Time and again football manages, somehow, to astound and amaze even those who have been immersed in the game for all their professional lives. Chelsea’s victory over Bayern in Munich in the 2012 UEFA Champions League was one of those occasions.
This was not a great game. But it generated matchless drama and a series of twists and turns which demonstrated just why so many millions around the world are magnetised by its spell. Chelsea’s victory made for the most mesmerising ‘reality television’ far beyond the deliberate manipulations of so many TV producers and directors.
The ‘Roman Empire’ from west London appeared doomed to defeat time and time again. First Thomas Muller headed Bayern in front in the 83rd minute only for Didier Drogba, five minutes later, to head a magnificent equaliser. Then in extra time they conceded a penalty only for Petr Cech to save from Arjen Robben; then Juan Mata missed Chelsea’s first kick in the shootout only for them to recover and win it 4-3.
Drogba, having headed the equaliser and conceded that extra-time penalty with his trip on Franck Ribery, converted the decisive last penalty. He was named official man of the match in a storybook finale to what was being touted as probably the 34-year-old’s last game for the club. Chelsea’s triumph was depressing for others apart from Bayern.
Tottenham, for one: Chelsea will return to the Champions League next season as holders and thus snatch the last Premier League slot from fourth-finishing Spurs who drop into the Europa League; UEFA president Michel Platini, for another: his concept of financial fair play took a battering as an oligarch-enriched club beat one who pride themselves on financial probity. To rub it in Abramovich, beaming broadly, even joined his players for the trophy presentation. Bayern had only themselves to blame. They created just about all the half-chances in a tight game staged in a context which was all in their favour: they were playing in their own Allianz Arena and Chelsea were the more seriously weakened by the suspensions legacy from the clubs’ semi-final victories over Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Both clubs had painful recent memories to exorcise. Bayern had lost 2-0 to Internazionale in the 2010 final in Madrid while Chelsea had been pipped on penalties in Moscow by Manchester United two years earlier. At least Chelsea had claimed one other trophy this past season: the FA Cup. Bayern had ended up empty-handed after Dortmund had outstripped them in the Bundesliga and crushed them 5-2 in the German cup final. Hence they now carry the burden of being runners-up three times over, just like fellow Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.
Chelsea’s victory was a mark of destiny’s delight. They should have competed in the very first European Champions Cup, back in 1955-56. They had been invited – along with the likes of Real Madrid, Milan, Reims etc – but declined under orders from the Football League.
Hence they were still pursuing a cup-winning dream which had come true four times previously for Bayern and on an occasion generally considered as potentially a last hurrah for a team built around an ageing core.
