It’s hard to imagine what football would be today without the media and high-quality competition. And just like almost everything in life, these two qualities can turn out to be a double-edged sword when the going gets tough, and all you can do is accept the fact that something are still out of your control. Well, this is in reference to the ‘circus act’ (as aptly described by Arsene Wenger, the manager of Arsenal) that was a result of the outcome between Chelsea FC Vs. Barcelona FC at Stamford Bridge in deciding the second finalist for the UEFA Champions League. Well, we all know… that Barcelona FC went on to Rome to become the newly crowned champions of club football in Europe on May 27, 2009 against a rather subdued Manchester United side. If you give me an option between Chelsea and Barcelona, the latter will be my pick not necessarily for the most obvious reasons though. But it takes something at least in this day and age of cutthroat competition to show respect to the opposition rather than just going on record and blaming everyone else for their loss. As a wise man once said, “A man should acknowledge his losses just as gracefully as he celebrates his victories. You've come to see that a man learns nothing from winning; the act of losing can elicit great wisdom not least of which is certain how much more enjoyable it is to win. It's inevitable to lose now and again; the trick is not to make a habit of it.” And this is a lesson that Chelsea needs to learn, in order to truly be champions! However, there is no doubt that the team which finished 3rd in the English Premier League, truly is a team that is capable of championship glory. Some of the players on their first team roster are truly ‘world class’. For one, my favorite amongst the lot, Deco… playmaker extraordinaire! One does not need any reminders that it was because of his brilliant passes and Ronaldinho’s dazzling skills that Barcelona began their rise to the top under the tutelage of Frank Rijkard. And now he is a part of Chelsea’s first team lineup… which should say a lot for the establishment itself. Second, Nicholas Anelka… after playing for Real Madrid for a while, he’s moved to Chelsea. And not surprisingly, his talent came through in the 2008-09 controversy with him being the top-scorer in the Premier League with 19 goals. Didier Drogba… he sure has talent… but his hotheadedness serves his antics as fodder to the tabloids and the media houses. It was irritating enough to see him get all revved over bad refereeing (the UEFA semifinal) where if he had capitalized on his chances they would have shut the door on Barcelona’s treble crown dreams. Despite the fans, his coach and everyone who empathizes with people who throw tantrums when they lose, there is no excuse for people who display their emotions in an uncivilized manner in front of a worldwide audience. Grow up please! The goalkeeper, Petr Cech, who is known to have built his reputation at Sparta Prague where he broke the national record for the longest spell without conceding a goal, just at the age of 19. And if everything goes well in 2009-10 season along with these big guns firing, it’s definitely possible that Chelsea might taste their long awaited trophy success, much to the delight of their fans and supporters who have had to experience heartbreak right in their own backyard. So, before we go, here’s a recap of Chelsea’s top ten goals (read: Deco’s goals are something else in this video) from the English Premier League for the season of 2008-09:{youtube}CpqD7kSL7LY{/youtube}