Top 10 things that defined Chelsea's season

The ‘ball boy’ incident

Chelsea were already starting the 2nd leg with a 2-0 deficit in the semi final’s of the Capital One Cup. Two uncharacteristic back passes by Branislav Ivanovic saw Swansea score twice past Hillario. Coming back to the 2nd leg at Liberty Stadium, Swansea looked very organised at the back. It was 0-0 until the 75th minute. It was Swansea’s goal kick in the 76th minute, but where was the ball?

Oh there it was, but why was the ball boy holding on to the ball rather than not giving it to the goalkeeper (Tremmel). This angered Hazard, who was already frustrated with the scoreline. Being closest to the ball boy, he tried kicking the ball out of the ball boy’s grasp but ended up kicking up the ball boy as well. Usually ball boys aren’t supposed to be aged over 14, but since a ball boy had fallen sick at the last moment, another ball boy was called in as a substitute later identified as Charlie Morgan who was 17.

Clearly, at 17 he was old enough to know the situation and tried his best to run down the clock. It was a successful attempt as he managed to get Hazard sent off, who was banned for the next three games. Morgan decided not to press charges after Hazard apologised to him.