Sunday, May 16, 2010

Terry Delights At Chelsea's First Double


Chelsea captain John Terry hailed a "special" feeling after helping the Blues seal their first ever league and FA Cup double by beating Portsmouth 1-0 at Wembley.

Chelsea hit the woodwork five times in the first half and could have gone behind had Kevin-Prince Boateng not missed a penalty in the 56th minute.

Didier Drogba then scored with a stunning free-kick three minutes later, before Frank Lampard missed a spot-kick of his own a minute from time.

Terry told ITV1: "It's unbelievable. It's never been done in the club's history and to do it with this group of players feels so special.

"I thought our luck was out but what a great free-kick from Didier."

Terry was unimpressed with the infamous Wembley surface though, adding: "The pitch ruined the final. It's probably the worst pitch we've played on all year."

Terry, continuing his criticism of the Wembley surface, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was not good enough for a Wembley pitch.

"The FA have to decide if this is a football pitch or events stadium."

On the victory itself Terry added: "It is incredible. What an amazing day today.

"It was one of those days but we came strong and full credit to Didier.

"The reason why we are top of the league and won the FA Cup is that we are the best team and we have great determination."

Goalkeeper Petr Cech admitted he "got lucky" with his first-half penalty save from Kevin-Prince Boateng.

"I knew what the choices were and from the body language when he ran towards me I chose that side - but I was lucky to get there," he said.

The Czech international added that the players were desperate to write their names in the club's history, which he felt may have played a part in them uncharacteristically missing a host of chances before Drogba finally made the breakthrough.

"I'm speechless because during the game there were a lot of emotions," he said.

"We wanted to be the first team at Chelsea to win the double - and we also defended the FA Cup, which is an achievement as well.

"We kept missing and missing and it looked like it was not going to be our day but to make two crucial saves I am delighted."

Drogba admitted it was hard to come back down to earth after sealing the Barclays Premier League title last weekend with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan.

He told ITV: "It's fantastic; we achieved the double. It was difficult to come back and stay focused (after) we celebrated the title.

"It was difficult again against a very good Portsmouth team.

"You start to feel that you won't score but if you manage to create chances in the first half it means in the second you will have some."

On his free-kick, he added: "I saw a little gap, not a big space, because the wall was in its position.

"I hit the post again but it went in this time."

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant was proud of his players after what they went through in a difficult season which saw them relegated following a nine-point deduction for going into administration.

Grant told ITV1: "It's a day (when) I'm very proud and very sad; sad because we couldn't win the game, but it's an unbelievable season and something I won't forget."

Grant attributed no blame to Boateng, saying: "Win as a team, lose as a team. It happens even to the best.

"Unfortunately it's happened to me twice. What can you do?

"We played tactically very well, we gave everything. The fans were great. Unfortunately we couldn't win."

Asked if the Pompey fans had seen the last of him, he replied: "I don't know. They are great."

Portsmouth midfielder Jamie O'Hara admitted the Pompey players started to believe they could win the game after the way the first half went.

He told ITV1: "We rode our luck in the first half - David James pulled off some unbelievable saves - then we had the chance to win the game.

"If the penalty had gone in we could have defended for our lives, but it wasn't meant to be. Chelsea showed their class in the end."

O'Hara played despite a stress fracture in his back, and asked if he risked his fitness, he replied: "Yes. I put as much as I could into the game.

"It's going to the last time we all play together, so it's an emotional day for everyone at the club. It would have been great to go out with a big win."

He added: "They'll be back. They're a massive club with great fans."

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