Chelsea - Champions of Europe 2012

The miraculous has happened. They did it. After suffering from a demoralizing defeat in 2008 to Man United in the Champions League final, Roman Abramovich and his Chelsea legion have defied all the odds to stun the world’s best teams and secure their first ever Champions League win in their history. The Chelsea fans all over the planet have waited a long time to for European domination, but they have finally achieved their long awaited goal. No more hurt, no more pain, Chelsea are European Champions.

Massive credit has to go out to the whole Chelsea team for their achievements in Europe this year. Despite struggling massively in the league, the only way to compensate for what would've been a year of disappointment was to win the Champions League. And unbelievably, they achieved the impossible. When you look back to the first leg in Naples in the last 16, they looked doomed. Down and out. But the players have been helped by a change in management, with Di Matteo replacing Villas-Boas, sparking a huge contrast in fortune. They showed a vast amount of drive and determination that had been lacking under Villas-Boas. This determination has led to a spirited Chelsea side lifting the Champions League trophy, something that they couldn't have even dreamed of based on their early season woes.

Muller heads in Ribery's cross to send Bayern fans
and players into ecstasy

But with Chelsea, nothing is easy. This year Chelsea have frequently had their backs up against the wall, showing spirit and grit to eventually prevail whilst defying all the odds. They'd done so against Napoli, Barcelona, and now most importantly - against Bayern Munich in the final. They defended for the majority of the game, time after time repelling the onslaught that Bayern were throwing at them. But the Chelsea back line held firm, with numerous blocks preventing key goal scoring opportunities. Gary Cahill and David Luiz were particularly impressive in a solid back for, repelling attack after attack and defending heroically at the back to prevent Bayern Munich from breaking the deadlock.

But this resistance did not last forever. The 2010 World Cup golden boot winner, Thomas Muller, finally made the breakthrough. Despite missing a couple of good chances prior to his goal, he made sure he would atone for his errors when he propped up at the far post to head Bayern one step closer to the Champions League crown. A huge contrast of emotions developed as a result of the goal. The whole Chelsea team looked deflated, whilst the whole Bayern team looked ecstatic. Surely, a team who had dominated for large periods of the game would see out the last 7 minutes without considerable threat. Surely?

But for the umpteenth time this Champions League season, Chelsea fought back. On the 88th minute, the stadium erupted once more, this time in different sections of the ground. At this moment in time Bayern had wasted 18 corners, whilst Chelsea had just earned their first. Mata swung the corner in, and there was the inspirational Didier Drogba, who ran across the penalty area to meet the ball. He powered the header into the top corner, with Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer unable to get a strong enough hand to the ball. Unbelievable. The game was heading to extra time.

Cech dramatically saves Robben's extra time penalty

But Bayern would surely live to regret the chances that they spurned in the game. Gomez missed a couple of good chances, which was surprising considering prior to the game he had notched 12 goals in 11 games this Champions League season. Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben were also culprits in missing good chances, although the former did get his name on the score sheet in the end. However Arjen Robben in particular will sleep uneasily for a long time to come. Drogba turned from hero to zero when he stupidly tripped Ribery in the box, giving the referee no choice but to give the penalty. Prior to his run up, Mikel had told Robben that he would miss, and this proved to be the case. He hit the ball hard, but there was no finesse in his strike, allowing Cech to dive to his right and hold onto the ball at the second time of asking. Amazing. Chelsea had survived again!

There was one more chance in the final 30 minutes, when the impeccable Phillip Lahm capped off a surging run by chipping the ball to the substitute Olic, but he could only miss the target shockingly from all of 6 yards. And so the game was to be decided by penalties, and no one could script the drama that followed. No one. Based on past experiences, you could be forgiven for thinking that Chelsea didn't have a chance in overcoming Bayern in the penalty shootout. England vs Germany. At penalties. Could Chelsea pull out one more miracle out the hat?

When Mata missed, it didn't look likely. All hope seemed to be fading, and it looked as if Chelsea's Champions League dream was finally coming to an end. They looked as if they were going to fall at the final hurdle; they came so close… Yet so far. The Germans rattled in the penalties, seemingly not even remotely affected by the enormous pressure that was on their shoulders. Lahm converted despite Cech getting a hand to it, as did Gomez and even Manuel Neuer himself. Chelsea also clung on, with Luiz and Lampard also scoring from 12 yards. But then, another twist. Cech saved Olic's penalty, and suddenly there was hope. Light at the end of the tunnel. When Cole neatly tucked the ball into the corner, it was suddenly sudden death. Now, only villains and hero’s could emerge. when Cech got the faintest fingertip on Schweinsteiger's penalty to push it onto the post, Chelsea were on the brink of victory. The script was written for them, but could they finalize their name into the history books?

The contrast is evident to see as Drogba rolls in the winning
penalty

Yes. Yes is the answer. It was Drogba, the inspirational forward who had served Chelsea so well in his 8 year spell with the club who sent Chelsea players and fans alike into ecstasy. It proved to be his last touch in a Chelsea shirt, and no better but to win the Champions League title for your side. He coolly rose to the occasion, and diverted the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal, and he had done it. Chelsea were Champions League winners for the first time in their history. Incredible.

In many ways Chelsea's Champions League can be compared to Liverpool's famous Champions League win in 2005. Despite coming incredibly close to elimination on numerous occasions and being classed as underdogs for mostly all of their ties, both teams came through in the end to record what can only be described as miraculous victories. Even though Chelsea didn't win the final in anywhere the same dramatic fashion as Liverpool, they, like Liverpool, defied the odds and emerged victorious not only once, but on multiple occasions; including the final. Nevertheless, no matter how they did it, they came out on top and one thing is for certain. Chelsea are European Champions.