How I Met Your Mom :)

After all, this has ended up as a good season! Two trophies,
runner-up in the league and semifinalists in the champions league.
Quite a few milestones in this season - unbeaten in home league matches
for three seasons, won all English trophies in a span of three seasons,
sixth trophy in three seasons, first English team to win in Estadio
Mestalla, first FA cup win in new Wembley stadium . . . you can add
more.

Chelsea wanted to win this for various reasons: (i) only trophy yet
to be won by Jose (ii) a sweet revenge (iii) for pride (iv) to end on a
positive note (v) just to win. Man Utd had their eyes on the league
double. For them to achieve a league double during these periods of
Chelsea domination, would have been some achievement. Most of us were
expecting a cracking final. Certainly it was, but not until the end of
the first half.

Not very surprisingly, both teams started out very quietly, playing
not-so-enterprising football. It was evident that neither team wanted
to concede an early goal at any cost. In a match between the two best
English teams, the first shot on target came on 31 minutes (from
Lampard). This explains better. Though it was quiet for long periods of
time, Chelsea was easily the better team in the first half showing more
hunger and passion. The highlight of the first half was how Paulo
contained Ronaldo. The player of the season, who has been a constant
goal threat all season, was almost anonymous. Credit to Paulo for
showing what he’s really worth. With the way Diarra was going, I never
thought Paulo would snatch it back from him.

Man Utd, expectedly, upped the tempo in the second half. Rooney
played a great game for Man Utd. But for some brilliant tackles by
Essien and super saves by Cech, he would have surely scored and would
have thoroughly deserved his goal. While Essien was making those
crunching tackles, his midfielder instincts did show up occasionally
and also made some errors that you would not expect from Ricardo. At
the end of the second half, honours were even, with Chelsea being
slightly better on statistics. It was anybody’s match. Even if Man Utd
had won in 90 minutes, I could not have complained.

I did not want this game to go to penalties. Not that the bad
memories of the recent sudden death made me think so. I just did not
want this great game to be decided by spot flukes. While Chelsea
appeared to be tiring fast, it was still clear that they badly wanted
to win this trophy, may be more than Man Utd. This game was dominated
by the Chelsea midfield of Lampard, Mikel and Maka. They all played
superbly and you could see what a well-rested Lampard could offer.
Mikel once again played a very pivotal role in the midfield and makes
me wonder once again why his name was not considered for the ‘young
player of the year’.

Two other players who impressed me in this match were Robben and
Cech. Though Robben played only for about 60 mins, he was tormenting
the first choice Man Utd defence. You can say that he is in form when
he runs past world class defenders like he is doing his skills in the
training ground. On several occasions, the Man Utd defence were
embarrassed very badly by his flip-flaps. It was a shame that he
couldnt play a part in the winning goal. Petr Cech. We’ve said enough
and more. When Jose used to call him as the best goalkeeper in the
world, I always thought, ‘oh yes, one of the best’. Having come back
from a near-fatal head injury, his recent performances have truly made
him the ‘50-million-pound-man’. I cannot think of any other goalkeeper
who is better than Petr at this moment.

In the second half of the extra time, came this interesting moment
where Giggs found a new way of scoring a goal. I have utmost respect
for Giggs, who I think is a fantastic professional and a true Man Utd
legend, but for him to claim an illegal goal was not quite like him.
Rooney made swift cross that was meant for Alan Smith or Giggs. With
Smith failing to connect the ball, Giggs made a meal of that finish and
Cech collected the ball as cool as he can be, about 2 feet from the
goal line. Unable to stop the momentum, Giggs crashed onto Cech who
saved and stalled, pushing Cech inside the goal with the ball about
half a foot inside the line. I’m not sure if any of the officials saw
it. I was expecting for a freekick to be given to Cech for Giggs
sliding on Cech to push him behind the line. Once the keeper has
legally grabbed the tight to his chest, anything you do is not going to
help you.

Cristiano Ronaldo was a spectator for most of the match. He had
switch from left to right to keep away from Paulo who had him in his
pocket. He got no favours from Wayne too. He could hardly ever step
into the box, but for the set pieces. At a big stage, when it mattered,
at his best form and fitness, we have tamed Ronaldo and he was no
better than what Ljunberg was, in his last few matches (I’m not sure if
that was an insult!). The way Chelsea controlled the midfield was a joy
to watch. Even in defence, barring a few mistakes, we never panicked,
even when Rooney was one-on-one with Cech. Overall, we were better
organised and prepared for this game than Man Utd.

With 4 minutes to go and the possibility of yet another spot kick
session looming large, came the moment we were all waiting for. While
everyone was expecting this match to go to the penalties, Mikel sensed
an opportunity and passed the ball to Drogba. The next 3 seconds were
pure magic. Drogba flicked the ball to Lampard and Lamps sent back a
perfectly weighted lob to Drogba in the middle of the box. Van der Sar
realised the danger and advanced to Drogba, which did not change Top
Drog’s plans. He coolly finished with a volley to send the blues crazy.
The goal celebrations were extravangant and I just loved them. Man Utd
knew that to score against Chelsea in the last four minutes in this
stage is almost impossible.

Drogba has had a great season. I’m not even sure if he would have
another season like this in future. Out of his 33 goals this season,
more than 25 goals must really match winning or crucial ones. This was
a perfect finish for Drogba’s magnificent season. If you look back this
season, you might conclude that this was his most important goal for
its value and the stage.

This post-match comments from Drogba sums up the ‘New Drogba’:

This doesn’t make up for the League and Champions League
- and we want our title back. But I love finals, you only reach them to
win, and this was a very difficult game against a fantastic team. I was
looking for this first goal against Manchester United for two years and
it happened today. Now we just want to celebrate.

John Terry too talks about coming back stronger for the premiership
and champions league next season. Not coincidence, just team mentality.

We have signed off the season on a high note and that
makes me very proud. We kept going right until the end and this is what
this team is all about. We’re disappointed about the League and the
Champions League but we will come back even stronger next year.

Of all the player interviews, this one from Lampard would most interest the Chelsea fans:

These are my people and I want to stay. This is my club and I hope I can sort it out soon because I want to stay forever.

Well, we’d like you to stay here forever too. It’ll all be sorted
out. I hope before the start of the next season, Frank signs another
4-year deal or something.

Jose
did not fail to signal the crowd on the sixth trophy. After a couple of
seasons, he might need someone else’s help if he continues this legend.
Roman, Kenyon were all seen very happy. I hope Roman is satisfied with
what we have achieved this season.
He gave it all to the players:

We have won every trophy in English football in three
years. It is something the players deserve so much because of the
difficult season they have had. It is a moment for everybody to enjoy.
I think we deserve to go into the holiday period with this cup and a
medal. The team played very well, they understood exactly the plan. The
players deserved to win this final trophy of the season and the victory
is for them and for the supporters. We know the game plan and how to
beat them and I think the boys deserved this great moment.

He was at his best when he conveyed that his most talked about dog has been sent back to Portugal:

The dog is fine in Portugal - that big threat is away - you don’t have to worry about crime anymore.

Man! You have to give it to him!