Chelsea a Final Bid for Success
Jose Mourinho Seeks FA Cup Win over Manchester United at Wembley
May 18, 2007
For most Premiership clubs a piece of silverware in the trophy cabinet would indicate a successful campaign but not at Stamford Bridge. If Chelsea fail to beat Manchester United in the FA Cup Final at Wembley and so have only one trophy to show for their efforts this year, it will be deemed a very disappointing season.
Such are the expectations and demands of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich that winning the Carling Cup will not be deemed sufficient with all the other top prizes having eluded the team in the past number of weeks.
Only a few weeks ago Chelsea were challenging for success on four fronts. The Carling Cup had been successfully acquired by beating Arsenal in the Final at Cardiff, Manchester United were within reach at the top of the Premiership, Liverpool were their opponents in the Champions League semi-final and the FA Cup Final awaited them. Chelsea’s manager, Jose Mourinho, supporters and the media were dreaming of an unprecedented ‘quadruple’ and the manager wanted Champions League success to crown their achievements.
However, Chelsea’s season has fallen apart in the course of a few games in April and now only the match at Wembley remains.
- Chelsea were unable to maintain the challenge to retain the Premiership title while Liverpool proved too much in the Champions League for the second time in three years.
- Dissension has arisen within the squad with public disquiet expressed by some players about the contribution of the summer signings to the team this season. Michael Ballack’s return to Germany for an operation on the ankle injury he received in the match against Newcastle United was not received well by the manager who has had issues with Andriy Shevchenko throughout the year.
- Rumours have abounded about Mourinho’s future at the club and the relationship between him and Abramovich who it was reported had not spoken to each other over a period of months.
- Injuries over recent weeks have disrupted his team selection for the Cup Final
Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s very astute manager will be hoping to use all the adversity to their advantage in the Final. He will endeavour to develop the siege mentality that his opposite number tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson, has used so successfully and effectively over the years with Manchester United. ‘The nobody likes us – the whole world’s against us’ attitude can unite players who had previously shown discord. They will strive to make that one final effort to claim the trophy that would make their season less of a failure and end on a high of excitement and celebration.
While Chelsea have struggled with problems during the past few weeks, Manchester United have given the impression of everything in their garden being perfect. They experienced the same Champions League semi-final disappointment as Chelsea when AC Milan comprehensively defeated them in Italy. However, apart from having to contend with some injury problems, they have moved on serenely to claim the Premiership title and look to be in prime condition to claim the ‘double’ of League and FA Cup.
However, while every indication so obviously suggests a United win, the tables can be turned. United will be entering the game with confidence while Chelsea are under considerable pressure but Mourinho is a manger who thrives on pressure and adversity and will so want to get the upper hand over Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson that he might just do it for one last time.
Will he be at Stamford Bridge for the start of the new season? That issue could be determined by the outcome of the FA Cup Final.
