IT was supposed to be the night that the greatest team in Europe – Barcelona – would turn on the style and rack up a cricket score against us.

And, for a while, it did seem likely at the imposing Nou Camp.

At one-nil down – and with John Terry sent off for the stupidest of fouls and Gary Cahill hobbling off much earlier – my heart sank lower than the Titanic.

Minutes after Terry’s dismissal, my heart nearly stopped when Andres Iniesta, our conqueror in 2009, slipped the ball under the giant Petr Cech for Barcelona to go 2-0 up on the night and 2-1 ahead on aggregrate.

Never in my wildest imagination did I think we would be able to mount any sort of comeback, not with just 10 men on the pitch – and against the exquisite pass-masters of the game.

I truly believe that had we failed to make the Champions League final, Captain Fantastic Terry would have been rightly condemned by one and all.

Fortunately for Terry, his moment of madness – and absolute disgrace – was saved by the brilliance of Ramires.

The Brazilian, who had just picked up a yellow card (ruling him out of the final) latched on to a fantastic through ball by Frank Lampard and dinked the ball over a hapless Victor Valdes to make the score for the night at 2-1 for Barca – and 2-2 on aggregate.

However, Ramires’ away goal meant Barca had to score another goal.

Instead, it was Chelsea who found the net again and it came courtesy of the much-maligned Fernando Torres.

The win has absolved Terry of all blame. Anyway, after all that he has done for and given to the club, I am sure all Chelsea fans would have forgiven him for his moment of madness.

Besides, the agony of not being able to play in the final of Europe’s greatest club competition for probably the last time in his career is definitely punishment enough.

So, bring on Bayern Munich.

After such a fairy tale run, would you still bet against us? I doubt it.

But, for now, it’s back to business on the domestic front.

Is a top four spot in the EPL really that important now?

I foresee us finishing below Newcastle but earning the right to compete in next year’s Champions League by virtue of being the defending champions.

So, it would be great to see Roberto Di Matteo using a bit of a squad rotation and give some fringe players, like Daniel Sturridge, Oriol Romeu and Romelu Lukaku, a chance to impress.

Surely QPR will not be much of a threat despite some impressive results lately.

Anyway, it would be a great pleasure on our part if we can send them closer to relegation by beating them tomorrow.

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High.

After the horror in Moscow four years ago, Kng Zheng Guan is grateful that Chelsea’s Champions League final opponents are just Bayern Munich. A legendary win is on the cards.

 

 

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