"The Merchants of Dreams"....

                  It has all boiled down to the same! Manchester United host Chelsea in a Title-decider on Sunday, that will define their respective seasons.It's been the same last year,and the year before last, in fact straight back from 2003! Ever since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea that year, the Blues have installed themselves as the firm challengers to United's long run of success.

Finally it had to come to this....the "English Classico" will decide who rules England!

            

Boulevard of Broken Dreams....

Chelsea's European dreams were shattered, again!

               There they stood, dejected and bruised, facing the taunts from 60,000-strong unforgiving opposition crowd,long after the victors had already left the field.Some of the finest players of this generation,as Green Day had so aptly put it, standing on the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".
                Chelsea were thrown out of the Europe's elite competition in the late stages again, this time, the Theatre of Dreams proved to be the graveyard for their European ambitions.The analysis has already begun in full flow already,there will be a lot of finger-pointing by the experts,on tactical decisions,on players' qualities too perhaps, but few realise the impact it might have had on some of the biggest players of the current era.
                  Didier Drogba, unarguably one of the finest footballing talents produced by Africa may never lift the Champions League trophy. One of the greatest goal-scoring mid-fielders the world has ever seen, Frank Lampard may finish his career, still craving the tag of a European Champion.Florent Malouda, the brilliant French winger, whose heroics in 2006 World Cup made Chelsea splash14 million pounds on him, may have to end up without Europe's most coveted Silverware.The predatory talent of Nicolas Anelka,who wandered around the world with Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Fenerbahce, finally to settle at Chelsea still has that elusive piece of Silverware missing from his medals.These are not just like any other players, but some of the best of this era.They surely deserved better,if Michael Carrick and John O'shea can win the Champions league,then Frank Lampard surely deserves to be the winner too. If Juliano Beletti and Luis Garcia can have the Champions League winning medals, then Didier Drogba sure as hell deserves one.

Will Chelsea ever find such a moment,to win the title that has become their "Holy Grail"??

                   But then,fate operates in it's own funny way.Chelsea have suffered some terrible misfortunes in the competition,but that can no more be put up as an excuse.For the second year running, the Blues were knocked out, not because of Refereeing decisions, but because of tactical inefficiencies.(Yes,there was this penalty not given,and hint of offside in the 1st goal in 2nd leg,but that's too less to call Injustice these days,according to Chelsea's current standards in UEFA,isn't it?) Last year, Jose Mourinho completely outfoxed Ancelotti in sheer tactical battles,to eliminate his old Club.This year, Chelsea found ways to self-destruct.Now call me a loser or a cry-baby or whatever you like,but I'm never going to accept that this Manchester United team was a Potentially better team than Chelsea.But, at some positions Chelsea were terrible,and United made them pay for it.I have never been convinced by Jose Bosingwa's performances in Chelsea colours.Yes,he makes those terrific runs from the right,but 99 percent of his crosses fail to find what is needed: A Blue Shirt in the opposition Penalty box.And better not talk about his defensive skills! It was solely his fault that United took a priceless away lead into the 2nd leg and that came to haunt Chelsea, badly.
                 Lot has been talked about already about the decision to start Fernando Torres, keeping Drogba on the bench for the crunch game at Old Trafford.The move completely backfired on Chelsea.Now, there are talks of revamp of the ageing side,it's been long due I feel. That's why so many of Chelsea's ageing stars may never have the chance to fight for the ultimate prize in European Football again.Roman Abramovich, or for that sake, owners of many big clubs over the world may have sympathy, but they're unlikely to have a place for these waning stars in their team.

Chelsea's two frontmen, along with Frank Lampard have failed to light up the stage this year

                   Finally, the debates will run on for some time, whether Chelsea made the mistake of not trusting their best forward in pressure situations, whether the denied penalty had any impact on the outcome, whether Manchester United were simply overwhelming for the reigning English Champions,. The reality however is, Manchester United are in the semi-finals and deservedly so.It just keeps niggling in the mind sometimes though, had Didier Drogba played the whole game, instead of the 45-minute cameo he was allowed, Chelsea could've had a much better chance to get closer to their "Holy Grail". Instead, what they got was another European Nightmare!

Welcome Back, Roman!

Roman Abrahimovic is back in business

           Cost-cutting, Michel Platini, UEFA's Financial Restrictions....If anyone thought these words governed the happenings at Chelsea these days,then Roman Abrahimovic just showed who is in control at Stamford Bridge.Almost 75 million pounds spent on New Recruits,one of them a reigning Euro and World Cup Winner,while the other hailed as the Future of the Ultimate Footballing nation.Chelsea are back in Business.
           Not since the Massive investment in 2006,that saw the likes of Shevchenko,Michael Ballack, and Kalou land in London,have Chelsea made a big-name signing.The last 3 or 4 years have been relatively quiet,with just the likes of Zhirkov and Ramires and Sturridge coming in,all good players no doubt,but not the superstars who win you the Titles.There were talks of Self-sufficiency at the Club,but with the Champions faltering badly this season,Roman has been forced to open his chequebook again.

            The signings of Torres and David Luiz are highly significant in many ways.First and foremost,it shows that the Owner is firmly backing Carlo Ancelotti,by trusting him with the big signings.It's particularly important at a Club like Chelsea,for whom Stability could be working wonders.Also,it gives them a fresh impetus,in a campaign which threatened to deteriorate even further.Suddenly,there is a spring in their steps now.The arrival of Torres immediately puts pressure on Chelsea's big-name, yet misfiring strikers.It was all so evident against Sunderland.Nicolas Anelka,who looked no more than just an ordinary guy so far this season,was suddenly cutting inside three or four defenders effortlessly.That's what competition can do to you.Chelsea now have much-needed cover in the defense too,which now means all of us will be spared of watching Paulo Ferreira haplessly struggling in the Central defensive role,when Terry or Alex gets injured.
              Although one team feeling the brunt of Chelsea's sudden spree is Manchester City.They have tried to establish themselves among the Elite by throwing obscene amounts of money at half-decent players.But,even then,they remain unable to attract the very Best talent.People like Adebayor,and Edin Dzeko will come,but there will be no Kakas or Rooneys or Torreses.City would have been hoping to become the sole destination for big-money signings,but with Chelsea getting back to their Spending ways,it's a massive blow to the Blue-half of Manchester.

Fernando Torres after signing for Chelsea

               Lots of things are being said about Torres' massive transfer.Some say 50 millions is too much,then let me ask you differently.Is Torres worth 30 millions less than Ronaldo? No.Is he worth 6 millions less than Ibrahimovic? No. Is he worth 15 millions more than Caroll? Certainly.And then let's not forget Torres is already one of the most feared strikers in the World,has already netted in the Euro Final,and aged 26,arguably has his best years ahead of him.As far as Torres is concerned,for all the flak he's facing from Liverpool,his decision only seems logical.He may have loved Liverpool very much,but the fact is Liverpool are not up there with the Rest of the big Clubs.Biggest reason for Torres leaving Atletico,his boyhood club,was his desire to play in Champions League,to test himself against the Best in the world.We all know Liverpool aren't going to play Champions League next year,and maybe even in the year after that.And if the timing of the move is to be questioned,it was Torres' best chance really.Had he waited till the summer,Manchester City would come in with another massive bid,and Liverpool would rather sell to them,in the hope of earning a few more millions,than Chelsea.As a World Cup winning player,you would hardly want to go to City,when the Big teams are interested (Unless,you are stupid enough to be Carlos Tevez, of course!).
             Well,there have been too many discussions about Chelsea's massive spendings (which seem to overshadow the 35 millions Liverpool paid for a striker who is yet to play a Full-season in EPL,and was outscored by 4 players in the Second Division last year.Cunning piece of business,anyone? ) One thing is Crystal clear,Roman Abrahimovic has made Chelsea an even better destination than ever before.With that massive transfer of Torres,it's going to be much more easy for Chelsea to convince the big names to come to Stamford Bridge. Neymar, Kaka,Pato, Marek Hamsik,take your pick.
            Anyone thought Chelsea were a Club on the way down, not good enough for Steven Pienaar to choose over Tottenham?? You can forget all that now.The Russian Oligarch's actions in this January Transfer window promise a huge impact on the European Football for the seasons to come.

Welcome Back, Roman!