A moment of magic
A lasting memory from a little Italian genius
Football is a religion, right? If so, Stamford Bridge is my church. Of course, many of Chelsea’s most magical moments unfurled against a different backdrop. Di Matteo’s lightening-quick strike at Wembley. Wise equalising in the San Siro. Not to mention Drogba’s winning spot kick in Munich. We’ll always have Munich.
However, Stamford Bridge was the setting for my most memorable moment. A mini masterclass by one of Chelsea’s much-loved magicians. A memory plucked from one of the most defining games in our history. Yes, it’s la-la-la-la-Zola against… Liverpool. His last game in a Chelsea shirt. We needed to win to qualify for the Champions League — and the £20 million prize money it guaranteed.
This game mattered. I mean, we knew it mattered. It really mattered. But we didn’t know quite how much until a couple of months later. Gronkjaer had scored to put Chelsea 2-1 up. They called it a £1 billion goal, the goal that led to Abramovich’s investment in the club.
Despite being left on the bench, Zola came on for a 20-minute cameo. Feasting on the crowd’s nervous energy, when other players might choke, Zola effortlessly waltzed around Carragher twice, then side-stepped past Cheyrou and Murphy. That’s my cherished, lasting memory of that lovely little Italian.
