Just weeks before he joined Chelsea in 2004, Didier Drogba sampled defeat in a European final. It was a taste of something he is determined to avoid next week.
With the countdown to the Champions League Final now at four days to go, we continue to catch up with the first team squad for past memories of watching Europe's number one club fixture.
Joe Cole has been in the starting line-up for every Champions League game this season and as a True Blue, reaching the finals means all the more. chelseafc.com joined our artful dodger of tackles to review the Road to Moscow.
Last night Dan Petrescu took part in our third Star on Stool event at Stamford Bridge and fielded questions from True Blues keen to get the low-down on the Romanian's career with the club.
Ricardo Carvalho insists we have to win the Champions League this season, and that there is far more expectation on us than there was on his successful Porto side in 2004.
With just five days until the match football fans the world over will make sure to watch, chelseafc.com will be asking the Chelsea squad for outstanding memories from viewing Champions League Finals past.
A few places still remain for the chance to strut your stuff on the hallowed Stamford Bridge turf in support of our national charity partner CLIC Sargent.
The Champions League Final is understandably the centre of all Chelsea attention this week but Friday afternoon sees our Academy player, Gaël Kakuta, represent France in the final of the European Under 17s Championship.
Travellers around London this past fortnight may have noticed the city turning blue as the brand new adidas home kit for the 08/09 season takes up prominent positions.
The publishers of the famous Lonely Planet guidebooks have produced a free mini-guide to Moscow especially for Chelsea fans attending the Champions League Final.
The showpiece Final may not be until Wednesday, but festivities in Moscow will be beginning as early as Saturday, when the UEFA Champions Festival kicks off in the city's famous Red Square.
There are few players better versed in Champions League achievement than former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly. He has told chelseafc.com how he rates our chances next week.
Petr Cech is the latest Chelsea star to receive a formal call-up for Euro 2008. He is one of three keepers in the Czech Republic's provisional 23-man squad.
Two sides who know each other better than most will go head-to-head in Moscow in a week's time but Avram Grant doesn't anticipate familiarity breeding an uneventful game.
Still early in his career, Salomon Kalou has admitted his excitement before next week's Champions League Final, and has been discussing the improvements he has made under Avram Grant's tutelage.
Peter Kenyon and Avram Grant met the Prime Minster, Gordon Brown at Downing Street to celebrate the achievements of tackling racism within the game and society.
Gaël Kakuta, one of the key players behind Chelsea's run to the FA Youth Cup Final, will play in another final on Friday after France's semi-final win in the European Under 17s Championships.
Avram Grant has given his views on Chelsea's injury situation plus some recent newspaper stories, speaking with optimism on the club captain's chance of leading the team onto the pitch in Moscow.
Put Bolton behind us, feel some pride in second place and somehow wait for a truly special night in Moscow is the message from columnist and former Chelsea Player of the Year Pat Nevin.
Chelsea new boy José Bosingwa has more to celebrate today as he has been named in the Portugal squad for Euro 2008, alongside new team-mates Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho.
John Mikel Obi believes the disappointment of missing out on Premier League silverware can spur us on to European success when we meet Manchester United in Moscow next week.
Chelsea's early summer capture, José Bosingwa, has been speaking following his agreement to join for next season, explaining his decision to move from Portugal.
Cobham played host to the first national tournament for female college players with disabilities last week, and our Ladies World Cup winner Lorrie Fair was on hand to help out.
The season may be drawing to a close, but it remains all-go with the Chelsea magazine, packed with a host of features to see you through the next month.
Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have reached agreement with FC Porto for the transfer of Jose Bosingwa. The player is now in England to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
After praising his players and congratulating Manchester United, Avram Grant would not rule John Terry out of the Champions League Final in Moscow next Wednesday.
61 CHELSEA GOAL Shevchenko turns Lampard's bouncing shot in from eight yards for the long-awaited goal. Cole's earlier shot was blocked and fell Lamps's way.
Alex comes into defence in place of Ricardo Carvalho with Michael Essien at right-back and Player of the Year Joe Cole returning in front of the Ghanaian.
Joe Cole, Chelsea Player of the Year, has been speaking ahead of today's game, picking out some of names that could prove influential in the final act in the league season.
Find yourself in the Chelsea dressing room before kick-off this afternoon and not own a past league championship winners' medal and you will be in a tiny minority. Two of those few looking for a first league medal, Salomon Kalou and John Mikel Obi, have been speaking of their desire to join the majority.
Today's final 90 minutes of league football may stir memories of 1995 when Manchester United lost the title race on the final day; Blackburn the beneficiaries, but 13 years ago, Avram Grant was involved in a final day shake-up of his own.
Chelsea youth team top scorer Gaël Kakuta will play in the semi-finals of the European Under 17 Championships after France's 2-0 group stage win over Switzerland.
With the Premier League title going to the last day of the season for the first time in nine years tomorrow, Avram Grant believes he will not need to look far to find out what is going on at the JJB Stadium.
On Sunday at 3pm, all the talking will stop. Before then, Avram Grant has been asked views on his own team, on Bolton, on Wigan and on the Friday comments of Sir Alex Ferguson.
As we approach the season's end, Players' Player of the Year Ricardo Carvalho admits he cannot recall a closer run-in, and insists now we must simply do our job.
Having had a little time to familiarise himself with the award, Joe Cole has been discussing how it feels to be the Chelsea Player of the Year for 2008.
Jeff Stelling, Sky Sports presenter and host of the Chelsea Player of the Year Awards, believes Wigan could be a tough test for Manchester United on Sunday.
Approaching a weekend needing little to build the sense of occasion, Chelsea club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton look in detail at what might tip a finely-balanced contest.
With anticipation building toward tonight's Chelsea Player of the Year awards at Stamford Bridge, the evening's host, Jeff Stelling, has speculated on the winner of the main prize.
To celebrate reaching the UEFA Champions League Final we are delighted to announce the launch of a new, and completely free service for fans - the Chelsea FC Interactive Screensaver.
Chelsea Football Club today submitted our observations to the Football Association, as requested, regarding incidents that occurred after the recent match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea Football Club would like to officially distance ourselves from comments in the media this morning regarding the reasons behind any criticism Avram Grant may or may not have received since he became our manager in September.
Chelsea's new adidas home kit for the 08/09 season, which is on sale for the first time today (Thursday), has been confirmed as the one the players will wear for the Champions League final in Moscow.
As he approaches two of the biggest games in his career, Petr Cech believes we face a huge challenge for silverware, but insists that if anybody is capable, it is Chelsea.
In the week Chelsea launched our new membership packages, the players have been speaking about the value they place on the fans' loyalty and support during games.
This week's podcast gets you ready for the title showdown as we head toward the last weekend of the Barclays Premier League and possibly the biggest prize.
Gaël Kakuta, Chelsea Academy's France Under 17 international, was involved in another exciting game as the European Championships for his age group continue in Turkey.
Former Chelsea star Graeme Le Saux took time out from a recent event to speak to chelseafc.com about a mouth-watering month ahead - plus the Blues' dramatic victory over Liverpool and the character shown by Frank Lampard in the shadow of bereavement.
In a change to previous ticket news, seats for the Champions League final in Moscow will go on sale today at 12 noon to all members and season ticket holders, one ticket per person.
With no signs of cracking in mentality or performance level of his former club as the tension builds, columnist Pat Nevin is impressed with what he sees.
There is certainly no shortage of topics to discuss on Chelsea TV's popular Paperview show tonight as our season approaches its most dramatic climax ever.
John Terry and Michael Ballack both feel yesterday's victory will keep the pressure high on Manchester United as we head towards the last game of the season.
The title race will go to the final day after a merited win. Two second-half goals - a Michael Ballack header and a Florent Malouda shot - did the job, the Blues also striking woodwork through John Terry.
Avram Grant has shuffled his pack for the last away league game of the season including starts for Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda in attack, John Mikel Obi in midfield and Paulo Ferreira and Wayne Bridge at full-back.
The final away league game of the season has the Blues taking the longest journey of all. Awaiting at the end is a match between two in-form sides and three points that can keep the title race alive. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton preview.
As the Championship drew to a close yesterday, it was an exciting day for the Chelsea players out on loan with clubs in that division, with several youngsters enjoying a day to remember.
Petr Cech, a veteran of two Chelsea league wins plus the recent run that has taken the Blues to victory over Man United and Liverpool, has backed the Blues to survive the pressure cooker atmosphere at St James' Park this afternoon.
The Uefa European Under 17 Championships opened on Sunday in dramatic fashion when Chelsea youth teamer Gaël Kakuta and his France team-mates beat Republic of Ireland in the final seconds of their game.
The next batch of tickets for the Champions League final go on sale tomorrow (Monday) to season ticket holders with 76 loyalty points or greater, one ticket per person.
With a sense of achievement that comes with taking Chelsea to our first Champions League final but knowing silverware has yet to be won, Avram Grant has been speaking further about the adaptation process needed when he became manager.
For Joe Cole, the man who has played more minutes than any Chelsea player this season, confidence is high his legs will carry him on towards potentially huge rewards.
Avram Grant, who counts many of his rival managers as friends, has been discussing the pressures that face him and his contemporaries in the closing stages of the season.
We have had an extremely positive meeting today with UEFA and the local organising committee in Moscow who are both confident that there will be a simplification of the visa process for fans travelling to the Champions League final.
Avram Grant believes that after two important wins it is full steam ahead for his side, and is unconcerned by comments about the title race from other managers.
Avram Grant made the closing speech at the 'March of the Living' ceremony at the former Nazi concentration and death camps of Aushwitz- Burkenau yesterday (Thursday).
Chelsea Football Club's chance to win trophies lies in the days ahead but our official club sponsor Samsung has already been presented with one honour.
John Terry, the captain who led Chelsea to victory over Manchester United in the final game of last season, has been casting his mind forward to the climax of the current campaign.
Chelsea Football Club's Fans Forum is now looking for new members who wish to keep a relationship running between club and fans over the next two years.
The government Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing information via a dedicated web page for supporters planning on travelling to the Champions League final.
Chelsea Football Club has teamed up with former Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and England forward Tony Woodcock to launch a scheme designed to encourage young people to go on to university and give them a head start in business.
Hours after helping the side to our first Champions League final, Michael Ballack joined up with chelseafc.com to discuss the achievement, and how desperate he is to claim a winner's medal.
The 50th European game of his career may not have ended with the shut-out he was hoping for but Petr Cech was more than happy with the outcome and the two names on the Chelsea goal sheet.
Former Chelsea player Gavin Peacock is back with his free monthly podcast and joining him on the show are Gavin's former team-mate Scott Minto, journalist and lifelong fan Pete Nichols, and Chelsea TV's very own Gigi Salmon.
Next Thursday (May 8) sees the new home kit available to purchase in the Megastore and to celebrate the occasion there will be a whole host of gifts given away to lucky shoppers.
There was a mood of elation in the Chelsea dressing room last night after the club reached its first Champions League final, although not all the players managed to sample it.
Home games simply don't come any bigger and having watched his side triumph, Avram Grant spoke with satisfaction over the achievement and about other emotions that came with the day.
Petr Cech, the keeper who stands one clean sheet away from guaranteeing Chelsea a place in our first Champions League final, doesn't anticipate the side settling for what they already have at kick-off tonight.
The moment of semi-final truth is nearly upon us and in the crowd cheering the team on this evening will be Chelsea club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton, armed with plenty of background information.
From his vantage point in the Matthew Harding Upper, supporter and columnist Giles Smith is maintaining his sanity, even when others (Michael Ballack not included) are losing their cool.
He may have left it too late to win outright but Kerry Dixon is putting in a sprint finish in his head-to-head betting challenge with Paddy Power after a second win in a week. He's aiming for more of the same in the big one tonight.
Despite his Liverpool sides having no history of scoring at Stamford Bridge, Rafael Benitez rates his chance of making it past Chelsea to Moscow as '50/50'.
So far so good in this potentially groundbreaking week for Chelsea and our former player and current columnist Pat Nevin has been keeping his eye on some key indivduals.
The team selection for Wednesday's Champions League crunch match is yet to be revealed but one name from last Saturday has kept his place in the on-pitch proceedings - Chelsea-supporting opera singer Stuart Pendred.
Ahead of tomorrow's semi-final showdown with Liverpool, we caught up with resident Champions League expert Giorgio Chinaglia to give his views on how the game will pan out.
As the Football League approaches its climax in the coming week, we catch up with the progress of our players out on loan, and find out who has what to play for.
With just 90 minutes separating us from our first Champions League final, we urge all supporters to turn up early on Wednesday evening, and show your support as we take on Liverpool.
As sunny April Saturdays at Stamford Bridge go, this one was right up there. And for Chelsea fans who have enjoyed a range of new experiences in recent seasons, a title race going to the wire is another to add to the collection.
Michael Ballack, Ashley Cole and Avram Grant all give post-match reactions after Saturday's victory over Manchester United in Monday Night Live tonight at 6.30pm.
Chelsea Football Club today reveals the inspiration for the new home kit for next season which captures the spirit of unity and collectiveness within our team.
Having seen his side draw level with today's opponents Manchester United, Avram Grant has expressed his confidence that we can take the Premier League title.
Three points don't really come much more important than this. A Michael Ballack double, the first a header just before the interval, the second a penalty has kept the title race very much alive.
With two vital games to come in the next four days, Ashley Cole believes we must make home advantage count against both Manchester United and Liverpool.
After a difficult season, Claude Makelele insists he is not surprised we are still competing for the Premier League title, going into tomorrow's clash with Manchester United.
It's that time again as betting expert Paddy Power and Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon go head-to-head to predict the outcome of our game with Manchester United.
A title crunch match sandwiched between Champions League semi final dates. Weeks don't come much tastier than this and club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton take a close look at the middle course in the big match banquet.
Sky commentator Martin Tyler and Formula One legend Eddie Jordan are the studio guests on tonight's 'Big Match Countdown' on Chelsea TV ahead of the crucial Manchester United game tomorrow.
Saturday is the big one with Manchester United coming to Stamford Bridge for what could be this season's title decider. Our online betting Partner Paddy Power has all the odds you need.
Just over two months and eight games after he played his first competitive game at Chelsea, Franco Di Santo has completed the reserve team's league season as our top scorer. He has been speaking to chelseafc.com about life since his move across the Atlantic.
Home fixture double-headers don't come much bigger than the one Stamford Bridge hosts over the next week and while the stadium should be at its most passionate, efforts will be made to ensure it is also at its most colourful for the visit of Liverpool next week.
There is a news round-up from the biggest week of our season so far in the latest official Chelsea podcast, as we get ready for the weekend's top of the table clash.
Former Chelsea player, Paul Canoville, will be signing copies of his new autobiography Black and Blue close to Stamford Bridge before Saturday lunchtime's game.
With a late, late equaliser at Liverpool last night, the feeling among the players is that we will take an advantage back to Stamford Bridge for next week's second leg.
Hasn't every True Blue dreamed of scoring the winning goal at Stamford Bridge? The playing field of greats like Peter Osgood, Kerry Dixon and Gianfranco Zola.
Drama in the final seconds sends Chelsea back to Stamford Bridge with an away goal and the tie all square after John Arne Riise turns Salomon Kalou's cross into his own net.
Another re-match in what has been the tightest in tight European ties is upon us. Chelsea club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton review the facts and figures and look for some pointers towards tonight's outcome.
Like all Chelsea followers, former Blue Pat Nevin will be on the edge of his seat tonight, regardless of how many chances either side creates. In his column he previews a potentially historic tie.
Avram Grant has spoken out passionately against negative Chelsea stories in an exclusive interview given to Chelsea TV ahead of tomorrow night's Uefa Champions League semi-final first leg.
John Terry insists that while we must not dwell on two previous Champions League semi-final defeats to Liverpool, we can use those disappointments as an incentive to spur us on to Moscow this time around.
Avram Grant has expressed his respect for Frank Lampard after the midfielder made himself available to play against Liverpool on Tuesday, and hopes that his involvement in the tie can help Chelsea create history.
The reserves completed their season with a lively match that kept both goalkeepers busy and produced a seventh goal in eight games for Chelsea's new striker Franco Di Santo.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed he will have captain Steven Gerrard available to face us in tomorrow night's Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield.
Petr Cech talks to Chelsea TV in Monday Night Live at 6.30pm, the only place where you can watch tonight's reserve game between Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Chelsea reserves look to end their season tonight (Monday) in the same vein of form that has taken them to five games undefeated and 3-0 wins in their last two outings.
Claude Makelele, a veteran of 93 Champions League games including one successful final, has spoken of the need to learn lessons from previous euro-encounters with Liverpool.
Chelsea's youth team moved on from the FA Youth Cup final disappointment to complete their home league fixtures this weekend. They twice came from behind to share the points.
With attentions turning to Champions League football for the next few days, Avram Grant is looking forward to pitting his wits against Rafa Benitez, and one of his favourite players.
Ricardo Carvalho has been describing the solidity in the Chelsea side this week that allowed a 13th away league win of the season to be recorded, despite the absence of prominent players Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba.
Salomon Kalou believes the realisation the team were walking a title race tightrope on Thursday was the spur needed to drive them on to a solid win at Everton.
There's plenty of first team and youth team action is this week's podcast as the club's official download hears from first team coach/manager Avram Grant and youth coach Paul Clement.
Avram Grant was pleased with the three points picked up against Everton last night, and was satisfied with how the team stood firm in the final minutes of the game.
Chelsea ground out a narrow victory at Everton thanks to a first-half Michael Essien goal, which takes us to within two points of Manchester United in the Premier League title race.
40 CHELSEA GOAL Essien finishes from close range as a fortunate rebound fall his way as Wright-Phillips is challenged. Kalou and Essien do good work earlier in the move.
With Chelsea's double header against teams from the city of Liverpool starting tonight, the next few days will go a long way to deciding whether there will be a new trophy at Stamford Bridge come the end of the season.
The important games come thick and fast but there's still time to look at the odd championship conundrum plus a few Chelsea v Everton facts. Making that possible are club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton.
Preparing to visit Goodison Park for the second time this season, Petr Cech is hoping for a more relaxed time than in January, the day his daughter Adela was born.
With the number of games running out before the end of the season, there won't be many more occasions for our online bookie Paddy Power to offer their exclusive Chelsea bets.
With Chelsea in action tonight for the second game of the week, tipster and former Blues goalscoring legend Kerry Dixon and bookmaker Paddy Power continue their head-to-head betting challenge.
Chelsea's youth team coach Paul Clement (pictured) has explained that Chelsea Under 18s midfielder, Jacob Mellis, apologised to Manchester City's Kieran Tripper for a tackle that led to a red card in last night's FA Youth Cup final.
Two Under 18 sides again did youth football proud with another high quality game but sadly for Chelsea, after taking an early lead, the home side fought back to be ahead by the break with a late goal putting the result beyond doubt.
Pupils from our Breakfast Clubs scheme were guests of honour at the Cobham training ground recently, as Petr Cech handed out prizes at the annual award ceremony.
34 MANCHESTER CITY GOAL Weiss takes the kick himself and bends it hard into Rhys Taylor's top left-hand corner. Chelsea have it all to do after a bright start.
Tonight in Manchester, the conclusion will be reached in what has been an invigorating FA Youth Cup run. chelseafc.com spoke to youth team coach Paul Clement before he headed north with his players.
With the tie evenly balanced at 1-1 after an exhilarating first leg at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea youth team face Manchester City at Eastlands tonight to decide where the FA Youth Cup will end up. Here we reacquaint you with the squad ahead of the game.
Petr Cech still believes the Blues can win the title after last night's draw with Wigan, but understands that the season's outcome is now down to Manchester United.
