My heart is still beating after the most important game of Barclay’s English Premier League season. We did it, we really did it. What a brilliant performance by the Chelsea Football Club. Words don’t really suffice for the performance of this club today. It’s hard to think that this is the same team who played Liverpool on Tuesday. So much heart, it truly was beautiful and a moment to remember forever. We played with passion and Manchester United was no match for a Chelsea side at home without any fear. Maybe destiny is on our side this season and we’ll ride it all the way.

Two huge games that were a must win at home, Manchester United and Arsenal — and two beautiful victories. It’s not often that Chelsea has come out to play this season, but it must be said that when it has really mattered, our Blues have pulled through the way any champions should. From the first whistle of the game, Chelsea attacked and completely dominated a Manchester United side that did not take us seriously. Sir Alex Ferguson made a mess of his team choice, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo, Owen Hargreaves, and Carlos Tevez on the bench, clearly in preparation for the Barcelona game at home. I can’t wait to hear his little red-faced comments on Sky about the match, the penalty decision, and a title decider between the Champions League Semi-finals. Sir Alex whines almost as much as Arsene Wenger and today I will highly enjoy it. I will be watching the Wigan and West Ham game with just as much intensity as a Chelsea game. This season looks to be one of the best ones in the history of the Premier League with the title going right down to the wire.

Today it’s gotta be about Michael Ballack, the captain of Germany and the Manchester United slayer. The man was absolutely superb today with a brace that took us to the lead twice during the game. I had said in the pregame buildup that we need people in the box during crosses and preferably Michael Ballack. What do you know! Michael Ballack finds the back of the net with his head again in another important game. Didier Drogba provided a brilliant cross in stoppage time of the first half that was just asking to be finished by the German. Didier saw that we had trouble with crossing the ball in the first half and took it upon himself to power around the box and lay a ball into the path of Michael Ballack. The finish was 100% world class by one of the best headers in the world, Michael Ballack. Curving into the corner, Van Der Sar had no chance even at the full stretch of his 6 foot 5 physique. After the goal, our captain brought out a jersey that read “Pat Lampard R.I.P.” and our players proceeded to hold it up in the memory of the death of Frank Lampard’s mother. This was a special moment no matter what team you support.

Nobody can deny that this goal was fully deserved based on the prior 45 minutes of first half play. Almost all our players were spectacular, notably Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, and John Terry. Essien did what was expected of him, powered forward and got involved in the attacks. Essien had two shots within the first five minutes. Joe Cole also gave us an early thrill when he hit the crossbar from 12 yards out. The United players during the first half seemed to be quiet uneasy, playing a similar style to that against Barcelona but looking much less comfortable. We were also aided by Vidic taking an Ivorian knee to the face; he should have stayed in the hospital with his stomach bug and not played today.

Mikel swallowed everything up around the middle of the park and never let United get going. If anything got through the midfield of Ballack, Essien, and Mikel, it was quickly cleared by the back four. Nani, Anderson, and Giggs we’re quiet the entire game. I saw Giggs after 30 or so minutes and started to remember that I hadn’t seen him at all during the game. Ferreira and Ashley Cole played great on the wings to stop the majority of Manchester United attacks. One particular tackle that Cole had on a charging Ronaldo really stands out for me. The crowd were booing Ronaldo’s run and had to cheer when Ashley Cole stopped Ronaldo’s momentum with a perfect slide tackle.

The second half was one that anyone could have predicted: The Red Devils were going to get a word from Sir Alex and would most likely start the second half with some fire. They certainly obliged this prediction and came out with a good fifteen minutes where I was weary of a goal. I was weary but still confident of our defense holding them. It wasn’t until Ricardo Carvalho played a perfect backpass for Rooney to snatch up and score. It was a woeful error by our reliable centre-back. I was feeling extremely bad for the Portuguese and equally as bad for the club. I knew the rest of the half would be nervy for Blues with their title hopes fading away by the minute. There was a certain moment that exemplified the desperation we were feeling, the on-field word scuffle between Drogba and Ballack. I wasn’t on the field so it’s hard to assume what exactly happened. I can infer however that Ballack wanted to take the free-kick because Drogba had has his turn a couple minutes prior. It didn’t end after Drogba took the shot with Michael Ballack not happy about his selfishness. Drogba confronted Ballack on the sideline during an intermission due to a Mikel injury. Ballack gave Drogba no recognition and walked away after drinking some water. It seemed like Chelsea were going to self-destruct, they had began to enjoy the majority of the possession as was the case in the first half but couldn’t create a valuable chance.

Avram Grant had already brought on Anelka and Shevchenko for Kalou and Ferreira and we were going all out attack on the Manchester United goal. Our drive soon became a battle of desperation and heart while Grant was lining up to bring on Juliano Belletti in order to push Michael Essien back into midfield after he had assumed the right-back role with the substitution of Paulo Ferreira. Michael Essien continued his great game by surging forward and rocketing in a cross that deflected of Michael Carrick on the edge of the area. And then it happened. The linesman’s flag shot up for a handball call and Alan Wiley pointed to the spot despite the protests of the entire Manchester United team. Our boys had finally gotten the chance to take the lead and put a hand of the trophy. Michael Ballack stood up to take the penalty for his brace and for the lead. The German captain beat Van Der Sar for the second time of the game and gladly accepted Carvalho’s thank you as he was the first to celebrate with him. There are no more words for me to describe Michael Ballack with. I can just say, thank you.

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This was a prime example of the heart us Chelsea fans and the Chelsea team have. We never gave up and were rewarded as we were against Arsenal when we won 2-1 accordingly. Avram Grant looked very professional as he put his celebration on hold after the penalty conversion to change his substitution from Belletti to Makelele. I applaud Avram Grant for this move. Our true spirit was put the test during the last 7 minutes of the game when United went all out attack. They had put Ronaldo on earlier and he was looking to provide something in a big game. I held my breath as a ball came rolling back to him on the edge of the box (which always seems to happen; every deflection is Ronaldo’s fortune) and he ripped in a perfectly placed shot that beat Cech to not find the back of the net but Ashley Cole’s foot. Two minutes later it was Andriy Shevchenko who cleared it off the line from Rio Ferdinand’s shot to finally seal up the game and give us the win.

Today was surely one of my favorite days as a Chelsea fan in some years now, certainly the best moment of a season where we’ve lacked inspiration at times. We’ve beat United and tied them on points to prove we really deserve a shot at the title. We’ll be at the mercy of a result when Man-United play Wigan and West Ham but our spirits are high and their belief is low after 2 points from their last 3 away games. We now have a real shout for the league and European Cup double. In order to do so we might just have to beat Manchester United again in the Champions League Final in Moscow. Chelsea FC and their fans will celebrate today and slowly shift their focus on the Liverpool 2nd-leg on Wednesday. We have performed like champions today and I fell like a champion today although we have won nothing. Hopefully we will celebrate a real championship later in the season. Chelsea! Chelsea! Chelsea!