Under the Blue microscope-Chelsea FC

As the season is drawing to a close, it’s that time of the season when  we look back at the season and ponder what could have been and what has been. With most sides in the Barclays Premier League left with 2 or 3 games, we have a fair idea as to who will end up with what. But same cannot be said for one certain London club. In fact as I write they are preparing for a midweek clash against Newcastle United,a fixture which can very well decide which of them makes it the top four and guarantee Champions League action next season.  On Saturday, they will be up against an ‘unlucky’ Liverpool side in the FA cup final. And then, to top it all Allianz Arena awaits for Di Matteo’s men as Chelsea go head to head against Bayern in the Champions League final.

The arrival of  André Villas-Boas was greeted by most Chelsea fans across the world. He was almost like a brand new signing, with Chelsea FC reportedly paying a bomb to FC Porto to activate his release clause. But few expected the Portuguese to have a very short and unhappy stay at Stamford Bridge. When he was fired in March, Roberto Di Matteo took over and Chelsea’s season took a turn for the better. Under Villas-Boas, Chelsea were not at their best, but some have argued that Frank Lampard and Drogba’s demotion to the bench resulted in him losing the confidence of the players, especially the senior and the influential ones. Wonder how managers cope with this strange hierarchy at this club, although I always have had my reservations over Villas-Boas but the fact of the matter is no player is "bigger than the club".

Chelsea however, can still end this season with 2 major trophies and automatically assuring themselves qualification for next season’s Champions League. After rather doing the unthinkable, seeing off Barcelona with ten men at Camp Nou and their 50 million pounds rated Spanish striker coming good, finally they look in good stead to win them.

Chelsea’s biggest turning point in the season- André Villas-Boas being sacked and Di Matteo taking over. The team has ever since played as a cohesive unit,the togetherness which was missing was back there.

Chelsea’s top man for the season- Juan Mata without a shadow of a doubt. Mata has been their most influential player by some distance, with 13 goals and 21 assists to his name. Following him would be Ramires, this boy has got some engine.

Chelsea’s biggest dud of the season- Fernando Torres has done enough not to earn himself this honor, but Florent Malouda has absolutely done nothing this season. Reduced to substitute and scattered appearances this season, Malouda has put up a real poor show. 

The FA Cup final against Liverpool is another mouth watering clash. Liverpool has had a mixed season so far, they have been very inconsistent. They have done pretty well against the top sides, then slumped to defeats against sides against whom you expect them to get the job done. With Champions League qualification out of contention, FA Cup is their best chance at salvaging this season. They have already got the better of this Chelsea side once this season in the League which makes me believe that although Chelsea have been the better side on recent form, this is going to be close. Chelsea will have a tough fixture against Newcastle just a few days prior to the final, it will be interesting to see whether Di Matteo fields a side having one eye on the final. Kenny Dalglish rested his kep players Suarez, Gerrard and Reina against Fulham which Di Matteo may not have the luxury of. Fatigue, if the match rolls into extra time, can come into play although Chelsea have a big enough squad to deal with the crisis if I may call it that. Gary Cahill is expected to play a part in that who has fast established himself as a fan favorite and forming a formidable partnership alongside John Terry. While Cup finals are never easy to predict, I do feel Chelsea will end up winning this. They have been on a real high off late, Torres has joined the party too. Players like Ramires, Terry, Ivanovic who will have to sit out of the Champions League Final will go out there and give their all. If Di Matteo does start with Drogba and Torres up front, that can pose a serious challenge for this leaky Liverpool defense. 

Their season is hanging in the balance, two finals decide their season and the fate of their manager as well. But this diminutive and calm Italian surely isn’t letting the pressure get to him. He is taking it one at a time.