That Champions League final in Munich is one of the iconic moments in Chelsea’s history, and a Frank Lampard reveal only adds to the legend.
From the early 2000s, Chelsea were building towards a moment that would announce them as one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
That moment would come in 2012, when the Blues defeated Bayern Munich in their own backyard with a famous penalty shootout win.
It’s a game that will live long in the memory of Chelsea fans, who saw their team battle to the last minute and raise the Big Ears for the very first time. Lampard has discussed that triumphant night and how two of his teammates put it all on the line.
Chelsea players celebrate after the 2012 Champions League final
Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images
Gary Cahill and David Luiz played the Champions League final with hamstring injuries
Didier Drogba scored and took the decisive penalty to seal the victory for Chelsea, but they might not have got that far if not for the heroics of the defensive duo of Gary Cahill and David Luiz.
In the latest episode of The Boot Room, Lampard shares an interesting detail about the match.
He said: “Because of the problems that we had with suspensions and injuries. Both our centre-backs had hamstring injuries.”
“They ended up getting through the game, David Luiz and Gary Cahill, that was a massive achievement.”
Chelsea were in the midst of an injury crisis and the squad was stretched.
Despite carrying knocks, Chelsea’s starting centre-backs did just that, and the rest is history.
Frank Lampard’s reaction to Didier Drogba’s winner
Lampard’s favourite Champions League moment was (obviously) when Drogba’s penalty hit the back of the net.
In his 11th season in blue, he finally got the moment the club had been working towards since his arrival.
But what he did after the ball hit the back of the net is why Lampard is and will always be so revered at Stamford Bridge.
As soon as the result was confirmed, Chelsea’s all-time greatest goalscorer turned around to run to the fans and celebrate with the people who made it possible.
John Terry will go down as Chelsea’s greatest captain, but Lampard’s leadership was just as important to all the success the two enjoyed together.