In the week approaching the FA Cup Final, injured Juliano Belletti worked separately from his team-mates, while Frank Lampard and Alex returned to full training without any problems.

Guus Hiddink and John Terry outlined the importance of the club claiming some silverware in 2008/09, the captain expressing his view that two years without any would simply not be good enough.

Lampard spoke to Chelseafc.com of his desire to round off what he considered his own best season with a trophy.

'The way I have played, I think it is my best, and to round it off we do need to win something and hopefully the FA Cup will be that.
'I remember when we won against Man United in the FA Cup Final two years ago there had been a lot of difficult things in the season, but the special feeling we had after that win was great so after the season I have had personally this time, if we end up winning the Cup again then maybe I will look back and say this was my best season.'

Drogba too was in talking mood, and explained how it felt to have scored in the 2007 Final.

'You are so proud,' he said. 'You think about what you did the whole season and scoring important goals, winning goals, you are really proud because you know you have given your contribution to the team.

On the day both Drogba and Lampard would contribute massively, scoring the goals that would return the FA Cup to SW6.

After 25 seconds on a bright May afternoon, it didn't necessarily look like the Fulham Road was the Cup's destination.

From the kick-off Everton attacked, and when Steven Pienaar, a yard offside, crossed into the danger area and Marouane Fellaini nodded down, Louis Saha smashed home to put us behind.

Neither Hiddink nor his men panicked, there was still fully 90 minutes in which to equalise, and gradually we played our way back into the game. Everton naturally sat deep, allowing the Chelsea midfield of Essien, Mikel and Lampard to take control.

Malouda, playing on the left wing, was getting the better of his marker Tony Hibbert time and again, and it was from his 21st minute cross that Drogba equalised, escaping his marker and heading hard into the corner, his fourth goal in as many Wembley visits.

Ashley Cole sliced wide and Anelka, on the right flank, lifted the ball over as time just began to tick away.

Into the final 20 minutes a winner was still unclear, and then, in the words of our official website...

'Enter Frank Lampard. For one normally so central to Chelsea's attacking play, the midfielder had had a very quiet game as he went in search of his 20th goal of the season, and his 100th in five.

'When the chance came on his left foot 25 yards from goal, there was only one outcome. He turned Neville, and after regaining his composure fired hard past Howard, the ball's sheer pace taking it beyond the American's grasp.'

Chelsea were in front, and moments later Malouda crashed a long-range effort against the crossbar and down towards the line. Replays showed it should have counted as a goal, but the referee waved play on. It was harsh on the winger, who had enjoyed a renaissance under Hiddink, but it would not matter as we went on to lift the Cup for the fifth time.

'It should have been the best goal of my whole career but anyway we are so happy that we won the Cup,' the winger smiled afterwards.

Chelsea 2-1 Everton at Wembley on 30-05-2009
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Ballack 60), Mikel, Lampard; Anelka, Malouda, Drogba.
Goals Drogba 20, Lampard 71
Booked Mikel 62, Lampard 83
Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Hibbert (Jacobsen h-t), Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman (Gosling 82), Neville (c), Cahill, Pienaar; Fellaini; Saha (Vaughan 76).
Goals Saha 1
Booked Hibbert 7, Neville 47, Baines 90+3

Celebrations were long and emotional. Nobody had wanted Hiddink to leave, but as a man of his word, he was to return to Russia.

This was the players' opportunity to say thank you, and after the usual post-match celebrations in the dressing room after the game, they did so with a signed Chelsea shirt and an engraved watch, a memento of a wonderful time in both the coach and club's histories.

Eventually emerging to speak, the Dutchman praised the way his men had worked over the previous three-and-a-half months and explained how he was feeling now he was to leave.

'The feeling is some sadness because I leave this very good, competitive team, but on the other hand leaving with silverware leaves a feeling of satisfaction,' he admitted.

'This is the best way I think, if we had not got this cup today I would have felt I did a good job but the standard is to get some silverware each year. You can say goodbye with what has been achieved, with a cup. Some sadness but also a joy that we did it.'

Everton manager David Moyes was honest in his assessment that Chelsea deserved the win.

'Chelsea had just a bit too much for us. They were the better team and used the conditions better than we did. It was a great start but it seemed to inspire Chelsea and we found ourselves chasing the ball,' he said.

'The FA Cup is fantastic, especially when you win it. I am really delighted to finish the season this way. We made a lot of effort to win at least one trophy and we did it,' added Drogba, who now boasts six cup final Chelsea goals to his name, two in the FA and four in the Carling.

The party continued long into the night as Hiddink said his goodbyes, bound first for Holland and a day with his father before linking up with Russia.

By Monday morning he was the former Chelsea coach, and we were quick to appoint a replacement.

Carlo Ancelotti had left his post at AC Milan on the Sunday afternoon, and after through-the-night discussions was announced the new Chelsea manager on June 1.

So we lie this summer in much the same way as we did the last.

A new manager with a strong reputation on his way taking over a squad that came so close to emerging from a turbulent season with greater rewards than it eventually won.

The difference this time is that silverware was lifted on the season's final day, not in the torrential Moscow rain but the hot Wembley sun.

The importance of this success should not be underestimated, as players and fans (who never really switch off) headed for their holidays with the feel-good factor that comes with a trophy held proudly aloft.

Compare this with how those followers of our main domestic rivals might be feeling.

Manchester United supporters disappointed with their side's showing in Rome, concerned at Ronaldo's exit in what appears to be the second coming of the Galactico era at Real Madrid.

Liverpool fans gutted at yet another season without the Premier League trophy, worried by persistent financial stories suggesting a need to sell before they buy.

Arsenal followers flooding from the Emirates after a fourth season without silverware and a squad that perennially promises much but delivers little, again with the shadow of books that need balancing hanging over.

By comparison Chelsea supporters can look forward to the summer with excited anticipation, coming off the back of a fine run of form which saw just one loss since the beginning of February, and the knowledge that but for a string of questionable refereeing decisions, we could have been there in Rome.

A bright start in the league was followed by a slump of just two wins in nine games in the middle months, and coupled with a disgruntling exit from the Carling Cup courtesy of Burnley spelled the end for the likeable Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The early promise under the Brazilian gave way to a predictability that gave the likes of West Ham, Newcastle, Hull and even Arsenal the possibility of leaving west London with a point or more.

The man who rescued our campaign, Hiddink, has now gone and leaves a large hole to be filled, but the man who replaces him comes highly recommended.

'I have heard some great things about him from Becks and Shevchenko,' enthused John Terry. 'They say, man-to-man, he is the best they have worked with. He has experience and has been right at the top.'

'Everything that has come back about him has been completely positive, as a man and as a manager,' added Frank Lampard on England duty. All us Chelsea lads here are very excited about the future.'

Since Ancelotti was announced as our new manager, we have been linked with bringing a number of top players to west London, and Lampard believes things are looking bright.

'[It is] very exciting and that's what we want. In the last two years we've been very close to things but not quite winning them.

'We've got a very strong group at Chelsea anyway, but to see us linked with those names and that quality of player, I don't want to go into individuals, but the intention seems there from Chelsea, with the manager,' explained the midfielder.

It is not yet known who Ancelotti will bring into the club, but with a knack for gaining the best from players in their 30s, the Italian's approach is likely to be one of evolution rather than revolution.

A number of Chelsea players proved their ability, hunger and commitment this past season when they had previously been questioned.

The one that stands out is Didier Drogba, red-carded in the Champions League Final a year ago and then missing from much of the first half of our campaign with knee problems, he emerged in the concluding months at his very best - strong, dogged, practically unplayable.

Add to that Lampard. So close to a 2008 summer move to Inter, he had his best ever season, again scoring 20 from the middle of the park, again almost ever-present and again our most consistent creative force.

Nicolas Anelka, just two goals and a Moscow penalty miss were all he had to show for his first half-season, but this year he claimed the Premier League Golden Boot with 19 strikes, 25 in all competitions. Not bad for someone often played wide on the right when Drogba was fit.

Florent Malouda was too often a peripheral figure in his first 18 months, but reborn under Hiddink, transformed into a player that delivered key goals, and assists when it mattered. Just consider who supplied the cross for Drogba's equaliser at Wembley.

It all makes for a curious summer at the Bridge, and things probably won't become clear until it all kicks off again on August 15.

Before that we have an exciting tour of America where Ancelotti will be reunited with AC Milan, and we will face José Mourinho's Inter, followed by a friendly at Reading with former reserve team coach Brendan Rodgers now in charge there, and finally the Community Shield and another visit to Wembley.

Enjoy these next few weeks as some of the answers to the many questions become clearer, and remember to keep up with all the latest club news right here on chelseafc.com.