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Chelsea’s Spanish manager Rafael Benitez (L) shakes hands with his players after their English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford, Manchester, northwest England on March 10, 2013. The match ended 2-2.
2-0 down in the 11th minute. A string of defensive errors result in a cheap Wayne Rooney goal; Chelsea’s heads are beginning to drop. They are lucky to get to the break only 2-0 down.
But out of nowhere, Chelsea start to show real character and determination in the second half – the sort of fighting nature that the fans have been crying out for in the last few weeks and which Chelsea have sorely missed on the European travels. It appears the fight which saw us become European Champions has finally returned. And it only took a poor league campaign, Rafa Benitez, losing in Europe and the threat of losing our unbeaten run in the FA Cup to get there.
On that note, huge credit has to be given to Benitez. Despite the incredible criticism, the ceaseless booing and the lack of support, he managed to pull of one of the results of Chelsea’s season. Not only does this mean that our record unbeaten run remains intact, but we finally got a big one over Man Utd. The Capital One Cup victory was good, but they fielded a severely inexperienced team. Not so on this occasion – even better, the match was at Old Trafford and Chelsea have reason to be disappointed only to draw thanks to some outstanding saves from David de Gea. Pardon the cliché, but something happened in that dressing room at half time.
When Chelsea returned in the second half, you sensed a change. And what an outcome it had. This is exactly the kind of result Rafa and Chelsea needed – now we, as the fans, have to show them our support. No more banners, no more more booing, just the kind of support you expect at the top level of the EPL. If we show the team we are behind them, then anything is possible this season.
