So Chelsea are through to the Champions League quarter finals for the 5th time in 7 years with a comprehensive win over Copenhagen last night. While the tie didn’t have as many goals as people expected, it did give the expected result. Chelsea scored a blank last night but their play was attacking, slick and the looking of a Chelsea of old.
They still feel they can claw back the 9 points they trail United in the league, but maybe the Champions League is what they really want this season. Carlo Ancelotti came out today with a defiant message to his rivals; “The team is strong enough to win it,” said Ancelotti, whose side appear to be over a mid-season loss of form. “If we play to 100%, we can make the final stages. I see my team fresh and we’re in a good moment. But we can improve a lot”. So with this in mind I thought it would be wise to take a closer look at the possibility of Chelsea winning the European crown for the first time and to give 5 reasons why it is possible.
Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian has won the trophy twice as a player and twice as a manager, knowing what it takes to win the trophy. It could quite easily have been a third had Liverpool not staged a freakish comeback in Istanbul. The Chelsea manager has stated it is his favourite trophy and would love to get his hands on it once again having not won it since 2007.
He will also be eager to out do Jose Mourinho by winning the trophy for Chelsea and becoming their greatest manager. Ancelotti went out to Mourinho’s side last year and perhaps has a point to prove with the Quarter Final draw approaching on Friday.
Goal Threat
Chelsea are simply spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a forward line that could consist of Torres, Drogba and Anelka. While the Spaniard has failed to find the net for his new club it is only a matter of time.
He combined well with Anelka in the first leg in Denmark showing glimpse’s of a future partnership. Meanwhile Drogba and Anelka showed time and time again their ability to pick out a pass out for each other last night. This strike force has the potential to be the best in the world should it be able to combine effectively and with the resurgence of Frank Lampard after an injury hit season, Chelsea have the attacking threats to trouble any defence.
League Form
While it maybe true that fighting on two fronts will be harder on the Chelsea squad there is no doubt that a resurgence in their league form has given them their confidence back. Although a disappointing defeat at home to Liverpool, followed by a draw at Fulham Chelsea managed to record a significant victory against Manchester United to keep their title challenge alive.
If they can string along a few more results together starting with a win against Manchester City on Sunday than their confidence will be high, coupled with the fact they have a squad that is almost at 100% available they could have strong run in for the rest of the season. United on the other hand only have 4 fit defenders at this present time.
Continued Failure To Reach The Promised Land
It is well documented that Chelsea have never won the top European Trophy with their closet point being in the 2008 final with that infamous John Terry penalty miss. Last season they were undone by Mourinho, the year before that by some extremely dodgy officiating during a semi with Barcelona.
With the final set to be in Wembley is it written in the stars for it to be Chelsea’s year? I am sure Spurs will have something to say about that with their constantly improving performances in the competition.
Last Opportunity
Chelsea’s squad has is set for an overhaul this season with the possible exits of many players over 30. Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda to name but a few who could be heading for a summer exit.
With this in mind this it could be some of the player’s last chance to win the competition. Combine this with the hunger of new arrivals to show what they can do in the blue shirt than Chelsea has a squad that is still hungry for success.
About the Author
I am sorry but we have no Chance against Barca or Real, or ever Shaktar that play like Barca.
I think u are a man u fan
2 be saying such a horrible thing
Good points in the article regards Chelsea, although I clearly disagree with several in relation to Manchester United in the Premiership.I will simply stick to the headline meantime!.”Chelsea are nailed on to win the Champions league” Really? Ignoring Barcelona, Real Madrid,United and Milan are we?Not to mention your north london cousins! Brave words before a fall I would suggest.
Good way to keep the spirit up guys…
Chelsea will win and thats the truth. We are a great team with wonderful player and on a good day we can beat BARCA or REAL or Even INTER. This is chelseas year 2 win the champions League. COOOOMMMME OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNN
You certainly have ‘history’ in the competition thats a truth!
On a good day is so wooly have you got any substance to share?.lol
Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. Oh No! Will they win? Yes. No. I don’t even know! But i knw it’s stuck between the No and the Yes.
Are you thon Burd on the lame comedy show, ye but, no but yeah?
let all who wish to hear take this message:chelseafc will be champions league winners come may this year at wembley. it is not what i think but what has already happened…
Well you are going to knock United out first.We have the 2nd leg at Old trafford, I see United into the semi’s.
We just need a strong and fair referee.
blaming the ref already…come on, with that lunatic scholes and rooney, people in glass houses spring to mind
Well the UK based referee will not be able to hand ‘throw’the game to Chelsea on the semi final occasion.Exactly what has happened on the last 3 games between Chelsea and United.This time we get a foriegn referee.So its United’s win.”Lunatic Scholes? you have your very own John slippy Terry and Cashley Cole, such charming fellows?I see you have hired a new henchman, David Luiz, he looks a fair Brazilian, isn’t he great at bodychecking?
Red Herring! lol
Your very own Ray Wilkins, you know the coach you had before your team imploded on his abhorrent sacking from Chelsea.
Described Paul Scholes as the finest midfielder the premiership has ever seen?Or do you know more than Ray? or Zinedine Zidane who also acredited Paul with such praise!
Blues 4 life my fan mate plz u shud nt be afraid of manchester united we are the champions. Dnt be discourage u have 2 be encourage we wil cary the champ league.AMEN.
dont quote history to us ,your not a scouser,fact is your 9\\1 to win it chelsea are 7\\1,clear two points better,saf wont be able to pick the ref in europe,you have mass injury probs we dont,the winner of this match will go to wembley regardless of the semis,and you cant win at s\\b,….(quote)there is only one side that can beat barca over one leg that is chelsea—-ray wilkins,…david luiz is cup tied for c\\l by the way,but we have alex back.dont blame the ref already,we had some dodgy refs in europe 2008 semi(barca),yes scholes is a lunatic,odds on for a red card with a euro ref.worst possible draw for utd. and you know it..no one is nailed on to win the c\\l, last eight are all good sides..