Monday 2 March 2015

Terry, Costa & Co. kickstart new Chelsea era

The Blues are on course to secure a domestic double after they triumphed in the League Cup final with a 2-0 victory against rivals Tottenham

John Terry once again lifted a trophy after a cup final wearing his full kit - but this time there is no need for internet jokes about the Chelsea captain.

You don't have to like him - a lot of football fans don't - but Terry showed why he is still one of the best around as he inspired Chelsea to glory in the League Cup final against rivals Tottenham here.

The Blues captain missed the Champions League final in 2012 and Europa League final a year later - but still donned his kit to lift the trophies, to much hilarity.

This time he climbed the steps in this famous stadium as a matchwinner after scoring Chelsea's opener just before half-time and leading the defence to a clean sheet in a classic Jose Mourinho-inspired performance.

It was not often pretty from west Londoners but the end result - their first trophy since Mourinho's return to the club - will have looked beautiful to the 31,000 Chelsea fans as they danced in the north London rain.

In the end, it was a comfortable victory for Mourinho's men, especially once they doubled their lead in the 56th minute through Kyle Walker's own goal as the Spurs defender deflected Diego Costa's strike into his own net.

For Mourinho, this is a first trophy in two and a half years and his first since returning to Chelsea in 2013. As he punched the air before the final whistle had even been blown, Mourinho's old swagger returned after his sour-faced complaints about officials, pundits and virtually everything else in recent weeks.

If last year he liked to portray his side as the "little horse", the team that he put out at Wembley were thoroughbreds, even without the suspended Nemanja Matic who was replaced brilliantly by Kurt Zouma.

This is just the start for Mourinho and Chelsea this season. Liverpool's victory over Manchester City earlier in the day leaves them five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand. 

Mourinho started his first spell at the Blues with a League Cup victory in 2005 and followed it up with the club's first Premier League triumph in 50 years that season.

It would take a disaster for Chelsea to lose their grip on a league and cup double this season, while they will be among the favourites in the Champions League if they get past Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.

As Chelsea saw out the victory, Terry and Costa embodied Mourinho's big-game attitude - the mentality that makes the Portuguese a serial winner.

Terry took advantage of some woeful Tottenham defending from a corner to fire in the opener via a deflection just before half-time and, in the second half, he was a man on a mission, determined to deny Spurs even a sniff of a goal.

Even in the last minute, Terry through himself into a diving tackle in the penalty box to deny Harry Kane just when the Tottenham striker finally appeared to have escaped the attentions of the Blues defence.

The veteran has played all 26 league matches as part of the meanest defence in the division, conceding just 22 goals. Any suggestion that the 34-year-old does not still have plenty to offer has been blown out of the water by the quality of his displays this season.

At the other end, Costa led the charge. He is a player in Mourinho's image and he snarled, fought and got under the skin of the Spurs players and supporters. When the chance came he took the ball out of his feet and fired towards the far post, with a flick off Walker's boot sending it past Lloris.

Costa has scored 17 goals in 30 matches for Chelsea this season and it bodes well for him that he delivered on the big stage if he is to truly become the heir to Didier Drogba, who is the master of such moments.

Chelsea were compact and organised. They defended deep and denied Tottenham any of the time and space they were given in their humbling 5-3 defeat at White Hart Lane at the start of January.

Christian Eriksen hit the crossbar for Spurs early on but, otherwise, Petr Cech was barely tested. You wonder if that might be the most pleasing aspect of the performance for Mourinho.

It certainly will be for Terry, who ended the game in full kit, shinpads, a muddy shirt and yet another medal for his collection.

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