MY PREMONITION OF CHELSEA FC’S CROWNING GLORY

I was all pumped up a week before the UEFA Champions League finals. Despite the overwhelming odds favoring the home team Bayern Munich, I remain confident on the chances of Chelsea FC to pull off an upset. Consider the following circumstances surrounding the Blues in their biggest match in club’s history:

Suspension of four (4) key players in Captain John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and Ramires; The finals match will be played in Allianz Stadium in Munich; and

The health status of defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill.

It is clearly evident that the Roman Abramovich-owned club is going into the match with unbearable pressure. Interim Manager/Coach Roberto Di Matteo, despite leading Chelsea FC to the F.A. Cup diadem, knows he needs to deliver if he wants to have a shot to be the permanent gaffer at Stamford Bridge. The European title is the only missing crown in Chelsea FC’s jewelry box.

The finals match is set to be covered live by local cable sports channel Balls starting at unholy time of 2:30 a.m. (Manila time). I went to bed early on Saturday night with the hope of watching it on a time when the whole nation is fast asleep. It was truly a struggle to wake up but I forced myself knowing this is the match that I have waited for since the 2008 Moscow debacle. But unfortunately, as the kickoff starts, I fell asleep once again. Then I have a dream that the finals concluded via a penalty shootout after a 1-all and 120 minutes of action with Chelsea winning it all.

I immediately jumped off the bed only to realize that the time was only 3:30 a.m., so I turned on the TV again and catch the early part of the second half with both clubs yet to score a goal. My heart fell apart when Thomas Mueller scored on the 83rd minute to give Bayern Munich the lead. And with just seven minutes, I knew that it will be one big mountain to climb for Chelsea FC to win it. Chelsea FC forward Didier Drogba, who many pundits predict will not be back in Stamford Bridge next season due to his age, suddenly rose to the occasion and he scored an amazing goal via an incredible header on a corner kick in the 88th minute. The regulation which included a five-minute extra time ended with both teams tied at 1-all. And the match needs another 30 minutes of extension time to determine the winner.

Five minutes into extension, Drogba nearly turned from hero to goat when he committed a silly foul on Bayern Munich’s old reliable Arjen Robben inside the box. Once again, the Blues’ back is against the wall with Robben taking a penalty shot versus Chelsea FC’s veteran goalkeeper Peter Cech. But lo and behold, Cech saved the shot that could have given the home team a decisive edge. Finally after 30 minutes of action and the score-line remains the same, the match is going into the fateful penalty shootout.

Days before the finals, many players of Bayern Munich boast that German teams never loses a penalty shootout and besides, Chelsea FC lost the 2008 finals in Moscow to arch-rivals Manchester United via a heartbreaking penalty shootout. Who could ever forget John Terry’s fateful slip which missed the target and their chance to win Europe’s most prestigious football crown.

The Fat Lady seems to smile at Bayern Munich’s way when Juan Mata’s shot was saved by the proud German goalie Manuel Neuer. The host bungled their last two attempts and Drogba connected on the deciding shot giving Chelsea FC their first-ever European championship. The Blues defied all odds and Di Matteo calls it destiny and the way they won it was truly remarkable.

My dream had come into reality.