Lions head for Bayern’s den
After 43 minutes Chelsea were 2-0 down, had been reduced to 10 men following the brainless sending-off of their captain, John Terry, and their back four consisted of Ramires, Jose Bosingwa, Branislav Ivanovic and Ashley Cole.
They came back to draw the match and go through 3-2 on aggregate against perhaps the world’s greatest team, setting up a final showdown against Bayern Munich on the Germans’ own patch in the Allianz Arena.
True, no side that was built thanks to an investment of more than €1.2 billion from their Russian owner could ever be regarded as plucky underdogs, but Tuesday was a defensive display for the ages.
Look at the statistics. Chelsea completed just 117 passes, scarcely more than one a minute. They were successful in less than half of the passes they attempted. They had seven attempts on goal to Barcelona’s 22. But they won, and did so due to the intangible, unquantifiable qualities of commitment, heart and character.
This was the side that was meant to shuffle off into the sunset, but they are raging against the dying of the light with a series of displays that invite only stunned awe. Andre Villas-Boas tried to change them and couldn’t; the old guard of Frank Lampard, Terry, Didier Drogba and Cole wouldn’t let him.
The Portuguese was sacked and the question is whether Roberto Di Matteo, the caretaker manager, is guiding the team or if the players have taken it upon themselves to do so, as they did under Avram Grant in 2008.
That was the year in which they were a penalty kick from winning the Champions League, so who says stability is the right model for a football club?
Now, these battle-hardened warriors can seal the crowning glory of their careers in Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 19. They will be missing four key players — Terry, Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles — through suspension, but this side takes no notice of the odds stacked against them.
“For a Chelsea team that has had a bad season we haven’t done too bad so far,” explained Lampard, who will now surely captain the Blues in the final in Terry’s self-inflicted absence. “Football has ups and downs across the board, not just this year. We have all had to do that this season. There is still work to be done — you don’t get medals for winning semi-finals.
“And I can’t speak highly enough of Roberto. Look at our record [since he took charge] — it’s not a coincidence. He has got an atmosphere within the group, he has created a spirit and determination. The players were here anyway but what he has done in bringing them together and getting results like Tuesday night and others from before is amazing.”
Di Matteo will get credit for reorganising Chelsea in the wake of Terry’s red card but he had no other options. It may be the same for the final; there is no one left so the side picks itself. Of course, Terry’s absence is a huge blow. The centre-back was known for his self-destructive tendencies off the pitch, but on it he has always raised his game.
This was a departure from the norm, a foolish act that will ensure he is in the stands for the final, unable to make up for the heartbreak of his penalty miss in Moscow four years ago.
Few will be hurting more than Chelsea’s captain, although his poor excuses for his actions afterwards did him little credit. Yet Chelsea cannot become sentimental now. They were desperate, cold-hearted and with ice running through their veins as they kept Lionel Messi, Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas and the rest at bay. Messi’s penalty miss will haunt the Argentinian, but occasionally in sport there are greater forces at work than are visible to the naked eye. Sometimes, strength of spirit conquers skill, raw passion triumphs against quality and iron will succeeds where lesser men should falter.This is the team that will not die.
Chelsea, eh? Bloody hell.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
