Abramovich felt he could wait no longer to dismiss Villas-Boas, even though this crucial game was looming - and he will feel that decision has been given a measure of vindication by the transformation in this Chelsea side. The elder statesmen delivered as the Londoners showed the passion, character and commitment that was often conspicuous by its absence during Villas-Boas's brief reign.
And Abramovich can now look towards the latter stages of Europe's elite tournament with Chelsea as England's only representatives, ensuring the Premier League avoided the ignominy of being wiped out before the quarter-final stage for the first time since The Blues will have been aware of the danger of conceding a goal at any time - and Stamford Bridge was awash with anxiety as they were forced to survive an early siege from Napoli. Marek Hamsik had a shot blocked by the feet of tumbling home goalkeeper Petr Cech as the Italians played at a pace and tempo Chelsea found almost impossible to contain in the opening exchanges.
Edinson Cavani could only put Christian Maggio's low cross into the side-netting before Cech saved from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Hamsik again. The hosts managed to halt some of Napoli's momentum but it was still totally against the run of play when they went ahead, Drogba twisting and turning to head Ramires' cross past visiting keeper Morgan de Sanctis. Chelsea's enemy was now over-excitement and they almost conceded instantly when Napoli caught them cold on the counter as Cavani pulled another presentable chance across the face of goal.
Di Matteo has decided to lean heavily on his experienced players after succeeding Villas-Boas - and they delivered in style two minutes after the restart as Terry arrived to power home Lampard's corner. Though they still won't admit they're favourites. In the immediate aftermath of his side's win over Chelsea at the Stadio Sao Paolo last week in the Champions League's last 16, Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri did his best to wrap up a week-long show of underdog posturing on the part of the home team.
Never mind that Mazzarri's men had entered the match as near-consensus favorites. He still came off as almost believable. As a pre-game strategy, the us-against-the-world routine is both charming and effective. And Mazzarri hasn't been the only Napoli man using it. In the previous days, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik had hailed the first leg as a "match of the season" against big, bad Chelsea. Afterward, superstar Edinson Cavani—who himself has long been linked with Chelsea —portrayed the result as one of giants and giant-killers.
All the self-deprecation must have carried with it more than a hint of nudge-nudge, wink-wink, as we now know. For a team who supposedly saw themselves as longshot underdogs in the first leg, Napoli sure did know right where to hit Chelsea.
After falling behind to an against-the-run-of-play Chelsea opener, Napoli swarmed the visitors' backline, creating chance after chance and eventually running out deserved winners. Mazzarri and his men will probably offer up similar self-deprecation in the days before the second leg in two weeks' time.
With last week's win, Napoli charted their blueprint for beating Chelsea. According to Santos, who spoke during a guest appearance on 1 Football Club , Granovskaia has already made her stance clear. Chelsea fans will very much hope their transfer chief prevails, although Napoli could presumably table a tempting offer given their superb form to kick off this Serie A season.
Although it took many in England a while to recognise Jorginho's true talents, his specific skill set is now clear as he carries out a distinctive role in Chelsea's midfield. He has also developed into a penalty specialist, rarely missing from the spot via his trademark hop before striking the ball. However, manager Maurizio Sarri, who has worked with Jorginho at both Napoli and Chelsea, tips his former star to take home the grand prize.
This is its greatness.
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