I still can't believe what I saw last Saturday. Has Chelsea really won the Champions League? Somebody please wake me up from my dream.
After a harrowing month of footballing results, there I was eagerly awaiting the 19 th of May, hoping for some sanity to prevail in the world of soccer. The Champions league 2011-12 was to take place that night at Munich.
A Barca-Bayern final would have been the ultimate summit clash in Europe football's premier competition. A clash of titans. The two most attacking clubs in Europe exemplifying the Spanish and German style of football would have been a visual delight for the connoisseurs of beautiful football. By far the best team on the planet against the closest team to them at their home stadium would sure have produced attacking football of the highest quality. That a majority of the respective national team players play for these clubs would have made it a virtual Germany - Spain clash, a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Euro final barely a month away.
I am sure the Bavarians are the only team who would take the attack to Barca. All the other so called heavyweights of Europe, viz. Real Madrid, AC Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan invariably resort to defensive football against the Catalans and look to snatch an improbable victory with the odd counter attack or from a dead ball. So this was a dream final for the purists, a more even contest than a probable Clasico final.
In fact, when the semifinal line up was ready, I was already contemplating my Facebook update for the final. " Germany + Robben + Ribery Vs Spain + Messi " was going to be my Facebook status had everything gone according to my wish and the laws of nature.
Instead it was Bayern Munich vs Chelsea. It was going to be one of the most one-sided finals in the history of the Champions league.
After Barca’s harrowing defeat to Chelsea, which I wish to banish from my memory and like not to elaborate, all that I could look forward to was for my other favourite team in their home ground to thrash our foes. The only guessing I did was about how big the margin would be; would it be a 5-0 thrashing or a 6-0 drubbing. Little did I think there was going to be another jolt to my footballing senses.
The match followed the same pattern as the Barca-Chelsea match. If anything Bayern looked more threatening than the Spanish club, and definitely more assured in defence. I wouldn't want to report the match as it unfolded, but Bayern effectively should have sealed the match in the first half. They dominated the possession, looked meancing in attack creating many opportunities, and the defence was strong enough to quell the odd Chelsea counter attack. They were all over Chelsea, as expected, but despite their absolute domination, were pathetic in front of goal. The shooting was just appalling. The first touches awful. I was lamenting about Barca's lack of clinical finishing and missed penalties, but Bayern take the cake. Wonder if they forgot to wear their football shoes and were in their dancing shoes instead. The commentators said Gomez has scored 41 goals this season. I wonder how many goals he missed before scoring that many. This guy needs at least 10 touches before netting a goal. And Muller fluffed many a chance before eventually heading one in. And when Robben missed a penalty in the extra time, I had an uncanny feeling he was going to miss, after Drogba had equalised with a thundering header it became evident who the winner would be.
Chelsea were destined to win the Champions league. Even the commentators were mocking about Chelsea’s name being already written on the trophy.
First Valencia should have finished them off, then Napoli after having taken a 3-1 first leg lead. Then the giants Barca and Bayern Munich. But it was after all Chelsea’s Champions league. One man who deserved it though was their talisman, Didier Drogba, who was also one of the reasons they won it.
I was hoping a disastrous run at Chelsea would force Torres to return to where he belongs, to Liverpool FC (however optimistic it might sound). But after this, and the Reds’ miserable season it might never happen.
It's been a harrowing month of football for me. Defensive tactics and ugly football prevailing over beautiful attacking football. A lot of results going awry. Chelsea winning the CL at the expense of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, defying all footballing logic. And Barcelona losing the Clasico to a similar approach and with it the La Liga to rivals Real Madrid. Though it is refreshing to see a change of guard in the title holders of the three major leagues of Europe in the form of Juventus, Manchester City and Real Madrid I would have preferred a Valencia or a Levante to dethrone the best team on the planet.
I just can't take it anymore. Need some time off football to recover from this spate of unjust results.
Having watched the Inception lately, and going along its lines, I would like to believe I am still in a dream, and would need a kick to be awoken realising that Bayern Munich, if not FC Barcelona, have won the Champions league 2011-12.
