel the Barca tidal wave though for another 45 minutes. The resistance appeared to have crumbled nine minutes into the second half when Didier Drogba conceded a penalty. Up stepped Messi to seal the deal, but for once the little magician failed to deliver. The well struck spot kick crashed against Petr Cech's right hand post and rebounded to safety.
The following half hour was compelling viewing. Barcelona lay siege to their opponent's goal and the decisive strike seemed a matter of time.
Drogba was substituted for fallen idol Fernando Torres. In keeping with his Stamford Bridge career the Spanish striker looked out of sorts. Time and again he lost possession as the valiant Chelsea rearguard sought temporary relief. With the game entering stoppage time Torres suddenly rediscovered his Anfield swagger.
A hopeful upfield clearance found the former Liverpool marksman with the entire Barca team encamped in the Chelsea half, Torres was clear on goal. Showing great composure Torres rounded Valdez and coolly sidefooted home. All those glaring misses and lacklustre displays were forgotten, Fernando has completed mission impossible.
CHELSEA 4 LIVERPOOL 2 1997
FA CUP 4th ROUND
The world was a very different place in the 1980s. Mobile phones were the size of house bricks, the nation wanted to know who shot JR Ewing and Chelsea were a run of the mill Second Division (Championship) side. The once- proud Blues needed help.
Their saviour came in the form of Ken Bates. The bearded wonder bought the London club for £1 in 1982. With Bates on board Chelsea narrowly avoided relegation to the Third Division. Three years later the Pensioners regained their top flight status. After a period of consolidation Bates pushed on. In 1994 the club made its first FA Cup final appearance in 24 years. Glenn Hoddle's side lost 4-0 to all conquering Manchester United. Hoddle pulled off a major coup when he signed Ruud Gullit. When Hoddle left to manage England in 1996, the Dutch superstar took over the hot seat. Other big names like Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola were signed as Chelsea challenged for honours.
But were the new improved Chelsea trophy winning material? The acid test arrived when Liverpool visited the Bridge for a FA Cup 4th round tie. Another false dawn beckoned when goals from Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore gave the Merseysiders a 2-0 half-time lead. Gullit's side needed a boost and a typical Mark Hughes goal provided it. The second half substitute's thumping drive whistled past David James.
Moments later Zola's curled effort put the home side level midway through the second half. With the wind in their sales, Chelsea were soon 3-2 up. Dan Petrescu played in Vialli who gleefully accepted the chance. The Italian confirmed victory when he headed home a Petrescu free kick. The Blues went on to win the FA Cup, the 2-0 win over Middlesbrough ended a 26-year wait for silverware. They haven't looked back since.
REAL MADRID 1 CHELSEA 2
1971 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP FINAL REPLAY
This was the pinnacle of Chelsea's last golden era. During the Sixties Tommy Docherty had built a young vibrant side which was littered with flair players. The attacking trio of Peter Osgood, Alan Hudson and Charlie Cooke were the toast of the Kings Road. There was also steel to supplement the style. The side was captained by legendary hard man Ron "Chopper" Harris. Harris took no prisoners and had a tendency to chop down opposing strikers, hence the unforgettable nickname.
The Blues' attacking style mirrored the times. Stamford Bridge was at the heart of swinging London, nearby Carnaby Street had become fashion capital of the world. Despite therir attractive brand of football Chelsea failed to win a major trophy. Docherty was sacked and replaced by the studious Dave Sexton. In 1970 the West Londoners finally struck gold. Sexton's men won the FA Cup. That memorable victory earned qualification for the following season's European Cup Winner's cup.
After overcoming Manchester City in an all-English semi-final, the Pensioners faced Spanish giants Real Madrid in the final. The showdown was staged in Athens with thousands of Chelsea fans travelling to the Greek capital. They looked like being rewarded when an Osgood volley gave the Londoners the lead before a last-minute Real equaliser sent the tie to a replay.
In those pre-penalty shoot out days the teams met again two days later. History repeated itself when Chelsea took the lead. Charlie Cooke's 32nd minute corner was volleyed home by John Demspey. Six minutes later Osgood gave the English side a two-goal cushion. Neat approach play from Harris and Tommy Baldwin gave Osgood a clear sight of goal and the King of Stamford Bridge duly dispatched a right foot drive into the bottom corner.
The six-time European Champions threatened to spoil the party when Fleitas scored with a quarter of a hour remaining. However, Chelsea hung on to claim the first European trophy in their illustrious history.
CHELSEA 2 LEEDS UNITED 1
1970 FA CUP FINAL REPLAY
How often do we hear pundits cry "It's a man's game" or "the game has gone soft". The roots in these cliches can probably be traced to this infamous encounter. Twenty-seven years after the game, referee David Ellary was invited to watch a re-run of Chelsea's historic triumph. After emerging from the studio Ellary stated that if the game had been played in the modern era both sides would have been reduced to six men.
Right from the off all the ingredients for a spicy match were in place. Both sides could certainly handle themselves. Don Revie's talented Leeds United were renowned for their combative approach. The likes of Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles and Norman 'Bites Your Legs' Hunter were no stranger to the referee's notebook. Although admired for their quality of football, Revie's side had few friends outside West Yorkshire. In fairness Chelsea were no shrinking violets. Aside from the aforementioned Chopper Harris, the Blues had a few other players who rarely stood on ceremony.
The two sides loathed each other. In terms of culture the clubs were polar opposites. The streetwise boys from the smoke against Yorkshire grit. Finally neither side had ever laid their hands on the FA Cup. The first game which ended 2-2 was notable for two reasons - Eddie Gray running Chelsea's David Webb ragged and the appalling state of the Wembley pitch. For some bizarre reason the National Stadium had hosted the Horse of the Year Show a month before the cup final. Through no fault of their own, our four legged friends turned the famous billiard table surface in a quagmire. The blame lay solely with the FA who inexplicably sanctioned the event.
Because of the state of the Wembley pitch, the two sides met again at Old Trafford a few days later. This time the playing surface was fine and battle literally commenced. Harris went in hard on Gray, no doubt mindful of how Leeds mercurial winger had terrorised the Blues at Wembley. The questionable challenge had the desired effect as Gray had limited influence on the replay. Hunter exchanged blows with Ian Hutchinson while Jack Charlton headbutted Peter Osgood.
In between times Leeds United took the lead through a cracking Mick Jones goal. Allan Clarke picked up the ball on the half way line and passed to Jones. The England striker burst through the Blues defence before firing past Peter Bonetti.
Twelve minutes from time Chelsea replied with an equally well crafted strike. Cooke's angled cross was met by the diving Osgood who headed home. The decisive moment came deep into extra time. Hutchinson's long throw flicked off Charlton's head and looped towards the far post where Webb nodded the ball over the line.
Chelsea had prevailed and the FA Cup was Stamford Bridge bound.
So there you have it. There are the five greatest games in Chelsea's history, but do you agree with me? I'd love to hear from you.
