FA Cup final memories: Drogba wins it at the new Wembley | News | Official Site

Chelsea had by no means skilled a season fairly like the 2006/07 marketing campaign. A exceptional spate of accidents, none extra dramatic than the depressed cranium fracture Petr Cech suffered, meant Jose Mourinho was always pressured to put sq. pegs in spherical holes.

Blues followers grew to become accustomed to seeing hitherto unknown third-choice Hilario between the posts, and Michael Essien and Paulo Ferreira in central protection. Despite the seemingly infinite stream of hurdles positioned in our path, Mourinho’s males fought onerous on all 4 fronts.

Only in the antepenultimate league fixture did we relinquish our Premier League crown. By then, the League Cup had been gained, whereas our Champions League journey ended at the semi-final stage, after penalty heartbreak at Anfield.

Our FA Cup marketing campaign was fittingly dramatic, too. We needed to come again from 3-1 down at house to Tottenham in the quarters earlier than profitable a replay at the Lane. Against Blackburn in the last-four, an extra-time objective from Michael Ballack was decisive.

The new Wembley, over finances and not on time, had solely opened just a few months earlier. For the final, a sunny May afternoon, he welcomed FA Cup-winning groups and legends from years passed by, together with all the standard dignitaries.

There was additional pomp and fanfare to herald the new area, the second-largest soccer stadium in Europe, with a capability of 90,000.

Predictably, Mourinho was with out a number of key gamers. Ashley Cole and Arjen Robben have been solely match sufficient for a spot on the bench, and Essien stepped in for the injured Ricardo Carvalho. Happily, John Mikel Obi recovered from a thigh harm to start out in central midfield.

Mourinho had steered us to a pair of league titles and League Cups in his first three seasons in cost, however had but to expertise the magic of the home recreation’s showpiece fixture.

‘The English Cup Final was the recreation everybody was ready all 12 months in the nation to observe on TV,’ he stated. ‘We at all times needed a draw as a result of we at all times needed a second recreation. The different factor was the feeling that the small crew may at all times win it.

‘In Portugal, you probably have a final say Porto in opposition to a small crew, no person believes the small crew can win. I keep in mind in a single FA Cup Final, Coventry enjoying and profitable it, and it was nice stuff.’

Mourinho may take coronary heart from the truth he had solely suffered defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson, his counterpart at Man United, as soon as in eight clashes. He additionally had Cech in objective, his headguard a everlasting reminder of that traumatic incident in Reading earlier in the season.

‘If you had instructed me on October 17, three days later [suffering the injury] and after I could not keep in mind something, that I’d be on this Final, perhaps I’d not consider it,’ the massive keeper mused.

As it turned out, Cech did not have a lot to do. Nor did Edwin van der Sar. It was cagey and positively not a traditional for the impartial, however the rigidity was insufferable at factors. Two groups that had gone blow for blow all season fought with all they’d, however tiredness was clearly an element, as was the Wembley sunshine.

It was goalless at full-time, and goalless 4 minutes earlier than the finish of extra-time. Then Mikel threaded the ball by to Didier Drogba, who exchanged passes with Frank Lampard earlier than stabbing his effort previous Van der Sar.

‘I consider we deserved this victory as a result of we have been the finest crew right this moment,’ Mourinho stated afterwards. ‘It was not simple. It was a recreation the place you needed to suppose onerous all the time. We didn’t give them the recreation they anticipated. But I consider we had the recreation beneath management the complete time.’

Mourinho hailed the younger Mikel’s efficiency as ‘unbelievable’, saying he managed the recreation for lengthy intervals. Captain John Terry, himself suffering from harm throughout the season, had the honor of lifting the Cup.

‘It was a good distance up there, however when you find yourself up there, it is a good view and an amazing sight in seeing all the Chelsea followers waving about,’ the skipper smiled.

‘I really feel actually proud. Walking the final a part of that walkway was actually particular; I used to be fairly emotional. Every captain needed to be the first to stroll up these steps. Chelsea have been the final at the outdated Wembley and we have been the first at the new. That is particular in its personal proper.’

For Drogba, the matchwinner whose Wembley story was solely simply starting, the consequence vindicated a mammoth collective effort in adversity.

‘I’m simply completely happy to attain the first cup final objective in the new stadium,’ the striker stated. ‘A whole lot of the gamers have been criticized this season, however we’re right here. This crew spirit is what Chelsea have proven since the starting of the season.’

Our reward? Yet one other historic piece of silverware, the title of Chelsea endlessly etched first in the checklist of FA Cup winners at the new Wembley.