It is customary to talk about matches of this rank primarily in the historical context and more often with cliches. Like, one team played in the finals so many times, for another - this cup has become such and such in history. Or they begin to recall the recent mistakes of the finalists in the Premier League, trying to deduce any regularities and enter into them the same “third-rate” cup match.
The current finale is perhaps worth considering through the prism of career prospects, Jose Mourinho. Chelsea’s unprecedented humility during the winter transfer period, rumors of a coach’s conflict with Andrei Shevchenko or Roman Abramovich himself were flavored with conflicting interviews by players and vigorous refutations of the club’s leadership ... With these symptoms, the Portuguese doctor knows only one reliable medicine - a win game . The starting lineup of the “blue” only confirmed this hypothesis.
Yes, and the first eleven Arsene Wenger could surprise only an inexperienced person - on the field was the basis of the Arsenal. Not the one that storms the top of the Premier League or the Champions League, but no less played and hardened in the crucible of the English cups. It would be the height of injustice when the creators of enchanting victories over Liverpool in the quarter finals or Tottenham in the semifinals watched the main match of the tournament from the bench. This, undoubtedly, was understood by the excellent psychologist Wenger, releasing a super-motivated reserve.
From the first minutes of the team, as if by agreement, convinced the audience of the seriousness of intentions. Temporal attacks alternately rolled on the gates of Peter Cech and Manuel Almunia. The strongest impression in the first half, not counting the goals, was the actions of Chelsea defenders Wayne Bridge and Lassan Diarr. Their raids against someone else's penalty, with at least good defensive actions, revived the memory of French pictures nine years ago: this pair really reminded Lizarazu and Thuram of the times of World Cup 98 ...
As for the goals - they scored great. Theo Walcott, taking advantage of the hitch of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, outplayed Cech and made him remember who is still the most capable young man in British football. And Didier Drogba, passing an offside trap, once again outlined the claim to be the best striker in Europe, and hence the world. Quite tired, a quarter of an hour before the intermission, the players devoted already to positional attacks. That was the calm before the storm.
Mourinho started the second half with three forwards. Arjen Robben, who replaced Claude Makelele, did not free much of the attacking worries of both extreme defenders, and also unceasingly increased tension all over the front edge. “Arsenal” snapped - Abu Diabi almost managed to bring the “Gunners” forward again. Although it is “slightly” that distinguishes a great player from a good player: Drogba half an hour earlier in a similar situation equalized the score.
And in the 55th minute, when giving a corner in the Arsenal penalty box, an episode erupted that almost overshadowed the football component of the match. A random counter strike by Diabi with a boot on the head of John Terry, who was at a critical point a moment earlier than the ball, from those that are better not to be seen. Blood, a stretcher, an oxygen mask, a Shants collar ... The standard set for a serious accident is not on the green lawn. Thinking about football really didn’t mean much.
Similar sentiments, apparently, visited everyone without exception on the field. Mentally, they were in the hospital next to the captain of the English team. Even Frank Lampard’s mundane, fantastic shot at the crossbar didn’t cause a great deal of emotion. Although he shook the game: Alexander Gleb and Emmanuel Eboue came to Arsenal. Having sealed up the left flank, where Robben often appeared, they also had to squeeze the broken Chelsea morally and tactically.
But the opposite happened. Moreover, the second goal of the brilliant Drogba after the transfer of the elusive Robben, regardless of the course of events, looked deserved. And there was no doubt who he was dedicated to.
In the remaining time, Shevchenko hit the crossbar on duty, and the third of Arsenal's substitutes, Adebayor, instead of comparing the score, almost organized a wall-to-wall fight against Obi Mikel. Even the coaches ran out to separate the players, and Thierry Henry, who came down from the rostrum, took the Togolese away from the field. The seething ending of the inning and its amazing duration (almost an hour!) Finally put the match in the line of those that they will talk about for a very, very long time ...
When the final whistle sounded and passions subsided, and a little later - a comforting message came that John Terry was all right, I wanted to ask a couple of uncomfortable questions after the match. So who won the most? Wenger, who created a full-fledged team in the team? Or Mourinho, who raised the cup over his head, but achieved victory at the cost of the second in four days of Terry's injury and the titanic efforts of the main team? Questions are rhetorical. Everyone will answer them in their own way. And then he decides to wait for the ending of the season ...
But there is no way to turn away from one historical fact: Chelsea have already taken the fourth serious trophy with Mourinho.
League Cup. The final
Chelsea - Arsenal - 2: 1 (1: 1)
Goals: 0: 1 - Walcott (12), 1: 1 - Drogba (20), 2: 1 - Drogba (85).
Chelsea: Czech, Terry (Obi Mikel, 63), Ricardo Carvalho, Bridge, Diarra, Makelele (Robben, 46), Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Shevchenko (Kalu, 90 + 9), Drogba.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Hoyt, Kolo Toure, Senderos, Traore (Eboue, 66), Fabregas, Denilson, Diabi (Gleb, 68), Baptista, Walcott, Aliadiere (Adebayor, 80).
Warnings: Denilson (29), Essien (36), Ricardo Carvalho (49), Diarra (52), Ebouet (88), Lampard (90 + 8), Fabregas (90 + 8).
Removal: Adebayor (90 + 6), Obi Mikel (90 + 6), Kolo Toure (90 + 6).
25 February. The Millennium, 18.00.
Judge: Howard Webb.