Chelsea's road to Munich

MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 18: Frank Lampard of Chelsea in action during the Chelsea training session, ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fuflball Arena München on May 18, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

In the end, it all comes down to this. This is it, the Champions League final, the holy grail, the biggest game of the season! the one game, that will decide which is the Best team in Europe, and probably the best club in the world.

Let’s wind the clocks back by three months. Chelsea FC had their backs to the wall. After losing 3-1 in Naples against a Napoli side, which boasted of some of the world’s best attacking players, not many gave the old guards from Chelsea, a chance to even win the game, let alone qualify for the next round. But the Chelsea players knew that they were better than that. They had a new manager, and they did what they do best! They believed in themselves, they knew they could win it, that they could beat Napoli by more than two goals and qualify. And they went on to beat Napoli 4-1 after extra time.

Since then, they haven’t looked back. It has been sort of a second innings. Chelsea brushed aside Benfica, a formidable opponent who drew level with Manchester United in both their legs in group stages, and secured a semi-final berth for a showdown against the defending champions, FC Barcelona. The ones who were surprised earlier that Chelsea had progressed so far in the competition, were now convinced that this would be the end of the road for The Blues.

One could not help but remember the referee indecision, that caused Chelsea to lose against Barcelona about three seasons back. Chelsea were vehemently denied quite a few penalty claims in the game and they were finally undone by a brilliant Iniesta strike in stoppage time. Since then, Barcelona had improved by leaps and bounds under Pep Guardiola and arguably Chelsea had only got weaker over the years. But some things had not changed. The resolve, the passion, the dedication, the determination, the will to win it, it was still there, if not more than before !

Having won the game at Stamford Bridge by a solitary Didier Drogba goal, they knew that a draw at the Nou Camp would be enough to progress. But it certainly did not look like things were going the way everyone wanted, after Gary Cahill was taken off injured inside 12 minutes, and then John Terry was sent off in the 36^th. With a back four of Ramires, Ivanovic, Bosingwa, and Cole, Barca took on the Chelsea defence like a eagle hunting its prey. Busquets and Iniesta had put Barcelona ahead as the crowd sensed they had a chance to put the game to bed. Just then, out of nowhere, Frank Lampard released Ramires with an immaculate pass, and the Brazilian in turn chipped over Valdez in a delightful fashion to score a memorable goal, which would have made Lionel Messi proud. To round things off, Fernando Torres, yes that’s right, Fernando Torres, got past Victor Valdez to put the game to bed and book a place in the Final.

The team that now stands in the way, between Chelsea and Champions League glory are the Bavarians. If that itself did not sound daunting, Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, should be intimidating! In this seasons Champions League, Munich have scored 21 and conceded just four goals in their seven matches at the Allianz Arena. With the likes of Ribery, Robben, Gomez, Muller, Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Neuer in their team, Chelsea will know that they have their task cut out. They will have to play out of their skins to win it. The trauma caused by the defeat in Moscow in 2008, will spur the team to achieve the improbable. The magnitude of this game is so immense that, it may prove to be the toughest test yet for their grit, their character, their perseverance, their commitment and passion.

In less than 24 hours, Chelsea FC will face FC Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena aiming to be the first London club to win the coveted trophy, which has eluded it so far. For the Chelsea fans, there is no doubt that these players are already heroes and world beaters, but now they have a chance to let the entire world acknowledge them and give them the respect they deserve. In spite of the outcome tonight, one thing is certain, at the end of it, I will be a very, very proud Chelsea FC supporter.