Posted by Tim Mallow's View

TMR Football Blogger, Tom Mallows-


Ever since he swept into Stamford Bridge seven years ago, one thing has been on Roman Abramovich's mind - the Champions League.

His multimillion pound takeover of the club saw the influx of expensive world-class players as he looked to transform Chelsea into the best club on the continent.

Former boss Jose Mourinho led the Blues to two league titles at a canter, but the owner will only be completely satisfied when the European Cup arrives in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet.

They have come close, Mourinho led them to a semi-final against Liverpool in 2005 only for a disputed Luis Garcia goal to upset the Champions League betting and send the Reds through.

In 2008 they went one better, reaching the final in Moscow against Manchester United only to lose on penalties. That was despite only being a spot kick away from victory when John Terry stepped up, only to slip and put his shot against the post.

More heartbreak followed a year later when Barcelona scored an injury time equaliser in the semi final second leg at Stamford Bridge to deny Chelsea a place in the final on the away goals rule.

Last season it was former boss Mourinho who came back to haunt Chelsea, guiding his Inter side through 3-1 at the first round knockout stage before marching all the way to victory in the final against Bayern Munich.

That defeat knocked the stuffing out of Carlo Ancelotti's men last February, but credit to the players they turned it around to win the Premier League and FA Cup in style.

They have started this current campaign equally impressively. They sit top of the Premier League and have scored 23 goals in the process, while they also sit top of their Champions League group with two wins from two and look a guaranteed Champions League bet to progress to the next round.

Ancelotti has won the competition before and was brought in by Abramovich for that exact purpose. With the Italian turning Chelsea into a free flowing, free scoring outfit, is this the year they banish the heartbreak and finally win Europe's biggest prize?