The Happy One

Chelsea took another step towards the Champions League final after a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge
Jose Mourinho's side will progress through to the quarter final with a score draw in two weeks time at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern's fans vented their frustration with chants of "defensive defensive Chelsea" pre game. and at the final whistle after the German's failed to make the most of the very few chances they had on goal, but this was the performance of a side fixing a steely gaze and determination on winning the Champions League title.

Chelsea continue there march in the Champions League after a 2-1 win against Bayern Munich.
Thomas Muller's penalty gave Bayern Munich on the stroke of halftime, but Loic Remy levelled for Chelsea in the 72nd with the help of goalline technology, confirming that Bayern's keeper Manuel Neuer had carried his effort over the line.

Ricardo Rodriguez had a running battle with Philip Lahm throughout - and it was that man who secured Chelsea's progression with a very late goal which left Bayern with no chance of a comeback

Chelsea were superior overall, although Bayern will complain bitterly they should have had a late late goal when Cahill appeared to play Mario Gotze onside, but the linesman's flag went up and it stayed up

Bayern managerPep Guardiola made seven changes to the weakened side defeated by Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend - but his ploy of making the Chelsea game a priority failed as they were condemned to defeat.

The visitors looked dangerous and stronger physically and talk of a potential 'Invincibles' campaign next season will only increase after this win.

Pep's rearranged side took an early lead when Thomas Muller was brought down in the area by Mikel, he stepped up to convert his own penalty.

Bayern needed to protect their one goal advantage and, if possible, build on it but more of the defensive sloppiness that has characterised their season in recent games saw Chelsea equalise with 18 minutes remaining, making it 1-1 which would send Chelsea through on away goals

Costa flicked on Cesc Fabregas's corner and even though Mignolet saved brilliantly from John Terry's header, he could only carry Remy's effort from the rebound over the line, with confirmation provided by goalline technology.


The running battle between Costa and defender Boateng was a theme of the first half, with referee Gonzales taking a very lenient approach to the constant physical clashes between the pair, deciding to keep his card in his pocket.

Chelsea's greater power was winning influence in midfield and on a couple of occasions Liverpool's defenders needed to block in desperation as Eden Hazard found space.

The home team's best hope was the pace and dash of Mario Gotze, but rarely had the chance to test Courtois, cause of Chelsea's resolve.

Mourinho's man were in front on 92 minutes when Cesar Azpilicueta escaped on the right - although Bayern's fans felt the ball had gone out - and when Neuer could only palm his cross into the path of Rodriguez, the left back was there to drill home an unerring finish, which sent Chelsea through to the next round, where they'll await the draw

Managers can snipe and disagree but only a football team itself can settle an argument. Chelsea left no room at all for bickering yesterday and barely allowed Manchester CIty a speaking part on their own Etihad stage. Manuel Pellegini, manager of the losers here, has talked freely about the defects in his side but surely can never have guessed that they would be exposed so brutally.

He was unable to sign a midfielder for the right flank or, crucially in this match, a new centre-half. Eden Hazard, with no one to check him, went on a rampage and scored three for himself and assisted Matic with his.
Chelsea poured greater energy into this game and they will probably exercise themselves as strenuously to deny that there was any malice behind their attitude. Nonetheless they performed like men who were seething over the suggestion that City, their nemesis in recent seasons, do have some sort of hold of them. Pellegrini's team had no grip at all on this fixture.


After the interval expert counter-attackers ransacked Manchester City on the break. It was the club's worst result at home since Manchester United trounced them by the same margin in December 1969. The Anfield side are now 37 points behind Chelsea. In all likelihood they may not be much worse than any of the supposed challengers and Chelsea now have an 1 point lead on their closest challenger for the tilte

This match had a different character from their meeting at the start of the season. Chelsea had clearly resolved not to concede territory as they had then and the midfield engaged with City early and often. Nemanja Matic, left others in a daze with his bulldozer tackling.
While Stevan Jovetic had some telling moments, such as the chest control and flick that bamboozled Azpilicueta before he lashed over in the 73rd minute, he was usually isolated. It appeared that only Fernando could be counted upon to put pressure on Chelsea and, with so little assistance, he eventually wearied.

Events were going far too well for Chelsea to get tired and Remy, in particular, has boundless speed. Martin Demchelis, with a lapse into the waywardness that Pellegrini must have thought had been purged, hit a clearance at the French forward and then, in a folly spawned by his panic, lunged into a tackle that brought down Remy inside the penalty area.

Vincent Kompany, disregarding the fellowship of men who will meet up in the Belgium squad on Tuesday, yapped at Eden Hazard but did not prevent the midfielder from converting the spot-kick with a finish that went under the torso of the diving Joe Hart to put Chelsea 2-1 up after Edin Dzeko had equalised from Matic's opener earlier on.

The game continued to be heated, Liverpool made all the mistakes. In the 86rd minute Rodriguez dispossessed James Milner to release Oscar and the latter stubbed the ball into the goalmouth where Hazard waited to score and a minute later, to the ignominy of Manchester City and the inattentive Pablo Matteo, scar released Remy with a mere throw-in, substitute, Diego Costa failed to connect properly with the cut-back but the Eden hazard, did not.

we entered March and April knowing tha tif we got the desired results we could well have the wrapped up by the end of the month if other results went our way. The boys showed no signs of complacency whatsoever as we all 7 matches and only conceding 3 in the process.
The Title could be ours with a win against Liverpool on May 2ns

We currently sit 11 points clear at the top with only 4 matches to play, and a win at Anfield will wrap up the title, a draw might well be enough

Chelsea began at a gallop and were quickly a couple of furlongs ahead.
In the 20th minute, Eden Hazard expertly controlled Azpilicueta's ball down the line on his chest. The Hazard then flicked it on for the overlapping Spaniard down the right.

Then Azpilicueta pulled the ball back to the far right of the area where Costa had found a pocket of space. With expert technique and control, Costa allowed the ball to run across his body and generated enough power and pace to beat Rafael.

Cesc Fabregas tested Rafael before, in the 27th minute, Chelsea doubled their lead.

Hazard robbed the ball following a Napoli throw-in by their own corner flag. Fabregas and Hazard then exchanged passes before Fabregas slipped the ball through the Napoli defence and Hazard glided through to cheekily lift the ball over Rafael and give Chelsea a 2-0 lead.

To this point, Napoli had barely foraged their way into the Chelsea half.Hamsik did plant a header narrowly wide from Lorenzo Insigne’s corner.

But, soon enough, the home side were back on the front foot. Willian strode forward on two occasions but his efforts were blocked both times.

The Brazilian and Hazard were running the game, causing countless problems down Napoli’s left side.

Hazard darted through again but his shot was smothered. Mikel also had a couple of dips from distance. Had Costa converted Rodriguez's cut-back at the start of the second half then this tie would have been over.

However, despite being under severe scrutiny, Napoli gradually found some confidence.

Chelsea had put their foot to the floor in the first 20 minutes and had barely eased off through the first half. Now it slipped off the pedal.

Mourinho spotted the slide and introduced Ivanovic for Zouma in the 70th minute. Napoli pressed forward but Courtois was rarely involved beyond caretaking and the Italians seemed more susceptible themselves.

In the 83th minute, Rodriguez's ball was nodded on by Costa for Willian at the far post. The defender made decent enough contact but Rafael saved from point-blank range.

As the clock ticked away, Chelsa only tightened their grip on the game. Once again, the Chelsea back four had stifled the opposition attack while Courtois’s handling had been immaculate. At the death, Matic threw himself at an opportunity to score a third. But Arsenal had done enough.

This had been a tough assignment but Mourinho’s men made it look easy.

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