Chelsea FC The Bridge Will Never Fall

Chelsea Beats Stoke To Reach FA Cup Semis Humility Not John Terry's Best Suit

It was hilarious to have many people talking of a possibility of Stoke City upsetting Chelsea in pre-match chatter. It was never going to be that way because we are now becoming something of a Cup expert while Stoke had their best defender suspended. Don't believe it? See what happened to Stoke at Arsenal after Shawcross was off. They only held on for so long because of the emotional stress suffered by the Gunners. That will never happen with Chelsea. The players all stood up to be counted and the only low point was Drogba again not scoring. It looks like even though he is still playing well, the streak has ended and it might be some time yet before he gets back up and running in terms of scoring goals. But Lampard might be back on song and our dear old Captain Enfant Terrible John Terry is also finding some of his headers ending up in the back of the net. For sure, this brute is trying to do everything he can to show people that he is still king on the pitch after all the abuse he has, deservedly I might add as a Chelsea fan, received from opposing fans and media alike.

It was a typical Chelsea match. Long periods of dullness while they slowly squeezed the life out of Stoke. Only the early minutes saw a few scares as we had to clear off the line and Stoke could rightfully dispute some of the decisions. However, it was never going to last for Stoke and even without the creative talents of Joe Cole, we simply stuck faithfully to our power football tactics grown accustomed to since Jose was here. We kept pressing and eventually Lampard got his name on the scoresheet with another piledriver into the top netting. Spectacular goal is all I can say. Lifted the crowd and evidently the team as well. Energy levels were raised and you could see relief in the players' legs as they have had another tough week with speculation on how they were going to end up with nothing this season after leading the league for so long. I still think Chelsea will win the English Premier League - tough run in and Utd and Arsenal are pressing hard but Ancelotti knows what to do.

Wasn't too happy again with Terry's show of defiance and arrogance pointing to his armband after scoring to indicate he is still the leader. Don't really need a leader like him - ok he is still one of our best defenders but someone else should take over. The guy is basically still a juvenile despite maturity on the pitch. Off it, a terrible lout and not someone I am proud to have playing for the club, and worse still, the captain. I'll probably get lots of stick for this from fellow Chelsea fans and many will use the tired excuse that most millionaire footballers are like kids anyway, but it's terrible that we don't have true gentlemen playing the game nowadays. Few and far between. Terry better keep your opinions to yourself now and just go about your job quietly. You should learn from your mistakes after the John Terry scandal and become a better human being, instead of trying to go head on with those who criticised you.

So now on to Wembley and it looks like a possible Double for us this season now. One more semi, and a few more wins in the League and it'll be our best results since Jose left.

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Thoughts And Review On Inter Milan Defeat Of Chelsea

So in the end we were out-Chelsea-ed by Mourinho as our aging team proved to be out thought by a faster and equally tough Inter. At times during the game it looked like we were playing ourselves although I must admit Inter's attacking part of the team does look more dynamic and better than our battering ram of Drogba. No doubting the quality of Didier but sometimes we do look too one-dimensional going forward and short of options while hoping that he can come up with some magic in every game. That just doesn't happen even with Messi and Ronaldo, so we really need to expand our lineup upfront. On the other hand, still some worries over the form of our defence. John Terry still looks shaky despite claims that the John Terry scandal is all over. The two goals we conceded showed our lack of pace and organisation again. Some thoughts from Lampard after the game also came up:

Frank Lampard is convinced his club continue to have it all to do in the second leg but feels their old gaffer Jose Mourinho set his team a tough assignment after the Italian club's success.

"There's still the game in London to go. On the balance of play, possession, shots on target, I thought we were the stronger team, but we knew how Inter were going to play - they do like to soak up pressure and that's what they did," Lampard told ITV.

"(Mourinho's) very clever in the way he plays. They came to wait for us, we gave away the goal, came back, then let another in, but we've got the away goal and that gives us a chance."

The skipper claimed he didn't see the unpleasant incident where Salomon Kalou was likely seemingly fouled in the penalty box by the Inter Milan defender, but stated:

"Kalou believes it is a penalty and, if so, it is actually a red card and the match's totally different, but you have to take it on the chin and in the return encounter maybe something goes for us.

"We've got the away goal, but obviously we've got to beat them at home so it's in the balance."

Our old gaffer Mourinho refused to rejoice either Inter Milan goal on the pitch, but maintained he was more than glad with the outcome.

"Of course I'm happy inside," he said. "I was saying a few weeks ago or few months ago when we got the draw I'm a professional and I want to win as a professional I want to win more than anybody else."

He also rejected the notion he had done anything to out strategised his ex players.

"I don't think the game was a question of tactics, I think the game was a real Champions League game, a really high-level game.

"There were no surprises for me, no surprises from Chelsea, just two teams playing with the quality they have.

"Chelsea can play better, Inter can play better, but this is the reality of the Champions League. Sometimes it's difficult to express your qualities. This is a knock-out so you know any mistake can cost you qualification.

"Inter were unlucky with the draw, Chelsea were unlucky with the draw, because I think if you look at the Champions League, this was the game with two teams with great ambitions, and one of them has to go home."

Should be an interesting return leg at the Bridge. Can't wait for Jose to return - we'll give him a rousing welcome before and after the game but during the 90 minutes I'm sure he'll enjoy the jousting between us. Knowing his ways, I think we still have a chance until the last kick of the tie! We're Chelsea afterall and know Mourinho best!

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