THANK YOU!!

By Since66
May 21 2012

‘I’ve won it!! I’ve won it!!,’ screamed Bobby Di down the ear of Roman at the top of stairs, minutes and feet away from the presentation of ‘Big Ears,’ ‘European Cup,’ ‘Champions League.’ The two men hugged each other like long lost brothers reunited after a life-time apart and no doubt Bobby Di's message was quite clear.

An extraordinary day.  A day that began at 5.30am Saturday morning, flight from Gatwick to Munich arriving at Marienplatz, the main square at around 2.00pm local time.

Arriving in the square to a fantastic throng of colour, noise, vibrancy, atmosphere and the well-known and very well used clichés – Expectancy and Anticipation.

Thousands upon thousands of bodies bedecked in red, white, blue and white.

A cacophony of noise from wailing horns, ringing bells and boisterous singing rising up to the clear blue skies circulating over the sun-kissed and very warm city square.

Munich fans and Chelsea fans mixing freely together, hugging, shaking hands, talking, drinking and trying to outsing each other with a verve and purpose.

So many people, so much noise.

I cannot imagine anywhere else in Europe, let alone the World, where a gathering of so many with little police presence, where the beer was flowing freely, would be allowed to take place, without the prospect of trouble.

I admit I was a little pre-occupied with the thought of potential ‘flashpoints’ but once I had navigated my way around the mass of bodies to my meeting point and joined the rush for that first beer, my fears were completely washed away, especially when the first chorus of ‘Carefree’ broke only feet away from nearest group of Bayern fans.

The hours before leaving for the Allianz Arena were the best I have experience in opposition territory and as for the Allianz Arena itself, Stamford Bridge aside (LOL….Ed) is way up there as one of the best grounds ever visited.

The game itself has been well-documented.

Didier equalised Muller’s opener.

Didier conceded the penalty at the start of extra-time which Cechie Boy saved brilliantly from ex-Blues Arjen Robben and at the end of extra-time, Chelsea appeared to have gained the upper hand.

Then Mata missed the first pen, Munich went 3-1 up, before Super Frank roofed his penalty to make it 3-2.

Cechie Boy saved Olic’s effort, then Cole smashed in to make it 3-3 (probably the best penalty of the night, IMHO) as the drama and pressure increased. Schweinsteiger hit the post via Cechie Boy’s fingertips, leaving Didier to seal the victory for the triumphant Blues, sending the 17,500 travellers into total ecstasy and elation.

Finally, the Champions League was ours.

Forget 2008, forget 2009….. REMEMBER 19^TH May 2012!!!

CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm (c), Tymoshchuk, Boateng, Contendo, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Robben, T Muller (Van Buyten 85), Ribery (Olic 96), Gomez

Goal: Muller 82

Booked: Schweinsteiger 1

Chelsea:  Cech, Bosingwa, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Lampard (c), Kalou (Torres 83), Mata, Bertrand (Malouda 73), Drogba

Goal: Drogba 87

Booked: Cole 80, Luiz 85, Drogba 93, Torres 119

CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 21/05/2012 20:10

50 Years Over 100 Years
21/05/2012 20:10

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:02:04:07:48:02 by Since 66.

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dixon9
22/05/2012 07:14

I'm still smiling and am throughly looking forward to a summer of being annoyingly smug!

What an achievement and so typical of us to do it when we've got the weakest squad in years.

I'm SO pleased for the old guard that have suffered so much over the years trying to win this.

...and Roman has told the players that "This is only the beginning..." !!!



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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