WE ARE BACK

 

Image Credit- Football London.

 The last couple of years have been very tough for Chelsea and its fans. Since their Club World Cup triumph in February 2022, everything has been down the slope. Be it domestic football or European football, we faced a defeat everywhere we played. Moreover, there was a lot of uncertainty, and the team itself was in a transition phase. The chaos was real. After all, we sacked manager after manager and bought player after player, but our performance went on a constant decline. No one could assess the reason for our downfall.

However, things changed in the 2024-25 season under Enzo Maresca. The team started playing good football and brought smiles back to their fans' faces. Even though it cannot be dubbed as the best ever Chelsea performance, it was still better than what we witnessed in the previous 2 seasons.

Eventually, in May 2025, we won a piece of silverware after 3 long years as we hammered Real Betis 4-1 in the finals of the UEFA Conference League. It was truly a dominant performance by the men in blue as we became the first team in Europe to win all 3 European trophies—Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. However, the best part is that not only did we win a trophy this season, but we have also qualified for next year's Champions League because we finished 4th in the Premier League.

What will happen to us in the next season? The answer to the same lies in the womb of time. However, after a very long period, there is positivity all over again in Stamford Bridge. There is hope, and this is all we need right now.

Blue is the color, football is the game,

We're all together, and winning is our aim.

So, cheer us on through the sun and rain,

'Cause Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.

ITS COMING PARIS

 

Image Credit- Paris Saint Germain.

In the last 12 years, Paris Saint-Germain has won 10 Ligue One titles. However, on the European stage, they always fell short. They came closer in the 2020 edition, wherein they reached the finals of the Champions League. However, in the most important game, they succumbed to Bayern Munich and thus ended up as runners-up. In the next season they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before getting knocked out at the hands of Manchester City. 

To ensure a European Silverware, they went on to sign some of the biggest players in the summer of 2021. However, even Lionel Messi failed to win them the title that they cherished the most. Coaches changed, players changed, but the fortune remained the same. To make matters worse, they lost Mbappé to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024. However, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. 

The Parisians clinched the historic treble in the 2024-25 season. Firstly, they won the league with a margin of 19 points. This was then followed by a comprehensive French Cup victory. However, the most special of the three was their UEFA Champions League win. Interestingly, we are talking about the UCL triumph not because they have won it, but because of the manner in which they won the same. PSG literally blew away every team that came their way. Barring Liverpool, no team gave them any trouble in the entire European campaign. 

Even before the final, everyone was expecting a tight contest between them and Inter. However, they did not just beat Inter; they demolished them. A 5-0 scoreline in the final. No one could have ever expected that. It was truly a special moment for every PSG fan.

However, what was more special was the tribute that the fans paid to the PSG manager, Luis Enrique, and his late daughter. It was truly an emotional moment not just for the Paris supporters but for every football fan on the planet.

THE TOPSY-TURVY RIDE

 Image Credit- Goal.

The 2024-25 football season is over. Liverpool have been crowned as the champions of the Premier League for the 20th time, equaling Manchester United, whereas Crystal Palace won their first F.A. Cup title in 120 years. On the other hand, Newcastle United, too, won the Carabao Cup after defeating Liverpool in the finals. Apart from them, Tottenham and Chelsea, too, ended their season with silverware, as Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League and Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League. However, one major missing is Manchester City. A club that used to win silverware for fun has ended trophyless after 8 long years. Yes, they were close to winning one, but they lost to Crystal Palace in the finals of the FA Cup by the barest of margins. 

However, despite having a season that no City fan would like to remember, they have ended 3rd in the league and are entitled to take part in next season's Champions League. Hence, one can say it was not too bad a campaign, especially when we look at the conditions of the other side of Manchester. However, we all know Manchester City is a champion side that will surely fight strong next season. The team is in a transition phase as the old guard is stepping down and making way for the new. However, they have a manager at the helm who is truly the best in the world. 

So, one can truly expect a strong comeback from the men in blue. The Champions are down and hurt, but they will definitely put up a fight next season. 

THE EAGLES HAVE WON IT

 

Image Credit- The Hindu.

On 17th May 2025, Crystal Palace F.C. scripted history when they defeated Manchester City in the final of the F.A. Cup. Interestingly, it was their major trophy in their 120-year-old history. Hence the silverware was special, very special. Winger Eberechi Eze's goal in the first half and goalie Dean Henderson's penalty save gave the Eagles a 1-0 victory. 

Interestingly, City dominated the first few minutes of play after Pep Guardiola selected a potent attacking squad. When he struck a deep cross to the far post in the sixth minute, Erling Haaland had the first clear-cut opportunity, but Palace keeper Dean Henderson stopped it for a corner. Henderson saved headers from Gvardiol and Akanji as City continued their dominance and had multiple corners. 

Crystal Palace, however, counterattacked City against the flow of play after defender Chris Richards cleared the ball up-field to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who then released Daniel Muñoz to race up the wing and cross in from the right for Eberechi Eze to first-time volley and score in the 16th minute after a neat one-two with Daichi Kamada. However, City was given a penalty in the 36th minute after Tyrick Mitchell of Palace was deemed to have fouled Bernardo Silva of City, who had already begun to fall when Mitchell made a sliding challenge. Henderson, however, stopped Omar Marmoush's penalty attempt down to his right and stopped Haaland's subsequent attempt. At the end of the first half, the Eagles had a 1-0 lead over the heavyweights. 

In the second half, Manchester City attacked like anything. However, the Crystal Palace defense stood strong and resisted every attack. Echeverri had two excellent chances to score in the 95th minute, but Palace keeper Henderson saved the first one, and Palace defenders blocked his second attempt to stop a certain goal. Prior to the referee ultimately blowing his whistle to end the match and award Crystal Palace their first-ever FA Cup on the third try, Palace managed to hold out reasonably comfortably for the final five minutes. It was truly a game that no Eagle fan will ever forget. After all, the team gave their blood on the pitch.

Joel Ward, the final remaining Palace player from the 2016 FA Cup Final, who was leaving at the end of the season after 13 years, was given the honor of lifting the Cup with captain Marc Guehi as Palace won their first major trophy in 120 years.

THE INDIAN TRAGEDY

 

Image Credit- Wikipedia.

The Indian National Football Team was facing Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. After drawing the first game against Bangladesh, it was important for us to win this tie. Unfortunately, we lost it by the barest of margins. A penalty in the dying minutes of the game turned out to be the difference between the two sides. However, it is quite shameful that we struggled to score a single goal. Even against Bangladesh, the scorecard was 0-0. Moreover, one cannot forget the fact that we went winless for the entire 2024. 

We are in such terrible shape right now that it seems impossible for us to win any games at all. Right now, our team needs a lot of reorganization and rebuilding. We must replace the underperforming players with new ones. Therefore, it's critical that management make some difficult choices before it's too late. The Indian football team is currently in a state of regret. Before it's too late, we must take immediate action.   

THE LEGEND OF CRISTIANO RONALDO

 

Image Credit- UEFA

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of our generation. The rivalry that he shared with Lionel Messi divided the footballing world into two. Both of them have broken record after record and have brought laurels for whichever team they played. However, in the past 4 years things have been completely different for the two greats. Messi, on the one hand, won a couple of Ligue 1 titles and the Copa America trophy, whereas Ronaldo hasn't won a title since he left Turin. Moreover, Lionel Messi won the coveted FIFA World Cup in 2022 and completed his trophy cabinet. On the other hand, Ronaldo was struggling at both the club and national levels. It is pertinent to note that Ronaldo did play well in the last 4 years, but his team failed to win any silverware.

However, after 4 long years, Ronaldo has won yet another title, and this one is very special because it has come for Portugal. Furthermore, no one expected them to win because they were facing Germany in their backyard, which was then followed by a final against European champions Spain. However, defying all odds, first they defeated the Germans in the semi-final and then the Spanish in the finals. Moreover, in both the games, Portugal came from behind and shocked everyone. Interestingly, on both occasions it was Cristiano Ronaldo who led from the front like a true leader. 

In the semi-final tie against Germany, it was Ronaldo who scored the winning goal, whereas against the Spanish, he scored the equalizer. It was truly a very special moment for a footballer who is indeed one of the greats but was under constant criticism. However, this silverware has proved one thing yet again, and that is form is temporary. Class is permanent.