Moscow here we come
Congrats to the boys for winning the CL semi-final against Liverpool. I’m sooo surprised. NOOOT!
I expected this.
Drogba celebrates the first of his two goals - espnsoccernet photo
Can’t say I never had a moment or two of pure anxiety though. That Babel goal really did put one or two flashes of a possible loss before my eyes. Whats worse, it happened just as Grant was substituting Shevchenko into the game for Lampard. That is: a forward to replace a midfielder. This could have been a case of very bad timing (well bad luck really). We were already at what could be considered a defensive deficit having started the game with only three out-and-out defenders in Terry, Carvalho and Ashley Cole!
As I shared with a friend, prior to the game, Chelsea have a ‘beast’ mentality about them these days. Thats my way of saying, they are all coming into their own and gelling as a team. They are more aggressive, more confident and more mentally tough going into the final minutes of games. It was this same renewed spirit that saw us through that last extra-time period.
I’ll tell you something else, I suspect it will ManU’s undoing in the final. i say this becase we have just now reached our peak while they have already reached theirs now and their cycle looks to be going back down. To understand more clearly what how important peaking at the right time is, pay attention to Arsenal’s season this year so far.
Having said all that, I now turn my attention to the real man of the moment, Dider Drogba Avram Grant. Despite the flack he’s received from, least of all, Chelsea supporters, he has acquitted himself very well IMO. Some food for thought: If Avram Grant wins the CL and somehow manages to overhaul Manchester United’s lead in the EPL, he’d have outdone the special one. If this comes through, the bakeries of the world will be doing brisk business making humble pie - food shortage or not. There probably won’t even be enough to go around for everyone who deserves a slice.
Come to think of it, Jose did not even make it into the final with Chelsea. That in mind, I’d say Grant has more than proven he’s a worthy successor. More on that some other time though.
Avram Grant
Game Reviews:
