Final FA Cup 2007 Chelsea 1 - 0 Man U

Goal by Drogba - Chelsea FC vs. Manchester United FC
Uploaded by 90tsunni

For most of the game (ok, all of it), it was a even affair, both sides canceling each other out and the game itself sorely failing to live up to the pompous and wasteful ceremony that preceded it (Prince William looked f’n bored with it).

And then one Didier Drogba, with one of his best goals this season (and possibly his most important) put Chelsea ahead in the 2nd half of extra time, and after that there was no going back. Chelsea took the yellow cards and the Man Utd pressure and got their FA Cup win.

It would be harsh to say that either side was better - it was even, boringly so (I slept through the second half, and was reliably informed that that was probably the best thing to have done).

The one incident of note that will perhaps rankle Manchester United fans a bit was the ‘goal that wasn’t given’, Ryan Giggs sliding into Cech and pushing the ball over the line. The refs couldn’t see it but the camera caught it, and this one is definitely one that could have gone either way. Without video replays, you never know.

To be very honest, the result was fair considering the quality of the goal. And if anyone knows where Drogba went straight after the whistle, let me know. Methinks he went to call his mum, but he could have gone to take a leak or whatever.

United Keep Powder Dry Against Chelsea

MANCHESTER, England, May 8 (Reuters) - Manchester United's clash with Chelsea on Wednesday will be no dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final, with United manager Alex Ferguson set to rest several key players after their title success.
The fact that United wrested the Premier League crown from Chelsea last weekend means there is nothing riding on the game at Stamford Bridge, which comes 10 days before the two sides meet again in the cup at Wembley Stadium.
As he prepared for Wednesday's fixture, Ferguson told reporters: "I'm glad we are going there as champions. It would have been some game if we weren't.
"The fact that we have won it means there is no need to be demanding of our players. We can now prepare for the final.
"I will just spread my squad the best I can. Obviously the ones who need a rest will get a rest... There will be a lot of changes simply because the players are tired."
"The ones who played on Saturday were running on empty. They gave their last drop."
Ferguson will take the chance to give some players, possibly the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, a breather against Chelsea as he is committed to selecting a strong side for United's final league game.
United face West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday in a match that will have a bearing on who is relegated, with West Ham hoping to survive and send down either Sheffield United or Wigan - who play each other - with Watford and Charlton Athletic.
"The West Ham game is a very important issue. Obviously we have to respect our reputation," Ferguson said.
"Alan Curbishley (West Ham's manager) is a good friend of mine but he understands we have to respect the wishes of other managers.
"They deserve our best attention to the game and I will be picking a team to win on Sunday."
UNITED HONOURED
Before that, United can enjoy their first match as champions at the home of the team they deposed, with Chelsea set to give United a guard of honour in a reversal of the roles the two teams played out at Old Trafford in May, 2005.
"I'm pleased at that," said Ferguson, whose relationship with Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho appears to have survived one or two verbal jousts during the season.
"He was very complimentary in his post-match interviews (on Sunday) and I expected that.
"I am sure he understands that winning and losing are twins, in a way, and you have to deal with it the right way and the same way."
"If you win you don't need to gloat and if you lose you don't have to go bananas about it. You have to accept defeat is defeat. We all get it and I think he has done that this time."

Man United take Premier League

The Red Devils were crowned English champions without kicking a ball after Chelsea failed to win at Arsenal. It was their first in four years

Manchester United fans celebrate outside Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Sunday after winning the English Premiership title for a record ninth time.
PHOTO: AP
Manchester United won its first Premier League title since 2003 on Sunday without kicking a ball because Chelsea was held to a 1-1 draw at Arsenal.

Chelsea had been trying to win its third straight Premier League title. The last club to do that was Manchester United from 1999-2001.



"I have to say that maybe I'm prouder today than when I was champion," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. "My players are heroes. All season long, against absolutely everything, they did brilliantly."

United has now won the English title nine times since the Premier League was formed in 1992 -- all under the leadership of manager Alex Ferguson, who took over the club in November 1986. United has also won seven other English titles.

`fantastic day'

"It's a fantastic day for the club and the supporters," said Ferguson, who said he watched the final 15 minutes of Sunday's match. "Over the last two years, Chelsea has dominated the Premier League, and yes, we had a big job to do to catch up with them. The key was having a good start to the season and trying to stay with them. And I think we did that very well."

Ferguson shelved plans to retire in 2002, and the 65-year-old Scot said was enjoying his job too much to consider leaving.

"It's easy to retire," Ferguson said. "It's a quick decision -- I did it some years and I regretted it probably within days. But now I feel invigorated by the young players at the club, I feel invigorated by players like Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, churning out every week for me."

"I don't know how long I'm going to last now, but I'm enjoying it, and I'm going to do it until I stop enjoying it," he added.

On Saturday, United beat Manchester City 1-0 to improve to 88 points. Chelsea has 81 points with two games left. The two play each other at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

United hosts West Ham on Sunday in its final game, while Chelsea hosts Everton.

Man United and Chelsea, which were both ousted in the Champions League semifinals this week, also play each other in the FA Cup final on May 19. Chelsea has already won the League Cup.

Sunderland up

In the League Championship, Sunderland won the title in manager Roy Keane's first season.

Sunderland defeated Luton 5-0 on the final day to finish with 88 points from 46 games. Birmingham finished second with 86 points. Both clubs had already been promoted to the Premier League.

"It is nice to go up as champions, and there is a massive challenge ahead," Keane said.

Birmingham had a one-point lead over Sunderland heading into the final round, but lost to Preston 1-0 after Simon Whaley's 85th-minute goal.

Daryl Murphy scored twice for Sunderland, and Anthony Stokes, Ross Wallace and David Connolly added the others.

Derby finished third, West Bromwich Albion fourth, Wolves fifth and Southampton sixth to fill out the playoff positions.

Southampton will host Derby on May 12, with the return leg three days later. Wolves hosts West Brom on May 13, with the second leg three days later.

The playoff final is at Wembley Stadium on May 28.

The Blues Still The Best Team

FRANK Lampard believes Chelsea is still the best team in the English Premier League, and is determined to hammer home the point by inflicting a couple of defeats on new champion Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho's side surrendered the title on Sunday, but has a chance to show its still a match for United at Stamford Bridge, in a Premier League game on Thursday (AEST), and in the May 19 FA Cup final at Wembley.

Lampard will join his teammates in forming a guard of honour for United before kick-off on Thursday, but his passionate defence of Chelsea's position as the English game's top dog makes it safe to assume he will do so grudgingly.

"The best team in the country wins the league, that's what you say, especially when you win it," said Lampard. "But I think we've got the best squad.

"We've got a huge game coming up against United in the Cup final, but words don't mean much if you start saying 'we're the best.' What matters is performance and we've had to perform against a lot of things this year.

"There are a lot of reasons we lost the league and some of them weren't in our control. We can't make excuses and have to give credit to United who've had a great season, but I believe that without the injuries to Petr (Czech) and John (Terry) and many, many more there wouldn't be that gap in points.

"To me that's just a fact. But it's no excuse and all credit to United for what they've achieved. But we'll be back."

Lampard insists Chelsea will return stronger than ever after learning the lessons of a traumatic season.

The most important issue to be resolved, now Mourinho's future seems settled, is the failure of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack to assimilate themselves into the win-at-all-costs mentality of the Chelsea dressing room.

Mourinho hinted after Sunday's match he is unhappy with the efforts of a small group of his players, and it seems likely Shevchenko and Ballack were uppermost in his thoughts.

While Lampard refused to single out any of his colleagues, the England midfield player was equally vociferous in his belief that not every player was pulling in the same direction.

"We've fought against a lot of things, big injuries to big players at big times in the season and points we wouldn't have lost we lost," he said.

"There've been other problems at the club and they have to be addressed, simple as that. We cannot and have not to lose the spirit that has got us where we are, with certain people.

"You'll emphasise what I mean when you saw how we played today on the pitch, with 11 players fighting, playing and should have won the game with 10 men.

"That's who we are and what we're about. Next year we have to make sure we're focussed on being champions again. If we keep saying there's things we've been battling against we have to put them right.

"It's been difficult, but you have to focus and learn through all these things. Sometimes it's not as easy as other clubs, but the only way to deal with it is to come through it with a bit more knowledge and a bit more strength."