ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Chelsea- That's Why We Should Be Champions

Posted by David Kyle on 04/26/2010

Four years ago now, with the swagger of champions, when our team took the lead you would often hear a chorus of "that's why we're champions!" much to the annoyance of the opposition team.

Next season we really, truly, should be in a similar position of swaggering football and the cockiness of 40,000 Blues faithful proclaiming to the world of football that matches like on Sunday are the reasons we are champions elect.

45 League Goals Between Them, Why Should We Be Champions? ©GettyImages

Quite often this season, in this blog, I have stated that it's been a poor season for the Premier League, and it would be difficult to disagree.

We have now lost 6 games, whilst United have lost 7. In third place are Arsenal with a total of 8 losses, and following behind them in fourth place, and a Champions' League qualification place up for grabs, are Spurs who have lost a ridiculous total of 9 games this season. In 1999 we languished in 3rd place after only 3 league defeats.

Rarely do you see Inter Milan lose to a team fighting for survival, or Barcelona succumb to lowly opposition. However as a supporter you would rather sacrifice a more boring league to see your team comfortably wrap up the title in April as opposed to leaving it to the last two matches - or would we?

I digress. I was here to discuss the merits of Chelsea winning the league.

Not only have we scored by far the most goals this season, we have also had three occasions where we have notched up 7! Surely this is a first in a top flight season, unless somebody has stats showing otherwise I will choose to believe it is.

We also have three players who are in the top fifteen highest scorers, two of which are in the top five - Lampard with 20, Drogba with 25.

A total of 29 games this season have started with Chelsea being at the top of the league, meaning that we have been top for 81% of the season, if we don't see ourselves sitting at the top in two weeks time it will be the biggest capitulation, and robbery, in Premier League history.

We have been the most consistent this season, we had a run of victories before and including the Arsenal game last year that had us well ahead of the pack, and quite frankly at the time we looked unstoppable.

It is unfortunate that it has gotten this far and we haven't sewn up the title. Some very dodgy performances in between the sublime have let us down and leave us in a precarious situation.

However the match against Stoke yesterday showed that we really have the mettle to do this. We showed that we are up for the challenge, and Fergie's mind games appear to be a sign of early dementia rather than affecting our team.

All we have to do is keep our cool and ensure we can beat Liverpool on Sunday. It must still be remembered that we face Wigan at home on the last day, but still if we can get all 3 points at Anfield there will be a massive psychological advantage against the Geriatric and his Geriatrics at Old Trafford.

On a final footnote, I will point out that earlier this season in this blog I made a point that Michael Ballack should be employed in the defensive midfield role ahead of Mikel in the absence of Essien. Yesterday paid tribute to this theory, Ballack played perhaps his most effective game of the season, breaking up play from Stoke's long ball attempts and splaying the ball about with the precision and quality we all know he possesses. It's a natural progression for an ageing midfielder, the older you get the further back you belong! So here's hoping that Carlo keeps him there on Sunday. Oh and for three points of course.

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High!

Comments

Posted by Simon Amstell on 04/26/2010

Despite the outcome the last time we met Wigan, I am sure there is nothing they can do to stop us winning that match (however I probably said that last time as well when we lost 3-1) But I believe we will either win or lose the league this Sunday at Anfield Liverpool will not roll-over even if it does mean Manchester United overtake them on total League titles in the top flight and even considering the dreadful season the Merseysiders have had we have a hell of a fight on our hands but I am confident, that if we play our best even with Liverpool firing on all cylinders we can overcome them and set up possible the tensest ninety minutes of football the premier league has ever seen a week this Sunday!
Big up the Blues!

Posted by Commander on 04/26/2010

Yes ll all is yes

Posted by Lightning on 04/26/2010

COMMON CHELSEA LET'S DO THIS!!

Posted by victor okonkwo on 04/27/2010

with saturday crackers.i belive the blue are going to win the premier ship.no matter what any one says.we are the champion of england and world.i belive in chelsea foot note.i also take this opportunity to wish each every team member o chelsea fc.a happy legue.bring the premiership and FA cup to standford brigde,come rain .come sunshine.
kudos to our chairman and board of directors.

Posted by RSM on 04/27/2010

Robbery should they fold at Anfield and lose out on the title?

Robbery... like when Drogba hauled down Brown in the box to gift Chelsea the only goal at SB when United played them off the park?

Congrats if they do win out and secure the title. It's hollow in my mind. Chelsea have only ever been in position to challenge thanks to sugar daddy.

Posted by David Kyle on 04/27/2010

@ RSM - I presume you are a United fan, seems a bit rich to complain about favourable decisions. A little bit short sighted when you consider Michael Owen's injury time winner against Man City earlier this year and the countless other times United have benefited from bottling referees.

There is no doubt that to win the league you have to have decisions go your way, that applies to anyone who has won the league!

Posted by nehemiah on 04/27/2010

first of all, i want to say a big hello to chelsea team, the champion in the world. weather we win or we lose, we are blues forever, but i want us to get the complet 6 point for the nex 2 games,because we are the leaders in ingland and the all world. hank you we shal make it in jesus name amen.

Posted by osaro egbokhare on 04/27/2010

you are right we showed class on sunday and proved that we can compete at the big stage. i have been a blues fans for 5yrs and we have not played attractive football like we did this season not even under the so called special one. am a Nigerian but i gon't like mike his position on the ball is bad, he is very talented for a player of his age but he lacks the composure and effort on the pitch that why we lost all the game that we should hav won in the first case because we lacked a terminator at the bacc who could brake up plays go up fron and passes the ball with such accuracy men we sure do miss the men essien. thank God cole his fit to play again but i think carlo should have finished the season with yuri because he has been fantastic at the larf bac position linking up well with maluda. personal view deco, paulo, belletti, alex, anelka with all due respect to thier caliba they should leave and allow us go for younger p-layer such as kun for anelka and bruma

Posted by Michael Nigusse on 04/27/2010

Thanks to all Chelsea players who involved in Sunday match with Stock. They were very smart in winning that game. That provided us much confidence to win the next two games and become the champion of England. I don’t have any hesitation in winning the next game with Liverpool, especially with the presence of big Match Winner, Didier Drogiba and others. I will be happy if Ancheloti can use similar attacking game sprit and same formation like the previous game. Chelsea should not depend on the results of Manchester United’ s games , we have to show them we are the champions of England by collecting 6 points from the remaining two games.

Wishing all the bests.

Posted by draesteak on 04/27/2010

thanks ancelloti for the his brain on sunday match.
i pray to win all the matches remaining.
CHELSEA FC
THE KING OF ENGLAND

Posted by SNHN on 04/27/2010

Blue article by the blue for the blues... can't believe u blues think you are champions of the world let alone England. The title you have won ever since ain't far from what the devils have won in last three years, or? Lets see who will rule the land on the final sunday... fourth in a row, 19 in total is really.

Posted by Rich Onos on 04/27/2010

Go blues!!! we can do it. we have been able to beat the big teams home and away this season; we can do it at Anfield. All we have to do is to keep our cool and stay focus. We are nothing short of doubles this season.GO BLUES!!! GO FOR DOUBLES!!!

Posted by dallas on 04/27/2010

that's all we want just go on and win the 3 remaining games to bring great smile on our faces, b'cos getting the double will clean up the mess u left us in after our shameful exit from the champions league. so go ahead bozs to the top. wish u all the best.

Posted by Farai on 04/27/2010

Chelsea all the...Will go some day to stamford bridge and watch u play

Posted by elfo on 04/27/2010

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SAME PLAYERS AT STOKE TO PLAY AT ANFIELD BUT SUB I THINK GAEL KAKUTA INSTEAD OF STURIDGE LET HIM PLAY I WANT TO SEE HIM MORE OFTEN.. I HOPE WE CAN FIGHT FOR THE LAST 2 MATCH TO WIN THE EPL.. WE MUST DO WELL ON SUNDAY AND IM SURE IF KALOU PLAYS THEN WE HAVE MORE HOPES.. I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO IT!! TO DROGBA SCORE AND GET THE TOP SCORER IS A BIT QUIET FROM DROGBA SO I HOPE THAT HE CAN SCORE THIS SUNDAY.. ALL THE BEST CHELSEA.. WE COULD BE THE CHAMPION!!! COME ON BLUES ALL THE WAY!

Posted by Kardajo on 04/27/2010

It's really sad if any Chelsea fan wants to pretend they deserve the league this year. I mean your biggest rivals have suffered through major injuries with Arsenal lossing almost all it's striking force and United loosing all its defense during a time in the season when they both faced tough opposition. As far as ref decissions go I can probably count on one hand a Chelsea victory that didn't have some sort of controversy at one point or another during the match (not to say that United and Arsenal haven't benifited from poor decisions, but the blues take the cake in that department). What is amazing is that you haven't won the title already. You should have had this wrapped up a long time ago given how your biggest rivals have had so many problems with injuries to key players etc this year. It actually pains me to say it but the team that is really playing like Champions this year is Arsenal, who keep coming back. Justice will be served if you loose to Liverpool, but that's not likely.

Posted by David Kyle on 04/27/2010

@kardajo - I'm quite baffled by your comments, you must also be forgetting that Chelsea have missed out several key players this season because of injuries and participation in the African Cup of Nations at crucial periods in the season.

Michael Essien has been injured since early January and we have also had injuries all round, it isn't really our fault that we've had the sufficient backup at the right time. Arsenal fans can bemoan the lack of Van Persie until they are blue in the face but they haven't had sufficient quality to replace him - as a team worthy of the championship does. How can you say arsenal deserve the league when they've had a very poor season all round, trophyless for five years now and not really showing signs of championship quality.

You must have been hiding under a rock when Chelsea scored 93 goals in a season we, in your opinion, don't deserve the title. Plus i would love to hear of all these occasions you mention where we haven't won the game fairly!

Posted by Gavship on 04/27/2010

Hey Chelsea Fans,
Firstly, I am a United fan, so it pains me to say this - I see a tremendous amount of quality in your side. Plus, David is exactly correct that Chelsea have secured the needed depth to be frontrunners. Arsenal have been far and away the most injured side, and simply couldn't muster up the depth to stay up with either of us.

I also agree that all top teams need some favorable decisions along the way. However, I hope that the title doesn't come down to Drogba's offside winner against United. For my part, I truly hate losing out based on a bad decision (or non-decision), and for you Blues fans, it may make the victory a tiny bit hollow.

I cannot believe I'm going to say this....
COME ON LIVERPOOL!!!!

Ewww...I feel dirty....

Posted by jonathan on 04/27/2010

It's really quite simple, if Chelsea win the two remaining games, they deserve the title. If they don't and United jump ahead of them, then United deserve the title. And Chelsea have had a fortunate year with the officiating and injuries and the schedule being so easy during the AFC. Nothing really wrong with that, it's the way things shake out sometimes, not real need to be so defensive over those things, just accept the good fortune and be happy that the club has taken advantage.

Posted by Steve on 04/27/2010

RSM - Presuming you follow Man Utd, are they an all 'home grown' team then ? Utd cannot live off the famous Five Forever - Hadn't realised Rooney was born and bred and brought through the youth system in Manchester, or Ferdinand and on and on and on over years. Are there any 'home grown' teams in the higher leagues that have not been purchased,especially any that have had success ? Ridiculous to even make such a statement really if you sit back and think about it isn't it !
For the second year running the Chelsea youth team are in the Youth Cup Final so our academy must be doing something right. Every fan loves a player brought through the ranks i.e. Terry, Scholes et al but it isn't possible to have an entire squad this way, if so transfers would be a recent invention in the top flight. BTW I believe Barcelona had 7 home grown players in the 09 Champ league Final side ( remember that Utd fans, they played you off the park?) which is outstanding yet they still buy big money players.

Posted by cesare on 04/27/2010

mikel is a better holding midfielder than ballack.there was not much pressure on the midfield because of the good all round play and as such,ballack had an easy ride on the base of our midfield.and i expect a sterner match againsy liverpool so mikel will start

Posted by maximus on 04/27/2010

Gavship -

I appreciate that you admitted Chelsea have depth. However to say that the title comes down to Drogba's offside winner is not being totally honest. Don't forget that Macheada handled United's only goal into the net. The final score should have been 1-nil Blues. It's amazing that so many people (United fans!) keep blaming Drogba and the officials for United dropping all 3 points that day. Chelsea was clearly the better team and deserve the title.

Posted by Alice on 04/27/2010

To those of you that say Chelsea only won the title because of Abramovich's money, I would say "Yes, absolutely". But what about United? Football today is such that you need to spend big to challenge for honours. Spurs and Man City spent huge amounts just to challenge for fourth place this season, while prior to Man City getting a sugar daddy, United had four of the top five most expensive British transfers (I think Shevchenko was the fifth, not in that order).

If money wasn't important, wouldn't you expect teams like Wolves and Hull to be challenging for the league?

But money itself doesn't guarantee you a league title. Look at Liverpool. They've invested something like £231 million during Rafa Benitez's tenure and they have yet to win the league under him.

Let's get some perspective here. Chelsea have spent big money and it helped them win back to back league titles, but United haven't exactly been frugal either. Those in glass houses...

Posted by Will on 04/28/2010

Hey guys,

I'm a United fan too. I think whoever wins the league this year deserves it. It has been a real slog. Funnily enough I feel all the top teams are in a transition of some sort. Liverpool obviously lost their engine and, to my utter delight, Carra is going downhill FAST. Arsenal are one year away I think. Watch out next year. United lost Ronaldo and Tevez (he only really matters for me as we also lost Ronaldo at the same time. And Chelsea's team, regardless of if they win the double, is getting old. Even Ancelotti said as much this week.

As to the blogger's comments, how ridiculous. Are you really saying that you would prefer a league like in Spain where the top teams are guaranteed to win at least 30 games a year? If so you have a very boring vision of football. Clearly not someone who has followed Chelsea pre-Abramovich. And if you did, gain some perspective man. Remember where the team was 10 years ago! I love the competitiveness this year. Premiership > CL this year.

Posted by kyle on 04/28/2010

COME ON CHELSEA!chelsea needs essien back if they are to challange next season,they team is getting older they will need to buy some young talent they ne a attack on the right wind and also a new cb..john terry seems to be losing his cool.his hand some shocking performances.lampard iss gream but when his not on no1 is..if the blues would get fabgra from arsenal they would complete the team

Posted by David Kyle on 04/28/2010

@ Will - Thanks for your comments, however presumptuous they are. I am actually a fan who has been going for 18 years now, not bad considering I'm 25. I've been to well over 300 matches and have been watching Chelsea pre-Abramovich, in fact I had been going to Chelsea for 11 years B.A. (Before Abramovich).

As for the comments regarding the league, I truly think there are times you want to see your team steamroll the opposition and win comfortably for sure. Don't get me wrong, it makes for lots of excitement in the league and thats why we have to love it. But if you read the article again, there is a rhetorical question after my so called "ridiculous" comment which is an obvious indicator to the fact that we probably wouldn't rather that sort of league.

Gain perspective? Perhaps you are right, after all 18 years ago we were no where near contenders for the league etc. But naturally when as a fan you see your club reach its peak you desire more. Perspective goes out the window.

Posted by Ian Smith on 04/28/2010

What the hell are you going on about Owen's goal against Man City for, you dimwit? 100% legitimate as far as I can see. Nothing like a goal that's 2 yards offside (THE worst decision of the season in a big game by far - others have been open to some debate). I hope you give a prayer of thanks to that nice man Abramovich everyday, it's makes me laugh to see Chelsk fans get all misty eyed over Mourinho when the only man you should be thanking (again and again) for winning titles is Roman. That said Chelsea have been the best side this season (being the tallest of a load of dwarfs) but given that everything has gone for them in terms of other teams being weakened you would have thought the league would be wrapped up a month ago. I see the 'double parade' has already been planned... don't get ahead of yourselves (is it a London thing?), it would be hilarious if you somehow managed to throw both of them away

Posted by David Kyle on 04/28/2010

Ian, if you remember Michael Owen's goal was scored in the 5th odd minute of injury time when around 4 minutes was called - that was my call, dimwitted in your opinion, terrible refereeing in mine.

I give no prayer of thanks to Roman, I just look at the top of the table and smile.

Posted by GWEALTH on 04/28/2010

I do believe in retrospect... psychologically if Chelsea can maintain atmospheric battle of the mind, the league is hers'.

Its terrible recounting the odd ordeal that has left Chelsea where this pressure had they won previously the last two games. Sure mentality of Liverpool will not be to beat Chelsea but to stop them from achieving the great task. Only 90 minutes can tell.

Posted by obinna ijoma on 04/28/2010

congrate to all d chelsea fans, i think we are going to win liverpool in their home b/cos the way weplayed against stoke and aston villa shows that the EPL is surely ours. i congtrate carlo ascelloti for his hard work and other board members. we need Lords favour to over thrown liverpool. JT is back and our defence is now 100% sure. ALL HAIL THE BLUES

Posted by Roger Lai from Hong Kong on 04/28/2010

I am a United fans too since 1976!! I supported United not because it's becoming the reigning Champions since the '90s in English football, it's also because the fighting spirit of the different United teams at different generations, ie Brian Robson, Roy Keane, the 1999 tremble team and the players like Ronaldo, Rooney, Scholes, Giggs, etc. I agreed Chelsea is the most consistent team this year in the premiership but sometimes Champions needs a bit of luck, courage, and the abilities and experience of the players, plus most important a good manager. United and Chelsea all got those attributes and let's enjoy the last 2 games, hopefully with less or none bad referee decisions. If Chelsea beat Liverpool, congratulations to the Blues, but if they drop points then it's up to how United take this precious chance of overhauling the Blues. NO matter what, the Reds supports the Reds, the Blues supports the Blues !!!

Posted by williams on 04/28/2010

Chelsea are unarguably the best team in the premiership at the moment but their undoing this season has been the fact that carlo ancelloti has not perfectly arrived at a formular as he is trying to instill a gripping-style of play into the team and practically,this takes some time.it's a fact that chelsea scores more goals with anelka spearheading the attack than drogba.make no mistake-drogba is a world class striker.the genius of anelka's play is premised on the fact that he is a very mobile,intelligent,versatile and pacy player with great assisting skills.when spearheading the attack,he can drift into the midfield as an extra midfielder or to either of the wings with great speed thereby creating space for the likes of lampard,malouda,joe cole and kalou to run into thereby serving as a decoy as we saw in january when drogba left for the nations cup and against aston villa who got a 7-0 drubbing and subsequently in the match against manchester united at old trafford.so i think ancelloti has got his hands full in creating a splendid formular on how to use anelka and drogba in the chelsea attack.i am of the opinion that he should start anelka against liverpool on sunday and introduce drogba in the second half to further unleash mayhem on the liverpool defence.i agree that ballack should be given a defensive midfield role as his experience,height,tackling abilities was on display as he got it absolutely spot on in that position against stoke but also,mikel should be given playing time in that position inorder to develop him for the future as he has put up some very impressive performances for chelsea this season.i disagree that this season is a bad premiership season cos of the fact that the big guns have lost more games.i think it's a sign of increasing competition in the premiership.there is no doubt that the influx of more cash into clubs like tottenham and manchester city have injected more quality into this clubs thereby making the premiership more competitive.sports like the NFL in the united state provides that teams in the league get equal television rights.the home team is entitled to 60% of stadium revenue while the away team is entitled to the remaing 40% added to the fact that there is a salary cap for players in the league.all this fissled in keeps every team in the NFL on a level playing field and with no such thing as the 'BIG FOUR'-any team can win the NFL but this is not the case with the premiership where the 'BIG FOUR' or recently the 'BIG SIX' get a large chunk of the television rights.also with the absence of a stadium revenue sharing formular,the big guns still maintains an unfavourable advantage over smaller clubs as they rake in more cash from their home matches because their games are watched more in their big capacity stadia due to the good quality of football on display and added to the fact that there is no salary cap,the smaller clubs easily lose their good players to the big clubs due to increased wages promised to the players and the prospect of winning silverwares.all this leads to a reduction in the level of competition in the premiership.in summary,the fact that the top 3 teams in the premiership have lost 6,7 and 8 games respectively this season is a good omen for the premiership.

Posted by jo chance on 04/28/2010

Chelsea has just been lucky that Arsenal was unlucky otherwise this was for Arsenal. However, we can still compare bad things and when we do that i say Chelsea take it than it being takenby ManU.
Wait for Arsenal next season.

Posted by simbad62 on 04/28/2010

to all you chelsea fans lets not forget the history of man utad arsenal and liverpool chelsea have none to talk of oh and lets not forget moscow 2008 good ol terry.

Posted by Swadesh111 on 04/28/2010

I think, Chelsea deserve to be crowned as the PL champions this years. Just to clear things, Obertan clearlly pushed the ball in the net vs Chelsea at OT, I agree to bad referring in that match ( but you have to remember the UCL semi final last year between Chelsea and Barca for bad decisions).
Also talking about transfers United have also been one of the heavy investersover the years. Remember the transfer of VERON for 30M (2001 02) of Ferdinand for 30M (2002 03) Rooney for 27M (2005 05) Ronaldo for 15M (2003 04) and Carrick for 14M in (2006 07) Nani-Anderson for 30M in 2005 06 and of course Berbatov for 31M in 08 09. You can not call em homegrown if you have invested such a huge amount.
I know Chelsea had spent huge amount too but all of above was for the United supporters who said CFC is all because of Roman's Money.
I hope Chelsea get the better of LFC this weekend. One advantage for CFC is that LFC have a game in the midweek. Hope for the best and keeping fingers crossed.

Posted by Chris on 04/28/2010

If Chelsea do lose the title, it will be because of the following:

9/26: 3-1 loss v. Wigan
12/20: 1-1 draw v. West Ham
12/26: 0-0 draw v. Birmingham
2/2: 1-1 draw v. Hull (!)
3/21: 1-1 draw v. Blackburn

These are all games where points were left on the table against teams Chelsea should have demolished. OK, you get swept by Man City. OK, you lose @ White Hart Lane. Most champions lose or draw the occasional game here and there to quality opponents.

But to drop the number of points they did to the above 5 clubs just may be what does them in. And they will have no one to blame but themselves.

Finally, I think Manchester United fans should show a bit more humility, as they would not even be in the race were it not for the staggering number of own-goals that have been scored in their matches this season. How many has it been? I stopped counting after 10.

Chelsea Till I Die!!!

Posted by udoh ubokobong on 04/28/2010

chelsea is doing well so i will be happy if they can win liverpool on sunday and win atleas fa cup for this season and also becom epl champion.

Posted by John French on 04/29/2010

If. Everytime I think about Sunday I start with "If...". Really it's simple. If CA plays the same side as the Stoke game but with Terry (with slight reservations) in place of Ferreira and Ivan moving to the right and if players like Ballack, Lampard, Drogba and even Terry embrace the fact that this could be their last chance of serious silverware (if they win the double then Roman will invest and one or more of the oldies will surely pick up another medal or two on the backs of some quality fresh faces, if they don't he'll probably buy another missile defence system for his yacht instead) and if they come out of the traps firing on all cylinders (like the Stoke game but more aggressive) then I believe that one or even two early goals are possible against a tired Liverpool side. Absolutely batter them from the kick-off is my belief of the best way to go. If anyone isn't simply drooling at the chance of winning the league on Sunday then leave them in London. Come on you blues!!!!!