Chelsea Wins the Carling Cup

It used to be the League Cup, the younger brother to the FA Cup, but with the advent of the commercialization of soccer, it is now the Carling Cup. By whatever name, it is a significant competition in English soccer. This year, the final at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff (yes, the English final was played in Wales) featured the second best team in Liverpool against the best team from London. Chelsea FC beat Liverpool 3-2 in extra time. While Chelsea failed to advance in the FA Cup against Newcastle earlier in the month, the Carling Cup win vindicates all the money Roman Abramovich spent and all the ego Jose Mourinho brought to the side.

One of the banners Liverpool's supporters brought with them read “Money won't buy respect.” In addition to being true (nor does it buy class, brains or simple human decency), this has been the knock on Chelsea since the rich Russian bought the club and “Kalinka” got its first playing at Stamford Bridge. “Loadsa money” is the complaint against other clubs in sports, e.g., the New York Yankees, and the cure for it is victory on the field. Nothing irritates fans more and pleases detractors than huge payrolls that result in mediocrity. There was talk of Chelsea winning the quadruple this year – none of it serious. But the club theoretically could have won the Carling Cup, the FA Cup, the Champions' League and the Premiership. Yet coming away with none of those was a distinct possibility.

Jose Mourinho has won one piece of hardware in his first year as manager and has a chance still at two more. The Carling Cup means he can keep the job for a few years now, if that's what he wants. The former Oporto leader came to England, and the papers cried “The ego has landed.” And he is an arrogant braggart, except as they say in Texas, “if you can do it, it ain't braggin'.” His pouting after the loss in Barcelona earlier in the week, and even getting thrown out of the Carling Cup final, are now forgiven by most. Winners have privileges losers don't have.

As for the game itself, Liverpool came very close to winning. They managed to take the lead in the first 45-seconds, and gave back the goal toward the end of the second half. Twenty minutes into extra time, the score was still tied, and the possibility of a shoot out was genuine. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had to work to keep the ball out of the goal, and he had to prove himself the best in the business on more than one occasion. In the end, Chelsea unleashed two goals as time was running out, and Liverpool still managed to claw one back. Yesterday, Merseyside's other team, Everton, didn't look like the best in town.

Ahead lies a home game against Barcelona in the Champions' League, but the real contest is for the Premiership title. Chelsea has to play Manchester United and Arsenal before the end of the season, the two teams that still can catch the West London side. But, leading by 6 points and having played one fewer games, Chelsea doesn't need to win either one of them. Mr. Abramovich is getting value for money after all.


© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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