THE PRIDE OF LONDON-CHELSEA’S CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE VICTORY.

Doubters and haters criticized us from the beginning of the 2011/2012 champions' league that the blues will not advance even at group stages when we were drawn against Bayer Leverkusen and Valencia because we had finished 3rd in the premier league behind the Manchester clubs.
Once they saw them through the group stages, they never believed that we could move any step further.we advanced to knock out stages where we were drawn against Napoli that people said our defence could not get hold of Napoli striker the likes of Ezequiel Lavezi,this could have been through as we lost 3-1 away to Napoli thanks to return matches.
After being upset at Napoli, the blues manager, Andre Villas Boas (AVB) was axed for his poor results leaving his assistant Roberto Di Matteo (RDM) taking as interim coach.The Italian tried to build unity among the players which was being divided by AVB.RDM restored Chelsea's winning morale by beating Napoli 4-1 on the return match at Stamford Bridge advancing them to quarter finals against Benfica.
Everybody including fans and the squad itself didn't belief their advancement in the Champions league and critics were all over that Chelsea will fall against Benfica because at that time, the blues were not at their best form.
The Blues went past Benfica, registering a 1-0 away win at Benfica and playing a 2-1 home win in the return match at the Bridge.Also this didn't signal anything to doubters that Chelsea had rediscovered their winning form under the interim Coach, RDM.
 Chelsea was through Quarter finals, each one waited anxiously for the semi-finals draw and the were unlucky to be drawn together with Barcelona,a team every coach was praying not to be drawn with even Real Madrid.
Every type of betting was put on Chelsea-Barcelona game where others said that Chelsea were to be thrashed like 5 goals and what was amazing is that when all this was being thought of, the blues were preparing for a sweet revenge against the Catalans following their controversial win in 2009 when an injury goal by Andres Iniesta saw the blues out in semifinals.
The revenge worked well as the Stamford side won 1-0 against Barcelona in first leg and still nobody believed them. This was indeed their road to Munich finals but this was to be decided on the return match.
On the return match at Noucamp, Barcelona seemed to overturn their 1-0 loss at the Bridge when they grabbed their first half goal through Andres Iniesta but Brazillian Ramires restored the blues hopes to reach the finals by his added time goal. Lionel Messi’s missed penalty proved dear for holders Barcelona as ten-man Chelsea, with John Terry sent off, produced another stunning rear guard defensive display to draw 2-2 and make it to the final of the Champions League.
The Blues earned their Munich final after their great display against the Catalans to face FC Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena, Bayern’s home ground and everybody said that Chelsea will never win at Germany but faith and belief was in the squad and RDM was optimistic that the blues were capable of bringing the cup back London.
The Stamford side had difficulties at the preparation to the finals day as their key players including their skipper Johny Terry who was sent off in the Barcelona game and others like Ramires, Meireles and Branslav Ivanovic who were suspended but RDM had solution to this.
The 19^th May of 2012 was not only the final day for the Champions’ league but a great and history day for the blues as they beat Bayern on penalties (4-3) after they played the 1-1 normal time and even the extra time.
Blues fireman Didier Drogba was excellent to gether with Petr Cech in the goal and also David Luiz and Gary Cahill were sold at the defense denying Bayern.Cech saved three penalties including extra time’s Arjen Robben and everybody was happy about him not forgetting that Didier’s 88^thequalizer saw Chelsea have hopes of winning the European cup.
Chelsea is the first London club to win the Champions’ league and everybody is proud of the success though the season never seemed to end high like this. WELL DONE THE BLUES!