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It was a fairytale ending to Chelsea’s Champions League pursuit last season with the Holy Grail finally being achieved. They might have fall short this season but another European trophy has been added to their trophy cabinet. Chelsea’s current season started with the Munich hangover with their historic victory, its impact and the new acquisitions being talked over around the football world. Certainly their performance on pitch did not show any sign of hangover as Chelsea remained undefeated in first eight Premier League games, scoring a lot of goals and showcasing attacking playing style.
Their first league defeat came against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in controversial circumstances towards late October immediately after their defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe, indicating the signs of things to come. By the end of November third week, they were out of Champions League and found themselves four points behind in the title race. Club legend Roberto Di Matteo was relieved from his duties and former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez came in as the new manager much to the disappointment of the majority of Chelsea fans.
Chelsea experienced further slump in their form as they lost to Corinthians in Club World Club final, exited League Cup at the hands of Swansea and were made to fight to remain in top four in the Premier League. Their focus was solely on ensuring European football next season but the job at the hand was looking tough for the Spanish manager as he was facing consistent opposition from Chelsea fans.
Injuries to key players and African Cup of Nations added extra pressure on a thin Chelsea squad, which was fighting on different fronts to save their season. Chelsea dropped out of the top four in the league standing, casting doubt on their next season’s European dreams but this is where the Blues rose to show their true spirit. Chelsea, since the turn of the new year, have won 10 of their 18 league matches played till now, losing only 4. Their spirited performance against Aston Villa away ensured their participation in Europe next season.
The added glory arrived in the tournament they were not expected to participate in the beginning of the season. Group stage elimination from Champions League meant Chelsea had to participate in Europa League. Rafael Benitez sensed the potential to land a trophy and rotated his squad well to book the road to Amsterdam for the final. Europa League might not be the most coveted trophy for the top European teams but to lose the track in the middle of the season as Chelsea did and then to get back to win this trophy, speaks a volume about the Blues’ team spirit and never-say-die attitude.
Europa League trophy is Chelsea’s 11th major trophy in the Roman Abramovich era. Chelsea have now become the only team to hold both European titles together and also the fourth team to have won all major continental trophies. Chelsea’s roll of honour continues even when they don’t have best of their season; just imagine what is in the bag for the next season!
