FanPost

Chelsea 10 Greatest Matches in 2019

For a year with some heavy defeats (City 6-0, Bournemouth 4-0), lots of turbulence (as always) and some pretty bad big game performance (against Top 6 we lost 9, drew 3 (losing two on penalties), won 4 (3 against Spurs, obviously), 2019 in the end had a feeling of minium objective accomplished, with Sarriball experiment delivering the promised Champions League place, with also two finals and a trophy, and Frankie's Youth Revolution, doomed by the press to finish 9th this season, finishing the year comfortably on Top 4 and with some signs of talent and good football.

I list the top 10 victories this year that was far from our best, but not even close to our recent worst too. This is totally my personal opinion and everyone is welcome to post yours! Sorry by any english mistakes, it's not my first language.

10- Chelsea (3)0-(4)0 Man City (League Cup Final 2018-19)

Sarri was doomed after being trashed 4-0 by Bournemouth and having to face the team that few weeks back won us 6-0. Everyone thought it would be his last game, the sacking was certain if another embarassment happen and facing City again that possibility was real.

A stubborn man gave in to pragmatic tactics for the first time, with Sarri fielding the usual 4-3-3, but without the high suicidal line, sitting lower and neutralizing City in an even, without many chances match.

What will be forever debated is the Kepa incident. The keeper refuse to leave for Caballero, a penalty specialist, just before the shoot-out. He saved one from Sterling but the whole mess of the incident might have influenced usually excelent takers Jorginho and Luiz, missing their penalties to make City champions.

Sarriball was alive, supporters proud and motivated after this, and with Sarri willing to adapt (and to play youth, putting Odoi and RLC on for extra time), we would react. In Abramovich era, there wasn't easy wins in finals against us, apart from Atletico trashing us 4-1 in 2012 Supercup and a largely B team being defeated by City in 2019 Community Shield, teams only won us on penalties or on one goal lead.

9- Chelsea 2(4)-(5)2 Liverpool (UEFA Supercup 2019-20)

Everyone doubted Frank Lampard and the youth revolution, especially after losing his first game 4-0 to United, but against the european champions and arguably the greatest team in the world, we played a equal match, even controlling the midfield at times and reacting to a Mané late goal. The tragic Tammy Abraham miss in the last penalty didn't erase the announcement: even destroyed by a transfer ban, the farewell of our best player and a rookie manager, we could play even with anyone.

8- Ajax 0-1 Chelsea (UEFA Champions League 2019-20)

In a match totally remiscent of a late victory away against Atletico Madrid two years ago, we faced Ajax, semi finalists of last year, favourites to beat us. Our team lacked Champions League experience, but we play a smart match that saw us deservedly winning 1-0, again with a late goal from sub Batshuayi, just like that night at Wanda Metropolitano, mading up for the home defeat against Valencia.

7- Chelsea 3-0 Watford (Premier League 2018-19)

In the very last matches of last season, Sarriball finally clicked! Much thanks to Loftus-Cheek, playing superbly on LCM, winning his position over Kovacic. Just like Hazard played a little with Drogba in 2014-15, Ruben played a little with Hazard, and this match on the left they linked exceptionally well. We qualified that day for the Champions League after 1 year absence, meaning mission complete for Mr Sarri. Unfortunately thanks to a stupid friendly few days after in USA, we are still waiting for RLC.

6- Wolves 2-5 Chelsea (Premier League 2019-20)

That was when Lamp's Youth Revolution announced itself, with Abraham scoring a fantastic hat trick, Tomori delivering a screamer and Mount in the end too. Wolves were favourites with our recent struggles, Lampard tried to mirror their system with out old Conte tactics and it worked. Curiously, last win against Tottenham also came after a 3-4-3 comeback.

5- Chelsea 1(4)-1(3)-Frankfurt (Europa League semi final 2018-19)

In a tense semifinal where as usual David Luiz almost screwed us up, but moments later saved us too, we saw Kepa being the hero with two fantastic saves in a penalty shoot-out we were about to lose. Azpi played as CB in the last minutes, with Zappacosta who barely played that season making a goal line clearence just before extra time. Again, Hazard linking up with Ruben created our goal.

4- Tottenham 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League 2019-20)

Yes, this happened yesterday, but it had to be here. Spurs were favourites with their mini The Special One revolution, much thanks to our awful recent form. The 3-4-3 experiment came back with a tall, strong back three of Rudiger, Zouma and Tomori. This wasn't luck. We dominated the entire match, with a superb Willian goal and VAR correcting wrong field decisions including a Son sent off that Mourinho is still crying about. If wasn't as sensational as destroying him 4-0 in the Bridge 3 years ago, it still felt fantastic.

3- Chelsea (4)2-(2)1 Tottenham (League Cup Semi-Finals 2018-19)

Another Spurs win, we also won them in the league last season with that stupid Trippier goal. We lost the first semifinal in a unfair 1-0 at Wembley, even with recent struggels (again), the boys stepped up (again), with our best players Kanté and Hazard scoring, and a stupid Llorent goal and a last-minute Giroud miss making the match go to penalties, where Kepa saved one (the boy is not so popular but you have to admit he likes big moments, good or bad) and violent, disgrace Eric Dier shoot one to the moon.

2- Chelsea 4-4 Ajax (UEFA Champions League 2019-20)

The greatest match of football played at Stamford Bridge since another 4-4 against Liverpool 10 years ago was a entertaining thriller but also a shitshow of mistakes from both team players and referees. Awful mistakes from our defense and bad luck saw Ajax leaving with 3-1 on first half. We were better on second half but they scored 4-1. Zouma almost scored the greatest goal of all time. Azpi made 4-2. Them the referee harshly sent off two of Ajax players in the same play!! Lol!! We soon equalised 4-4 with a second Jorginho penalty and a Reece James goal; scoring 5-4 soon after. Every team will probably have their "I hate VAR" moment in a few years, Man City's trauma being obviously that offside in the last minute against Spurs. Our will definitely be our greatest comeback ever ruled our b y VAR, who helped us with two penalties and two sent offs just before. We had about 20 minutes to score against 9 men and we couldn't. The 9 men team somehow screwed up a 3 goal lead. It was bitter for everyone except the neutrals but after a year of Europa League boredom we couldn't complain, we were back in Champions League baby!

1- Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal (Europa League Final 2018/19)

Arsenal easily beat us few months before at Emirates in a 2-0 win, our team just arrived tired from a stupid friendly in the States, Unai Emery was Mr Europa League. None of that mattered as Hazard's farewell saw a solid first half and a masterful second from us, including a brace for the MOTM but also Giroud's best match from us, opening the score from a Emerson cross and brilliantly assisting Hazard to score the fourth. Sarri, who lost in January to Arsenal after trying to pass them to death, sat back on the second half, killing them in the counters (Willian almost scored the 5th), something impossible to imagine from the man who was previously known to not adapt. Great performances all around: Pedro, Jorginho, Azpi, everyone; we also retired our greatest goalkeeper ever in traumatic fashion.

Sarriball finally found the balance between pretty passing and pragmatism, won his first trophy ever, we were back to Champions League... then he left. Still, a monumental win: every british teams european finals before were super tight (Tottenham 2-3 Wolves (agg), Chelsea 1-1 United, Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool), this was a massacre for the ages against one of our biggest rivals in a prestige match, showing that even in difficult times we somehow find ways to make history and something special. The best part? Arsenal had to win to go to Champions League, we didn't since we already secured the place in the league. So just like 2012 it was an european trophy PLUS removing a local rival from the biggest club competition. So sweet!

This FanPost was contributed by a member of the community and was not subject to any sort of approval process. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions held by the editors of this site.