British steel and Russian humour

IT’S BEEN a far from quiet week for the Chelsea faithful this week. Porto was a very enjoyable day indeed. Sipping drinks on the banks of the Duoro river was a very pleasant way to while away a day, with a Champions League game to look forward to in the evening.

The expectation wasn’t exactly fulfilled though, the game was poor as far as we were concerned. We made Porto look like a team full of silky skilled superstars, when in reality they were no more than average.

Seeing John Terry carried off within the first 10 minutes and then a goal conceded while we faffed about getting a replacement on the pitch did little to inspire confidence for the rest of the match. Many of my fellow fans seemed quite satisfied with the away goal and avoidance of the loss but I don’t think that we covered ourselves in glory. If Jose does have one flaw, it does seem to be that he lacks the tactical nous away in Europe.

But let’s get on to the main event — the Carling Cup final against arch rivals Arsenal. I have to say that I feared the very worst when Arsenal scored so early; the fact that it was Walcott that netted too had me imagining all the gleeful paper headlines about the champions losing to the Arsenal kids — their reserve side.

But Drogba ensured that Mourinho’s hex over Wenger continued and it was only a very sturdy crossbar that prevented Lamps and Sheva making it 3-1 and then 4-1.

Of course we all had our hearts in our mouths when JT got that boot right in the head. Having got home and watched the incident close up, you can see why players of both sides were so concerned. But they forget that JT is as hard as they come, although it is as of yet unconfirmed that Diaby had to be substituted because he injured his foot when it came in contact with pure British steel.

In case anyone got bored, there was a good old fashioned punch up too just to see Cardiff off properly. Now I know it’s not a very politically correct view, and I am not saying that it’s big or clever, but pitch brawls always seem to have a very positive effect on a game.

The crowd invariable love them and it gets them good and roused and the atmosphere improves enormously — there is a raw energy to it that we don’t seem to see very often in the Premiership anymore.

I’m not advocating we have a punch up at every game, but they should not be greeted with the bug-eyed consternation by pundits like Alan Green and the inevitable FA inquiry that will follow — football is game played by 22 men, passion sometimes gets a little out of control. No big deal.

It was obviously 2-1 on the pitch but off the pitch Chelsea won by a landslide — I am of course referring to the war of words between Jose and Wenger the week leading up to the game. Jose seems to know exactly which buttons to press when it comes to the Arsenal manager and the smooth French veneer cracks and I’m sure he has a tick when the name “Jose” is mentioned these days — just as it was when he and Fergie were at loggerheads.

The other “big” story that was flashed across all the Sunday papers last weekend was some tosh about Abramovich talking to supporters in a bar for two and a half hours and refusing to confirm that Jose will be the Chelsea manager next season. Now, surely no-one can have failed to notice what a very private life Roman Abramovich leads. You can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of interviews he has given since taking over the club.

I am fortunate enough to be involved in many aspects of the club which brings me into contact with some of the upper echelons and areas that supporters are usually not privy too. And I have never seen him sit in a public area full stop — never mind in a hotel bar openly discussing the team with supporters. The reporter claims to have “overheard” the full two and half hour discussion too — pur-lease.

Whether Roman wants Jose to go or stay I don’t know — what I DO know is that he would not be loose-lipped in a bar with tabloid press in the vicinity.

Jose on the other hand could not have made his position more clear this week — he will not leave until his contract has expired or he is sacked — I call that someone’s bluff being well and truly called.

Back to the league — that Blackburn game the season before last when I knew the title was ours — well I had the same feeling about United last Saturday — it’s their title this year I fear. We’ll carry on winning games but so will they and the games will run down to an inevitable conclusion. Now that we have become winners we need to know how to become good losers too.

That said, where there’s a way....