Last night saw a comeback of epic proportions as Chelsea came from 2 - 0 down at the Nou Camp with 10 men to secure a massive 2 - 2 draw and securing their place in the Champions League final in Munich. They seemed down and out after John Terry's foolish 37th minute red card after kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the back and also Iniesta's 42nd minute goal to put the London team behind on aggregate but in stoppage time up popped Brazilian makeshift right-back Ramires to lift an impudent chip over the helpless Victor Valdes and put Chelsea back in the lead through away goals. Chelsea put in a typically disciplined defensive performance in the second half (they are in my opinion the team who are best suited to defending against Barcelona) and despite several lucky escapes after Lionel Messi's penalty hit the bar after Didier Drogba fouled Cesc Fabregas in the box, Messi hitting the post after a typical jinking run and a disallowed Sanchez goal after Dani Alves was deemed offside, Chelsea broke in second half stoppage time and the much-maligned Fernando Torres who came on as a substitute for Drogba rounded a stranded Valdes to put Chelsea into the final with the icing on the cake for Chelsea.
A major problem for Chelsea in the final is that whoever they come up against, be it Real Madrid or Bayern Munich after tonight's other semi-final, they will be without inspirational leader John Terry, as well as defending rock Branislav Ivanovic and vital midfield cogs in Ramires and Raul Meireles. Their first 11 may be decimated even further depending on recovery times of David Luiz and Gary Cahill but even with those two Chelsea are in a precarious position ahead of the final in Munich. But last night showed how Chelsea can step up and cope without the likes of Terry, after all the Nou Camp is not an easy place to go on any night, let alone when you've been reduced to 10 men. I still don't see Chelsea winning the final in Munich, but if Drogba is in the kind of form he was in the first leg and they can produce the defensive performances we've come to see from them they could be in with as good a chance as anyone.
Next on the agenda is the outcomes of the PFA player and young player of the year awards. Robin Van Persie didn't just win the PFA player of the year in this past week but he was also recognized in his fine form this season by being award the Football Writer's Association player of the year award. This hasn't come as a surprise to me as Van Persie has been the most influential player in the Premiership this season after he nearly single-handedly has dragged Arsenal from having a disastrous season to just having another season of mediocrity. He is the Premiership's top scorer with 27 goals and this is despite going on a streak of 7 games without scoring a goal in open play. Spurs defender Kyle Walker was the surprise winner of young player of the year, he wouldn't have been so shock if Sergio Aguero hadn't been in both categories, even though Aguero did have a dry patch mid-season he has consistently been one of City's best players and has provided some much needed consistency to their front-line with Dzeko, Balotelli and Tevez all floating in and out of form. Kyle Walker however can be justified through him being the most consistent defender in Spurs back four which has improved since last season and made them be firm contenders for a top four place.
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