Confessions of a Blues fan

I am, as the title suggests, a Chelsea fan, and I have absolutely no doubt that I will always be one.

What goes on inside a blue heart one might wonder? What is it about Chelsea FC that has attracted so many devout followers?

Why not United? Why not Arsenal? Or Liverpool for that matter?

This article is dedicated to how Chelsea has truly won me over.

I started watching football (read Barclays Premier League) about 8 years back and I remember that the big guns back then were Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. Chelsea then had some top class players, a few of which still remain at the club. It was about then that the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought the club in the year 2003 (August). He made quite a few notable changes in the club, some of which proved to be extremely beneficial, and some rather controversial.

Pumping a large amount of money into the club, quite a few number of players were procured, some of the notable ones being: Hernan Crespo from Inter Milan, Claude Makelele from Real Madrid and Joe Cole from a relegated West Ham. Not satisfied with Chelsea’s modest 2nd place in the league (03-04 season), a few more notable players were brought. This is when my interest truly grew in the club. Arjen Robben from PSV, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira from Jose Mourinho’s previous club Porto, Petr Cech and, of course, one of Chelsea’s most valuable buys – Didier Drogba from Marseille.

With these buys, coupled with Jose Mourinho’s stringent tactical capabilities, suddenly Chelsea seemed quite a force to be reckoned with. Manchester United, until then the world’s most lucrative team, suddenly found itself a little tongue-tied at this sudden but monumental change. With midfielder Frank Lampard and defender John Terry already in the fray, Chelsea was indeed a beautiful team to watch. Having nicely adjusted to the captain’s armband, Terry has since proved to be one of Chelsea’s best captains ever. Regarded by the fans as a ‘Captain ,Leader, Legend’, he has led us amazingly and his presence on the field being enough to galvanise the other players.

But the question remains unanswered: why did I choose Chelsea? Perhaps it was because I knew in my mind, 8 years ago, that I was watching legends or rather legends to be in action. Just watching Drogba and his sublime skills with the ball, or Lampard with his finesse or Terry, strong as a rock against a mighty gale, was enough to woo and tantalize me beyond belief. It was precisely then that my heart bled blue (Indian cricket fans pray forgive my unintentional pun).

Being a blueheart carries its more then occasional stumbles, but on the other hand helps one pick oneself up. Having reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in chilly Moscow in 2008 was a first-of-its-kind experience for us. However, to lose to Europe’s premier trophy in so close a manner chilled our hearts more than what Moscow’s weather had its fans and players. However, we picked ourselves up and won the 09-10 BPL Trophy and the 2009 FA cup as well.

One of my main worries as a Chelsea supporter is our constant change of managers. As will be known by every football follower, Chelsea has had a LOT of changes in its managerial setup since the Abramovich era dawned upon the club. Almost every 2 seasons or so, a manager is kicked with a boot up his backside, which is a very erratic thing. As things come and go, so is it with managers here! However, being a staunch supporter and due to the fact that this managerial leash is not in my control, the change, however unpleasant, is met with a stiff upper lip.

However, our victories are enjoyed with as much passion as our defeats are sorely mourned at. In the 2011-12 Champions League, almost all of Europe had written us off after the 1st leg defeat to Napoli (3-1) in the round of 16. With the sacking of AVB, even the staunchest of supporters were not very optimistic. But rising or, should I say, leaping to the challenge, the insurmountable odds were conquered under caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo. Napoli was defeated, Benfica too, and then the mighty Barcelona too had to suffer the wrath of the blue flames. Finally Bayern Munich had to suffer defeat too, in their own backyard no less. History had just been achieved. Watching the team lift the Holy Grail, so sought after, so near and yet so far, finally, was a feeling which just could not be put into words.

People might accuse us of being many things but I would like to say this in rebuttal:

WE ARE FIGHTERS!