Di Matteo the genius - but a problem...Roman has already lined up a new boss

FOOTBALL

THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE EVER

BY AN ENGLISH TEAM IN

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

I THOUGHT that I’d seen it all when Man United beat Bayern Munich with those two wonderful late, late goals in the Champions League final in Barcelona in 1999. Then Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at half-time in the 2005 final to beat AC Milan on penalties after it ended 3-3.

But on Tuesday night even those two magnificent efforts by English clubs were eclipsed by Chelsea. Their 2-2 draw on the night (which led to a 3-2 aggregate win) was simply the best performance EVER by an English club in the Champions League – given the brilliance of the best footballing team in the world they were up against, the massive odds stacked against them (made even greater when Terry foolishly got himself dismissed) and the fact that they had already lost one of their centre-backs (Gary Cahill) to injury early on.

And the match itself was one arguably THE BEST EVER Champions League game. It had everything – a sending-off, a penalty miss (who would have thought that the world’s best player Lionel Messi would fluff that chance?), a goal of genius (from Ramires), a goal (!) from Torres and a raft of tantalising sub-scripts (including the clear antagonism between Lampard and Fabregas) to back up the main draft of the David v Goliath battle.

I didn’t give the Blues much hope when they were down to 10-men and 2-0 down on the night. Who, in their right minds, would? They also had to overcome the Nou Camp crowd – yet they did it. Of course, the wonderful chipped goal from Ramires was the turning point, but the defensive campaign Chelsea mounted was simply magnificent.

It was also good to see Barcelona brought down to size. In recent years they have crushed opponents like a bully and been universally praised for their football. OK, they do have superb technique and are a joy to watch – but they also do a nice number in the dark arts, which people tend to overlook, I thought there was a certain irony in them having a go at Drogba after the first leg for diving when the great Messi himself is not averse to such tactics. Also, wasn’t it great to see Sergio Busquets brought down a peg or two – I despise this player more than any other in top-level world football. He is a cheat and a whinger – a man who will fall over at the slightest touch – yet is the first to complain that he is being hard done by when he (often) takes a slice of someone else’s legs. I was sick when he scored but felt divine justice was done when he haplessly chased back after Torres and fell down on his back dejected when the big striker put the ball in the back of the net. Busquets, public enemy No 1 in the Champions League, had certainly got his just desserts for once.

There were plenty of other talking points in the game, Yes, Terry deserved to be sent off – one day I hope he reveals just what Sanchez did to rile him. Terry is usually the most disciplined of men, so we must assume it was something verbal or a running battle.

Now Terry misses the final – along with Ramires, Meireles and Ivanovic. He is a big loss in terms of leadership, but the central defensive area seemed more fluid and speedier with him out, so that may not be the end of the world. Certainly, if David Luiz and Gary Cahill can recover in time that would be a fair pairing – although I would be very reluctant to use both from the start as they have both suffered hamstring injuries, which are notorious for flaring back up as soon as players return to action. The last thing Chelsea need is two subs on for those two within the first few minutes; subs could be the key to victory in Munich, you just don’t want to use two of the three you are allowed so early on.

Similarly, Ivanovic is a loss, like Terry, in terms of his physical strength but Boswinga could slot into the right-back role if Cahill and Luiz do make it.

Also, you have a like for like swop with Michael Essien stepping in for Raul Meireles. The Portuguese is probably the least critical of the ban losses – he did tend to give away the ball too cheaply in Barcelona. And it is surely time that Essien stepped up to the plate once again and showed us the talents that made him one of the best, aggressive midfielders in the world not that long ago.

The biggest loss is the Brazilian Ramires. He was the man of the match in Barcelona. Apart from his superb goal, he has the best engine of anyone in the English game since Roy Keane. A different type of player to Keane, he nevertheless does the work of two men, as Roy did, and works brilliantly between all three areas of the pitch – defence, midfield and attack.

He will be sorely missed. I would replace him with Daniel Sturridge, but make it clear to the youngster that he MUST do his share of defensive tracking back.

Also on the subject of those banned for the final, I had been surprised by how chirpy Ivanovic had been after the win. Sure, the team had reached Munich but he would not be there because of his booking. Then it became clear just why the Serbian was so upbeat – he hadn’t been aware his booking would cost him his place in the final. He was made aware of the fact by Sky’s post-match interviewere Geoff Meades – Branislav bravely tried to hide his gut disappointment when Meades revealed the bad news but his face was crumbling. I felt so sorry for the big defender – what a terrible way to learn such news, in front of millions of viewers as your team-mates celebrated good fortune.

On the same point, shouldn’t Chelsea’s managerial team have made him – and presumably the others on a yellow card – aware that an indiscretion could cost them so dearly? I’m not saying that they should have been told to play half-heartedly, but certainly it would have meant they knew that any silly booking – such as backchat to the ref or timewasting – should be avoided at all costs.

Which brings us to the manager himself. Yes, step forward Roberto Di Matteo and bask in your well-earned moment in the limelight. The Italian has done everything asked of him as an interim manager – and more. This man is no Avram Grant, he is tactically astute and a fine man-manager – as he proved by moving Ramires to right-back and pinning Ivanovic and Boswinga at the heart of the defence after Terry’s sending-off.

He deserves to be made up to full-time boss. My sources at the Bridge tell me there is a particular reason why he has not been – Roman has already made contact and set up a deal with the man he wants to take over in the summer. If that man is either Mourinho or Guardiola (and I am led to believe it could be Jose) then that is fair enough – you can’t argue with the appointment of one of the top three managers in the world (the other being Ferguson).

But if it is someone of the ilk of Laurent Blanc or Didier Deschamps, then Roman should have a quiet word with them, tell them the deal is off and give them a few quid on the condition that they keep their mouths shut.

It is the least the owner owes to the man who has saved Chelsea’s season.

FRANK WORRALL

FRANKIE’S FLUTTER

ONE football match looms large above all others this next week – Man City v Man Utd in a clash at the Etihad that will have a real outcome on the title race. If City win they are in the driving seat to take the title – but if they lose or draw United are almost home.

I am going for a City win, by 2-1, with Balotelli coming on to score the winner!

(For more information on Frank and his bestselling sports books, see www.frankworrall.com)

Weekly Sport readers can buy Frank’s insightful book on Sir Alex Ferguson for the special price of only £2.74 on Kindle (retail price £17.99 for the hardback)…go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Fergie-Wonderland-Biography-ebook/dp/B00603XJB8/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326291046&sr=1-7