The Munich Miracle

 

Imagine this, early of the season your club appointed an ex-backroom staff to become the manager, shacky performance by the team from the start, manager sacked mid-season and the club is in turmoil and the board decided to place an interim manager with an ex-player then ending the season with two titles which the FA cup and by the words of Bryan Clough, the “Big Ol Ears”. Fairy tale.

That is exactly what happened to Chelsea Football Club during the 2011/12 season. An ex-staff was appointed as the manager goes by the name Andres Villas Boas (AVB). He was a coaching staff during Jose Mourinho’s first tenure as a Chelsea manager. Then AVB left Chelsea to be the manager of Porto FC in his home nation league. He won the Europa League for the Portuguese side before he was enticed by the London based club. He was only 33 years old.

During AVB’s era at Chelsea, there was always rumours regarding his chemistry with the players especially the one who played there for more than 5 years such as Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole etc. It was sort of he had no credibility to manage the players there. In the middle of the season, he was axed.

 

Chelsea’s season is in jeopardy, they are not in the run for the league title and on top of that they have no manager to lead the team. Chelsea Football Club can barely see the light at the end of the tunnel. Then came an interim manager, Roberto Di Matteo, an-ex player who played for them from 1996 until 2002 and eventually retired there. From there, Chelsea began their fight to save their season and their fight for their first European title.

In the round of 16 of the champions league, Chelsea lost 3-1 to Napoli in the 1st leg but manage to fight back 5-4 on aggregate. Benfica was next in quarter-final. Chelsea won in both legs winning 3-1 on aggregate. Next up, Barcelona in the semis.

Reigning champion, Barcelona was full of stars, from their manager to their bench. Their manager, Pep Guardiola led his team to two champions league titles prior to the match. Having beat Manchester United in both finals in 2009 and 2011. Barcelona was at the top of their game, with players like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez on their side.

Chelsea won the 1st leg match at Stamford Bridge 1-0 thanks to a Didier Drogba’s goal in the 45th minute before travelling to Spain for the return leg at the Nou Camp.

The odds was against Chelsea to be in the Champions league final that season prior to that 2nd leg game. But Chelsea defy all odds by ending the match 2-2 on the night and winning 3-2 on aggregate. The whole world was in shocked. Even Gary Neville was hyped with the winning goal in the commentary box.

In the other semi-final match, Bayern Munich beaten Real Madrid to reach the final and Chelsea will face them in Bayern’s backyard, the Allianz Arena. Bayern were making their ninth appearance in the competition's final, having won four and lost four, most recently losing in 2010. Chelsea were appearing in their second final, having lost their first in 2008. Bayern Munich were the favourite to lift the trophy.

This was the pinnacle of Chelsea’s season as they finished outside the top four in the league, meaning the missed the chance to play in the champions league next season unless they win the cup against the german side.

Chelsea lost their captain John Terry due to suspension as he picked up a yellow card against Barcelona in the semis, and the manager decided to start their academy palyer Ryan Betrand who naturally plays as a left back to play upfront on the left wing.

Bayern took the lead late in the second half through Thomas Müller, but Didier Drogba equalised for Chelsea five minutes later to take the game to extra time, in which Arjen Robben missed an awarded penalty, Petr Čech saving the low drive. The teams stayed level at 1–1 and the match went to a penalty shoot-out, which Chelsea won 4–3 to clinch their first Champions League title on Bayern’s stomping ground. Magic

This was a historic moment for the London side as they became the first London club to win the tournament, the fifth English club and 22nd overall. Pride of London.