Archive for May, 2007

Manchester United (Man U) has just won the English Premiership Title. Congratulations to them but being Chelsea fan, it’s bit hard to digest they are no longer the champions. From the start Man U and Chelsea were head to head but after Chelsea shared precious points in it’s last 3 matches, it was clear Man U would be winner. But still I was feeling somewhere miracle will happen and Chelsea would defeat Arsenal and keep the title race alive. Seeing Arsenal getting penalty and Chelsea reduced to 10 man was something I wasn’t ready for. But with Essien’s goal, once again hope reemerged. Last 10 minute was very thrilling and nail biting. But with Lehmann’s superb saves, Arsenal sunk Chelsea’s hope of keeping race open.

I don’t know why I never liked Man U. (may b I am Chelsea’s fan so….) Man U definitely plays world class football as a team, but it’s member especially Christiano Ronaldo has always been controversial figure. In fact I feel he plays politics more than football. He definitely has skills but he lacks sportsmanship which is key element of every player. He always goes diving to get penalty and secure win for Man U. That’s what strikes me lot. In key matches he had dived and got penalty, be it EPL or World Cup.

While analyzing defeat the major point is Chelsea lacked it’s centre defender. William Gallas and Robert Huth left the club last summer while John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Khalid Bouhlarouz have all missed games through injury. Terry was out for 8 weeks and Peter Cech missed several months after head injury. Overall injuries hunted Chelsea all long season.

There was many positive points for Man U like skills of Christiano Ronaldo and return of Paul Scholes. Overall United’s improvement was crucial than Chelsea’s decline – and it made a brilliant title race. Despite injures, politics or whatsoever Chelsea didn’t give up and made the title race fantastic. People might say competition is all about victory but I disagree with it. Chelsea may have lost EPL title but has own the hearts for true spirits.

Term it my frustration of losing or whatsoever, but for me Chelsea played and won the best games. Salute to you Chelsea….. for courage and true spirit game.