The date read 19thMay 2012. It had just gone 23:20 local time when an eerie silence fell upon the Allianz Arena in Germany's capital city of Munich. He stood at 6 feet 1 inches and had the look of a man possessed, this was to be his night, his time to be written in the history of the club.
Having watched the Club World Cup final again and taking time for the performance and result to settle in, I can't help but think it's yet another missed opportunity for Chelsea this season.
The performance was OK if you think about it. Corinthians never really troubled Petr Cech that many times or looked like scoring compared to the chances Chelsea had in the game.
Chelsea beat Monterrey 3-1 yesterday to reach the World Club Cup final against Corinthians on Sunday.
Juan Mata, Fernando Torres and an Own Goal eased Chelsea through to the final and by the sounds of it, we were more than comfortable. I never saw the game as had been stuck at work for 14 hours yesterday so have only seen brief highlights so I am turning this post over to YOU the Chelsea fans all over the world who watched it to give YOUR OWN views on how you think we played.
Gol de Torres 0-2 (Monterrey vs Chelsea)... by fccaptura It looks like Chelsea might have unearthed a goalscoring sensation. The once misfiring Fernando Torres has continued his current streak with another goal. The Spaniard found the net 16seconds into the second-half of the Blues' World Club Cup semi-final against Monterrey.
The Chelsea players have arrived in Japan and have taken part in their first training session today as they prepare for the World Club Cup this week and I am wondering how you the Chelsea fan reading this feels about the competition?
As far as the manager and the players are concerned, this is a competition we have never played in before, and one we want to win.
It's ironic that current Champions League holders Chelsea are officially OUT of the competition despite a 6-1 win over FC Nordsjaelland last night, but will contest for World Club Cup in Japan glory next week. Just makes you wanna become World Club Champions now eh, Benitez?
As we all know, our trip to the Club World Cup in Japan turned out to be a nightmare after being beaten in the final. A 12,000 mile round trip that could have taken it's toll on our players and all for nothing so it seemed.
However, there has been one major positive about the trip for Rafa Benitez and that has been time to work with the players and three wins in three, seven out of eight in all competitions has sparked a revival at Chelsea and has put us right back in the hunt for trophies this season.
The World Club Cup Champions, Corinthians, have returned home! In a plane bearing the club flag, the players and club officials arrived in the Cumbica International airport in Sao Paulo early this morning. They were also greeted by Governor Geraldo Alckmin. Jetlag? There's a street party scheduled for later this afternoon!
Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero's 69th minute header gave Brazilian side Corinthians the 2012 World Club Cup as they beat last seasons Champions League winners Chelsea 1-0 in Yokohama.
Corinthians fans in Brazil celebrated their side's victory against Egypt's Al-Ahly in their Club World Cup semi-final match last night by lighting flares and holding a samba party in the streets. Corinthians have (expectedly) progressed to the finals of the tournament and will face Chelsea (a showdown we can't wait for, presumably) if Benitez's side manage to beat Mexico's Monterrey later today.
They may have lost 3-1 to Sao Paulo in the Brasileirao last night, but that's because Corinthians have set their sights elsewhere and are already on the way to Japan for the World Club Cup Championships. They're distracted! Speaking of which, can any of you spot a single female fan in that photo above?
Barcelona forward David Villa says he is "desperate" to make his return to full training
although reports in Spain suggest his comeback could be delayed.
Villa has been sidelined for six months with a broken tibia that he sustained in the World Club
Cup last December. The Spain international believes he is close to being ready for pre-season
training as his side look to wrestle the Liga title back of rivals Real Madrid.
Reigning Spanish La Liga, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Club Cup champions FC Barcelona have
received their FIFA World Champions 2011 badge. It will appear on Barca's match shirts...
On this week\'s main listening report we look back at some of the big stories from the football
world in 2011. This is part two which will focus on July to December.
Barcelona striker David Villa got a welcome boost as he was released from Hospital yesterday,
five days after undergoing an operation on his broken leg picked up last month in his clubs
successful World Club Cup competition.
Villa must be delighted with being able to spend Christmas day with his childhood sweetheart,
Wife Patricia Gonzalez and their two Daughters, Zaida (8) and Olaya (2).
Defending Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona won their second FIFA
World Club Cup in the past three years with a 4-0 dismantling of Brazil's Santos FC this past
Sunday. In commemoration of manager Pep Guardiola's team triumph in Yokohama, Japan Barca technical
sponsor has released the official FC Barcelona World [.
Many of you have asked about this peculiar shirt sported by Puyol after Barca's World Club Cup
win over Santos on Sunday. 'El Guaje' is David Villa's nickname, and as you may
know, the poor tipo has been ruled out with a horrendous broken leg that has ruled him out
for the rest of the season and possibly Euro 2012.
In this week\'s review of the footballing action, we congratulate Barcelona on becoming champions
of the world and feature two financial scandals: one from Spain and one from Italy.
Roberto Soldado ... need we say more?! If there was a man Valencia needed to
serve up the best paellas to it'd be Senor Soldado himself. While the
focus has largely been on Real Madrid and Barcelona winning their World Club Cup trophy last
weekend, we've decided to devote La Liga Lunes to the Valencian striker who scored
twice against Malaga last night.
FC Barcelona humbled Copa Libertadores champions Santos FC to win the 2011 edition of the FIFA
World Club Cup by a score of 4-0 on Sunday. The UEFA Champions League winners dominated play
throughout the match and went ahead after just seventeen minutes on a Lionel Messi goal. Goals from
Xavi in the 24th and [.
FC Barcelona were crowned the 2011 World Club Champions following a brilliant 4-0 victory
against South American Champions Santos. The battle between the Champiosn of Europe and Champiosn
of South America were a mismatch with Barca controlling the proceedings for the majority of
match.
Neymar oh Neymar,você esqueceu o seu ...
concealer?!! (did you forget your concealer?) Oh never mind all that
make-up, tomorrow is the World Club Cup final between Santos and Barcelona. With
all that hype surrounding Neymar in recent days (oh come on, you guys are late to
the party!
On this week\'s podcast we ask who has been the best ever overseas player to have played in the
Premier League as well as previewing the World Club Cup between Barcelona and Santos
Barcelona will be without striker David Villa for at least 6 moinths after the striker broke his
leg in Barcelona's 4-0 rout over Al-Sadd in the World Club Cup semi-finals today. There was no dirt
in the tackle which seen Villa unleash a shot under pressure from a defender before both took a
tumble and Villa immediately signalled to the bench he was injured, eventually being stretchered
off with his side leading 1-0 thanks to a major blooper from the opposing keeper let in adriano for
his first of two goals.
Barcelona eased pass Qatari side Al Sadd and into the World Club Cup final but the 4-0 win was
marred by a serious injury to striker David Villa. Pep Guardiola's men booked their place in
Sunday's Club World Cup final against Brazilian outfit Santos thanks to an easy 4-0 win over Al
Sadd. Goals by [.
European champions FC Barcelona will meet Copa Libertadoes winners Santos FC in Sunday's final of
the FIFA World Club Cup after powering past Qatar's Al-Sadd 4-0 on Thursday in the semi final round
of the competition. Adriano put Barca up 2-0 by halftime while Seydou Keita and Maxwell completed
the rout in the 64th and [.
AVB in his comments about Didier Drogba leaving for the African Cup of Nations in January made a
point that I believe to be quite interesting. He said:
"Of course, Anelka will not be available anymore but we have Sturridge, Lukaku and
Fernando competing for that place when Drogba will be away.
FC Barcelona booked a place in the final of this year's World Club Championship final against
Santos courtesy of an easy 4-0 drubbing of Qatari Club Al Sadd. It was a mismatch from the
beginning and the only question was by what margin FC Barcelona will emerge victorious. But the
match didn't end up so well for us, with David Villa being substituted midway due to injury.
The FIFA World Club Cup Japan 2011 kicks off on Thursday with Japanese J. League Division 1
champions Kashiwa Reysol meeting 2011 OFC Champions League winners Auckland City FC. Next week UEFA
Champions League winners FC Barcelona and Copa Libertadores trophy holders Santos FC enter the
competition at the semi-final stage.
Every Friday seems to be "World Club Cup" Friday here, but believe us... it's purely
coincidental! Neymar, Elano and the rest of the Santos clan joined
Brazil's Japanese consul general and his cute kimono-wearing wife Eiko Obe, during
a "farewell party" at their residences in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.
O-GENKI-DESKA, TOMODACHI?!! ("What's Up homies?!")
International footballing superstar, Lionel Messi has officially won the whole of
Japan over with his awkward 'Spanese' greetings to all football fans in the region. Ok, he
didn't exactly say that, but who cares?
Johan Cruyff, speaking with Rob Draper of the UK's Daily Mail, recounted seeing Pep Guardiola for
the first time --shortly after Cruyff had been named Barcelona coach and Guardiola was a "scrawny
teenager" in Barcelona's youth team
The Barca youth coaches told Cruyff that Guardiola was "one of the best.
Defending FIFA World Club Cup champions and last season's Italian Serie A runners-up Inter Milan
have released their 2011/12 Nike away kit. Here is a look at the new Nerazzurri jersey in detail
along with a press release from Inter and Nike. The Inter Mian Nike 2011/12 home kit was launched
in early July.
Rio Ferdinand signed for Manchester United for £29.1m from Leeds. In those ten years he has won
five league titles, one European Cup, two League Cups and one FIFA World Club Cup.
"10 Years Ago Today..." was originally published at The Republik of
Mancunia.
