Premiership Champions and Carling Cup Winners

I also could not have picked a better time to work on this site '50 Years Over 100 Years' to record the excitement of the season that has just finished before us.

(For those who are still not sure of the meaning of the '50 years Over 100 Years' title - 50 Years since Chelsea's last Championship win and 100 Years since Chelsea Football Club was formed).

Chelsea CHAMPIONS 2004/05. Chelsea CARLING CUP WINNERS 2004/05

I sincerely hope you enjoy this review.

Season Review 2004/2005

July 2004

Jose Mourinho joins Chelsea after leaving Porto where he won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, Portuguese League, Portuguese Cup in a few short space of years.

Immediately sets to work and takes Chelsea off to the States on a tour that was pre-arranged before JM joined. Whilst on the flight to America, JM appoints John Terry Captain.

August 2004

First game of the season sees Chelsea beat Man Utd 1-0 with a goal from Eider Gudjohnsen. With further victories over Birmingham City, new boys Crystal Palace and Southampton (Chelsea concede their first Premiership goal in a remarkable eleven seconds at the start of the match), Chelsea end August in second place with a maximum of twelve points.

September 2004

Due to International fixtures Chelsea only play three Premiership matches, two 0-0's against Aston Villa away and Tottenham home followed by a 1-0 away victory against Middlesbrough. Sandwiched in between were two group games in the Champions League which Chelsea won both. First against PSG away Chelsea won 3-0 and then at the end of September Chelsea were 3-1 victors over Jose's old club Porto. Chelsea end the month in second place, behind leaders Arsenal.

October 2004

Joe Cole comes off the bench and scores the winner in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool. Chelsea suffer their first Premiership defeat at The City of Manchester Stadium with a 1-0 reverse, courtesy of an Anelka first half penalty. Chelsea's next home game sees the first of nine four goal performances. The victims were Blackburn and this game also included the debut of Arjen Robben who came on as a substitute. One of many defining moments in this momentous Chelsea season. Next up to receive a four goal drubbing was West Brom at The Hawthorns. With another Champions League victory against CSKA Moscow 2-0 at home and a hard fought Carling Cup victory over West Ham 1-0, October almost sees a 100% winning month.

November 2004

November saw League victories over Everton 1-0 with Arjen Robben scoring the winner, two four star goal performances against Fulham and Charlton, 4-1 and 4-0 respectively (the Charlton victory erasing memories of our previous visit where we lost 4-2). The only 'blip' in the month was the draw against Bolton, where Chelsea let a 2-0 lead slip. (Little did we know, although the 'Great One' did) that the Bolton away fixture would become historic later in the season. More Champions League success saw Chelsea win 1-0 away against Roman's 'other' team, CSKA Moscow and later drew 0-0 with PSG at home. Progression to the CL knockout stages had been well cemented by this time. In the Carling Cup, Chelsea defeated Newcastle United at St James' Park after extra-time with goals from Eider and Robben then on the last day of the month Chelsea won at 'The Cottage' again 2-1 to secure a Carling Cup semi-final showdown with Man Utd.

December 2004

Newcastle Utd were the first December's visitors to The Bridge and must have left scratching their heads to how they were beaten 4-0. All the goals came in the last thirty minutes from Lampard, Robben, Drogba, Kezman. Chelsea went to Highbury to face Arsenal top of the league and came away with a 2-2 draw with goals from JT and Eider. The game had its moment of controversary when Thierry Henry scored from a quickly taken free-kick, whilst the Chelsea wall were still getting sorted. Next up, a week before Christmas, Norwich were trounched 4-0 at The Bridge followed by a 'boring' 1-0 home victory against Aston Villa. Chelsea's last league game of 2004 was away at Portsmouth where Chelsea won 2-0 and were firmly cemented in pole position going into the New Year.

Chelsea's last Champions League game was against JM's old club Porto and although the result did not have any bearing on Chelsea's progression into the knockout stages, Jose must have been disappointed to see Porto win 2-1.

January 2005

Chelsea's first match on the first day of the New Year, saw the league leaders travel to Anfield, and like the game at Stamford Bridge, saw Joe Cole come off the subs bench and score a goal that gave Chelsea a priceless 1-0 win. Four days later at The Bridge, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was given a raptuous ovation on his return with his new club Middlesbrough, and was also generously supported throughout the game. had Jimmy scored, no Chelsea fan would have begrudged him. He didn't and Chelsea won 2-0. Further league wins over Tottenham and Portsmouth saw Chelsea gain 100% league record all without conceding a goal. Cup matches were prevalentb during the month. First up was a FA Cup 3rd Round win over Scunthorpe Utd, despite Scunny taking a shock early lead. Then came two titantic battles with Man Utd in the Carling Cup semi-final. 0-0 at The Bridge and Jose said after the match 'Chelsea will win at Old Trafford.' He was right. Chelsea did 2-1. Four days later Chelsea truimphed 2-0 at home in the 4th round of the FA Cup.

February 2005

Returning to league action. Chelsea travelled to Ewood Park and beat Blackburn 1-0 with an Arjen Robben stunner. Unfortunately Robben broke a bone in his foot again and was expected to miss the rest of the season. Words were exchanged between the two clubs more to do about nothing, but Blackburn did try to kick Chelsea off the park. Manchester City followed at The Bridge and left with a point. The only team to beat Chelsea so far in the season, had the front to nick an away point too! Champions League chasing Everton were the next victims on Chelsea's away assasin list as Chelsea won 1-0 at Goodison Park. Three more league games ovecome and another three games without conceding a goal. The record for the least amount of goals being conceded in a season is firmly in Chelsea's sights. The last week of February saw Chelsea fight three fronts in three different Cup competitions. First up was an away FA Cup-tie at Newcastle United. A team Chelsea have beaten twice this season already. This time Newcastle prevailed with an early Patrick Kluivert winner. As well as losing, Chelsea had to endure the loss of Wayne Bridge to a serious leg injury, including broken leg and ankle, plus Carlo had the indignity of being sent off in the dying minutes.

The team flew straight to Spain to prepare for the Barcelona clash. The 1st leg in the Nou Camp will be remembered for many many things including Drogba's 2nd half dismissal, Barcelona winning the match 2-1 after being 1-0 down. Chelsea making an official complaint relating to Frank Rijkaard meeting Anders Frisk. (Frisk was later to resign, whilst Jose was given a two-match touchline ban). The irony of it all. JM was banned for nothing as his claims were found to be true after Jose served his touchline ban.

In what was beginning to turn into a disastrous week, Chelsea licked their wounds regrouped and headed off to Cardiff for the Carling Cup Final against Liverpool at the Millenium Stadium. Bad words and severe exchanges were still haunting Chelsea after the episodes at the Nou Camp and things became even worse when John Arne Riise shot Liverpool into the fastest lead that a League Cup final had witnessed. Despite heavy Chelsea pressure it wasn't until the 78th minute that Chelsea were given a helping hand or head, by Steven Gerrard who headed Chelsea's equaliser into his own net. The game went into extra-time and further goals from Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman gave Chelsea a 3-1 lead. Nunez scored Liverpool's second and after a nervous nail biting last few minutes the final whistle went and Chelsea had won the Carling Cup. The day was shrouded into more controversy as JM was sent from the touchline, after being deemed gesturing sssssshhhhh to the Liverpool fans. JM explained later that the gesture was intended to the media but his explanations fell on deaf ears.

A happy end to a difficult week as the League Cup returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1998.

March 2005

March was a relatively 'quiet' month as Chelsea achieved League wins against Norwich 3-1, WBA 1-0 and Crystal Palace 4-1. A 'quiet' month saw the 2nd leg of the Champions League game against Barcelona. Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within twenty minutes, Ronaldinho scored a magic goal as the first half ended 3-2 to Chelsea, the aggregate scores level 4-4. Super JT popped up late into the second half with a goal that proved to be decisive. Carvalho was accused of pulling at the Barca 'keeper as JTs header went in and at the end of the match, unsavoury incidents including accusations of racist comments, spitting and criminal damage overshadowed a simply magnificent night in the history of Chelsea Football Club.

April 2005

With Chelsea homing in on the League title for the first time in fifty years, Chelsea were also homing in on a place in the Champions League final, or so we thought. Two more titantic battles this time with Bayern Munich, first at home where Chelsea won 4-2 and then six days later back in Munich where Chelsea lost the match 3-2 but went through on aggregate to face Liverpool in the sem-finals for the fourth and fifth time this season. Meanwhile sandwiched in between the two exciting CL clashes against Munich, Chelsea won at Southampton 3-1, drew at home to Birmingham 1-1 then another home draw against Arsenal 0-0 followed by a 3-1 home win against Fulham where Arjen Robben made his comeback from injury and helped to turn the game into Chelsea's favour. A win at Bolton, which was sandwiched in between the two Liverpool games would see Chelsea CROWNED Champions for the first time in fifty years. The 1st leg of the Champions League game at Stamford Bridge ended 0-0, with Jose remaining upbeat saying that we will win at Anfield. And why shouldn't any Chelsea fan not believe him? He has been right up to now with most of his predicitions and forecasts. Had Super Frank's header gone in instead of over the bar, the ending of the Champions League saga may have been so so different.

One of Jose's predictions was that Chelsea would win the League at Bolton. And so it was proved. Jose was right again. Two goals from Super Frank (redeeming himself from the previous night against Liverpool - his words) secured the Championship in front of 3,000 plus travelling fans and the celebrations went on and on and on.

30th April 2005 will certainly live in the memory for a long long time.

Whilst the travelling Chelsea hordes made their way home, the players stayed in the North to prepare for the 2nd leg at Anfield. Lots of words, lots of hype and lots of atmosphere in a seriously emotional night. Liverpool prevailed. Scoring another early goal, which was controversial to say the least. TV evidence proved that the ball HAD NOT crossed the line, but because it was 'scored' so early, there was more than enough time for Chelsea to get an equaliser which would have been enough to see the Blues go through to the final. Alas it wasn't to be as Liverpool resisted wave upon wave of Chelsea pressure and when Eider blasted the ball wide deep deep into injury time, Chelsea's quest for European glory was over.

The Champions of England and favourites for the Champions League were out.

May 2005

Presentation of the Premiership trophy took place after Chelsea had beaten Charlton 1-0, thanks to a first goal in Chelsea Blue for Claude Makelele, everybodies' favourite 'unsung hero' player. Chelsea then went on to defeat Manchester United 3-1 at Old Trafford for the second time this season, three in all and in their final game of the season, Chelsea drew 1-1 at Newcastle United at St James' Park.

JT won the Player's Player of the Year award.

Super Frank won the Football Writers Player of the Year award.

Jose Mourinho won the Barclays Manager of the Year award.

Records by the score went tumbling into Chelsea's hands including most points, least goals conceded, most wins and a whole lot more.

Season 2004/05 has NOT just been a satisfactory season but a memorable one to boot, especially for this writer who has waited for over forty years for this particular moment. A moment that will live in the memory till my dying days. Anything else that Chelsea Football Club achieve in greatness, will never surpass this season, Season 2004/05.

Jose Mourinho's and Chelsea 's Premiership Record Season 2004-05

v Man Utd (H) W1-0

v Birmingham City (A) W1-0

v Crystal Palace (A) W2-0

v Southampton (H) W2-1

v Aston Villa (A) D0-0

v Tottenham Hotspur (H) D0-0

v Middlesbrough (A) W1-0

v Liverpool (H) W1-0

v Man City (A) L0-1

v Blackburn Rovers (H) W4-0

v WBA (A) W4-1

v Everton (H) W1-0

v Fulham (A) W4-1

v Bolton Wanderers (H) D2-2

v Charlton Athletic (A) W4-1

v Newcastle United (H) W4-0

v Arsenal (A) D2-2

v Norwich City (H) W4-0

v Aston Villa (H) W1-0

v Portsmouth (A) W2-0

v Liverpool (A) W1-0

v Middlesbrough (H) W2-0

v Tottenham Hotspur (A) W2-0

v Portsmouth (H) W3-0

v Blackburn Rovers (A) W1-0

v Man City (H) D0-0

v Everton (A) W1-0

v Norwich City (A) W3-1

v WBA (H) W1-0

v Crystal Palace (H) W4-1

v Southamption (A) W3-1

v Birmingham (H) D1-1

v Arsenal (H) D0-0

v Fulham (H) W3-1

v Bolton (A) W2-0 CHAMPIONS

v Charlton (H) W1-0

v Man Utd (A) W3-1

v Newcastle United (A) D1-1

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