The Chelsea Dilemma

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it”

This famous quote from John Wooden about sportspersons has nothing to be pondered upon with confusion. It simply summarizes the known fact about how sports brings out the true being in you, how it unlocks the potential inside a person to achieve greatness. Also about how it reveals the darker aspects of one’s character. There are countless examples of it, from Drogba’s explicit comments at the end of the semi finals of the champions league to the two game ban imposed on Wayne Rooney for hurling abuses. From the recent World Cup winning squad proudly known as Team India to Barcelona, a name which will always go down the annals of sporting history as one of the finest clubs of the world.

Wooden’s quote quote especially holds true for Chelsea, a club bankrolled by Russian oil and led by their charismatic captain John Terry. A team which has varying egos and a plethora of stars. A club which mostly has had the problem of plenty rather than a problem of scarcity. Yet time and time again it had to prove its worth before millions of fans across the globe about its ability to actually play as champions. A superb team has truly been assembled by dishing out large sums of money. But in order to compete with the best and be counted among the best, what you need is a sound financial backing to constantly churn out the best players. All top clubs in footballing pedigree also can be found out among the richest clubs in the world. Yet when Roman Abrahimovich came down knocking towards Chelsea having ironically fallen in love with football watching the 1999 champions league final comeback by none other than Manchester United , fans and pseudo fans came rushing out to criticize it. When Chelsea buys off the best players in the world (Chelsea have been one of the best buyers in terms of quality), footballing pundits scoff at the proposition. Maybe because they resist change or maybe because they do not want the mantle of world football being passed away from the select few.

But Chelsea has proved them wrong. Many players in Chelsea have stood by the club through thick and thin. Club loyalty can be seen in large numbers at Chelsea. And they have dismantled the set trio of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United to grab a share of the elusive pie. Money cannot buy success, but it is an integral parameter to achieve success.

Tonight Chelsea square off with Manchester United with nothing but redemption in their mind. The steps towards achieving the ultimate prize in world football: Respect, starts at Stamford Bridge. And there lies a disillusioned player in the form of Fernando Torres, who although made an acrimonious exit from Liverpool, has nevertheless been excessively battered by the world for failing to live up to the standards of Liverpool. Chelsea and Torres both need to embark upon a grueling journey towards Wembley to show the world what they are capable of and to earn the much needed respect. And with football revealing one’s character, it is time to show the world what we are really made up of.

Chelsea have been poor this season. Individual preferences have taken over the team. Egos have clashed. Mistakes have been made. But the Holy Grail known as the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE is yet to be lost. This is what we crave for. This is what we want. And the path to Wembley could not have been better. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Chelsea has failed to live up to it this season on a number of occasions. But another shot at the Champions League!! This cannot be missed.

(This post is by a disgruntled Chelsea fan)