50 Years of Chelsea: 2004-2005 Pt 2

<p>Stamford Chidge &amp; Jonathan Kydd are joined by Chelsea author Mark Meehan to look back at Chelsea's 2004-05 season.</p><br><p>In part two, we pick up the story in January 2005. Under the management of Jose Mourinho, Chelsea were top of the league, 7 points clear with 55 points, the largest points tally at this stage in the PL ever, and were fighting for trophies on all fronts with qualification for the Champions' League round of 16 achieved with 13 points and a Carling Cup semi-final against Man Utd to look forward to in the New Year as well as the FA Cup.</p><br><p>All eyes were on Stamford Bridge as we took on Man Utd in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final. A cagey 0-0 with Utd using every trick in the book was followed by a 2-1 win at Old Trafford to seal a place in the final at the Millenium stadium in Cardiff. The arrival of Abramovich and Mourinho notwithstanding, this was Chelsea's 12th cup semi-final in 12 seasons and the first time defeat had been inflicted on Alex Ferguson's Utd in a domestic semi-final.</p><br><p>Back in the Premier League Chelsea passed the stern 'can they do it on a cold night in Blackburn' test standing up, literally to the physical intimidation meted out by Mark Hughes dirty side. Arguably this was the match that sealed the title for Chelsea, at least in terms of belief. </p><br><p>February and March brought a plethora of high profile and must win matches which was to become the norm for Chelsea througout Abramovich's tenure. Newcastle knocked us out of the FA Cup, ending the pursuit of all four trophies. Barcelona beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Nou Camp in a controversial match where we had the upper hand until Drogba was sent off by Anders Frisk for a dubious second yellow. And in the space of a week, Chelsea defeated Liverpool in the Carling Cup final having gone 1-0 down after a Riise goal on 1 minute and rescued by a Steve Gerrard goal on 79 minutes, before Drogba and Kezman settled matters in a 3-2 win.</p><br><p>March saw the return of Barcelona to Stamford Bridge and