Glad that’s over for another season? I know I am. Of course, anyone who has read my posts on the subject of the Champions League these last few years will not be surprised to learn that no tears were shed in my household over last night’s result and the evening’s entertainment ended with one word as I switched the telly off… ‘whatever‘. So now, at last, we can get down to what should be the real issues of the new day, namely the Premiership title race and the FA Cup semi-final, but, before doing so, here are some home truths about our CL exit and a quick summation as to why I truly believe that the whole shooting match is no big deal...

Fact [as Rafa would say] is that Inter were better than us - better prepared, more up for it, psychologically superior and full credit has to go to Jose, who played his cards perfectly before, during and after the game. Once upon a time, when he was our coach, I thought the Special One was holding us back in this circus of a competition, but now, older and wised-up on what is required of those participating in the later rounds, I know that’s never been the case. Back in those Frisk-baiting days the refereeing was just as much part of the sideshow as Blind Tom was last year and, admittedly to a lesser extent, the away and home performances of the officials were in this tie. Yet in all honesty, they merely added lustre to an ever-growing sense of grievance, being disarmingly blatant in their unfairness and, as Andy Gray said with such insincerity after the wrestling-down incidents in the Inter penalty area, ’issues that will have to be sorted out sometime’ - just not now, eh Andy? - and definitely not in the immediate wake of Chelsea’s perpetual sufferance at the hands of CL officialdom.

No, in reality what we witnessed at the Bridge last night was surely an extension of the Champions League pain that reached its height when JT missed his penalty and how much you feel that pain at the moment probably depends on how much you value this competition. As you may have guessed, I have long since treated it as a sideshow comparable with any you find at an [un]fairground, but, if Roman continues to see it differently, who am I to complain at the increasing cost and paranoia involved in searching for a prize that [to me] is suitably symbolised by a goldfish given to you in condescension and a plastic bag full of water.

Still, that said and got off my chest, what is of more concern right now is the effect continually chasing this bad dream is likely to have on a number of squad players who remain so self-evidently in the thrall of the Special One. For this reason alone, despite what many fans will say, Carlo should not be criticised too much for the defeat. Controversial though it may be to say it, his only tactical error was to start with Anelka ahead of Kalou and how many of us would have been that astute before the event rather than after it? He also had to contend with substandard stuff from certain senior players (Didier, Frank and Michael Ballack) all of whom come into the ’thrall’ category in what really turned out to be, Zhirkov and Anelka apart, a match between the latest team built in Jose’s image going up against his previous creation.

So, little wonder Inter got the result required and, as a corollary, the Italian quota of four teams in the competition remains unaltered next time around. Not that that was a contributory result factor to the neutral’s eye, nor should we dwell too long on the Mourinho/Ancelotti head-to-head nature of the contest either because, put in simple terms, Carlo has been hamstrung up until now when it comes to bringing in his own players, whilst Jose hasn’t. This is the main reason why Carlo should not shoulder the majority of the blame for this setback to our season, even though the jury may well be out on his ability to overcome the bigger stumbling block that manifested itself on this occasion - the total lack of imagination running through our ranks over the full ninety minutes.

All in all, devoid of tricks and with Joe unable to summon up anything much, never mind sinews, since his return from injury, we badly need to somehow freshen this team up over the next month. Youth is the only available ingredient as yet left untried for any length of time other than a sprinkling of minutes at the end of games. And if I could make just one more plea on behalf of those disenchanted with all things Champions League - please, please, please Roman, don’t make this tin pot competition your excuse to spend outrageous sums of money over and above that dished out for Carlo‘s requested summer additions. It really isn’t that big a deal and you wouldn’t be that clever if you did, because our future lies in chasing success on the domestic front, by building a team that has a lot more than just one player under twenty-five years of age in it. By all means let Carlo get on with the job rather than add another sacking to the list, but let it be with much less of the Champions League claptrap from both coach and club.

Well said, Dorset. I feel much better now after reading your throughtful analysis of the pitiful Champions League.

I couldn't agree more, I think we've got a group of players - Jose's group of players that think they should have won the Champions League and are failures for not having done so. I think that buringing need is what's preventing them from winning it, that and the fact that while the spine of our team remains Jose's spine we will never move on. Last summer was pivotal to me, Lamps nearly went and Drogs nearly went, these are two of the most important players in our history and rightly so are revered by Chelsea fans. That said, if Drogs did go what would happen? We talked about this last year and many said that there's not another player like him and therefore we couldn't succeed without him. It's true there's not another striker like Drogs, yet somehow there are teams across England, Europe and the World that look a hell of a lot better than we do at times (even us during the ACN). This isn't a dig a Drogba but more a statement that if one thing isn't as it was you can actually change. As a club I think it's time we changed, let's not be Jose's team anymore, lets brake the spine that was Jose's and has given us the best years of our lives, and let's see if we can move forward. While we're too scared to change anything we will never do that, and move forward.

jose picked the right tactics he did everthing right he must come home soon

jose picked the right tactics he did everthing right he must come home soon

boy, close the old book and begin to read the new chapters.

@Dorset, thanks, makes me also feel better now.

I couldn't agree more, I think we've got a group of players - Jose's group of players that think they should have won the Champions League and are failures for not having done so. I think that buringing need is what's preventing them from winning it, that and the fact that while the spine of our team remains Jose's spine we will never move on. Last summer was pivotal to me, Lamps nearly went and Drogs nearly went, these are two of the most important players in our history and rightly so are revered by Chelsea fans. That said, if Drogs did go what would happen? We talked about this last year and many said that there's not another player like him and therefore we couldn't succeed without him. It's true there's not another striker like Drogs, yet somehow there are teams across England, Europe and the World that look a hell of a lot better than we do at times (even us during the ACN). This isn't a dig a Drogba but more a statement that if one thing isn't as it was you can actually change. As a club I think it's time we changed, let's not be Jose's team anymore, lets brake the spine that was Jose's and has given us the best years of our lives, and let's see if we can move forward. While we're too scared to change anything we will never do that, and move forward.

That is an interesting point Barn. I also think Drogs is one hell of a player but we also seem to build the whole team around him which leads to a limitation in our tactics at times. I would argue that we actually played our best football this season when he was out in the ACN. Perhaps it was just the opposition but we forced to play a different style and it seemed to suit most of our players much better. Drogs has come up with the goods for us on many occasions and in a lot of big matches this season. I certainly would acknowledge that. But I wish we wouldn't funnel all our attacking play through him when he plays. It seems like we are much more one dimensional in games like last night's when we do that.

Dorset - imo your best post for sometime (and no criticism intended there!) and I feel sure that a lot of us are thinking along the same lines at present.

However, and quite apart from the aging squad problem and how to reinvigorate same and to what extent etc (and the subject of other threads), imo it is wishful thinking to conclude that our owner should/will re-adjust his priorities concerning this competition to concentrate solely or predominantly on the domestic front. Quite apart from the massive financial boost that comes with the CL both directly and indirectly, I somehow doubt that our owner will undergo some sort of latter day domestic conversion because of what took place last night. I mean let's face it: for him, being european champions is everything.

Surely the quandary for him (and for us) is whether he will have the necessary patience and financial werewithal to re-adjust for the next cycle: surely he could no longer believe after watching the current squad for the last twelve months and probably longer that we can mount a serious challenge for european glory next year without some significant squad changes.

And one part of me is relieved by the result against Inter over the two legs because it somewhat neatly closes the karmic cycle ala Roman/Jose & more importantly (& hopefully) will now motivate our owner (if he's still interested) to plan for the longer term and to assemble a new squad. The trick is to do so and hold onto a top four spot for the forseeable future. No mean feat now that city are in the mix with the spuds and villa not far behind.

Will he have the patience? Interesting times ahead - never a dull moment with Chels.

Dorset - imo your best post for sometime (and no criticism intended there!) and I feel sure that a lot of us are thinking along the same lines at present.

However, and quite apart from the aging squad problem and how to reinvigorate same and to what extent etc (and the subject of other threads), imo it is wishful thinking to conclude that our owner should/will re-adjust his priorities concerning this competition to concentrate solely or predominantly on the domestic front. Quite apart from the massive financial boost that comes with the CL both directly and indirectly, I somehow doubt that our owner will undergo some sort of latter day domestic conversion because of what took place last night. I mean let's face it: for him, being european champions is everything.

Surely the quandary for him (and for us) is whether he will have the necessary patience and financial werewithal to re-adjust for the next cycle: surely he could no longer believe after watching the current squad for the last twelve months and probably longer that we can mount a serious challenge for european glory next year without some significant squad changes.

And one part of me is relieved by the result against Inter over the two legs because it somewhat neatly closes the karmic cycle ala Roman/Jose & more importantly (& hopefully) will now motivate our owner (if he's still interested) to plan for the longer term and to assemble a new squad. The trick is to do so and hold onto a top four spot for the forseeable future. No mean feat now that city are in the mix with the spuds and villa not far behind.

Will he have the patience? Interesting times ahead - never a dull moment with Chels.

That is the best post I have read on here this year Youlots. Wonderfully perceptive. Everyone should be thinking about this.

Last night's one sided show must have hurt him very badly knowing it was he who made the decision to out Mourinho. Has Roman lost interest? Will he want to bankroll a re-building programme? Will he have the patience, (and nothing to date has shown he has any patience), to wait a couple of seasons for a new team to gel together?

What happens in the summer will give us the answer.

Agree with both just and youlots. It is an interesting little period for us, when you think about it Carlo hasn't really purchased anyone yet. We are yet to see exactly how he wants the squad set up. This season I always thought was Carlo making do with the squad he had, hence the diamond for example. During the off season I'd expect more of his coaching staff to come in and perhaps a couple of signings that are his. At that point we will perhaps get a real idea of where we are going in the next five years.

Obviously this comes down to not just whether Carlo stays as manager, which I think he will for a period particularly after the issues we've had with a lack of stability recently, but also the extent to which he is backed by Roman. The one thing about Jose is that he pretty much got exactly what he wanted. Given the whole issue of self-sufficiency and the incoming rules with UEFA the support won't be as strong, but hopefully Carlo is given at least some of the resources he needs to get us to where we want to be.

Dorset, I am assuming you are not in the British print media, as that "article" was absolutely worth publishing.

Roman will dump more money due to this exit. Ive stated for some time its a hidding blessing that we do not win the CL, for as long as we dont win it Roman will remain interested in trying to capture, and thus his fianiances will be available to us.

Now that hidden blessing is also a hidden curse, as said investment will always deter our managers from investing in our youth system. Why put so much effort into developing young lpaeyrs in your system when you can buy superstars by the dozen? That will hust us in regards to finiancial fair play, but even more importantly it will hurt our onfield product.

Two teams who rely heavily no their youth programs, are Barca and Arsenal. They play some of the best beautiful football, and are ALWAYS competeing for top honours, if not winning them. That is no coincidence.

Some people mentioned our players lacked motivation vs Inter, so did I as a fan. How many times can you get officiating like that in a competition before you lose heart and respect in regards to competeing in it?

Apparently the my answer is similar to the players......you got there 1 season faster apparently Dorset.

Kudos on being such a fast learner and perfectly describing what most of us felt, but couldnt articulate.

Although not being a long standing member of this site may I say that Dorset’s post was very insightful and very passionate. I have spoken for many years in frustration that the so called ‘Youth Program’ has produced very little for this club…how many current first team players are a direct result of the Youth Program? Rather than find the right balance of youth and experienced players Roman has decided to buy proven players….which is great for the fans who want immediate gratification but in my humble opinion not good for building a dynasty, or are ‘dynasties’ a thing of the past? Now as an ‘old’ fan who spent many years at the Bridge, and now have to watch from afar, I can recall many of the players coming up from the reserves into the first team, why doesn’t it happen anymore with this team? I have never liked Utd or Arsenal but somehow over the years they have manage to develop players through their Youth systems, whether foreign or home grown why can’t we do the same instead of farming our youth out to gain experience with other clubs, with other coaches with other training regimes, invariably when they have finished their stint they are sold off like cattle. Maybe we should go into farming? I agree with Dorset, lets get our domestic dominance in order first with quality, experience and a mixture of youth, while Platini is in charge the English teams will be subject to incompetent refereeing, bias and abuse. I guess I am getting old in the tooth and always saw this sport as the ‘beautiful game’ and not as a business, with home grown players playing for their love of the sport not the money. Advertizing and sponsorship has changed all that…especially the Champions League and while I appreciate Roman putting Chelsea firmly on the world stage, anyone with a wad of cash can buy a winning team when all the pieces aligned, manager, players, coaches. The beauty is in the development and nurturing to reach the pinnacle…..Rome was not built in a day….Roman cannot build his team in a season….by continually knocking down the foundations you cannot build the house…by continuing to change the staff and crumbling old players we will never have that ‘dynasty’. I say lets take the hit for a few seasons while maintaining our credibility start with a strong foundation, of youth and strength with some experienced architects to lead the way…… or has the Champions League become the ultimate test of a great team and is now the yardstick foresaking all other competitions?

Edited March 18, 201014 yr by CFCCAN