Chelsea FC - Supporters' Rally - Page 82

joew2005 · #**1216** 06-05-2012, 08:54 AM

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Di Matteo makes his mark
May 5, 2012

As the blue confetti flew around Wembley, as an exuberant John Obi Mikel rugby-tackled Salomon Kalou, as a jubilant John Terry drank champagne fr the FA Cup &, ever the showman, Didier Drogba posed 4 the cameras with a knowing insouciance, Roberto Di Matteo attempted 2 retain his characteristic calm.

Until he was hoisted & thrown in2 the air by his players, he succeeded. Except in the immediate aftermath of the most improbable of victories over Barcelona, Di Matteo prefers the understated approach. He is a man who appears quietly amused by the world around him. And yet, rather than being the detached bystander he can seem, he is changing Chelsea. Not so much by winning the FA Cup - tis is the happiest of habits, with 4 triumphs in 6 years, each with Didier Drogba on the scoresheet but a different manager in the dugout - but by reviving a club in the midst of a messy civil war 2 months ago.

Tis is where comparisons with the previous interim coach 2 guide Chelsea 2 a Champions League final, Avram Grant, fall down. The Israeli inherited a team tat ran on autopilot; Di Matteo was bequeathed 1 tat was in a state of disrepair.

But by encouraging & alternating, he has transformed them. Victory @ Wembley may hv been secured by the finest of margins - Andy Carroll's header appeared a matter of millimetres fr crossing the line - but it had Di Matteo's mark on it.

Management is abt many things but, whether team talks, training or tactics, it is abt judgement. The Italian's has been impeccable, as Chelsea's goals illustrated. Every participant in both strikes owed something 2 Di Matteo. They hv been recalled, relocated & rejuvenated by him. They hv responded 2 him.

1st Juan Mata, moved fr the left wing in2 a central playmaking role by Di Matteo, guided a pass past Jose Enrique 4 the rampaging Ramires, moved fr the middle 2 the right. The Brazilian is banned 4 the Champions League final; he has already had his Roy Keane moment, scoring in the Nou Camp a matter of minutes aft collecting the costly caution. Tis was his Paul Scholes moment, the FA Cup final goal of a man deprived of a bigger stage.

4 the 2nd, Mikel & Frank Lampard, 2 who fell out of favour with Andre Villas-Boas, combined b4, with the old guard in perfect harmony, the latter picked out Drogba 2 drill his shot past Pepe Reina. As he was against Barcelona, Drogba remains a Chelsea manager's go-2 guy on the major occasion. Or, @ least, he does if he respects the manager in question & Di Matteo has earned the Ivorian's approval. So, 2, tat of the other Chelsea pensioners. The axis of Lampard & Drogba, the scorers last time the Londoners faced Liverpudlian opponents in an FA Cup final, remains intact, no matter hw often an era without either is mooted.

But Di Matteo's success means tat, as they often do, Chelsea hv postponed the future. They r a club consumed by the present. The revolution has been put on hold by a group of players seizing their last opportunity. Ageing legs tired in the final half hour, when Liverpool launched an onslaught, but none r busier right now, none playing 4 a greater prize.

While denying Liverpool a cup double, Chelsea hope for 2 trophies of their own. Some 26 years ago, they were the vanquished side on the day the Merseysiders capped Kenny Dalglish's 1st season in charge by securing the Division 1 title (the FA Cup was 2 follow later). It provided 1 of the abiding images of the Scot's career, the player-manager-cum-scorer sitting with a smile born of exhaustion & exhilaration in the Stamford Bridge dressing room. When the final whistle went, he offered another impression; older, obviously, but shaken & saddened, a man struggling 2 deal with his disappointment. He seemed 2 be looking back in sadness.

Management is abt decision-making & Dalglish made the game-changing substitution. The introduction of Carroll may not quite hv turned his team fr insipid 2 inspired, but it came close. Liverpool threatened little without their premier Drogba impressionist & alot aft his introduction. And yet, in its own way, tat invited criticism: why did he not start?

The answer, perhaps, lay in a cautious approach. A counter-attacking gameplan had served Liverpool well against Chelsea during Dalglish's 2nd reign; here, however, there was little threat on the break.

The principle of safety in numbers may hv been dictated by the personnel available: Steven Gerrard apart, it was not a distinguished midfield. 2 many lack the quality of their Chelsea counterparts, whether the invention of Mata, the dynamism of Ramires or the goalscoring habit of Lampard. It may hv provided food 4 thought 4 the watching owner John W Henry, the man who authorised the £20 million move 4 Stewart Downing & the £16 million signing of Jordan Henderson.

With piercing honesty, Gerrard had said Liverpool's season would be analysed aft - &, in effect, on the basis of - the FA Cup final. With endearing but misplaced modesty, Dalglish had said tat his debt 2 Liverpool is 2 great 4 him ever 2 fully repay it. Now iconic club, legendary player & manager face a decision: wat more do they hv 2 give each other?

JWNY · #**1217** 13-05-2012, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWNY

Chelsea brothers and sisters, come to Harry @ Esplanade to watch big FA Cup game

JWNY

Same place for UEFA Champions League Final @ 0245hrs, 19th May

JWNY

joew2005 · #**1218** 19-05-2012, 10:11 AM

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Marin makes Chelsea prediction
May 18, 2012

Marko Marin has backed his new side Chelsea 2 beat Bayern Munich in Saturday's Champions League final.

Marin, 23, is 2 join Chelsea fr Werder Bremen tis summer & will be a keen observer when the Blues meet Bayern @ the Allianz Arena tis weekend.

The winger feels Chelsea's "better players'' will expose Bayern's defence aft he watched Borussia Dortmund thrash the Bavarians 5-2 in last week's DFB-Pokal final.

Asked if their defence was weak, he told BBC Sport: "Yes. I watched the German Cup final. They made big errors. Chelsea hv better players & will do well if they play offensively.

"I think (Chelsea) will win @ the weekend. Bayern did a very good job against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, but they did not do well in the Cup final."

But Marin was also wary of the attacking threat of Bayern. "I think the strongest Bayern player is Franck Ribery becos of his dribbling & becos he's a goal threat,'' he said.

"There's also Mario Gomez. He's scored alot of goals in the Champions League & is a constant danger. If Chelsea can stop them then they will do well.''

Marin admitted he had not expected Chelsea 2 finish as low as 6th in the Premier League, which has left them needing 2 win against Bayern 2 qualify 4 next season's Champions League.

"Tis club has 2 play in the Champions League,'' he said. "Everybody is a bit surprised as 2 why they didn't play as well as they can. 2wards the end of the campaign, they were better & reaching the Champions League final was a very good thing.''

Glen2712 · #**1219** 19-05-2012, 01:38 PM

COME ON, CHELSEA!

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Glen2712 · #**1220** 19-05-2012, 02:02 PM

JUST ONE MORE GAME, CHELSEA! JUST ONE MORE!

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waiwaiz · #**1221** 19-05-2012, 09:50 PM

Go Chelsea go..........Go chelsea go....2-1

BET888 · #**1222** 19-05-2012, 10:35 PM

I will support Chelsea for tonight. Go Chelsea Go!

jonnylim61 · #**1223** 20-05-2012, 05:32 AM

well done!!! its a nice blue year ......

Glen2712 · #**1224** 20-05-2012, 07:07 AM

YES!!!!!!!!!! RARRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

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joew2005 · #**1225** 20-05-2012, 08:55 AM

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Terry backs Di Matteo for job
May 19, 2012

Absent skipper John Terry called 4 Roberto Di Matteo 2 be given the job on a full-time basis aft Chelsea won the Champions League final in Munich.

"Robbie has been fantastic since he came in," he told ITV 1. "You look @ tat trophy. That's certainly wat we've been waiting 4, wat the owner's been waiting 4, wat the owner was in tears 4.

"He's strived 4 tis, he's pumped an awful lot of money in2 tis football club trying 2 achieve tat. 2nite we've done tat & Robbie deserves alot of credit 4 tat."

On the Italian's chances of becoming manager permanently, he added: "We hope so. He's been fantastic. He can't do any more than he's done. 2 win the FA Cup & the Champions League, he can't do more than tat."

The England defender also added on Sky Sports 1, tat he was grateful 2 UEFA 4 allowing him 2 carry the cup.

"It means the world 2 me," he said. "It was a great touch fr Frank & a really nice gesture fr UEFA. It was a really unfortunate situation I put myself in, but on nights like tis u hv 2 be involved."

Goalkeeper Petr Cech believes Di Matteo has staked a strong claim 2 be manager on a permanent basis.

Cech said on ITV1: "Whatever happens 2 him he's got 2 fantastic cups & he's deserved tat. I think he's done enough 2 get the job but now it's up 2 the board 2 decide."

Looking back 2 Chelsea's last Champions League final 4 years ago, Cech said: "When we lost the penalty shoot-out against ManU in Moscow maybe it was not meant 2 be our moment.

"But as a player u hope u will hv the same opportunity 2 play the final. It was a rollercoaster road, we all enjoyed it, & we got there in the end.

"I faced 6 penalties & 6 times I went the right way, 4 times I touched the ball."

Di Matteo himself refused 2 discuss his future aft Chelsea were handed the trophy.

He said on ITV1: "I'm enjoying tis moment & I'd just like 2 go out & celebrate with the players. I won't talk abt it now. I just 1 2 enjoy the moment."

Di Matteo later added: "I feel great. But I need a holiday becos these last 3 months hv been very challenging. At tis moment, whatever the future holds 4 me is irrelevant."

As he went up 2 get his medal @ the Allianz Arena, it did appear Di Matteo said "we did it" as he embraced Abramovich. However, he would not confirm tat in the aftermath.

"I don't discuss those things in public," he said. "But he looked very happy on wat was an historic night 4 our football club."

Di Matteo also claimed Chelsea deserve 2 take their place in next season's Champions League, which they will do @ Tottenham's expense, even though they could only finish 6th in tis year's Premier League.

"I do feel the winners should qualify 4 next season's competition," he said. "Tat is the right thing. Whether it is fair or not 4 Tottenham 2 be in as well is not really 4 me 2 answer."

The Italian hailed his team's spirit, saying: "We hv a group of players tat hv a big heart, passion, motivation & desire. Tat was the only way 2 be able 2 achieve tis trophy. It's been an immense effort by the whole group - staff, players - & we r very happy tonight."

Asked whether he had doubts when Bayern took a late lead, Di Matteo said: "Bayern is a good team & when they scored there was not much time left. Games like tis need passion & players who rise 2 the occasion. We've got alot of players like tat, who hv done it b4 & did it against 2day."

Di Matteo took over fr Andre Villas-Boas @ the start of March, & said: "It's been an incredible 3 months, demanding & challenging 4 everybody."

kiko · #**1226** 20-05-2012, 10:23 AM

What a come back for Chelsea win against Bayern Munich . Well done. Now Chelsea is gurantee a place in Champions League next season . Chelsea should give full time job to Di Matteo, he bring the first ever Champions league title that no manager has done so.

Well done!