Chelsea stood on the brink of history. With the Premier League wrapped up in style the weekend before, we travelled to Wembley knowing victory over Portsmouth in the FA Cup final would secure our very first Double.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues had blown away all before us in the preceding weeks. The goals rained in – seven against Villa and Stoke, eight put past Wigan on the final day – as the team saved its best attacking football for the campaign’s denouement.

To most observers, victory over relegated and cash-stricken Portsmouth felt like a formality. However, our former boss Avram Grant had steered Pompey to a shock victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final, and Ancelotti was taking nothing for granted.

'It gives them a good opportunity to save the season, and we have to pay attention to this because we are playing against players with strong motivation,’ said the Italian.

'I didn't know before this season how the FA Cup was so important for every club. It is the oldest competition in this country and I know there was a lot of surprise here when smaller teams played important games and won.

'Leeds beat Manchester United and Reading beat Liverpool, because of this, we also have to pay attention. On paper, we have more quality but we have to play. If we play well, we can win. If Portsmouth play better than us, then they could win.'

Chelsea were unchanged from the side that beat Wigan 8-0; Branislav Ivanovic passed a late fitness test to take his place at right-back.

The front three of Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba looked to pick up where they left off six days prior, ably supported by the dynamic midfield trio of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda.

Portsmouth, so used to adversity and battling against the odds, were determined not to make it easy. They set up in a 4-5-1 formation, looking to attack almost exclusively on the break and allowing Chelsea the lion's share of possession.

We used the ball well in the first half, pinning Portsmouth back and creating openings at will. However, a goal just wouldn’t come. Remarkably, the woodwork denied us on five separate occasions, including a spectacular miss by Kalou from right in front of the goal.

Petr Cech was a virtual spectator but was called into action to make one superb reaction save before half-time. Early in the second half, we were indebted to the keeper after Juliano Belletti – introduced for the injured Ballack – felled Aruna Dindane inside the box.

Just when the hordes of Blues fans started to think this might not be our day, the feet of Cech kept out Kevin-Prince Boateng’s penalty.

We went down the other end and finally the woodwork was on our side, Drogba’s dipping free-kick kissing the post on its way in shortly before the hour mark.

Lampard could have doubled the margin with another penalty in the final five minutes, but on a day of relentless drama if not high-quality finishing, the usually dependable midfielder shot his spot-kick wide.

It mattered not. The full-time whistle signalled that Chelsea were the seventh English club to win the Double. It remains the only time we have done so.

‘We have to celebrate this victory together because everyone put something in for winning this Double,' beamed Ancelotti afterwards.

'It never happened in my career to hit five posts in one half. But we had to stay focused at the end of the first half and in the second to maintain control, try to attack and try to score.

'The penalty was the key moment because if Portsmouth went 1-0 up, it was more difficult for us, but Cech saved the penalty and then we scored. This is a fantastic victory. I am very happy with my first year in England. Everybody did a fantastic job, I thank everyone.’

For much of the season, as we plundered goal after goal, Cech was far from receiving the headlines. But we owed our and his third FA Cup victory in four seasons to him as much as the goalscorer Drogba.

'I was really confident that I was going to save the penalty and I think that was the key,' said Cech 'From the body language when he ran towards it, I chose the side. The mentality was strong and I was ready to face the penalty, and I made a good choice.'

It proved not be the first time that Cech and Drogba would combine to such effect in a final!