Ancelotti must now ensure our Blue heaven back to stay

WELL, where to start? I’m not sure what I enjoyed most on Tuesday night: the demented celebrations following the Luiz volley; Drogba and Ramires toying with the United defence and driving it to the point of madness; Luiz giving Rooney a taste of his own medicine and getting away with it, or Fergie’s attempt to come over as the hard-done-by grandfather type.

All after a first half which saw Chelsea start brightly, then succumb to the red dominance. I saw no way back.

Ancelotti confounded all his critics by not only making spot-on substitutions but by also delivering a rallying call at half time.

The second half was a battle of wills which saw Chelsea show the kind of mettle that delivered them the Double last season.

The relief around the ground waspalpable as we fans saw the team we had grown accustomed to in the last few years — one of strength and defiance — willing to mix it. The only questions which remains are where has it been hiding since early autumn, and is it back to stay? Predictably, much is being made of the referee’s poor performance which I think unfairly plays down Chelsea’s superb second half effort of fighting back into the game by determination and hard work.

Also, in almost every instance where a referee has had a poor game, the accepted circumstance is that thewinner of the game was the sole benefactor — this was not the case on Tuesday.

The Torres “goal” should have stood, Rooney dived in the penalty box just before he scored (no punishment), Ramires could have had a penalty, the constant dissent from the United players saw no action from the referee while the Welsh Queen Mother of football should have seen red rather than yellow for his challenge on Drogba.

I could go on but we’d be here all day. The United fans on at least a couple of occasions were singing “We’re Man United, we do what we like” — they know the score, Ferguson knows the score, even most referees know the score.

Ferguson’s standing in the game, I believe, is worth between eight to 10 points a season for United. He generates the facade of a witch hunt against United, when we all know that the very opposite is the case. The FA, the media, even some opposition managers all fall into line and play their respective parts because he is so powerful.

You cannot take him on nor challenge him without appearing paranoid (ask Benitez) and you will find little support. It has gone on so long now that it is the status quo and we have all accepted it and I can’t see it changing until Old Red Nose hangs up that wrist watch he likes to tap so often from the sideline.

Of course the only downside of our victory is that it has helped theGooners in their quest for a trophy which does send a collective shudder around Stamford Bridge.

As great as the victory over United was, it will only be worth anything if we keep up that level of commitment. Blackpool have proved an enormous banana skin this season so we need to sidestep that one next Monday and also finish the job off against Copenhagen. It’s good to be signing this week off on a high; it’s been a long time coming. We need to work to secure and improve our position now and with Spurs and City left to play at home, that is more than possible.

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