Man Who???

Ok it probably is a way too premature and cheeky title but just couldn't help myself and if we end up losing the replay at the Bridge I would never have been able to say it - so for now let it stand even if temporarily!!

It was almost the perfect Mother's Day: Lunch with my family in the country (although the pub was freezing - my blood still hasn't thickened to the level of a true Englishman/woman!!); an almost perfect afternoon of football (again in the bosom of my family - cosy but noisy!) followed by an incredible outing to the newly opened viewing platform of the Shard......... I was thinking how appropriate it was to go from watching Chelsea to the Shard as both invoke similar feelings at various times: amazement, awe, wonderment, fear, sickness, panic, excitement, despair, more amazement, more fear, more despair.... but in the case of the Shard I think the overwhelming feeling is a positive one.... I can't say the same about Chelsea always, although Sunday afternoon was one of those games which had everything and ended on a high note.

After Manchester United's controversial exit from Champion's League midweek, I was dreading our visit to Old Trafford for the 6th round FA cup tie against Fergie's men who felt robbed of their place in Europe and their chance at the treble this season.  Rooney and Hernandez (who has a good scoring record against Chelsea) headed up a strong but Van Persie-less Manchester side.  Demba Ba, Oscar and Mata started for Chelsea while Torres and Eden Hazard were on the bench.  I am quite happy when Fernando is not in the starting line up but feel quite strongly that Hazard is an essential part of our (sometimes wanting) firing power. 

Even before my 'warm chocolate fudge cake and cream' from my lunch had had a chance to exit my stomach Manchester United had scored.  In fact within eleven minutes of the kick off they were leading 2-0.  Their first goal was the result of a perfectly judged and unexpected long ball from Michael Carrick which found the head of Hernandez and lobbed over an unusually badly placed Petr Cech into the goal.  The second was a result of a Rooney free kick and also found its way past a helpless and seemingly unaware Petr Cech - I would like to think his view had been blocked by the heaving mass of bodies in the box.  I had a moment of panic and distress thinking it's all over... I know 'It's never over till it's over' but when faced with Manchester United, they will more often than not be the side to benefit from the saying. 

The 'Rafa bashing' amongst both sets of supporters began to gather momentum: "sacked in the morning..."

After Chelsea's rather dismal and limp performance against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday evening the writing seemed to be on the wall.  Before half time Petr Cech made a crucial save denying Rooney, which rebounded and was in danger of finding the back of the net off the head of David Luiz for an own goal, but Cech had found his form and was quick in reacting to make it a double save.

Oh I almost forgot, the other excitement of the afternoon which was going on almost simultaneously was the premiership clash between Liverpool and Tottenham (or should I say between Suarez and Gareth Bale), at Anfield.  Obviously I couldn't watch the match but the changing scoreline was of significance as I have been hoping for a team to stop the recent surge of Spurs under AVB and more importantly they are ahead of us in the league by 2 points so any Tottenham defeat is more than welcome.  Suarez opened the scoring for Liverpool and by half time Bale had assisted Jan Vertonghen to equalise.  This match had begun 30 minutes before ours so as we went into half time Bale had again been instrumental to Jan Vertonghen scoring his second goal and Spurs took the lead at the beginning of the second half. (Congratulations to Vertonghen - he scored last time out for Spurs as well in their 3-0 win over Inter Milan - ArseneWenger will be gutted to have missed out on him: the defender had the opportunity to sign for Arsenal in the summer of last year and he might have taken it were it not for Thomas Vermaelen, the club's captain, who he counts as one of his closest friends in the game). I am a little superstitious and always look for signs (usually of doom and gloom!) and Spurs leading seemed the perfect opportunity for me to decide the day was going to be a wash out for Chelsea and that not only would we be out of the FA Cup but we would also be trailing Tottenham by 5 points putting more pressure on our premiership clash with West Ham - a fixture which we lost at the beginning of the season.  As you can see I am a bit of a glass half empty person!!

Going back to Man U and Chelsea, Benitez started the second half making me re evaluate my judgement of his managerial skills.  Within six minutes of coming back onto the pitch he made a double substitution (one of the earliest substitutions he has ever made..)

I'm losing my flow as I can hear the UEFA Champion's League Anthem in the background heralding the start of the second leg match between Barcelona and AC Milan at the Nou Camp.  Milan won the first leg 2-0 leaving Barcelona with a lot to do.  This means I may have to take a break for 90 minutes before finishing this post!!

Half time at the Nou Camp - the score 2-0 (both Messi - first one sublime in 5th minute, second amazing in the 40th minute - can't help spotting a symmetry of scoring 5 minutes into and 5 minutes before the end of a half).  Barcelona are on a mission.... quote of the week from the match commentator about playing Barca at the Nou Camp:

"You gotta bring your own ball when you come here cos they don't let you play with theirs!"

Full time, two more goals for Barca (David Villa and Jordi Alba) and they win 4-0 (4-2 on aggregate), the first team ever to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of a Champions League match.  I felt for AC Milan who never really got into the game.... Also Galatasaray beat Schalke with a 3-2 win (4-3 on aggregate) - great news for Didier Drogba who took the last kick of the 2012 Champion's League competition - he may end up in two consecutive finals - a long shot but an interesting thought.

Ok enough Champion's League and back to Chelsea at Old Trafford in the 6th round of the FA cup - apologies to those of you who struggle with so much chopping and changing - I feel like this is a bit of a 'Love Actually' style post and I know not everyone manages to follow different threads at the same time...

As I was saying Benitez made a double and early substitution bringing on John Mikel Obi and Eden Hazard for Lampard and Moses.  I am sorry that Lamp's 200 goal is eluding him and appreciate why fans got angry with Rafa for the substitution in principle - but in practice I have to be honest and say Frank has not been at his best the last few games.  As it happened it was a great call from Rafa.  Six minutes after coming on, Hazard curled in a stunning shot into goal, revitalising the Blues.  Juan Mata continued to work his magic and even the introduction of Van Persie and Danny Wellbeck did not dampen the Chelsea spirit or their obvious dominance which led to the second and equalising goal from the less favoured left foot of Ramires who was freed to go forward more by the arrival of Mikel in midfield. 

It was so exhilarating to watch us play so well against a formidable opponent.  We kept pushing till the dying minutes and should have won the game but for David De Gea's foot keeping out a Juan Mata goal by a whisker... Fergie said his team (specifically full backs and central midfield players) were exhausted and lost their legs... Chelsea were the team who got back from a trip to Steaua Bucharest in the early hours of Friday.... enough said.

Now going back to Tottenham and my doom and gloom scenario - sorry for chopping and changing again but have decided this is the style of this post and I rather like it...

Just as Ramires scored our equaliser at Old Trafford I remembered to check the score at Anfield and realised it was Mothering Sunday after all... Liverpool had come back to beat Spurs 3-2. Thank you Liverpool...

I am going to Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening for the second leg of our Europa League game against Steaua Bucharest. I hope we can keep up our revitalised form to keep us in Europe and then we have the challenge of getting back to third place in the Premiership by winning our next game as well as somehow coming back to beat Manchester United as and when the FA Cup return match takes place at Stamford Bridge.

Enough of football - I just briefly want to share with you the last part of my Mothering Sunday - which was even more exhilarating and emotional than the afternoon of football - 'the view from the Shard' - as organised by my beautiful daughters...  The view was breathtaking but more than that it was the architecture of the building which lent itself to the magnificence of the experience.  I have been to the top of many tall buildings but none gave me the same sensation of free falling into the skyline as did the Shard - the floor to infinity glass panels maximising the sensation.  It's a must see...