There is a reason why I have always rated Jose Mourinho. Despite his arrogance and controversial persona, he is in my opinion, the best manager I have ever had the pleasure and privilege to see. An exceptionally gifted coach who has broken and made records of his own. He again proved me right last night. Against all odds, his bruised blues qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League. The fifth straight time the Portuguese managerial myth has reached this stage with three different clubs. An extraordinary achievement. The odds were firmly stacked against the West Londoners last night but we all know it is when everything seems to be going wrong that winners rise up and prove their mettle. Mourinho is a born winner and he has always demanded the very best from each and every player he has managed. His conveyor belt boasts of some of the greatest footballers who have graced the game and he isn't even halfway through yet.
Many may wonder why the attention is on Mourinho rather than the players. He is the motivator in chief. The very reason why Chelsea qualified last night. The band Leader, the best thing that has happened to football in the last decade or so. From the first minute, you could see the determination of the players. Even when star man, Eden Hazard succumbed to a calf injury in the 18th minute, the players still believed the goal was within reach and the deficit retrievable. It was not long after that Hazard's replacement, Andre Schurrle made his presence felt, scoring just 14 minutes after his introduction to give the pensioners hope that there is something to fight for. The team toiled, gave everything and in the end where rewarded when Demba Ba, another substitute pounced on a loose ball and poked it past Salvatore Sirigu to send the crowd into delirium. Fever pitch mode was activated but when Cech saved a Marquinhos effort at his near post, it dawned on the fans that a place in the last four of the UCL was secured. A fantastic win. Only the second time in 111 games that the French team have been beaten by two goals which added gloss to the excellent victory.
With Chelsea in the last four, whoever they are drawn against will have to contend with a 'special spirit' as Jose rightly put it in his post-match thoughts. It was a truly remarkable night for the blues.
PSG and Laurent Blanc will be very disappointed with the timidity and lack of ambition shown last night. In the absence of IBRACADABRA, Cavani couldn't shine. The man affectionately called EL MATADOR threw away many gilt edged chances to put the match beyond their hosts. He will remain behind Ibra in the pecking order. Although, it will be difficult to really predict what might have been if it was Ibra rather than the Uruguayan. The Paris based club will look at this defeat as another chance missed. A chance to be among the last four teams standing in Europe's most celebrated club competition. They may let their heads drop or us this as a springboard for the upcoming season. Who knows?
Huge Congratulations to Jose Mourinho and Chelsea for pulling the unlikely off. It is another evidence that the best are never to be written off. Mourinho is the finest manager in my book and I have always stood by that.
Real Madrid went to Borussia Dortmund to disgrace themselves. The 9-time winners showed that there lies a lot of weaknesses in the team with a very below par performance. But for the wastefulness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Dortmund would have accounted for the elimination of Los Blancos for the second consecutive season. Carlo Ancelotti can make an excuse that CR7 wasn't fit enough to feature in the game. However, that will be flimsy and daft because there is a plethora of talents flocking around the club.
Rolls Reus took matters personal when he scored a sweet brace to breath life into the collapsing Schwarzgelben. His efforts headed for the waste bin when the usually calm and deadly Armenian, Mkhitaryan, let Madrid off the hook not once, not twice. It was a night of mixed feelings for both teams but the Ruhr based club can be happy with their performance and for the fact that they stopped the 'whites' run of 34 consecutive Champions League games in which they have scored at least one goal. The Signa Iduna crowd clapped off their heroes and deservedly so. Jurgen Klopp has defeated the very best managers in the game. Gaurdiola, Mourinho, Heynckes, Wenger, and now Ancelotti. Surely one of the greatest of his generation and on the path to 'LEGEND' status. If he was a bit luckier with injuries this term, it could have been a much better season. They have only the POKAL to fight for now. At least to retain some pride. The Champions League runners-up bowed out gracefully and the good news (bad for some people) is that they will be back.
Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990
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