Can Chelsea salvage their season after Champions League exit?

OK, so perhaps ’salvage’ might be a bit strong, they could still win the Premier League and FA Cup this season after all, but it is probably a fair reflection on how Carlo Ancelotti and his Chelsea side must be feeling this morning. Undone by the tactical brilliance of Jose Mourinho, their European dream is over for another season and you wonder how many more chances this side have at achieving it.

Chelsea were outthought and outplayed for the majority of the ninety minutes last night. They simply did not have the cutting edge required to find a way past Mourinho’s well drilled Inter Milan side. The Special One audaciously selected three recognised strikers, and it paid dividends when one of them, Samuel Eto’o, settled the tie following a superb ball from the imperious Wesley Sneijder.

Roman Abramovich must be wondering what he has to do to get his hands on the trophy that he craves. Having sought out Ancelotti for his European record in particular, his side have been ousted from the competition by the man who he effectively ousted from his position as Chelsea manager. Whilst Mourinho is unlikely to take much pleasure from seeing former players and friends suffer, there is a bound to be a bit of him which feels vindicated.

Thoughts of Europe are for another time however. Right now, Carlo Ancelotti’s priority is picking his players up for the league run in and FA Cup semi-final. Although nobody at Stamford Bridge is likely to admit it, the furore surrounding John Terry’s nocturnal activities, along with injuries to some key players have had an impact on the team; a morale sapping defeat in Europe was the last thing they needed.

Of course it is easy to argue that their exit from Europe will allow them to focus more intently on domestic competition. However, the reality is likely to be very different and the manner of last night’s performance will have been of some concern as they started to look like a side running out of steam, running out of ideas and running out of patience (witness John Terry’s protestations at the final whistle).

Most teams they play between now and the end of the season are nowhere near the calibre of Inter Milan of course. Away trips to White Hart Lane and Anfield will prove testing however, as will playing Aston Villa in the league and cup in the space of a fortnight. Above all, the trip to Old Trafford on 3rd April is starting to look like the one which will define their season. It seems inconceivable, but it could be one in which they finish empty handed.

March 17, 2010