Review of Chelsea FC’s Season: The Highs
It has been a roller coaster of a year for Chelsea FC. There have been so many memorable moments, and maybe a few forgettable ones. But, all in all, in the year 2014, there have been more than a few positives for this eminent club, which even the most stringent critic cannot challenge (even though they might take a few liberties to not call it one of the more successful years, considering the fact that the already replete trophy cabinet did not swell further).
In part one of this article, I would like to present you with some of the prominent highs of 2014.
1. Immense success in the transfer market:
The good managers might know how to manage players, but the best ones know how to buy them as well. An example of the former would be Brendan Rodgers, and the latter would be (you guessed it right) Jose Mourinho. With buys of Matic in the winter window and Fabregas, Costa, Luis, and Remy in the summer, Jose Mourinho showed us yet again why he is regarded as the best manager in the world. Here’s 5 Incredible Jose Mourinho Records at Chelsea FC.
Not only an impressive blend but also a fine balance of talent, youth, grace, grit, and experience, this crop of players will undoubtedly take the club to unprecedented heights. Furthermore, the high transfer fees obtained for David Luiz, Juan Mata, and Lukaku enabled Chelsea FC to record a rare profit. The moderate success (I am being generous here) of many other big clubs (despite having spent more than Chelsea FC) in their transfer business just reiterates how remarkable this success was.
2. Return of the Legend:
“He has done it—the greatest night in the history of Chelsea Football Club, European Champions; they have beaten Bayern in their own backyard; they have found the Holy Grail; after flirting with danger, Drogba may never play for Chelsea FC again.” Well, how do we dread that last line? I really doubt there has ever been a player whose last kick for his club was a Champions League-winning penalty.
And thankfully, it wasn’t with Drogba. He is back with us, and back with a bang. The ovation he got on his first appearance was simply surreal. Even more so when he scored his first goal on his second stint with the club. Was it just an emotional return and not a pragmatic one? Well, six goals, some of them ace ones (the one at United), just show that this was a decision based not just on reputation.
3. The exhilarating start to the 2014–2015 season:
The very fact that even pundits were speculating invincibility after just a few games—showed Chelsea’s imperious start. With wins in all matches except the ones at Manchester (courtesy of two late equalizers in both of them) in the first 11 games and a club record equalizing start, the Chelsea FC juggernaut was simply unstoppable. Further topping the Champions League group, reaching the League Cup quarters, and looking almost unassailable in the league further glorifies the fine start. So authoritarian was this start that bookies were already paying out bets placed on Chelsea FC.
4. The rise and rise of Eden Hazard:
“I would take him to Real Madrid with my eyes closed.” When the great Zinedine Zidane puts forward such an exalting statement about a player you have recently signed, you know there is something special in store. And Eden Hazard certainly did not disappoint. Those mesmerizing runs, the enthralling one-twos, the audacious Rabona, and a plethora of tricks are all summed up very well by a leading newspaper quote: “A player who gets fans on the edge of their seats every time he receives the ball.” There would not be many bets against him winning the Ballon d’Or in the near future.
5. Some impeccable away performances:
Here was a manager always accused of being defensive in tough away matches. What many people fail to understand is that his pragmatic approach (something that someone like Arsene Wenger never learned) actually helped Chelsea FC come away with some of their best performances of the year. Who can forget that performance at the Etihad on a cold winter night? One could argue that the city was lucky to lose by just one. Or the second-string team at Anfield, where Gerrard’s infamous slip gifted City the title. More recent ones that pop into the mind are the 6-3 win at Everton and the 5-0 against Schalke.
All in all, with its ups and downs, rights, and so forth, it has been a memorable year for Chelsea FC, and it could be the beginning of something special. Come next year, and probably one article won’t be enough to note all the highs. Such is the potential of the club.
I will soon try to come up with a second part detailing the lows. Have a great weekend, cheers, and KTBFFH!
[…] He was a highly talked-about media darling when Jose Mourinho announced himself as ‘The special one’ on his arrival to the club, but it just took him a single season to prove his words. He won the 2004-05 season with a record 95 points with 3 matchdays to spare, and that wasn’t it; he won 91 points in the season to follow, which is the second highest score in the same record list. Here’s our Chelsea FC’s season detailed review. […]