Mourinho dan Roman Abramovich Bicara Tentang ke-Pergian Lampard

Eksklusif: Jose Mourinho mengungkapkan bahwa dia tertarik untuk membawa pulang gelandang Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, ke Liga Inggris. Selain itu, ia juga bilang bahwa berpisah dengan Frank Lampard adalah salah satu momen tersulit dalam karirnya.

Mourinho, yang kini juga menjadi Duta Sepak Bola Yahoo, tengah mencari pengganti untuk Lampard yang baru saja mengumumkan akan pergi dari Chelsea setelah membela panji-panji The Blues selama 13 tahun.

Mourinho mengaku bahwa ia sedih melihat Lampard pergi, tapi dia sudah menatap ke depan dengan Fabregas yang sudah mendengungkan wacana untuk kembali ke Inggris setelah membela Barcelona selama 3 tahun terakhir usai pergi dari Arsenal.

Usaha untuk menggaet Fabregas mungkin harus menunggu hingga tugas sang pemain bersama Spanyol di Piala Dunia 2014 selesai, tapi Mourinho siap untuk bersabar. Harga 30 juta poundsterling (Rp597 miliar) yang diminta untuk Fabregas tampaknya tidak membuat Chelsea gentar.

“Saya berminat untuk menganalisis situasi ini,” kata Mourinho dalam wawancara eksklusif dengan Yahoo.

“Saya pikir saya sebaiknya tidak mengatakan itu karena dia bukan pemain saya, jadi itu bukan masalah saya. Tapi tampaknya dia (Fabregas) sangat ingin meninggalkan Barcelona dan dia sangat, sangat tertarik untuk kembali ke Inggris. Saya pikir ini jelas,” urainya.

“Setelahnya, saya pikir ini tidak punya arti khusus bagi kami atau tim lain. Saya tidak berpikir ini bermakna khusus saat ini, hari ini atau besok.”

“Sebelum Piala Dunia, saya tidak memikirkannya, tapi ada hal yang membuatnya ingin pergi. Dia ingin datang ke Inggris karena ini negara yang dia utamakan untuk tinggal, untuk bermain, dan kami sangat berminat untuk memonitor situasi ini,” terang mantan pelatih Real Madrid itu.

Mourinho mengakui bahwa mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada Lampard sebagai pemain Chelsea adalah salah satu momen terberat dalam karirnya sebagai manajer. Namun Mou berharap Lampard akan kembali ke Stamford Bridge suatu ketika kelak untuk menjadi anggota tim pelatih saat karirnya sebagai pemain telah selesai.

Lampard meninggalkan Stamford Bridge dengan status pencetak gol terbanyak Chelsea. Buku catatan sejarah menggoreskan bahwa Lampard telah mendulang 211 gol dalam 648 kesempatan berseragam The Blues.

“Anda tak bisa membayangkan betapa sulitnya hal ini buat kami,” kata Mourinho.

“Saya pikir dia satu-satunya yang mengerti betapa hal ini sulit karena saya sudah bicara dengan dia. Tidak pakai telefon, kami bicara secara personal. Kami berbincang dan dia tahu betapa sulitnya hal ini, tapi pada saat yang sama saya bisa merasakan kegembiraan di sana karena saya yakin dia akan kembali. Pasti. Tak ada keraguan, semua orang menginginkannya,” Mourinho merinci.

“(Roman) Abramovich sebagai orang nomor satu, orang terpenting, dia sangat ingin Frank kembali. Saya ingin dia kembali, struktur klub ini ingin dia kembali, dia ingin kembali, jadi pasti dia akan kembali,” tandas pria Portugal itu percaya diri.

“Selain itu, dia juga bisa kembali semaunya. Tuan Abramovich membuka pintu lebar-lebar karena kami mengerti bahwa di klub ini dia bisa melakukan segalanya, dia bisa mencoba banyak hal, dia bisa merasakan dia lebih baik ada di mana. Kami bisa merasa sebagai klub di mana dia bisa memberi kami lebih, tapi dia bisa kembali kapan saja dia mau dan saya mengulangi apa kata Abramovich, semau dia.”

Lampard bergabung dengan Chelsea dari West Ham dengan nilai transfer 11 juta pounds pada tahun 2001. Setelah dua tahun pertamanya tak terlalu berhasil, di bawah asuhan Mourinho yang datang tahun 2004, karir Lampard memuncak.

Lampard memenangi Liga Inggris tahun 2005 dan 2006 di bawah asuhan Mou dan juara Liga Inggris tahun 2010 di bawah asuhan Carlo Ancelotti. Dia juga membantu Chelsea menjuarai Liga Champions tahun 2012 dan Liga Europa 2013 serta 4 Piala FA dan dua Piala Liga.

Adrian Dennis/AFP/GettyImages

“Dia bisa jadi pelatih, dia bisa memulainya di akademi, dia bisa mulai dengan jadi asisten saya selama dia mengambil kursus kepelatihan karena dia pasti bisa meraih semuanya,” kata Mourinho perihal Lampard.

“Dia bisa memutuskannya sekarang. Bila tidak mau memulai karir kepelatihan saat ini atau dia ingin peran lain, jadi duta besar klub (misalnya), atau ingin bekerja dengan CEO untuk mewakili klub. Dia bisa melakukan apa yang dia mau, jadi dia harus kembali,” ujar dia.

“Kalau sekarang dia masih ingin bermain dan dia bahagia melakukannya, karena itulah hal yang paling ia cintai – selain cintanya kepada keluarga, pastinya. Tapi hal yang paling ia cintai adalah bermain sepak bola dan dia masih ingin bermain beberapa tahun lagi. Saya tidak tahu, apakah dua atau tiga tahun lagi sampai ia merasa cukup. Di tengah kesedihan ini, saya bisa merasakan kegembiraan karena dia sosok yang fantastis dan saya juga sangat bahagia melihat klub mengakui hal itu.”

“Ini bukan akhir karir Frank Lampard di Chelsea. Ini cuma rehat sejenak. Ini adalah ujung karirnya di Chelsea sebagai pemain, hanya sebagai pemain, dan semoga dia akan kembali untuk waktu yang lama karena dia adalah salah satu pemain terpenting dalam sejarah Chelsea,” demikian Mourinho.

Sumber : Yahoo Indonesia

Chelsea Kalahkan Sunderland 2 - 1

Chelsea berhasil merangsek ke posisi tiga klasemen setelah merusak debut Paolo Di Canio bersama Sunderland. Sempat tertinggal lebih dulu, The Blues menang 2-1 pada laga Liga Premier yang digelar di Stamford Bridge pada Minggu (7/4) malam WIB.

Kemenangan Chelsea ini membuat mereka bertengger di posisi tiga klasemen menggusur Tottenham Hotspur dan Arsenal dengan mengemas 58 poin. Chelsea cuma unggul selisih gol dari Totenham dan dua poin atas Arsenal. Sunderland sendiri terbenam di posisi 17 dengan 31 poin.

Chelsea tampil kurang bagus di babak pertama. Mereka kesulitan menembus pertahanan Sunderland. Klub milik Roman Abramovich itu malah tertinggal lebih dulu di akhir babak pertama melalui gol bunuh diri Cesar Azpilicueta.

Tertinggal satu gol di babak pertama membuat pelatih Chelsea Rafael Benitez memasukkan Fernando Torres setelah jeda. Torres menggantikan posisi Demba Ba yang tampil buruk.

Keputusan ini terbukti tepat karena serangan Chelsea lebih hidup. Dua menit setelah jeda, mereka bisa menyamakan skor. Torres memberikan umpan kepada Oscar, usaha pemain Brasil itu bisa dihadang kiper Simon Mignolet, namun bola mengenai Matt Kilgallon dan masuk ke gawang sendiri.

Gol ini membangkitkan semangat Chelsea. Hasilnya, pada menit 55 Chelsea bisa berbalik memimpin. Tendangan David Luiz dibelokkan Branislav Ivanovic sehingga memperdaya Mignolet.

Oscar berpeluang memperbesar keunggulan Chelsea kala laga berjalan satu jam. Tapi tembakan Oscar masih meleset dari sasaran. Sunderland berusaha keras mencuri satu poin. Namun mereka sangat kesulitan menembus disiplinnya pertahanan Chelsea yang digalang Luiz dan Ivanovic.

10 Bidadari Ashley Cole

Lika-liku kisah cinta dari seorang Ashley Cole menarik untuk disimak. Sebab, bek kiri Chelsea dan Timnas Inggris itu diketahui kerap bergonta-ganti pasangan. Bahkan, The Sun sampai menjajarkan sejumlah nama perempuan yang pernah singgah di kehidupan Cole menjadi satu tim utama layaknya formasi sepakbola.

Berikut adalah wanita-wanita yang dikabarkan pernah dan sedang mengisi hati seorang Ashley Cole:

1. Kayla Collins

Kayla Collins adalah seorang mantan gadis sampul majalah Playboy. Pada 2010 lalu, setelah bercerai dari Cheryl Tweedy, Cole diketahui menjalin asmara dengan Kayla. Tapi, hubungan mereka tak berlangsung lama. Sifat suka bergonta-ganti pasangan yang ada pada diri Cole ditenggarai sebagai penyebab retaknya hubungan mereka berdua.

2. Jemma Henley

Jemma Hanley adalah seorang model panas papan atas. Foto-foto toplesnya kerap ditemui di berbagai situs dewasa. Kabarnya Cole hanya menjalani masa pacaran selama tiga bulan dengan wanita 24 tahun ini.

3. Anna Kelle

Berkat keliarannya dalam melakukan hubungan percintaan, Anne Kelle yang seorang bisex berhasil menaklukan hati Ashley Cole. Kabarnya sejak September lalu Cole sudah mulai mendekati Kelle. Hingga kini pasangan yang tengah dimabuk cinta itu masih bertahan dalam ikatan asmara.

4. Ann Corbitt

Berbeda dari pasangan Cole yang rata-rata seorang model, Ann Corbit justru berprofesi sebagai pekerja pemerintahan Amerika Serikat. Hubungan Cole dan Ann juga berlangsung pada 2010 lalu.

5. Cheryl Tweedy

Model cantik Cheryl Tweedy berhasil menaklukan hati Cole hingga dijadikan istri pada 2006 lalu. Namun selama masa pernikahannya, Cole kerap kepergok selingkuh dengan wanita lain. Meski sering bertengkar, Cherly dan Cole mampu mempertahankan biduk rumah tangganya selama empat tahun.

6. Alexandra Taylor

Sebelum jatuh ke pelukan Cheryl Tweedy, Cole diketahui pernah menjalin hubungan dengan Alexandra Taylor pada 2004. Kehadiran Cheryl dirumorkan menjadi faktor utama berakhirnya hubungan Alexandra dan Cole.

7. Sarah Purnell

Sarah Purnell, wanita yang berparas mirip Cheryl Tweedy ini kepergok pernah berkencan dengan Cole pada 2010. Namun, belum jelas apakah hubungan Sarah dengan Cole adalah sebagai pasangan kekasih atau hanya sebatas teman kencan. Kebersamaan mereka cuma terjalin beberapa bulan saja.

8. Brooke Healy

Lagi-lagi kemapanan Cole bisa menaklukan seorang model panas. Kali ini, Cole sanggup menaklukkan hati Brooke Healy. Hubungan mereka terjalin di 2006 lalu sebelum akhirnya Cole menikahi Cheryl. Namun kabarnya, Cole dan Brooke sempat berhubungan lagi di 2008.

9. Melissa Howe

Melissa Howe juga berprofesi sebagai model majalah Playboy. Menurut kabar, wanita cantik ini menjalin hubungan singkat dengan Cole di 2011 lalu. Bersama kembarannya yang bernama Twin Carla, Melissa pernah melakukan kencan dengan Cole.

10. Twin Carla

Twin Carla pernah berkencan dengan Cole. Bersama saudara kembarnya, Melissa Howe, Carla menikmati asmara singkat dengan Cole di 2011.

Chelsea Membantai Wolverhampton 6 - 0

Bermain di kandang sendiri, Stamford Bridge, Selasa (25/9) waktu setempat, Chelsea yang diperkuat sejumlah pemain muda mereka masih terlalu tangguh bagi tim Championship, Wolves.

Pemain baru The Blues yang melakukan debut di pertandingan ini adalah Cesar Azpilicueta yang menempati posisi bek sayap kanan. Baru empat menit laga berjalan, Chelsea sudah unggul melalui sundulan akurat Gary Cahill yang mendapat assist dari Juan Mata.

Empat menit kemudian, Ryan Bertrand yang mencetak gol setelah mendapat umpan dari pemain muda Brasil, Lucas Piazon yang juga mengawali debutnya di laga ini. Tak perlu waktu lama bagi tuan rumah untuk menambah gol. Di menit ke-17, giliran Mata yang membuat gol usai mendapat assist dari Fernando Torres.

Wolves berusaha memberikan perlawanan dengan lebih memperkuat pertahanan mereka sambil sesekali menyerang. Namun Chelsea justru mampu menambah gol di menit ke-53. Gol dilesakkan Oriol Romeu melalui tendangan penalti menyusul pelanggaran terhadap Victor Moses di kotak penalti.

Lima menit kemudian, giliran Torres mencetak gol melalui sundulan setelah mendapat assist dari Mata. Kemenangan Chelsea ditutup oleh Moses yang menjebol gawang lawan di menit ke-71 setelah mendapat umpan dari Oscar. Dengan hasil ini Chelsea pun melaju ke babak keempat Piala Liga.

Hasil Drawing Liga Champions 2012 / 2013

Federasi sepakbola Eropa (UEFA) telah menggelar undian bagi tim-tim yang akan berlaga di kompetisi Liga Champions 2012/2012. Undian dilakukan di markas markas UEFA di Kota Nyon, Swiss, Kamis (30/8/2012).

Beberapa kejutan muncul dalam undian kali ini. Yang paling utama adalah berkumpulnya juara Liga Spanyol, Real Madrid, dengan juara Liga Inggris, Manchester City, dalam satu grup, yakni grup D. Tak hanya dua itu itu, grup D juga layak disebut grup neraka, karena di sana masih ada juara Liga Belanda, Ajax Amsterdam, serta juara Bundesliga Jerman, Borussia Dortmund.

Sementara itu runner up Liga Italia, AC Milan, akan menghadapi lawan relatif mudah di grup C. Milan akan bertemu dengan tim Russia, Zenit St Petersburg, klub Belgia, Anderlech, serta klub Spanyol, Malaga.

Berikut pembagian lengkap grup Liga Champions 2012/2013:

• Group A: Porto, Dynamo Kyiv, PSG, Dinamo Zagreb
• Group B: Arsenal, Schalke, Olympiacos, MontpellierG
• Group C: AC Milan, Zenit, Anderlecht, Málaga
• Group D: Real Madrid, Man. City, Ajax, Dortmund
• Group E: Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, Nordsjælland
• Group F: Bayern Muenchen, Valencia, Lille, BATE
• Group G: Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moskva, Celtic
• Group H: Man. United, Braga, Galatasaray, CFR Cluj

10 Klub Sepak Bola Dengan Gaji Pemain Terbesar

Barcelona memang bukan klub dengan pendapatan paling besar. Tapi untuk membayar gaji pemain, Klub Catalan ini justru paling royal. Setiap minggu, rata-rata pemain di klub peserta La Liga itu mendapat honor 101.160 Poundsterling atau sekitar Rp 1,5 miliar.  Kalau setahun totalnya sebesar 5,3 juta Poundsterling (Rp 78 miliar).

Data itu terungkap dari studi bertajuk "Salary Survey 2012" yang dilakukan oleh Sport Intelligence. Barcelona ditempatkan diurutan pertama klub sepak bola - bahkan dari seluruh klub olah raga di dunia - yang mengeluarkan anggaran gaji terbesar. Padahal tahun ini, majalah Forbes mencatat Barca dengan pendapatan tahun lalu sebesar US$ 1,31 miliar, ada di urutan delapan peringkat klub berpendapatan terbesar tahun ini.

Dari seluruh pemain Barcelona, Lionel Messi menjadi pemain dengan pendapatan paling tinggi. Dalam setahun, Barca harus membayar penyerang dengan tiga kali rekor pemain terbaik dunia itu sebesar US$ 13 juta atau sekitar Rp 117 miliar. Sedangkan rata-rata pemain Barcelona dibayar 5,3 juta Poundsterling atau sekitar Rp 78 miliar per tahun.

Tahun ini Messi juga tercatat sebagai pemain dengan pendapatan paling banyak. Jika honor dari klub ditambah pendapatan lain yang sifatnya personal seperti iklan di luar klub, Daily Mail mencatat, pendapatan total pemain asal Argentina itu mencapai US$ 27,4 juta.

Klub kedua yang membayar gaji paling besar adalah Real Madrid. Juara La Liga musim kompetisi 2011/2012 ini menghabiskan anggaran gaji pemain sebesar 4,7 juta Poundsterling atau setara Rp 69,3 miliar per pemain setahun. Cristiano Ronaldo tercatat sebagai pemain paling kaya di Los Blancos, dengan nilai aset US$ 160 juta atau sekitar Rp 1,44 triliun.

Manchester City, juara Liga Premier Inggris, ada di urutan ketigadengan pengeluaran gaji setahun 4,7 Poundsterling juta atau Rp 65,7 miliar per pemain. Jumlah tersebut setelah mengalami kenaikan 26 persen dibandingkan periode sebelumnya.


Urutan keempat Chelsea, juara Liga Champions tahun ini. Untuk gaji, klub asal Inggris itu menggelontorkan 4,1 juta Poundsterling atau Rp 60,3 miliar untuk setiap pemain per tahun. 

Sedangkan kelima, diisi oleh AC Milan, juara Seri A Italia. Setiap pemain di klub ini dapat gaji 3,7 juta Poundsterling atau Rp 54,2 miliar per tahun.

Bayern Muenchen, klub asal Jerman yang dikalahkan Chelsea pada final Liga Champions, ada diurutan enam. Rata-rata biaya gaji setiap pemainnya mencapai 3,6 juta Poundsterling atau Rp 52,4 miliar.

Sementara Internazionale Milan berada di urutan tujuh klub sepak bola yang mengeluarkan ongkos gaji pemain paling besar. Setiap tahun, per main dapat honor rata-rata 3,5 juta Poundsterling atau Rp 50,6 miliar.

Manchester United yang oleh Forbes dicatat sebagai klub sepak bola dengan penghasilan terbesar, hanya berada di urutan delapan kalau soal bayar gaji pemain. Setiap pemain di klub tersebut dibayar 3,4 juta Poundsterling atau Rp 49 miliar.

Sedangkan Arsenal, klub yang sedang berusaha keras mempertahankan penyerangnya, Robin van Persie dari incaran klub lain, mengeluarkan anggaran gaji setiap pemain, rata-rata 3,2 juta Poundsterling atau Rp 46,9 miliar per tahun. Klub ini ada di urutan sembilan versi studi Sport Inteligence.

Liverpool ada di urutan buncit dalam deretan 10 klub sepak bola dengan anggaran gaji terbesar sejagad. Tak terpaut jauh dengan Arsenal, yaitu 3,19 juta Poundsterling atau Rp 46,4 miliar untuk setiap pemain per tahun.

Dongeng 2,8 Miliar Dolar dari Chelsea

Getty Images/Laurence Griffiths


Melihat kemenangan Chelsea di Liga Champions 2012 seperti menyaksikan perjalanan sebuah klub dongeng dari kawasan elite di barat Greater London, Inggris.

Berawal dari sebuah klub yang tidak sementereng Real Madrid, AC Milan atau Manchester United — kendati pernah menjuarai Liga Inggris 1954-55 — Chelsea masuk dalam lingkup elit dunia sejak awal 2000-an.

Pemilik lama, Ken Bates, yang membeli saham Chelsea dengan harga hanya 1 pound pada 1982, membawa filosofi pembangunan klub sepakbola di era modern. Selain mengganti logo usang Chelsea, Bates juga mengubah wajah tim menjadi lebih kosmopolitan.

Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli, Mark Hughes, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Marcell Desailly, dan Gianfranco Zola adalah beberapa nama tenar yang dihadirkan ke Stamford Bridge.

Kebijakan Bates menjadi awal perubahan Chelsea sesungguhnya. Tahun 2003, krisis utang yang dialami Bates membuat saham Chelsea diborong raja minyak Rusia, Roman Abramovich. Kebijakan Bates dilanjutkan Abramovich, bahkan dengan dukungan dana yang sangat besar.

Secara total hingga 2012, Abramovich sudah mengeluarkan dana $ 2,8 miliar (Rp 26 triliun). Angka itu sudah termasuk lebih dari $ 300 juta yang dikeluarkannya untuk melunasi utang Chelsea sekitar dua tahun lalu.

Abramovich memang memoles Chelsea lebih mewah. Dari sisi pemain, sejak 2003 hingga kini, dia telah merekrut lebih dari 60 pemain berkategori sangat populer. Menurut penelitian ahli keuangan olahraga, Daniel King, dari koran The Sun, nilai total transfer para pemain itu mencapai $ 1,02 miliar.

Fasilitas latihan klub di Cobham, Surrey, disulap hingga memiliki fasilitas bintang lima. Bekas pemain Juliano Belletti, dibuat tercengang ketika baru ditransfer dari Barcelona pada 2007.

“Barcelona — sebagai klub elit dunia — tak punya fasilitas seperti Chelsea,” kata pemain dari Brasil itu ketika diajak berkeliling Cobham untuk pertama kalinya oleh kapten John Terry,

Di lapangan, musim 2003-04, Chelsea sudah mengancam papan atas EPL dengan menjadi juara dua dan mencapai semifinal Liga Champions. Setahun kemudian, berkat kehadiran pelatih Jose Mourinho, Chelsea benar-benar masuk dalam lingkungan elit Eropa. Dua gelar EPL secara beruntun (2005 dan 2006) menjadi pengakuan mereka. Itulah koleksi gelar EPL pertama Chelsea dalam setengah abad.

Sejak itu, Chelsea selalu menjadi kandidat juara EPL. Tetapi, uniknya, Abramovich terkesan menganggap biasa gelar juara EPL atau trofi Piala FA yang bergengsi atau Piala Liga Inggris. Nampaknya dia kenyang dengan 3 gelar EPL, 2 trofi Piala Liga dan 4 trofi Piala FA selama menjadi pemilik Chelsea. Dia hanya ingin melihat timnya merajai Eropa. Itulah impian terbesarnya.

Itu sebabnya Chelsea memiliki 7 pelatih berbeda dalam 8 tahun terakhir. Pelatih permanen seperti Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Carlo Ancelotti dan Andre Villas Boas harus angkat koper dengan uang pesangon yang tidak sedikit.

Padahal Ancelotti, sebagai contoh, meraih gelar ganda pada musim pertamanya di Inggris dua tahun lalu. Pelatih dari Italia itu mengantar The Blues juara EPL dan Piala FA.

Sekali lagi, Abramovich tidak menganggapnya istimewa. Yang dia inginkan adalah Chelsea menjuarai Liga Champions. Dan di 3/4 musim ini, selepas pemecatan Villas Boas, Abramovich berpikir tentang ambisinya di musim depan. Fabio Capello disebut akan menjadi pelatih tetap Chelsea musim depan untuk mewujudkan proyek ambisius itu. Padahal, musim ini belum juga selesai dilalui oleh Terry dkk bersama pelatih sementara Roberto Di Matteo.

Apa nyana, Di Matteo berhasil melampaui segala ekspektasi dan prediksi semua orang, termasuk sang bos besar. Pertama, Di Matteo hanya pelatih sementara. Kedua, Di Matteo berwenang penuh saat Chelsea sedang berada dalam situasi sulit. Terseok-seok menuju papan atas EPL dan baru saja dihantam Napoli di perdelapan final Liga Champions pada bulan Maret 2012.

Namun Di Matteo, yang kalem dan sulit diprediksi, membuktikan tangan dinginnya.

Misi sulit untuk menang sedikitnya empat gol atas Napoli di leg kedua perdelapan final Liga Champions berhasil dilalui. Benfica dan Barcelona menjadi korban berikutnya sampai akhirnya Bayern Muenchen dipermalukan di depan publiknya sendiri.

Di Matteo sekali lagi membuktikan kapasitasnya sebagai ahli meracik tim kendati Chelsea harus terlempar dari empat besar EPL atau yang pertama kali sejak 2003.

Kini, Abramovich membatalkan rencananya menghadirkan Capello di musim depan. Dia merasa perlu mengapresiasi jasa Di Matteo dengan memberinya kontrak permanen. Ini seakan menjadi pertanyaan lanjutan. Apakah Abramovich sudah menjadi lebih tenang karena ambisi tertingginya sudah tercapai?

Apakah itu berarti kegemarannya memecat pelatih juga akan berakhir dan berubah menjadi lebih moderat? Waktu yang akan memberi jawabannya. Dongeng masih mungkin berlanjut.

Chelsea Juara Piala FA 2011/2012

Chelsea sukses merengkuh gelar juara Piala FA seusai membungkam Liverpool 2-1 di Stadion Wembley, London, Sabtu 5 Mei 2012. Ini merupakan gelar ke-7 The Blues di kompetisi sepakbola tertua tersebut.

The Blues Chelsea tampil sebagai juara Piala FA 2011-2012 setelah mengalahkan Liverpool 2-1 di Wembley Stadium, Minggu (6/5/2012) WIB. Ini adalah gelar pertama Chelsea di musim ini. Chelsea masih berkesempatan merengkuh satu gelar lagi di Liga Champions.

Chelsea menang tipis 2-1 lewat gol, Ramires dan Didier Drogba. Liverpool mencetak gol lewat pemain pengganti Andrew Carroll. The Reds berpeluang menyamakan skor. Tapi wasit memutuskan heading yang dilakukan Andrew Carroll di menit ke-82 bukan gol.

Pasukan Roberto Di Matteo unggul lebih dulu di menit ke-12 lewat Ramires di menit ke-12.

Di peluang pertama, dan di situlah gol Chelsea tercipta. Bermula dari tengah lapangan Juan Matta melepaskan umpan terobosan ke Ramires. Ramires menggiring bola itu sendirian beradu lari dengan pemain belakang Liverpool. Aksi Ramires di menit ke-12 itu tak terkejar. Pepe Reina pun tak sanggup memblok tembakan. Gol, Chelsea 1, Liverpool 0.

Usai gol pertama itu, Chelsea semakin bertahan. Liverpool pun kewalahan membangun serangan. Ditambah lagi pola penyerangan Liverpool tampak monoton. Liverpool tertinggal.

Didier Drogba menggandakan keunggulan The Blues di menit ke-52.

Bermain bertahan Chelsea malah berhasil memperbesar keunggulan. Berbanding terbalik dengan Liverpool yang "seolah-olah" bermain menyerang tapi tak efektif.

Drogba mendapat umpan dari Lampard di menit ke-52. Di kotak penalti, meski dari sudut yang agak sempet Drogba menembak. Gol, bola bersarang di gawang Reina. Chelsea 2, Liverpool 0.

Kebobolan dua gol, Liverpool baru memasukkan striker Andy Carroll menggantikan Jay Spearing di menit ke-55.

Keputusan Kenny Dalglish memasukkan Andrew Carroll terbukti tepat. Akhirnya, Carroll berhasil mencetak gol bagi Liverpool dan mempersempit keunggulan Chelsea jadi 2-1.

Carroll mendapat bola setelah Bosingwa melakukan kesalahan. Dengan gerakan tipuan Carroll berhasil membuka ruang untuk menembak ke gawang. Tembakan keras di kotak penalti itu tak mampu dihalau Petr Cech.

Andrew Carroll menyundul keras ke gawang. Petr Cech di saat yang tepat berhasil memblok bola keluar. Dari tayangan lambat, bola sebagian besar tampaknya sudah melewati garis gawang.

Andrew Carroll sudah mengangkat kedua tangannya ke atas untuk memulai selebrasi. Sayang, hakim garis menganggap bola belum melewati garis gawang.

Carroll pun membatalkan selebrasinya. Ia lalu mengumpat-umpat dan memprotes keputusan wasit di menit ke-82 itu. Suarez lebih ngotot lagi memprotes wasit. Ia pun akhirnya diganjar kartu kuning.

Skor akhir, Chelsea 2, Liverpool 1.

Susunan pemain
CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires (Meireles 77’), Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Mata (Malouda 90’). Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Malouda, Meireles, Ferreira, Sturridge.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Spearing (Carroll 55’), Henderson, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy (Kuyt 79’), Suarez. Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi, Kuyt, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly.

Lampard : Chelsea Tidak Takut Barcelona

Setelah berhasil menyingkirkan Benfica di babak perempat final, kini Chelsea bakal disambut laga lebih berat di semifinal Liga Champions. Calon lawan yang akan mereka jumpai adalah juara bertahan sekaligus salah satu tim terbaik di dunia, Barcelona.

Barcelona mengusung gaya bermain tiki-taka, dan sebagai salah satu tim dengan daya gedor terbaik di dunia. Sementara Chelsea tengah bangkit sejak kekalahan dari Manchester City di Premier League.

Kendati banyak yang lebih menjagokan Barcelona bisa lolos ke final, dan menyisihkan Chelsea, Lampard tak takut. Dia optimistis timnya sanggup membuat kejutan pada laga semifinal 19 dan 25 Maret mendatang.

"Barcelona akan menjadi favorit, karena cara mereka bermain. Tapi kami percaya dengan kemampuan tim ini. Dan kami harus bisa bermain (dengan semngat) seperti di laga kali ini untuk meraih hasil bagus melawan Barcelona," tutur Lampard.

Lampard sendiri turut menjadi salah satu penentu keberhasilan Chelsea lolos ke semifinal. Sepakan penaltinya pada babak pertama membawa The Blues unggul 1-0. Chelsea sendiri akhirnya menang 2-1, dan lolos dengan agregat 3-1.

Semakin tua semakin jadi

Frank Lampard kesulitan menembus tim utama di bawah kepemimpinan Andre Villas-Boas, karena pelatih asal Portugal itu tengah mencoba meremajakan klub. Namun, gelandang asal Inggris itu mengklaim kehadiran pemain senior di lapangan sangat vital. 

Gol-gol yang dibukukan Didier Drogba, John Terry, Lampard dan Branislav Ivanovic ke gawang Napoli kemarin ,alam menjadi bukti The Blues masih membutuhkan seniornya. 

"Anda tak bisa memenangkan kompetisi tanpa itu (pemain senior)," ujar Lampard kepada wartawan. 

"Anda tak bicara tentang pemain senior yang kariernya nyaris habis. Mereka pemain yang ingin bermain, pemain yang menginginkan kemenangan. Anda bisa melihat itu."

"Ketika Anda mendapatkannya, jika bisa menambah skuad dengan pemain muda dan kualitas yang didapat baik, maka itu bisa diterima dan kami harus menjalaninya," sambung Lampard. 

Lebih lanjut pemain jebolan akademi West Ham United ini menilai pergantian pelatih merupakan bagian dari sepakbola dan wajar terjadi jika tim tidak tampil konsisten. 

"Itu terjadi begitu saja - saya tidak tahu mengapa. Bukan masalah benar atau salah. Kami tidak tampil konsisten - itu ditunjukkan di liga dan pemilik mengganti manajer," beber pemain 33 tahun ini. 

"Tapi mengenai pemain, Anda hanya harus mencoba memberikan segalanya. Anda tak bisa meminta pemain menunjukkan yang terbaik sepanjang musim, karena itu tidak akan bekerja, tapi di malam itu menunjukkan hasrat para pemain," tutup Lampard. 

Abramovich Dituduh tak Becus Kelola Klub

Howard Wilkinson, chairman Asosiasi Manajer Liga Primer (LMA), mengatakan Roman Abramovich tidak pernah tahu cara membangun tim yang kuat dan klub yang sukses.

"Abramovich hanya terobsesi membangun tim yang kuat, bukan menjadikan Chelsea sebagai klub yang sukses," ujar Wilkinson saat ditanya pendapatnya soal pemecatan Andres Villas-Boas. Villas-Boas menjadi manajer kedelapan dalam sembilan tahun yang dipecat juragan minyak asal Rusia itu. Pelatih asal Portugal itu berupaya mengubah Chelsea, tapi dianggap gagal karena kalah di sejumlah laga penting.

Menurut Wilkinson, ada perbedaan cara membentuk tim yang kuat dan membangun klub yang sukses. Abramovich hanya tahu membentuk tim yang kuat, yaitu dengan membeli semua pemain hebat yang diinginkan dirinya dan manajer.

"Membangun klub yang kuat membutuhkan perencanaan matang jangka panjang, visi, dan pengetahuan bagaimana cara mencapai sasaran yang diinginkan," kata Wilkinson.

"Saat ini, kita bisa belajar dari Manchester United, klub paling sukses di Inggris dalam 15 tahun terakhir, dan Barcelona -- yang sedang menikmati sukses berkesinambungannya," ujar Wilkinson. Manchester United dibangun oleh Sir Alex Ferguson, figur yang menangani Setan Merah dengan visi. Barcelona sedang membangun kultur-nya dalam satu dekade terakhir.

"Pep Guardiola adalah bagian dari kultur manajemen sepakbola Barcelona. Ketika dia diminta menjadi manajer klub, dia sudah siap," ujar Wilkinson.

"Jose Mourinho juga memiliki kemampuan itu. Namun saat di Chelsea dia tidak menjadi bagian dari pembangunan klub jangka panjang. Itulah yang menyebabkan dia meninggalkan Stamford Bridge," ujar Wilkinson.

CHELSEA FOUNDATION HOSTS FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

The Chelsea Foundation will be running a football tournament for children in care, young people leaving care and young carers this Sunday in Essex.
The aim of the Football Festival is to provide a competitive tournament to help improve self-esteem, confidence, social development and appropriate competitive behaviour. This will be the third year the Chelsea Foundation has organised the tournament.
Funded by the Chelsea Foundation as a goodwill gesture to the county, the Football Festival will see competitors play in three age groups - Under 10s, 11 to 15-year-olds and 16 to 21-year-olds. Girls and boys will compete in the younger age groups while only males will play in the 16 to 21-year-old category.
The 120 children attending the tournament will come from the Permanency, Leaving and After Care service and the Young Carers Service from Essex County Council.
'The tournament is for children living in care homes due to dysfunctional families or children who are deemed homeless,' said Andrew Morgan, Essex development officer for the Chelsea Foundation. 'We're also inviting young carers. These are young people who look after someone else, such as a disabled family member for example.'
In attendance on the day will also be the Army, Essex Young People's Drug and Alcohol Service, local police, the Essex Advocacy Service and Chelmsford College. They will offer advice to the footballers on factors which may be affecting their lives and also discuss career possibilities.
Based on a league competition, the tournament will see a winning team from each age group. There will also be a player of the tournament and a most improved player.
'It's a healthy atmosphere for participants to compete in a sporting arena, where there are additional partner organisations on hand for young people to speak to for advice regarding career paths,' said Andrew Morgan, Essex Development Manager for the Chelsea Foundation.
'Most of all it's about enjoying the day. We're opening the Football Festival up to the wider community as well. This year we have teams coming in from Thurrock and Southend and also London boroughs too,' explained Morgan.
The Football Festival kicks off at 10am this Sunday at Great Baddow School, Chelmsford.

Kostum Terbaru Chelsea 2011-2012

Chelsea Home 2011-2012

Chelsea Home stelan 2011-2012

Chelsea away hitam 2011-2012

Chelsea away hitam stelan 2011-2012

SPORTS STARS SUPPORT SOCCER SCHOOLS

Cricket ace Freddie Flintoff and former England international Jamie Redknapp are the latest sports star to present awards at a Chelsea Soccer School.
The Ashes-winner and the now football pundit handed out the prizes at the end of another successful week for Chelsea Soccer Schools; seven days after John Terry made an appearance to hand out the Soccer School awards a week ago.
This week, Redknapp and Flintoff watched as their children took part in the final day of Soccer Schools, which included a variety of challenges such as a penalty shoot-out and skills tests.
'These courses are fantastic, as a kid I can remember going to Bournemouth Soccer Schools and it was such a highlight,' said Redknapp.
'The development you get is brilliant. The kids come home and they want to show me new tricks that the coaches have taught them and they're really keen to learn new stuff. I highly recommend it.'


Chelsea Soccer Schools offer children the chance to train like professional footballers under the watchful eyes of CRB-checked FA-qualified coaches, who are always on hand to inspire, encourage and share their passion for the beautiful game.
Over 200 Soccer Schools, goalkeeping courses (for six to 14-year-olds) and Mini-Kickers courses (four to five-year-olds) take place throughout the year in London, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Essex.
Soccer Schools offer children the perfect opportunity to test their abilities in front of professional coaches, who will nurture their talent throughout the duration of the course.
All participants receive a certificate of attendance and an exclusive Chelsea gift, making Chelsea Soccer Schools a fantastic introduction to the game, the club and the Blues' unique coaching philosophies.

VILLAS-BOAS: WHY I WANT ORIOL

Andre Villas, speaking in Bangkok, has announced that Chelsea has agreed terms with Barcelona for the transfer of Oriol Romeu, a 19-year-old defensive midfielder.
The player has yet to agree personal terms or pass a medical and is currently away with the Spain Under 20 squad which is soon to compete in the World Cup for that age level in Columbia.
'I don't want to speak too much about him because he is not our player,' Villas-Boas added.
'It is a part of the squad in which we are struggling with numbers because of Michael Essien's injury and Oriol is a player with a bright future. He still has to evolve as a player.
'The Barcelona B team had a magnificent year in the Spanish second division, they finished third. Oriol had an injury during the season but he came back late on and was in time to play for the first team. So he is one of the most promising young players in that position and hopefully we can agree personal terms and hopefully he will pass a medical.'
Oriol began with Barcelona's smaller neighbours Espanyol before joining the famous Camp Nou academy in 2004, progressing through the ranks until a reserve team regular playing in Spain's second tier under Luis Enrique.

He made his La Liga debut for the senior Barça side at the end of last season, coming on as a late substitute in a 0-0 draw against Deportivo La Coruna, having also appeared at the beginning of the campaign in a Spanish Supercup loss away at Sevilla.

The 6ft Catalan can also play in central defence and is renowned for his strength and his expansive passing ability.
Villas-Boas also had news on Thibaut Courtois, the 19-year-old goalkeeper who is on the verge of finalising a move from Belgium and is subject to news reports that he is to be loaned out to Atletico Madrid.
'It is also a question of time and of deciding where we think it is better for him to evolve as a player, in Spain or in another country,' the manager reported.
'The Spanish League is an extremely competitive league and Atletico is a great club to be at but it is not decided yet on his future.
'It is still a couple of days until we can confirm agreement between all three parties.'

CECH: TOUGH TIMES AHEAD

 

Petr Cech is relishing a tough schedule in pre-season, already pinpointing our Asian tour as when the workload will be at its hardest.
With four games in 10 days, not to mention training in extra heat and humidity, the goalkeeper knows it will be a difficult examination as much as an exciting sightseeing opportunity.
Cech has not visited Asia since our tour in 2008, when Luiz Felipe Scolari had just taken charge, and he is hoping for a similar welcome under the leadership of Andre Villas-Boas.
'I have not been to Asia apart from that last tour with Chelsea because normally there is no time to go to that part of the world,' the 29-year-old explained. 'You remember the hospitality and the people being excited to see you there, but on the other hand you travel a lot and there is a big time difference and a huge humidity.
'You run in 40 degree heat with high humidity and it is difficult but you know it is part of the business and part of raising the fan base of the club.
'You know it will be tough before so you need to drink a lot and make sure you don't get sunburnt but we know what to expect so the experience of going there first time will obviously help everybody to get ready for this tour so it might be even better.'
There is now less than a week until we fly out to Malaysia, with tickets selling well for our game in Kuala Lumpur on July 21. Cech knows it will be a special occasion for the fans lucky enough to be at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
'All the people supporting us there have the opportunity to see us playing which is obviously brilliant for them, and this is also the reason why we tour there so you will always remember it with good memories because of the excitement of the people around, you can see them smile which is nice to see,' he said.
After Malaysia, we travel to Thailand where we will meet a Thai Premier League All Stars XI on July 24 at Bangkok's Rajamanagala National Stadium, before moving on to Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia Trophy, where we will play local champions Kitchee on July 27, and either Blackburn Rovers or Aston Villa on July 30 before flying back to London.

NEW FANS AND FACES

 

Returning for pre-season training, John Terry has spoken once more of his excitement at our pre-season tour to Asia, which begins in under two weeks.
The team fly to Malaysia on July 17, arriving a day later, and Terry is already looking forward to seeing some new faces, both in the camp and out.
'They're always great trips,' he said, when asked about life on tour. 'There are often new signings who come on board and they're great for those guys, we are away for two weeks and from a football perspective it's a great chance for everyone to get to know each other.
'Then on a different level we go to a lot of events, and you get to meet some great people who are sometimes in a similar environment, but in different professions. It's great to talk to people like that, and they are always really down to earth and like to show their support for the football club.
'We've met some great people over the years, Will Ferrell, Tony Blair, Snoop Dogg, the Williams tennis sisters.
'We talk about nice places to go to eat or something like that, you make general chit-chat, and sometimes it's just nice to talk about something other than football!'
But then of course it is the football that is the main reason for the trip, to promote the club to the hundreds of thousands of fans that turn out to see the team in action, and with four games to come inside a 10-day period, Terry is well aware of the levels of support that await.
'It always surprises me with the fans, I've seen myself how much bigger the club has got commercially. It's nice to see us grow and the players know how important these tours are and embrace it as much as possible,' he said.
'Fans in Asia show a real passion and I know they have to sit up at three or four in the morning to watch games in England, and I just love that commitment so it will be great to get out there and reward them for that.'

Villas-Boas: It’s Official!

 By: FAY
As we’ve been wishing each other on Facebook, Happy AVB Day! What with the time difference between London and my home in Vancouver, I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to the news that Andre Villas-Boas has been appointed as the new Chelsea manager. In fact, “it’s official!” was the first thing my husband said to me.
Team Miss SW6 is excited to see the young, record-breaking manager make a return to Stamford Bridge after being there as part of the Mourinho era. I personally think that someone so young yet so dynamic, experienced and successful is just what the club needs right now. The appointment of Villas-Boas is refreshing, encouraging and makes me think that we will see a real difference in performance and handling of the squad this season. As much as I was already looking forward to the start of the season, “AVB” coming in as gaffer has triggered that even more. I quite simply just have a great feeling about Chelsea’s choice.
Give Me Football published a neat article today entitled, “10 Fascinating Facts About Andre Villas-Boas.” These are:

1. He was born on October 17, 1977 and he is the youngest ever manager to win a major European trophy.
2. At the age of 17, the staunch Porto fan Boas confronted former Porto coach Sir Bobby Robson (who was then living in the same apartment block as him) with a dossier of why his favourite player Domingos Paciencia was not in the side. Robson was so impressed he invited Boas to join the club’s observation department.
3. He achieved his coaching licence in Scotland at the age of 17, admitting: “I only revealed to them my true age at the end of the course.”
4. His grandmother is English; one of the reasons why he speaks the language flawlessly.
5. He had a short stint as the national coach of the British Virgin Island team (at the age of 21) before joining Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff at Porto.
6. Boas followed Mourinho to both Chelsea and Inter Milan and the ‘Special One’ described him as ‘my eyes and ears’.
7. He parted company with Mourinho in 2009 to take over as coach of relegation-threatened Acaademica de Coimbra, guiding them 11 points clear of safety and also reaching the semi final of the Portuguese Cup.
8. He’s been married to wife Joana Teixeira since 2004; the couple has 2 daughters.
9. Porto’s Brazilian striker Hulk said of Boas, “He is a great coach and a good person. He is only young but has absolute control of what happens in the team. He has a lot of authority and truly knows what he is saying and doing.”
10. He took the Porto job last summer and achieved the following records in his first season in charge:

• The youngest manager to win a European trophy – aged 33 and 213 days
• The record for the most matches unbeaten in all competitions (36)
• The most in wins in Europe in one season by a Portuguese club (14)
• The most points in a Portuguese 30-game season (84)
• The highest number of consecutive wins in the Portuguese league (16)
• The biggest margin over the second-placed team (21)
• Only the second team to win the Portuguese league without being defeated

With stats like that, how can we not be anticipating great things? My only hope is that AVB is given an ample opportunity to settle in to his new role and the authority to do what is best for the players’ performance and success. I imagine that Roman Abramovich has high expectations of his new manager but if miracles don’t happen “overnight” my wish would be that the club (and my fellow supporters alike) have patience. I understand how hard that can be and recognize that all eyes will be on AVB and Chelsea, but I also feel that, like with the signing of Fernando Torres, this new change make take a little while to “gel.” It doesn’t mean that the club or the person in question isn’t great, but good things can take time. And yes, I respect that football doesn’t always function that way.
Chelsea has already published a number of interesting features on the new manager on their website, that I enjoyed checking out this morning. They have an official announcement of his appointment, a great profile of him, a first interview and an exclusive feature on Chelsea TV.
We extend a warm welcome to Mr. Villas-Boas from our team, some of Chelsea’s most outspoken and dedicated female supporters. Now, without trying to sound like a child on a long summer road trip, are we there yet? Is it time for the season to start yet?

VILLAS-BOAS: SO MANY STRONG TEAMS Posted

There is still an entire pre-season to get through before the real competition begins, but that has not stopped Andre Villas-Boas assessing our Premier League rivals.
We ended last season adrift of champions Manchester United but with the new man in charge there is renewed optimism of capturing a fourth title in eight years, though he recognises the threat we face.
'There are so many strong teams. You see the way Tottenham is playing, the way Man City is being revolutionised by Mancini and the ambitions and top quality they have,' he began. 'You see Arsenal with that hunger for success year after year and the way last season slipped away from them, so for sure Mr Wenger will again provoke them to respond in every single fixture, and the way Man United are about in their business.
'They are here to be successful, as we are, so the references are pretty clear and it is not impossible that even Liverpool with the arrival of Dalglish, the way he built on them and took them up, just missing out on the Uefa Cup spot, so big challenges are ahead for us and that's what we face.'
Villas-Boas will not be looking to be drawn into personal clashes like certain predecessors as Chelsea manager, instead preferring a team ethic.
'It is not just a question of me taking on Sir Alex or the other Premiership managers, it's a question of a top club like Chelsea challenging for the title again,' he pointed out. 'Last year as was proven we ended up on a very good run to threaten for the title in the last couple of games and I want us to be up there from the beginning.
'It's all part of the empathy I want to create with the players and to challenge them, to challenge their motivations to be successful again, it is not just one man against the other, it is trying to build something again that can make us powerful to threaten for the title as we have been in the past six years
'I have the utmost respect for Sir Alex, [but] I don't know him personally. I am not a confrontational guy. To respond outside the pitch is nothing that interests me as long as we are up there in motivation, ambition and performance on the pitch.'

Profil Frank Lmapard

Name:	Frank Lampard
Nationality:	English
Date of Birth:	20/06/1978
Height:	6' 0" (184cm)
Weight:	13st 12lbs (88.0kg)
Previous
Clubs:	West Ham Utd, Swansea City (loan)
Position:	Midfielder

Chelsea careerLeague title winning-goals, FA Cup and Champions League Final strikes, nerveless penalty taking, assists galore and record-breaking sequences of appearances, Frank Lampard has been both the man for the big occasion, and for the week-in, week-out dedication that is the bedrock of genuine achievement. He is without doubt one of the finest players ever to wear the Chelsea blue.
After a quiet start at the Bridge, with just 15 goals in two years following an £11 million transfer from West Ham, Frank bloomed into one of Europe's finest.
An early sign of what was to come was his commanding display against Arsenal's Patrick Vieira in an FA Cup Final defeat at the end of his first season, progress that was continued the following campaign.
In 2003/04, the first season under Roman Abramovich's ownership and Frank's third at the club, he retained his place despite many new arrivals and his phenomenal form was only beaten by Thierry Henry when English football's individual awards were handed out.
The top performances continued to come in 2004/05, as did the goals, Frank's powerful shooting firing Chelsea to the Premiership title that season as he top-scored from midfield with 13 in the League and 19 overall. There was no one more appropriate to score the two magical goals at Bolton that sealed the championship triumph.
The Sportswriters' Footballer of the Year that year and runner-up in the European and World Player of the Year voting for 2005, Frank continued to prove as close to indispensable as can be found in modern football as his team duplicated the Premiership success in 2005/06.
When in December 2005, he finally missed a game due to a virus infection, it brought to an end a new Premier League record of 164 consecutive appearances, since surpassed by goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
In 2006/07, his 62 games was the highest total by any Chelsea player in a single campaign and although the next year was affected by two rare injuries and bereavement, Frank continued to drive Chelsea on from midfield game after game after game and made it to the now regular 20-goal mark.
The injuries were unfortunate but genuine tragedy struck in April 2008 with the death of Frank's mother. His courage and nerve in scoring a vital Champions League semi-final penalty against Liverpool on his return from compassionate leave, followed by his dramatic equaliser in the Final, were among that season's strongest images.
Since then Lamps has become Chelsea's top scoring midfield player ever; and is the player to win the most international caps while a Chelsea player.
A five-year deal was signed in the summer of 2008, and he quickly got into goalscoring form, netting an audacious chip from the edge of the area at Hull in October that year, an automatic Chelsea Goal of the Season contender though eventually edged out by Michael Essien's Champions League volley against Barcelona.
As the performances of those around him began to wane, Frank's form remained consistent under Luiz Felipe Scolari, scoring key goals over Christmas 2008 to keep the team in touch with the league leaders.
The arrival of Guus Hiddink midway through the campaign brought extended freedom for Lampard, who repaid his coach with late goals in a league win over Wigan and a 4-4 Champions League thriller against Liverpool, before we eventually bowed out of Europe in controversial circumstances against Barcelona. There was however joy when his second-half strike won the 2009 FA Cup against Everton.
With an incredible 27 goals from central midfield in 2009/10 and a sack-full of assists as Chelsea won the Double, it seemed Frank was improving with age, especially factoring in his resistance to injury and his ability to avoid a single yellow card in the whole of that season.
His historic '09/'10 season began as it would end - at Wembley - where he contributed a Community Shield goal, helped set up another, and then buried a penalty in the successful shootout.
The 31-year-old actually went 10 games without a goal before four in three arrived in October.
After a penalty miss at Man City at the beginning of a difficult Christmas period, it was two successful penalties that dug the team out of trouble against Portsmouth and West Ham.
He bounced back from Champions League disappointment against Inter Milan in the first knockout round by banging in four league goals against Aston Villa in a 7-1 rout.
The feat, the second time he had achieved such a tally in a game, took him over the 150-goal mark for Chelsea and beyond Roy Bentley to become our third-highest scorer of all time.
After converting another penalty against Villa at Wembley to book a place in the FA Cup Final, the focus shifted to league football for the next five games, and it was there where Frank really delivered.
At Anfield there were major celebrations as he swept home Nicolas Anelka's square ball to confirm crucial victory in the run-in.
In the final league game Frank won and took a penalty to put Carlo Ancelotti's team two goals to the good as we ran riot against Wigan, setting up the Double should we beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final.
It was a Drogba free-kick that broke the deadlock that Wembley May day, and even though Frank's final contribution was to drag a penalty wide at the death, he was there in the Royal Box to lift the trophy alongside John Terry.
In April 2011 he became only the fourth player to make 500 appearances for Chelsea.

Pre-ChelseaIronically, Frank's ever-present habit was one of the reasons why he was under-appreciated by some at the club that nurtured him.
With Frank's father the West Ham first team coach when the teenager broke into the first team there, sections of the support at Upton Park cried nepotism over the son's regular place in their side. He was ever-present in the Hammers team that finished fifth in '98/'99 and was capped for England the next season.
However when manager Harry Redknapp and Frank senior were sacked in 2001, it was time for Frank to move on and although Leeds was a possible destination at the time, it was across London the player went as he sought a club where he could take his career to the next level.

International careerAfter a debut against Belgium in 1999, Frank would have to wait until June 2003 to feature for a full 90 minutes in an England shirt, and he scored his first goal that August against Croatia.
He was well worth his place in the Euro 2004 team and was voted the England team's Player of the Year after three goals in four tournament games, and he won the poll again in 2005.
That made it all the more surprising when Frank failed to register on the score sheet in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, despite shooting more frequently than anyone.
It drew outside criticism, his years of incredibly consistent achievement seemingly forgotten, but after a lean spell under Steve McClaren he returned to goalscoring form under Fabio Capello, and Frank's critics began to re-evaluate their opinions and he was finally being appreciated in an England shirt too.
Unlike in 2006, Frank went into the 2010 World Cup in red-hot scoring form, even by his own extraordinary standards.
However as Capello played with the jigsaw of England's midfield, Frank's goal threat again appeared diminished although he was one of the best players against Slovenia in the third group game, and was infamously denied his first World Cup goal by a ludicrous linesman's decision as England exited versus Germany.
A hernia operation meant he sat out the beginning of England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign but he returned in 2011 with goals and victories with the three lions on his chest. No Chelsea player has won more international caps while playing for the club.

Season 2010 - 11

Competition	Apps (as sub)	Goals	Yellow Cards	Red Cards
League	23  (1)	10	2	0
FA Cup	3  (0)	3	0	0
Euro Cups	4  (0)	0	0	0

Career History:
Club	Season	Comp.	Apps (as sub)	Goals
Chelsea	2009 - 10	League	36  (0)	22
		FA Cup	6  (0)	3
		League Cup	0  (1)	0
		Euro Cups	6  (1)	1
Chelsea	2008 - 09	League	37  (0)	12
		FA Cup	7  (0)	3
		League Cup	1  (1)	2
		Euro Cups	11  (0)	3
Chelsea	2007 - 08	League	23  (1)	10
		FA Cup	1  (0)	2
		League Cup	3  (0)	4
		Euro Cups	10  (1)	4
Chelsea	2006 - 07	League	36  (1)	11
		FA Cup	7  (0)	6
		League Cup	3  (3)	3
		Euro Cups	11  (0)	1
Chelsea	2005 - 06	League	35  (0)	16
		FA Cup	4  (1)	2
		League Cup	0  (1)	0
		Euro Cups	8  (0)	2
Chelsea	2004 - 05	League	38  (0)	13
		FA Cup	0  (2)	0
		League Cup	3  (3)	2
		Euro Cups	12  (0)	4
Chelsea	2003 - 04	League	38  (0)	10
		FA Cup	4  (0)	1
		League Cup	1  (1)	0
		Euro Cups	13  (1)	4
Chelsea	2002 - 03	League	37  (1)	6
		FA Cup	5  (0)	1
		League Cup	3  (0)	0
		Euro Cups	1  (1)	1
Chelsea	2001 - 02	League	34  (3)	5
		FA Cup	7  (1)	1
		League Cup	4  (0)	0
		Euro Cups	4  (0)	1
West Ham Utd	2000 - 01	League	30  (0)	7
		FA Cup	4  (0)	1
		League Cup	3  (0)	1
West Ham Utd	1999 - 00	League	34  (0)	7
		FA Cup	1  (0)	0
		League Cup	3  (0)	2
		Euro Cups	10  (0)	4
West Ham Utd	1998 - 99	League	38  (0)	5
		FA Cup	1  (0)	0
		League Cup	2  (0)	1
West Ham Utd	1997 - 98	League	27  (4)	5
		FA Cup	6  (0)	1
		League Cup	5  (0)	4
West Ham Utd	1996 - 97	League	3  (10)	0
		FA Cup	1  (0)	0
		League Cup	1  (1)	0
Swansea City	1995 - 96	League	8  (1)	1
West Ham Utd	1995 - 96	League	0  (1)	0