Gianfranco Zola has firsthand experience of what it means to lift the FA Cup. It was the first trophy he won as a Chelsea player and a competition that has been close to his heart ever since.
When the little Italian arrived at Stamford Bridge in November 1996, the Blues hadn’t lifted a domestic trophy in 27 years. He soon helped change that. Zola netted in the third round and also struck in the fourth, a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Liverpool.
He was on the scoresheet again in the quarter-final victory over Portsmouth and, in the last four against Wimbledon, scored an iconic Chelsea FA Cup goal to help us advance to the final.
Zola wasn't on target at Wembley against Middlesbrough – Robbie Di Matteo and Eddie Newton netted to clinch the trophy – but his influence on our success was undeniable. A love affair had begun.
Twenty-nine years, which have seen the Blues lift the trophy a further six times, have passed since that famous day at Wembley in 1997. This afternoon, we return to the national stadium looking to get our hands on the FA Cup for a ninth time. Manchester City stand in our way.
For Zola, the magic of the competition is undiminished. In his mind, there is nothing quite like the FA Cup. 'It’s a competition that I have always rated as one of the best,' he said in a full interview that can be viewed during our pre-match show live from Wembley on the Chelsea Official App and website.
'I love the format and the idea of the FA Cup, where everyone can compete. It’s an amazing competition. Maybe because we won it in my first year, it has an influence, but the concept of the whole tournament is great.'
During his seven years at Stamford Bridge, Zola produced countless magical moments. Few players can match the ingenuity and creativity of his Chelsea back catalogue, and there is one FA Cup goal scored by the Italian that will forever be remembered by supporters.
It came in the most forgettable of ties – a third-round reply against Norwich City. Yet it was a strike that encapsulated Zola's quality, as he produced an audacious mid-air flick to guide the ball home from a corner.
'It’s one of those goals that you can do once, but you’ll never do it again,' Zola said with a knowing smile. 'It’s one of those things that you need to believe in what you do, and you have to follow your instinct.
'That is how sometimes the magic happens.'