Here's some unseen anecdote clips from that victorious time in 2012 ⬇️
Di Matteo & Cech on Bayern playing in their own stadium: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759396535484186624/vid/avc1/1280x720/LBQniKuLOkpvqs_d.mp4?tag=14
Cech on playing Bayern in their own stadium: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759396322858160128/vid/avc1/1280x720/BrWPCwmSsNrGNcEu.mp4?tag=14
Bayern players refusing to take pen: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759369374656253952/vid/avc1/1280x720/kKyqZMwXzdGFbNn5.mp4?tag=14
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759370705651556352/vid/avc1/1280x720/y5lyZnb5nu-57Ete.mp4?tag=14
Cech talking about Lahm & Mata pen: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759371373850308609/vid/avc1/1280x720/OsbuH5jy-do8LtgA.mp4?tag=14
Cech, Di Matteo & Neuer on pens: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759371817402142720/vid/avc1/1280x720/u8y9eoI3GwCJgft0.mp4?tag=14
Cech Olic pen: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759372426876502016/vid/avc1/1280x720/DwR7gtznUWUEkwoc.mp4?tag=14
Schweinsteiger Cech Basel pen: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759373027538538496/vid/avc1/1280x720/S5K-4MDNqBPjKcsb.mp4?tag=14
Neuer on Drogba pen: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759375938259681280/vid/avc1/1280x720/cotdQxexugrq5_Bg.mp4?tag=14
Bayern crestfallen: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759377615205318656/vid/avc1/1280x720/0kn2TcAkxtz7TJz3.mp4?tag=14
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https://youtu.be/RyyhA4Q4GKY?si=3op2Rc5aLRT_SZIM
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1735716456367575040/pu/vid/avc1/1280x720/d2qjke6yljSvnzhp.mp4?tag=12
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1758803441940635648/pu/vid/avc1/720x1280/mllZ0QLQGfjujuLl.mp4?tag=12
Cechmate. Pure goodness
Keeping to the Champions League theme...
posted on 2/6/25
Bonus Ashley Cole clip: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1759380218567856128/vid/avc1/1280x720/BtJUSf9eEjNZ57gq.mp4?tag=14
posted on 2/6/25
We shudda nock u out in rnd 2
posted on 2/6/25
Blame Maggio for not burying THAT gilt-eded chance, which Cole cleared off the line in the first leg.
Ultimately the moment which lost you the tie.
The old guard cameback with a vengeance in the second leg. Written....
posted on 3/6/25
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 7 hours, 23 minutes ago
Blame Maggio for not burying THAT gilt-eded chance, which Cole cleared off the line in the first leg.
Ultimately the moment which lost you the tie.
The old guard cameback with a vengeance in the second leg. Written....
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 3/6/25
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 17 hours, 19 minutes ago
Blame Maggio for not burying THAT gilt-eded chance, which Cole cleared off the line in the first leg.
Ultimately the moment which lost you the tie.
The old guard cameback with a vengeance in the second leg. Written....
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thematically perfect as it mirrored the Chelsea vs. Barcelona tie in 2000 (the true beginning of that rivalry for fledging me) with the roles reserved.
That 2012 run was narratively rich beyond belief. So many little subplots within the overaching triumph. If I was ever to write a novel one day, I'd use that entire Champions League journey (between 03-12, w/2000 as a prequel) as the structure for determining narrative flow for the protaganist.
It's the greatest story I'll ever see & I was fortunate enough to live through the bulk of it as a teenager, England could win the next World Cup & it wouldn't even touch the sides of it. I was blessed.
posted on 3/6/25
Needing to beat Valencia in the final group stage match to go through to knockout rounds and duly proceeding to destroy them.
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat encapsulated that whole Champions League campaign...
From almost going out in the group > to the momentous comeback against Napoli (post-sacking AVB, appointing Robbie) > to the late winner in Benfica > to the unlikely scenario' of being down to 9 and Messi hitting the crossbar (what are the chances of that?), the goal-saving challenges, stunning penalty shootout and saves.
Trauma for a certain North London club failing to qualify as a result of defeating Bayern on their own patch.
Cech delivering his best penalty saving campaign until last most important occasion, after a career in which he had been subpar at reading penalties.
Prior to that there was the FA Cup final, Cech' wonder unforeseen save to overcome onslaught from Liverpool.
Too many storylines in that campaign, and I'm sure I most definitely missed some parts. Wild.
posted on 3/6/25
I've gone back & forth over the years as to whether the more fitting final would've been beating Mourinho's Real as he was an ever present hero & villain throughout the entire story (was even Barca's assistant in 2000). But tbh having the final literaily be an away fixture for us was so perfect. Reflecting that siege mentality we had & in particuplar was present that year.
I could go one for days about this