Chelsea 1 – 2 Basel

Wednesday 18^th September from Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea 1 – 2 Basel

I’m taking nothing for granted after last year’s early dismissal. That being said we seem to have found ourselves a nice little group. We have drawn two teams that we beat on our way to Europa League glory last season, although I don’t think Thursday nights interest Mr Mourinho much. The 9 days that we greedily showed off both Europa League and Champions League trophies was worth the abuse incurred from being the first winners to crash out so early.

I guess to enjoy the good days in football you need to endure the bad ones – and this was a shocker. So after a long day in the office, a delay on the Piccadilly line and a quick pint of watered-down lager it was finally time for the Champions League to commence at Stamford Bridge.

It was the same old story for Chelsea in the first half. Controlled, dominant possession with little flare and penetration in the final third. It’s hard to impress when Basel arrives and shut shop, yet who are we to moan at the park-the-bus tactic in Europe. A lapse in concentration from Basel’s defence allowed Oscar to slip in and score right on the stroke of half time. Now the game would open up and the second half would be much better right? Wrong.

We remained in first gear after the break and, although Willian played well, Oscar was the only ‘young egg’ showing promise. The Brazilians long-range effort crashing off the crossbar was the closest we came to doubling our lead. Other than that we were poor. Eto’o may be roaring round West London in a Bugatti Veyron but he’s not made a sound on the pitch since his move from Anzi – another overpaid striker we’ve signed after he’s peaked.

Then first gear stumbled unthinkably into reverse.  The gap between defence and midfield was exposed once more and Basel equalised 20 minutes from time, the goal scorer Salah looked like Basel’s main threat both tonight and last season. Then bad went to worse on the 80-minute mark. Centre forward Marco Streller headed the visitors in front and ghosts of last year’s group stage re-appeared. The blues had no answer in the dying minutes, despite Mikel’s recent goal scoring form, and we begin this seasons Champions League campaign with the worst possible start.

Still, no need to panic. There’s plenty of time to get qualification back on track. I’m sure Mourinho won’t be panicking either. With the likes of Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Willian, De Bruyne etc. the only way is up. Hopefully. 

Chelsea 2 – 0 Hull Tigers

Sunday 18^th August from Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea 2 – 0 Hull Tigers

What a difference a manager makes, the ‘happy one’ is back and I’m sure even our rivals are glad to see him return to the Premiership. Mourinho versus Di Canio and Holloway should provide some amazing off-the-pitch entertainment this season. I, like so many other Chelsea fans, am happy to see the back of the Benitez and welcome a manger that actually has a passion towards the club. That being said I thought Benitez was very professional whilst in charge of the blues and that got him a nice little role at Napoli as a reward.

New season means new shirt and after the heroics of last season it had to be number 8. For a player to score over 203 goals for one club in the Premiership era is ridiculous, for a midfielder to do it is beyond ridiculous. The thing I admire most about Frank Lampard, apart from his loyalty, is his character. He’s clearly a team player, doesn’t moan when he’s on the bench, obtains a clear passion for football and is an obvious family man – he writes children’s stories in his spare time for his kids. He’s a player that has forced himself into the record books as a Chelsea legend.  Would love to see him and Terry in coaching roles at the Bridge in the future.

Pre-match pub talk was all about Mourinho and the squad he’ll go for in first game back in charge. All the Torres talk was no bluff as he opted for the misfiring Spaniard to lead the attack. The game got underway to a chorus of Mourinho cheers and a few minutes in we had ourselves a penalty, although Lampard squandered the chance from the spot. Only a player of Frank’s calibre can get euphorically cheered after missing a penalty and it wasn’t long until Chelsea were in front. Oscar was slipped in by Torres and slotted the ball calmly into the back of the net. The talented Brazilian was man-of-the-match for me today and, in my own biased opinion, will be one of the very best in the world at his peak.

How do you redeem yourself after missing a 12-yard spot kick? Smash in a 40 yard free kick is the answer – and that is exactly what Lampard did to double our lead after 25 minutes. There were a few more chances before half time as Kevin De Bruyne showed us why we did not send him out on loan for a second season. The hapless ‘Tigers’ showed no real threat at any stage during the game, but neither did Chelsea after the break. The game would finish 2-0 as both teams played out what I would recall as one of the most boring halves of football I have ever watched. Lukaku and Schurrle came on a linked up only for the German to over-hit his attempted lob. That was the only attempt of note as the full time whistle blew. A clean sheet, 3 points and a happy welcome back meant job done for Mourinho and the boys. 

Chelsea 3 – 1 Basel

Thursday 2^nd May 2013:

Chelsea 3 – 1 Basel

The possible return Jose Mourinho was the subject of the pre match pub chatter. The special one’s name was chanted in the stadium as the fans continued their Benitez out campaign – that’s manager of the month Benitez. Chelsea had one foot in the Amsterdam final after the 2-1 first-leg win and the team sheet mirrored that. Mata and Oscar being rested for the visit to Old Trafford in 3 days time. This proved that securing Champions League football for 2013/14 was as important as getting our grips on a second successive European trophy.

Chelsea looked solid for the first half hour with Frank Lampard having the best chance for the blues, agonisingly scuffing a shot onto the woodwork. Lampard is only 2 goals away from Tambling’s record and I fancy him to be Chelsea’s all time leading goal scorer by the end of the season. Things took a turn for the worse before the break. After the half hour mark Chelsea looked like a different team, the gap between defence and midfield seemed huge. Basel threatened twice only to be denied by the superb gloves of Petr Cech.  Then on the stroke of half time the goal deservedly came and the tie was wide open again. 

Concerns brewed at halftime as Basel were back in the tie and Chelsea were looking poor. However, these concerns were not to last long. Basel’s keeper had a shocker in the first leg and I stated in the pub before the game that we should install a shoot-on-sight policy. 50 minutes on the clock and a tame shot is parried in the path of Torres who slots home the equaliser. 2 minutes later and a tame shot by Moses is parried into the path of ... Moses. 2-1, Game over.

Although the semi final tie was over, the entertainment was yet to come. Some neat football on the edge of the box and a Lampard lay-off put the ball straight in the path of an accelerating David Luiz. The flamboyant Brazilian put the side of his left foot through the ball, curling it straight into the top corner past a motionless Basel keeper. Ten keepers would not have kept that one out; the ball started 5 yards wide of the goal before curling in. One of the best goals I have witnessed at the Bridge. Basel still managed a shot against the crossbar but it was all in vein and Chelsea progressed comfortably into the Europa League final. Our opponents will be Benfica in the Amsterdam Arena. Hopefully we can be the first club to hold both the Champions League and Europa League trophies at the same time.