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How Chelsea can still provide the biggest story of the season:

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So has everyone calmed down from the most explosive finish to a premier league season in history? As the reports and opinions continue to flow on a season that is fast gaining mythical status, we should remind ourselves the biggest story of the campaign might happen this Saturday.

City may have won the title in Hollywood style, but it cannot be forgotten they were expected to beat QPR. Theirs was a predictable triumph in the most unpredictable circumstances. However a Chelsea triumph in the Champions League would represent the most surreal story of a mind-bending season.

It seems like an age ago that the Pensioners were floundering in Naples. A 3-1 defeat that night looked to have prematurely ended of what had been an abysmal season. Fast forward 3 months and Chelsea find themselves on the cusp of a cup double. Unbelievable games at Stamford Bridge, Wembley, and the Nou Camp have made the blues the fairytale package of the year. A strange term to apply to one of the powerhouses of the last decade.

Chelsea are a game away of achieving the Holy Grail that they and their owner have coveted for so long. Between them and the trophy stand Bayern Munich who will have the comfort of home advantage. Added into the mix is the possibility of Chelsea having no recognized central defenders fit and the absence of two key midfielders. Once again the odds are stacked against them, but then again they have been all year.

Di Mateo will fancy themselves to overcome any challenge, after all what can he harder than beating Barca over two legs? Bayern are an accomplished team who outplayed Madrid in both legs of the Semi final, but they will not monopolize possession like the Catalans and they are missing key defensive players of their own.

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Nevertheless in Gomez, Robben and Ribery, the Bavarians have a trio to demolish any defense. Chelsea are sweating on the fitness of Luiz and Cahill, but even if both were ready in time you not back the Chelsea defense for a complete shutout. Sure both have improved in recent times, but they have never convinced as a partnership and both will be ring rusty. Without the organizational skill of Terry, the blues look vulnerable to the prolific Gomez.

Ashley Cole is back to his best and will be relishing the battle against Robben, but on the other side who can be trusted to marshal the mercurial Ribery? In midfield Mata and Lampard will have to fight to stop Schweinsteiger and the excellent Kroos from dominating the central areas. Make no mistake it is the Germans who are favorites to win the trophy.

Much has been made of the fact Chelsea will have to win the match just to be in the Champions League next season. With an ageing team in need of overhaul, how will they cope without the attraction of the C.L? Roman will not be overly excited to plunge his hand back into his deep pockets without he prospect of European football. With City now the financial powerhouse in the country, Chelsea know buying themselves into the elite will be harder the second time around.

Perhaps the fate of Saturday night will be decided by the man who represents the old powerful Chelsea clinging onto glory or by the man who symbolizes the new Chelsea and is yet to make his full presence felt. Drogba has been reborn in recent weeks as he displayed the old physical power that has terrified many a defender into submission. Too often in Europe he has mixed fantastic displays with petulant performances of self-destruction. Now he must ensure it the performance rather than the theatrics that take the headlines.

For Torres the final comes at the opportune time. He is finally beginning to resemble the footballer who once played for Liverpool. A starting place remains unlikely but in this season who would rule out the possibility of him getting the winner? In either case with both strikers in good form, Di Mateo can adopt and change his tactics appropriately. The stage is set for either to eclipse even the heroics of Aguero.

So there you have it, a Champions League final with a plot so dense it could be on the BBC. In all probability Saturday represents the last chance for most the Chelsea players to conquer Europe. If they emerge victorious it would be complete a remarkable tale of the unexpected. These days however the unexpected seems entirely commonplace.    

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