Chelsea are only one perfect performance away from heading to Munich. One performance away from having a chance at finally lifting the UEFA Champions League.

This more than anything is what we want most. It’s the one Terry and co. haven’t won. The one that has eluded us through refereeing ineptitude, wild controversy and plain old bad luck. The side that progresses will be the one that wants it more.

We’ve been here before. We have shown that we are capable, if any side in europe is? We can beat Barcelona. We did it last week, and without allowing Barca an away goal. And that means we don’t have to win on this most vital of Tuesdays.

Let us put the past behind us though, but who can forget the most impressive opening of any Chelsea side with Duff slotting home. Or the sublime goal of the ever impressive Frank Lampard from an impossible angle that he maintains he did intend. Or even Ashley Cole crossing to Drogba who spun and smashed the ball home. Maybe we shouldn’t forget the past, lest we doom ourselves to make the same mistakes.

It doesn’t take a talismanic Ivorian forward to know that we’ve been robbed in the past against this over-hyped Barcelona side, and ‘f***ing disgracefully’ at that. That doesn’t matter though. We can only try control what we actually can control. We can’t control the fact that commentators the world over will fail to objectively report the game. We can’t control the referee. For large parts of the game we won’t control the ball.

Chelsea haven’t changed much from the side that saw Iniesta steal that goal in 2009, but neither have they. Barcelona play through the middle. They have no real width. They have no true striker. They lack a truly world-class goalkeeper. They have revolutionised football without ever having a plan B.

Messi can be stopped, he has never scored a goal against Chelsea. Xavi can be stopped, I call it the Mikel effect. Before the first leg Pep Guardiola, who is no Special One, just very familiar with the Catalunyan way, admitted difficulty in formulating how to create scoring opportunities against Chelsea. He wasn’t bluffing. He now claims he has no doubts they will prevail.

Now he is bluffing, as even the happiest married couple will tell you, there are always doubts. It won’t be easy, as playing any great side is never easy, but we are a great side too. Even if we aren’t thought of as such. If we lift The Champions League trophy in Munich that might change though.

We must be dynamic. We must be at the top of our game. Barcelona will play their pretentious form of anti-football that monopolises possesion, but we have to play the Chelsea way. The defensive discipline, the decisiveness in front of goal and the refusal to lose. Cech and Mikel have returned to form. Mikel’s interception of Robin Van Persie’s little disguised pass on saturday was nothing short of brilliant.

Gary Cahill and John Terry need to be immense again, and continue displaying a solidity that must have the english FA licking their collective lips. Ivanovic cannot be caught out as often as he was in the first leg. Didier Drogba’s one man campaign of terror must continue, on his day he is simply unplayeable. Ashley Cole must allow the world to see he is the best left-back on the planet, yet again.

Mata cannot drift out of the game completely for long periods. Frank Lampard must once again prove ageist sceptics wrong; yes, he is a better player than Steven Gerrard. Ramires must put in a yet another player-of-the-season performance. If we play to our strengths and do what we must do, we can do what too many don’t believe Chelsea can.

If we can somehow nick a goal and maintain our shape for the entirety of the match we will go through to the final, but we can’t play for a scoreless draw and we can’t waste possession when we do have it.

The team that wants it the most will progress. Has the Barcelona bubble popped? Are they about to experience the joy people have in tearing down heroes and making them villains? Will we have a shot at ultimate glory come the final or will we once again rue what might have been? I think the final result will be 0-0 in the Camp Nou.

Mission Possible. As always blue is the colour. See you in Munich.

TheChels.net welcomes Mowing Meadows and the Chelsea IF’C series; taking a look at what could have happened IF an event in the past occurred differently at Chelsea FC and how events would unfold there on after.

In the first of a regular series to be serialised on this website, we begin our first instalment with a look at ‘what if’ Nicolas Anelka wasn’t banished from the club and exiled to China. ‘What if’ Nicolas Anelka remained at Chelsea and after the sacking of Villas-Boas, the player nicknamed ‘Le Sulk’ was made the interim manager.

Not many would’ve bet on Nicolas Anelka ever becoming a manager, he never looked the managerial type. Yet, football is an unpredictable game on and off the field and Nicolas Anelka finds himself as player/manager at his current club Shanghai Shenhua to the surprise of many in the footballing world I’m sure.

Rewind, it is March 4th and Chelsea have parted ways with Villas-Boas after his rocky tenure. In a surprise move, Roman Abramovich has bowed down to player power and installed Nicolas Anelka as player manager. His fellow colleagues are delighted at the appointment. Anelka prefers a more Laissez-faire approach compared to the more autocratic style of his predecessor and the players couldn’t be happier. The decision has left fans somewhat bemused but a situation like this requires outside of the box thinking. A criticism of AVB was the lack of playing experience, the same cannot be said for Mr. Anelka.

In his first press conference, Anelka is asked what he thinks owner Roman Abramovich saw in him in terms of managerial qualities and why he decided to take on the role?

“I have always thought that there was a manager in me. I knew it was something I wanted to do ever since I told that fool Domenech where he could go, if he could manage then so could I!” Anelka responded. “As for the qualities I bring… well I get along with the players, I’m a man of the people. I’ve learnt many things from those who have coached me and I will look to impart that knowledge on those that have now become my students.” (For those unaware that means teaching laziness and excellent hold up play)

After one too many questions however the Frenchman decided that he was bored of the media’s enquiries and left the press conference in a blaze of glory.

On the training pitch, Anelka’s attempts in boosting team morale mean more sessions playing ‘hide and seek’ and less time focusing on the nuances that are involved in the game of football. He claimed that as a footballer you either have “it” or you don’t. One thing is evident, the players seemed to be enjoying their time under Anelka more than any other manager. For a man nicknamed ‘Le Sulk’ he sure knows how to bring a smile on other people’s faces.

First game in charge. Birmingham Vs Chelsea – FA Cup replay. The blues line up in their traditional 4-3-3 formation with a return of the old guard apparent. Chelsea go on to win the game 3-0. Man of the Match Daniel Sturridge was interviewed on the impact of the new manager and how he thinks it will change his game. “The boss has done a marvellous job in the few days he’s been here. He made us play FIFA and every player had to control themselves on the game and play how they wanted to in real life, I think I managed to do that today.” (Well, at least we have an explanation for his solo play) It would appear that Gary Neville was on to something when he claimed that David Luiz was reminiscent of a player being controlled by a 10 year old kid.

Anelka and Chelsea face their biggest task in the return leg of the Champions League against Napoli, The Blues face a 3-1 deficit after the first leg. It’s nights like these were people find out if a manager is worth their salt. In an incredibly open affair the score stands at 4-2 in the 85th minute, with Chelsea on the verge of elimination via away goals. Growing tired and frustrated at the lack of attacking threat since their fourth goal. Player/Manager Nicolas Anelka subs himself on, a scene reminding Chelsea fans of another former manager Gianluca Vialli. The 33 year old striker comes on with immediate impact, latching on to a flick on from Didier Drogba, Anelka rounds the keeper and slots in the winner. Pandemonium in the stands and Chelsea are through to the Quarter Finals. Chants of “There’s only one Nicolas Anelka” echo into the night, a truly memorable day for the club.

In the league, Chelsea have enjoyed a rich vain of form and occupy 4th spot after a brilliant month. 4 wins out of 4 for Anelka’s boys including a crucial victory over Champions League hopefuls Tottenham result in a manager of the month award for the man being labelled as “Le spécial” has taken the league by storm and earned the plaudits from managers around the league.

“He’s a breath of fresh air, I’m thinking of putting some of his methods to use myself,” said Sir Alex Ferguson

“We French people are brilliant at getting the best out of players and he certainly is no different,” Arsene Wenger added.

Any doubts the fans had over the appointment of Anelka have now been expelled, banners around Stamford Bridge now crying out for Abramovich to make the role permanent for the man who only a few months ago was on the fringe of the squad, but he has never looked back since turning down the Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

“It’s great to see the team playing with such style and you can tell they’re enjoying themselves. The unity they show is always on display when everyone does Nico’s butterfly hand celebration,” one Chelsea fanzine editorial noted.

Having breezed into the Semi-Finals of the Champions League after dismantling Portuguese side Benfica, Chelsea set up a clash with European rivals Barcelona. Whilst domestically the club are set for another trip to Wembley having easily dispatched of a Tottenham side suffering a catastrophic collapse in the Semi-Final of the FA Cup (Harry Redknapp was sacked after the game and the FA declared they would be looking elsewhere for their England manager vacancy. A crying shame that).

With their Champions League place virtually secured in the league, the Frenchman’s focus is solely on the upcoming Champions League clash with Barcelona and he does not have fond memories of the club that knocked Chelsea out in controversial fashion only three years ago.

“They’re cheats. Nothing more, nothing less.” Anelka roared in the pre match press conference. “We come into the match with great form and self belief, we haven’t lost a game during the time I’ve been in charge and I think we can avenge the demons that haunt us from those years back.”

In a fierce battle during the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea marched out victorious. A 3-1 lead is what they take to Catalonia, it would’ve been 3-0 but for an incredible solo effort from Lionel Messi in the 90th minute has given the Spanish giants hope with an all important away goal.

April 24th, Barcelona. The two teams walk out on to the field in front of a packed Camp Nou. The omens aren’t kind on Chelsea, astonishingly UEFA have appointed Ovrebo as referee for the game to the dismay of the fans and club as a whole. 10 minutes in, Jose Bosingwa is sent off for an ‘elbow’ on Busquets, typical. Barcelona make their numbers advantage count and have a 2-0 lead at half time. Anelka and Chelsea have their work cut out, but in an awe inspiring half time team talk, one that Mike Bassett himself would’ve been proud of, Anelka rallies his troop for a monumental effort. The next 45 minutes would go down in history, as Chelsea played at a level few thought capable, especially given the fact they were a man short. In an epic comeback, Juan Mata scored a second half hat trick in a game that finished 3-3, the few Barcelona fans left in the Camp Nou gave the Spaniard a standing ovation as the final whistle blew. A Champions League final visit awaits against former boss Jose Mourinho.

Munich, Allianz Arena. Champions League final. Chelsea finished the season in fourth place after taking their foot off the gas towards the end of the season but bagged silverware along the way with an FA Cup final victory over the red half of Merseyside, courtesy of an Andy Carroll own goal and Torres brace (You couldn’t make this stuff up). Main event time! Anelka faces the team that made him a champion of Europe and wants to recreate the feat as a manager, Mourinho’s team have recently been crowned La Liga champions, with any luck the team will be suffering from a hangover effect from their domestic dominance. This is a ‘what if’ that grabs that notion by the horns and runs with it. Chelsea are the superior side in the final and it’s a fairytale story for the club that seemed doomed at the beginning of March, they go on to win the match 2-1 but the scoreline flatters Real Madrid who were never really in the game.

“Champions of Europe” the Abramovich dream is fulfilled and all thanks to a stroke of genius by the Russian to employ one of his players as manager. History has been rewritten.

This piece originally aired on Mowing Meadows.

Chelsea ended their 2011-12 reserve campaign with a whimper as they went down 4-1 to Manchester United at a rain-soaked Cobham on Monday afternoon.

Goals from Ryan Tunnicliffe, Larnell Cole, Will Keane and Richie De Laet secured an emphatic and deserved win for the Reds, who will play in the National Final against Aston Villa to determine who will de-throne Chelsea as champions.

The Blues looked a shadow of the side that went all the way last season and few did themselves justice. Patrick Bamford’s fourth goal in as many games was a meagre consolation at the end of a forgettable ninety minutes.

It was a strong starting line-up from Dermot Drummy, featuring three strikers in Bamford, Romelu Lukaku and Adam Phillip, whilst Cliffords Billy and Conor were joined in midfield by captain Nathaniel Chalobah, fresh from youth cup duty last Friday.

The visitors included many recognisable faces from last season’s FA Youth Cup clash and were in the ascendancy from the off, taking the lead inside ten minuets. Zeki Fryers initially benefitted from a lucky bounce to ride Todd Kane’s tackle and then when his cut-back seemingly went awry, Tunnicliffe was on hand to beat stand-in goalkeeper James Russell from the edge of the box.

Chelsea struggled to retain possession, displaying erratic passing and a lack of movement off the ball, and looked all at sea at the back as United probed seeking a bigger advantage. Nathan Aké’s last-ditch tackle to deny Davide Petrucci a clear sight of goal prevented a two-goal lead before the quarter hour mark had been reached.

Two wayward Lukaku efforts aside, it took twenty minutes before Sam Johnstone was even half worried, as Phillip did well to work a yard of space but dragged his effort the wrong side of the post.

Will Keane saw a header cleared off the line by Aziz Deen-Conteh before Tom Thorpe wasted an excellent opening by volleying straight at Russell as United stepped up a gear into complete domination.

A second deserved goal came when Jesse Lingard threaded a ball through to Larnell Cole, and despite hints of offside the winger tucked past Russell with ease.

Johnstone saved from Phillip as Chelsea mustered a first strike on target minutes before the break but their half time deficit was three as foward Keane got his goal in stoppage time, latching onto a weak header by Kane intended for Russell before rounding the stranded ‘keeper and beating Aké on the line.

If that was bad, the start to the second half was downright ridiculous as De Laet made it four within five minutes of the game’s resumption. He intercepted a poor pass by Conor Clifford on the halfway line and breezed past four blue shirts over a forty-yard distance before slotting into the bottom corner.

Drummy did not look amused at his midfield and quickly replaced both Cliffords with John Swift and Lewis Baker, stars of Friday’s excellent win over Blackburn. They joined Lucas Piazon, who had replaced Phillip at half time.

With six of the youth cup regulars now on the pitch, Chelsea began to move the ball about quicker and looked a more respectable outfit despite the reduction in age. Swift immediately got involved and drew a save from Johnstone moments after Piazon had seen an effort somehow cleared off the line by Thorpe.

United had clearly taken their foot off the gas with four goals to their name but showed that they could go through the gears at a moment’s notice and threaten at will. Keane’s close range header hit the crossbar and substitute Gyliano van Velzen drew a sharp save from Russell.

Bamford produced something to cheer about in the final minutes with a lovely low effort from the edge of the box to beat Johnstone. It was his fifth goal in a Chelsea shirt and 38th of the season after such an impressive campaign at Nottingham Forest.

It signalled a momentary burst in energy from the hosts, who went close through Swift, Lukaku and Chalobah, but the final word was once again United’s as Thorpe’s header hit the crossbar before the final whistle sounded.

A visibly disappointed and frustrated Drummy pulled few punches in his post-match assessment:

“They weren’t performing, simple as that. They were giving the ball away, they were sloppy, they were second to every ball, there was more urgency from the opposition. We’re playing Man Utd, and if it needs me to be on the sideline to shout to someone to put tackles in and run then we’ve got a problem.

To be fair [to Bamford], he’s played on the right when he’s a number nine, and I’ve played Lukaku number nine instead. Patrick, I think, could probably work a bit more off the ball; there’s another side to the game, we have to dig in, and I can’t say I’m really satisfied with anyone to be honest.”

The reserve team manager went on to explain what lies ahead in the short-term before the group disperses for the summer:

“The plan is to review the boys and plan for next season. They’ve got a tournament that we agreed to in Hong Kong, but the dynamics, you know, of the whole season…the boys moved out of the first team building, they’ve got to pick themselves up, they’ve got to understand that if you want to progress you’ve got to work hard and be prepared to take criticism. I think this year has been a massive learning curve for the reserve team group and where it sits at the club.”

Chelsea: Russell, Kane, Ince, Aké, Deen-Conteh, C.Clifford (Swift 52), B.Clifford (Baker 60), Chalobah (c), Phillip (Lucas Piazon 45), Bamford, Lukaku
Subs not Used: Mitchell Beeney, Nditi

Goals: Bamford 86

It’s been a much quieter week than usual on the loan front, with many of Chelsea’s youngsters at other clubs sitting on the sidelines for their most recent matches.

Of course, there’s a handful who are near ever-present, and chief amongst them is Thibaut Courtois, a name who has led us off on many a report this season. This week he started perhaps the most important match of his fledgling career to date as Atlético Madrid hosted Valencia in a Europa League Semi Final.

Atlético won the match 4-2, a result which leaves Valencia with a little hope ahead of the return leg at the Mestalla. They scored twice from set-pieces, with Courtois slipping on the turf for Ricardo Costa’s injury time header.

It was an unfortunate mishap, and one which Courtois has rather harshly blamed himself for, but it’s something of an indication of the exceptionally high standards he holds himself to. He otherwise had very little to do throughout the match, handling his duties immaculately.

A tough assignment followed on Sunday night against an in-form Espanyol team but another win followed with a brace from Arda Turan securing a 3-1 victory. Once again, it was a quiet outing for Courtois, who was beaten by the visitors’ only shot on target.

Another who has been enjoying a very fine run of late is Kevin De Bruyne. Courtois’ compatriot has been central to Genk’s excellent start to the top Belgian playoffs and they picked up another win on Sunday, coming back from 2-0 down to beat Standard Liege 3-2.

De Bruyne was less influential than in recent weeks, but that can largely be attributed to the fact Standard chose to man-mark him with Yoni Buyens, who did a sterling job.

In Germany, Jeffrey Bruma’s involvement in Hamburg’s weekend fixture at Nurnburg after picking up an injury in a midweek training session so high in intensity that manager Thorsten Fink had to abandon it for the safety of his players.

However, the Dutchman was able to take his place in the starting line-up – at right-back once again – and put in another solid shift as HSV won another point which edges them closer to safety with just two games to play.

In the Netherlands, Kenneth Omeruo was absent from ADO Den Haag action with a knee injury, meaning Tomas Kalas was the only Eredivisie loanee to play this week. He faced Heerenveen, who featured the division’s leading scorer Bas Dost, but the giant forward was held off the scoresheet as Vitesse earned themselves a solid point.

Vitesse technical director Ted van Leeuwen told Dutch media earlier this week that the club had struck a deal to keep Kalas at the Gelredome again next season, but nothing has been confirmed on that front just yet.

Patrick van Aaanholt was on the bench after a week away from the matchday squad but didn’t feature. He did line up alongside Ulises Dávila earlier on Monday night as Jong Vitesse lost a seven-goal thriller to Jong PSV.

Dávila was substituted after just half an hour as furious manager Gerry Hamstra looked to make changes after an appalling first half in which his side conceded four goals.

After a recent spell of indifferent form, Gael Kakuta found himself on the Dijon bench for the visit of Lille on Saturday, and although he saw half an hour of action in the second half, it was in desperation as Patrice Carteron’s side were 2-0 down and a man short after Abdoulaye Meite’s dismissal.

Kakuta told the French media earlier in the week that it is very much his intention to return to Chelsea in the summer and seek a place in the first team squad. You can read that interview here.

Completing our tour of mainland Europe, Matej Delac continues to serve as backup goalkeeper for Ceske Budejovice.

Back in the British Isles, Kilmarnock and Ben Gordon returned to action after a weekend off and secured an impressive 1-0 win away to Hibernian. It’s a certain fact that the best moments of Gordon’s career to date have come to Rugby Park and an interesting summer lies ahead for the young left-back.

Over the border, and Josh McEachran resumed his role as an unused Swansea City substitute, watching on as his teammates drew 1-1 away to Bolton. Playing time has been scarce for him, but both player and manager Brendan Rodgers have cited positives of the experience off the pitch. Undoubtedly though, all parties would have preferred to see the playmaker on the pitch a lot more.

Sam Walker and Yeovil are officially safe from relegation after a 2-2 draw at Leyton Orient on Saturday, with the big stopper performing as he has generally done since moving to Huish Park. He was beaten by a close range header and a mis-hit cross from the left which deflected and looped over his head into the top corner.

Rhys Taylor, however sat on the bench for Rotherham for the first time as new manager Steve Evans decided that he wanted to take a look at veteran goalkeeper Andy Warrington before the end of the season. With Warrington out of contract and Taylor’s loan spell ending, it made sense for the new man to take a look at all of his options whilst he can.

Finally, second year scholar Reece Loudon continues to impress at Potters Bar Town, scoring a deflected free kick in a midweek cup tie against Cuffley as his team won 5-2.

Chelsea hold a commanding advantage in the FA Youth Cup Final after an emphatic 4-0 first leg win on Friday night at Stamford Bridge.

A second-half brace from Islam Feruz followed first-half strikes from Nathaniel Chalobah and Islam Feruz as the Blues put themselves in the strongest of positions ahead of the return fixture next month.

Blackburn had their moments and chances but were unable to capitalise upon them and face a huge task if they are to somehow turn this tie on its head.

Chelsea, who were unchanged from both games against Manchester United in the previous round, have been notoriously slow starters in this competition in recent seasons and it was the case once again early on as Rovers seized the early initiative. Bigger and stronger in every area of the pitch, they sought to exert their influence and dominate the early going.

Despite goalkeeper Matthew Urwin being forced into the first save of the game to deny Todd Kane, they played much of the first quarter of an hour in Chelsea’s half, pressing the back four and limiting the distribution from the back. They were aided by a slick surface causing players to be less sure of their footing and touch, resulting in mistakes and loss of possession.

Nathan Aké slipped at a crucial moment and allowed the visitors to create a chance, but Jamal Blackman was on hand to deny Osamen Osawe with a brave stop. From the following corner, big captain Ryan Edwards knocked the ball down to Osawe, but he was once again unable to find the target.

Edwards has proven himself to be an excellent weapon from dead ball situations this season and he did so again, going close with another towering header which was cleared off the line and then away from Curtis Haley before he could prod it goalwards.

After camping in Chelsea’s box, the visitors will have felt especially aggrieved at finding themselves 1-0 down moments later. A slick Chelsea move saw Amin Affane cut back on the right wing to deliver a cross on his left foot which found the unmarked Chalobah.

The captain nodded into the far corner to score his sixth career Youth Cup goal.

He chanced his arm from long range moments later but Urwin was able to make a routine save to deny him adding to his impressive tally. Still, the momentum had shifted and it was the hosts making things happen.

Affane saw an effort cleared from the goalmouth when pouncing on a loose ball but whilst the youth team have struggled to capitalise on spells of dominance this season, they took full advantage here and doubled their lead in some style with half an hour played.

Kane made a typical surging run down the right and hooked the ball back into the box where it was gathered by Lucas Piazon. The Brazilian settled the ball before laying it off to Baker, who smashed a first-time effort high into the top corner from the edge of the box.

It may have been harsh on Blackburn but Chelsea had worked hard to get a footing in the game and were the stronger competitors. Feruz may have given up in the region of a foot in height to both centre-backs but was working twice as hard and repeatedly won posssession back with his dogged efforts.

Rovers felt they might have had a goal just before the break when Edwards’ header went close but the officials ruled that Blackman had clawed the ball to safety before it crossed the line.

They started the second half as strongly as they did the first, keen to make inroads into their deficit, but Blackman was in inspired form and once again denied Osawe any sight of goal.

Adi Viveash made an early but familiar switch in introducing Alex Kiwomya for Affane, perhaps keen to add a more direct threat on the break by utilising the schoolboy’s exceptional pace and fresh legs.

Almost immediately that approach was taken and was nearly rewarded; the substitute had an appeal for a penalty fall on deaf ears as a corner was awarded. From Baker’s delivery, John Swift arrived unmarked but was unable to steer his header on target.

They didn’t have to wait very long for another opportunity to come along, and when it did, they executed it with some style. Swift, Baker and Chalobah exchanged passes before the England Under-19 international delivered an inch-perfect through ball to Feruz, who finished it first time with an impudent flick under Urwin.

It encapsulated the fluidity within the Chelsea midfield as the nominally defensive Chalobah had advanced into a more creative position whilst Swift held a deeper position with Baker linking the two together. In a match where the Blues gave up much in the way of size, it was the creativity and balance in their midfield which was ultimately decisive.

The goal really looked like it broke Blackburn spirits and a fourth duly arrived ten minutes later. Piazon carried the charge with another run inside from the left, and once again it was Feruz who ran across his man and nudged the ball home despite being pulled to the ground.

The Scottish forward, who recently received a maiden Under-21 call-up, was withdrawn to a standing ovation and replaced by another schoolboy in Reece Mitchell for the final fifteen minutes or so.

Rovers left-back Will Beesley was one of very few in yellow who looked lively and keen to play on, and whilst his probing play occasionally threatened, it ended with a long range effort which sailed wide of Blackman’s goal.

Some sloppy play late in the game by Chelsea threatened to allow Blackburn a consolation but Blackman wasn’t to be beaten, denying Osawe twice more in the final minutes, whilst Kane looked to add his name to the scoresheet at the other end but saw his shot well saved by Urwin.

The scoreline mirrored that of the 2009-10 Semi Final when then manager Dermot Drummy led his charges into the Final after a 5-0 aggregate victory, and Chelsea now head to Ewood Park in 19 days with one hand on the trophy.

Chelsea: Blackman, Kane, Davey, Aké, Nditi, Chalobah (c), Swift, Baker, Affane (Kiwomya 52), Lucas Piazon, Feruz (Mitchell 75)
Subs not Used: Beeney, Gordon, Nkumu

Blackburn Rovers: Urwin, Wylie (Lenihan 60), Beesley, Edwards (c), Hands (Cotton 60), O’Connell, Hanley, Fernandez, O’Sullivan, Osawe, Haley (Payne 81)
Subs not Used: Dilo, Daly

Goals: Chalobah ’19, Baker ’27, Feruz ’58, ’68

Booked: Piazon, Feruz (CFC)

It’s a case of familiar territory in the Chelsea academy right now as, for the third consecutive season, the club’s junior ranks find themselves in a cup final.

The FA Youth Cup triumph of 2009-10 was followed by last year’s success in the Premier Reserve League, where the Blues overcame Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge.

Rovers are once again the opposition this time around as the Youth Cup returns to centre stage. Chelsea host the first leg at Stamford Bridge this Friday night a week after besting Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate.

Lucas Piazon’s second-half strike proved enough to earn a deserved draw on the night and a successful path through their fourth Semi Final in five year to line up this week’s highly-anticipated clash with Blackburn.

It promises to be a tough pair of matches and should Chelsea get their hands back on the trophy, they will almost certainly have earned it. Whilst Blackburn aren’t the first club that would have come to mind when suggesting potential winners at the competition, it’s important to remember that the reputation of a club’s first team often precedes that of their youth sides, and unfairly so.

En route to beating Aston Villa two years ago, Chelsea beat Rovers over two legs at the Semi Final stage and did so fairly comprehensively, running out 5-0 winners.

Dermot Drummy’s side featured a couple of players who have gone on to become full internationals and others who are regulars in professional football already, but Blackburn included Grant Hanley and Jason Lowe amongst their ranks, two players who have been regularly involved in their battle against relegation this season.

Hanley is one of a number of recent centre-backs the Lancastrian club have produced in recent years, following in the expensive footsteps of Phil Jones. The latest name off that particular conveyor belt is Ryan Edwards, who, like his predecessors, captains the Under-18 team.

Edwards scored a decisive free-kick in the Semi Final against local rivals Burnley to set up a date with the Blues and is exactly what you might expect of such a player; tall, strong and powerful, and a natural leader who raises his game on the big occasion.

He also epitomises his team, who Blues coach Adi Viveash believes “are better than the team [Chelsea] beat in the run to the 09-10 Final” and are exceptionally well coached by Terry McPhillips and Tony Grant.

They opened their campaign with an 8-0 win over lowly Thurrock in the Third Round before beating Coventry and Stoke at Ewood Park. A first away trip took them to Newcastle where they won through on penalties, and then dealt with Burnley in the Semi Finals.

Striker Curtis Haley – one of three players to have scored double figures in goals this season – leads the club’s ranks in the Youth Cup with four goals, just one more than captain Edwards and playmaker Hugo Fernandez.

Tricky forward Osamen Osawe is the sole survivor from the Semi Finals two years ago and, like Haley, combines pace and skill with a handy touch in front of goal. Meanwhile, right-back Robbie Cotton has been involved with the England youth setup and is rated as one of the best prospects to ever come through the Rovers ranks.

They are an exceptional threat from set pieces, with Will Beesley’s delivery consistently good and a number of large targets to hit, but they have been prone to being opened up at the back by some of the better youth teams in their region and can definitely be attacked.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are pretty much a known entity at this stage. Viveash is almost certain to stick with the same team that started both legs against Man Utd and which has proven itself to be the strongest possible selection available.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the only player who might have threatened breaking up the team but he remains some way off match fitness, and may only come into the reckoning for the second leg at Ewood Park on May 9th.

Otherwise, Nathan Aké and Alex Davey will resume their impressive partnership at centre-back, with Todd Kane and Adam Nditi looking to build off strong performances last week outside them.

Nathaniel Chalobah, John Swift and Lewis Baker will do it all in the midfield, whilst the attacking triumvirate of Islam Feruz, Amin Affane and Piazon will hope to make a similar impact in the Final as they did in both legs of the Semis.

Each of them found the scoresheet and two were on hand to provide the goal for another. Piazon was Man of the Match last week and is in the form of his brief Chelsea career, having also netted in two recent reserve outings.

The Blues have shown spirit, resolve and desire to get to this stage and will have to draw on those qualities once again to get themselves over the line. It will, as usual, be a thoroughly fascinating and entertaining battle.

The first leg is, as mentioned, at Stamford Bridge this Friday evening. If you can’t make it to the ground, you can see it on Chelsea TV, or you can keep right up to date with affairs on Twitter by following @chelseayouth.

For the last few weeks I’ve been intending to publish a piece on the merits of keeping Roberto Di Matteo as Chelsea manager.

Doing so now might appear reactionary after the excellent result against Barcelona, but if I begin by prefacing the entire article with the notion that his body of work as manager – at least in terms of ‘just’ results – isn’t close to being top of the reasons why, it might go some way to assuaging those notions.

Undoubtedly though, he is riding the crest of a wave after a sensational past few days and now, more than ever, Chelsea fans will be firmly backing the 41 year-old Italian to become a permanent fixture in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

His record is eerily similar to that of Guus Hiddink when the Dutchman acted in the same capacity a few seasons ago, with just one defeat to his name, a strong performance in the Champions League and a spot in the FA Cup Final.

Few would have a problem with Roman Abramovich handing the job to Hiddink, but when you consider the work Di Matteo has done with what is arguably a weaker squad, he certainly stacks up on this front.

Nicely juxtaposed with the charlatan Andre Villas-Boas, rather than attempt to assert his own style and demands upon the team from day one, Di Matteo knows the value of remaining understated, and more importantly understands the strength of the tools at his disposal.

Yes, Chelsea have some players who are getting older, and perhaps they’re not quite what they once were. However, that does not, in any circumstances mean that they have nothing left to offer.

Di Matteo has brought cohesion, balance, unity and a collective direction back to the club when it was most needed. These are simple qualities easily adhered to and ones which are easily continued should he get the permanent stewardship of the club.

The process of ‘overhauling’ the first team squad has been underway for two seasons now, and will continue this summer. Critics will level a lack of experience in the transfer market against Di Matteo, but at Chelsea, this is less of an issue as it might be at other clubs.

It’s well known that a group of half a dozen or so men working under the title of the ‘Football Board’ drive the club’s transfer activity and whilst the manager has a certain input, he is, for most intents and purposes, a coach.

If Di Matteo has been able to achieve short-term success with this squad, it stands to reason that he is well placed to take the next step with new players to work with.

His time at West Bromwich Albion also may apparently work against him, but previous accomplishments should be well down the list of criteria to be considered. A former World Cup winner failed spectacularly in 2008, whilst Villas-Boas fared little better despite very recent and relevant success.

Mourinho and Ancelotti came very well qualified and proved to be just that, but equally, the club somehow found itself in its sole European Champions League final under Avram Grant of all people. The right person will be the right person because of their leadership and coaching qualities, not what they might have won before.

Pep Guardiola at Barcelona is a perfect example of someone who was very clearly the right hire despite having almost no notable coaching experience. Whilst it would be foolish to suggest that one example speaks for everyone, Guardiola in particular leads me into my next point, one which is worth considering for the long-term future of Chelsea.

Guardiola understands Barcelona. He grew up there, he played there, he has been a Culé for almost all of his adult life. Managerial longevity is growing scarcer by the season, and whilst the days of a reign like Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger or David Moyes may no longer be relevant, the former player may very much be the way of the future.

Di Matteo understands Chelsea. He is one of very few people involved in the playing side at the club who have experienced pre-Abramovich and current Chelsea. It might sound clichéd and it definitely isn’t something which is always positive, but it helps create an identity, something the club has lacked since Mourinho (and arguably still identifies most with his approach).

Managers with a connection to their club appreciate the small details; the use of the academy, the development of home-grown players as a part of the team’s core, the importance of the backroom staff. Eddie Newton’s return may have been a secondary story but he is an excellent coach who has played a big role in this season’s revival.

Mourinho’s entourage were all adept in their roles and brought something to the table, something their manager would often take on board. Christophe Lollichon aside, those who have filled the seats on the bench since 2007 have either been promoted to fill a gap or have been sycophantic yes-men with little remit but to agree with the boss.

How valuable Steve Clarke appears in his absence. How appreciated Newton has been since his return. Di Matteo didn’t have to bring his long-time assistant with him, but he appreciates the value of colleagues and appears to believe that a collaborative effort is a successful approach.

At the end of the day this is as speculative as it gets, but if we come back down to the raw facts, we’ve seen that Di Matteo has gotten exceptional results in a short period of time simply by utilising players in their best roles.

Football can be as complicated as you want to make it, but is at its most successful when simplified as much as possible. There is a lot to be said for that, and it’s something that the Italian’s predecessors have apparently forgotten.

Yet at the same time, subtle tactical nuances have been evident throughout his brief spell, displaying a learned understanding of the modern game and where each opponent’s threat lies. Utilising Ramires as a left winger last night to dampen the threat of Daniel Alves is the most recent example of a seemingly small move going a long way towards success.

If Di Matteo is prepared to go forward as he has done since March, he’s arguably favourite to keep his job. He’s certainly a leading candidate.

Plus, he’d come cheap. That’s always worth a point or two in his favour…

It’s an all-action end to the season on the loan front as a busy Easter period led straight into another packed schedule of action for Chelsea’s young professionals.

Games are increasing in importance and it’s always interesting to see how players handle the increase in pressure when the stakes are high. Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, for example is excelling just when his team need him the most.

With Genk involved in the top tier playoffs in the Belgian league, they’re facing top quality opposition every week in search of a Champions League place. Before their weekend trip to Anderlect, De Bruyne had been involved in twelve of their last sixteen goals (scoring two and creating ten), and he was integral again on Saturday night.

Genk won 3-1 at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, with De Bruyne pulling all the strings from his central midfield role. He laid on the first goal for Christian Benteke and was on a different level to anyone else on the pitch, earning a standing ovation from the home supporters when substituted in stoppage time.

You can watch highlights of the game HERE, although they’re unlikely to do justice to the most in-form player in the league at the moment.

Over in Germany, Jeffrey Bruma continued to deputise at right-back for Hamburg, who picked up another three points in their battle against relegation with a 1-0 win over Hannover.

Visiting boss Mirko Slomka looked to have his team exploit the young Dutchman, playing out of position, but Bruma held his own, and with diligent help from winger Ivo Ilicevic put together a strong performance to secure the clean sheet.

Bruma is amongst a number of versatile defenders on Chelsea’s books and on Sunday in the Netherlands, two more of them went head to head in Eredivisie action.

Vitesse’s Tomas Kalas and ADO Den Haag’s Kenneth Omeruo both started at the Gelredome in a match the hosts won 1-0, but it was Nigerian Omeruo who impressed the most. Still playing in a largely unfamiliar right-back role, he showed excellent defensive ability and looked to get forward as best he could, evoking comparisons to Branislav Ivanovic.

It came on the back of his first goal for the club in Thursday night’s 3-0 win over Groningen. He headed home from a second-half corner to endear himself to the home fans even further. You can see the goal HERE.

Kalas, meanwhile, had a less spectacular game by his own standards but he wasn’t poor by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s an indication of just how good he’s been this season that anything not up to his usual standards is noted. He did, of course, feature in Thursday’s win away to VVV Venlo.

Patrick van Aanholt was not involved in either match, whilst Milan Lalkovic has returned to England after his brief spell in Den Haag. There was no Jong Vitesse fixture this week, so no action for Ulises Dávila either.

Moving onto France, where Dijon and Gael Kakuta continue to struggle. After a brief spell of excellent form which coincided with Kakuta’s arrival in Burgundy, they are now three without a win and lost 1-0 at Sochaux on Sunday to leave them just a point clear of safety.

Opponents will doubtless have targeted Kakuta as the team’s most potent attacking threat and attempted to take him out of the game and that, coupled with his natural predisposition to drift in and out of games, has contributed to his recent inconsistency.

That said, he is still young and his loan spell has to be seen as a success overall given his brilliant beginning. Hopefully he can get back to his best for the crucial final few games.

Thibaut Courtois came up against Cristiano Ronaldo and the might of Real Madrid in midweek and picked the ball out of the net four times, but there was only one he could’ve done anything with as Jose Mourinho’s team ran roughshod over yet another La Liga opponent.

The Belgian was back to his best again on Sunday away to Rayo Vallecano, keeping his twentieth clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win.

Back on domestic shores, Josh McEachran sat on the bench for a pair of Swansea matches which finished 3-0, firstly in defeat away to QPR before a weekend win over Blackburn.

The latter ended a recent winless run for the Swans but went a long way to ensuring Premier League survival which, once assured, should see Josh get some more minutes in the final couple of games.

In League One, Yeovil and Sam Walker were on the end of a 6-0 hiding at home to Stevenage on Saturday in a match impacted by an early red card to former Chelsea midfielder and current Glover Michael Woods.

Nobody came out of the match with any credit on the home front but Sam can hardly have been blamed for any of the goals directly, with the best anyone able to level at him being an uncertainty in dealing with crosses.

One step down in League Two, and there was also defeat for Rhys Taylor and Rotherham away to promotion-chasing Shrewsbury Town, who continued their unbeaten home record.

Rhys was beaten by two excellent strikes and was rounded for the other goal after his defence had gone missing, forcing him to come off his line. The defeat all but ends Rotherham’s slim playoff hopes.

Reece Loudon started his first game for Potters Bar Town, but they lost 1-0 away to Tilbury Town.

It was Scottish Cup weekend north of the border meaning no action for Kilmarnock and Ben Gordon, which just leaves Matej Delac to check in on. He continues to be a sub for Ceske Budejovice, as we’ve come to expect.

Introducing Campaign55 – A New Initiative from Chelsea Pitch Owners’ Shareholders

I’m sure that the events of last Autumn connected with Chelsea Pitch Owners are only too fresh in the minds of most Chelsea fans.

One of the reasons that the proposal put before CPO shareholders at October’s EGM failed to be carried, was the efforts of a group of CPO shareholders who banded together under the name Say No CPO. 

After the EGM, Say No continued to put pressure on the board of Chelsea Pitch Owners in connection with outstanding issues such as the disputed/misold shares, which are the subject of a report currently being compiled by Gray Smith of the CPO board, and also the “marriage value” of the ground and the shares.

However, over the last couple of weeks, following extensive correspondence and meetings, members of Say No have decided to launch a fresh initiative in connection with Chelsea Pitch Owners called Campaign55.

SNCPO stalwarts Clint Steele and Dave Spring have stated their intention that going forward Say No’s position is intrinsically opposed to any disbanding of CPO, and any move away from Stamford Bridge.  However, Campaign55 is intended as a progressive movement. And here I must declare my hand. 

Who are Ya?

I’ve reported and blogged on CPO issues for TheChels over the last couple of years and have been a member of SNCPO.  One of the most frequent allegations against SNCPO (mainly by CFC Truth, themselves a shadowy group with no public spokesperson) was that the group was faceless and “not transparent” – something I have certainly taken issue with, never having sought to hide my identity, save for the nickname I’ve always used in blogs. 

Campaign55 has a steering group of three – myself and fellow CPO shareholders Darren Mantle and Adil Pastakia.  However, we want this group to represent as many fans as possible and we are looking to affiliate with as many supporters’ groups as possible.  We might be the shareholders, but we want to get views of the fans in the street, the pub and the blog, and pass these on to the board. 

A Twitter account, Facebook page and an email address have  been created, and a mission statement prepared. The website is now live at http://www.campaign55.org/ . and an appearance on the Chelsea Football FanCast is planned in the weeks ahead.

What’s It All About, Then?

The choice of Campaign55 as a name took a lot of deliberation and involved not just the steering group, but members of the wider SNCPO group.  It’s our belief that the club should ideally be looking to expand Stamford Bridge to a capacity of 55,000.  We genuinely feel that the 60,000 capacity being mentioned in recent communications from the club is not a realistic ambition.

With the exception of the true marquee games like Manchester United and Barcelona, it’s becoming easier and easier for fans who can still afford tickets to pick up the inevitable “spares”.  Even for games like the recent match with Tottenham, tickets were available for those with nil loyalty points.  Five years ago, that wouldn’t have happened. We’ve seen plans which show how the ground could be extended without disturbing the historically significant, and difficult to dismantle, East Stand, and leaving the relatively new West Stand intact.

However, if, after full consultation with Chelsea Pitch Owners and Hammersmith & Fulham Council, it can be proved beyond all reasonable doubt and economic viability the ground can’t be extended, then Campaign55 would support moving to a new 55,000 seater stadium within the historic Chelsea FC catchment area, i.e. Earl’s Court or Battersea.

Clubbing Together

We are serious about this endeavour, and as a result letters of introduction will be sent to Bruce Buck, the Chairman of Chelsea FC, together with the Board of Chelsea Pitch Owners.  We are also taking steps to liaise with Hammersmith & Fulham Council in order to make the voices of our fans heard.

Just the Beginning

Campaign55 is in its infancy, but all of us involved are determined to use the movement as a conduit between the fans, the CPO organisation and the club to ensure that in the crucial medium to long term ahead, the interests of all Chelsea supporters are represented.  This is just the beginning.

The Twitter account address for Campaign55 is @Campaign55, you can access the Facebook page via http://www.facebook.com/campaign55 and email the team at campaign55cfc@gmail.com.

I’m also happy to answer questions about Campaign55 on the comments thread here, or through my own Twitter account @BlueBaby67

Chelsea will play in their second FA Youth Cup Final in three seasons after besting Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate over two keenly-fought Semi Final contests.

A second half strike from Brazilian forward Lucas Piazon earned the Blues a draw on the night after Jack Barmby’s first half opener and ensured that Adi Viveash’s boys progressed to the Final against Blackburn.

United came with the intention to leave everything they had on the pitch and were much improved from a below-par first leg, but tired towards the end and the fresher legs of the home team were enough to see them home.

Whereas Chelsea had chosen to rest their players for as long as two weeks in many cases, the Reds have only just returned from an Under-17 tournament in the Netherlands, one which deprived them of first leg goalscorer James Wilson through injury.

Sam Byrne played up front in his stead, whilst Joe Rothwell was able to return to the midfield after missing the match at Old Trafford. Jack Rudge made way in a like-for-like swap.

Chelsea were unchanged but whilst they dominated the opening twenty minutes a month ago, they were on the back foot early as the visitors made good on their intentions to start well and forced the pace in the first ten minutes.

Rothwell was straight into the action, firing a long range effort over Jamal Blackman’s crossbar. Chelsea responded in kind when Amin Affane’s poor corner found its way to Alex Davey, but the defender found the upper sections of the Shed End.

The early sighters continued as Todd Kane stung the hands of Jonny Sutherland from well outside the box but whilst the United goalkeeper had made the game’s first save, Blackman would quickly become the busier of the two stoppers.

In a short space of time he first did well to intercept a cross destined for the head of centre forward Byrne, before getting down well to steer Barmby’s low shot away for a corner. From the ensuing delivery, he acrobatically beat away Rothwell’s left-footed curler.

Chelsea had lacked possession in the first twenty minutes and looked to make amends by keeping the ball for the sake of possession and to start playing on their terms. It worked too, as they got a foothold in the game and began to probe.

Adam Nditi had been involved in most of the play and the left-back went closest to opening the scoring when he showed good skill to come inside and shoot. Sutherland spilled his effort but was able to recover before the ball rolled over the line.

The stakes were undoubtedly high and one or two individuals were playing close to the edge. Piazon and Ben Pearson had one or two niggly moments together, with Piazon lashing out in tame fashion. The pair were spoken to by the referee, who was keen to put an end to the handbags.

Chalobah and Barmby exchanged half-chances which failed to materialise, whilst Piazon and Baker then went close to putting Chelsea in the ascendancy. Some ten minutes before half time, however, United grabbed the lead and restored parity on aggregate.

Tyler Blackett dribbled in from the left and used his ample frame to hold the ball up and defenders off. Chelsea were unable to clear and allowed Mats Daehli to find Barmby, who drilled home from the left side of the box. His shot was well struck but took a deflection off Todd Kane before beating Blackman.

A quick flurry of yellow cards rounded out a breathless first half as Nditi and Pearson both had their names taken for persistent infringements as much as anything.

Chelsea’s approach didn’t change a great deal in the second half, with no overall deficit to haul back, but they did look to involve Islam Feruz more. Moments after the restart Davey looked to release the frontman with a through ball but the impressive Nick Ioannou swept up comfortably.

With United defending well and retaining their shape it was most commonly a piece of dribbling which opened space for the Blues. Affane was next to chance his arm, jinking inside and working room for a shot which was eventually dragged wide of the left post.

The visitors responded well though and nearly took an overall lead through Pearson, but Blackman was on hand to save the day again. The chance had come about in a similar manner to the goal, with the Blues unable to clear their lines in a congested area.

Piazon, by far the liveliest Chelsea player, had seen more and more of the ball and was taking players on for fun, but sights of goal were few and far between.

His team were lucky to still be in the game around the hour mark though, when Liam Grimshaw found himself in nosebleed territory and produced a defender’s finish when well placed.

Alex Kiwomya entered the fray moments later, replacing Affane, who had worked hard without much reward.

He lined up on the right of the front three but it was Piazon who everything was going through, and shortly after he’d seen another shot saved by Sutherland, he got his reward with the equaliser.

Feruz showed excellent agility and balance to turn his man on the halfway line and took off towards goal. He drew the defence towards him before slipping the ball wide for Piazon, who lashed home first time into the roof of the net.

It energised the players and the crowd and they immediately went within inches of scoring again as Kane and Kiwomya combined to set up Feruz, who saw his shot take a nick off Pearson before clipping the crossbar.

Feruz and Piazon had opportunities to extend the aggregate lead but were unable to take them. Right back Kane had grown in influence throughout the match and had picked his moments to get forward expertly, impacting proceedings exactly when required.

United, needing to take a chance, gambled on the fitness of Wilson and introduced him from the bench with fifteen minutes or so remaining.

They were bound to get a look and when they did, it fell to top scorer Barmby. He worked himself some space on the edge of the box and let fly, beating Blackman but watched as his effort rolled the wrong side of the post.

Other than that, Chelsea looked comfortable in the late stages, with Feruz and Kiwomya doggedly and diligently working hard up front and Swift covering every inch of turf in the midfield. He would be replaced with moments to go and earned a standing ovation for his performance.

The Blues held onto their draw and won the tie on aggregate to set up a two-legged date with Blackburn Rovers, who were the club’s opponents in the Semi Finals in 2009-10 and in last year’s Premier Reserve League Final.

The first leg will be played at Stamford Bridge next Friday, April 20th, with a 7pm kickoff. Tickets will go on sale on Monday morning.

Chelsea: Blackman, Kane, Davey, Aké, Nditi, Chalobah (c), Swift (Nkumu 90), Baker, Affane (Kiwomya 60), Piazon, Feruz
Subs not Used: Beeney, Nortey, Mitchell

Manchester United: Sutherland, Grimshaw, McCullough, Ioannou, Blackett, Pearson, Rothwell, Daehli (Rudge 80), Barmby, Van Velzen, Byrne (Wilson 77)
Subs not Used: Jacob, Ekangamene, Hendrie

Goals: Piazon (CFC), Barmby (MUFC)
Booked: Nditi (CFC), Pearson, Blackett, Ioannou (MUFC)

You can view a full gallery of the night’s action courtesy of Dan Davies by clicking HERE.