Mirrors / Alternative Angles

Fun fact: this was Chelsea’s first and only corner of the game, Bayern had 20.

One of the most one sided European finals I’ve seen. But somehow bayern just couldn’t score. In their own stadium too.

Only time a goal was scored by Drogba or Torres when they were both on the pitch at the same time.

that's prime route one football right there 😎🍷

Clinical

Big game player

10 finals with 10 goal involments (9g 1a) iirc. Such an important player in Roman's era. He didnt score often, but when he scored, he always scored in big moments

Really cunted that header in. In hindsight you can tell he knows the ball is going to target him and he moves really well into the box.

Chelsea's finals record with Drogba: 9 seasons 10 wins 5 losses

did give away a pen in this very game tbf

Gave away a penalty in this game and the semi lol, the stars definitely aligned for him and Chelsea.

Give Mata credit too for the ball in and people forget how big Cech was in this game, Some great saves, Then the Robben pen save and the 2 in penalties.

What about Gary Neville's scream...

Second best scream of his life.

He sounds like he's 12 doing commentary for his local radio

Lol such a dork. His excitement is great

I thought my newborn woke up crying

Bayern absolutely bottled this final. In their own backyard, an incredible team, 56% possession and 35 shots against a Chelsea team missing Ivanovic, Terry, and Ramires. Plus Robben had a penalty saved in extra time.

The craziest stat from this is that Chelsea had 46% 44% possession honestly… felt like a lot less

Robben and Mario Gomez were both horrific. Embarrassingly poor finishing from the two of them

Meireles was also out due to accumulated yellows.

Not to diminish the bottlejob, but Bayern were also missing three vital players in Gustavo, Alaba and Badstuber.

This is one of my favourite headers ever. The power, the precision and accuracy he gets and the fact that neuer gets a full palm but cant stop it is just beautiful

Plus Lampard was going to win the header and Drogba pushes past him to win it just before.

And he's not even in front of the goal!

And the angle…it’s so amazing

It really is a beautiful goal

it’s good to hear Martin Tyler not be a living corpse

This was the moment that pushed him over the edge. He’d finally seen it all.

His performance for the Liverpool game the other day was dreadful.

He’s a legend but he needs to hang ‘em up now. There’s something to be said about understated commentary but there’s a line for that as well.

Was thinking the same hearing his reaction to this. Guys just getting the cash now

Later that night "HE'S DONE IT!!!!!"

I was having such a good morning..

You woke up and screamed like Neville: Ughhhhhhhhhh

Me too…

On the bright side, it made mine.

I'm sure it turned out alright for you considering what you did the year next

Deserved for knocking out that legendary real madrid mou team

I know the general context tends to overshadow this - but that is still to this day, one of the best headers I've ever seen. The power he generates on it from the angle is just so good.

My favourite thing to do with this is to watch Drogba from the start, his focus, then the movement in the box as soon as he zones in on where the ball is going and then the actual header is a bullet. Unreal.

Yep if you look at the rotation of the ball you NEVER see headers move like that. It’s like he struck it with his foot, cleanly, right in the sweet spot.

for me; its the best header ive ever seen, the power man, that angle and the way he turned to score it; cant be more perfect than this

Looking at Drogba's celebration I just knew Chelsea was going to win it.

I knew it when Bayern missed the pen in extra time.

i forgot about the existence of contento

I thought the exact same. Can't believe he managed to play a Champions League Final.

Definition of a clutch player

One thing Drogba did better than score goals was knee slides.. He made it look so elegant and simple, but i bruise my knee and fall on my face the first time I try it..

You have to lean back, and let the momentum grab you by the balls

You're not knee sliding on water sprinklered pristine manicured grass either.

This has to be the best celebration ever, the slide the cross, the kiss, all perfect.

I legitimately couldn’t believe it when I saw it live. We dominated them for every second of the match and they equalize in the last minute. Pain.

You could be talking about 1999 as well. How many goals did Elber waste...

"Eight years ago, the manager [Andre Villas-Boas] had been sacked by the club and we, the players, had a team meeting where we recognised being partly responsible for his departure.

Drogba's autobiography right?

Incredible story. Mata so wholesome. Wonder what gift Drogba got him

This is real anime. Managed to have a whole life changing conversation in 30 seconds of real time

🥹

3-1 defeat against Napoli*

What was the present tho 👀

Bro Drogba is one of those players who are almost mythical like and for a good reason.. If you look at the straight stats, the guy was behind many of the greats.. But when you saw him live, it was almost inevitable in big games, he was a destroyer.. An absolute menace.. He was just bigger, stronger and quicker than so many guys.. Truly one of the greatest strikers the prem has ever seen.. The definition of a finisher..

Drogba is the epitome of a “big game” player. He scored so many important goals in so many pressure-cooker situations that it sort of became inevitable that he would have some influence in big finals.

I know what you mean. Over the last few years with city/liverpool moving away from systems with a recognised 9 and chelsea/united/arsenal having striker woes it is easy to look back on the 2010s as the golden age of strikers in the prem. Hopefully Halaand will usher in a new era. Hopefully the fowards will return

Berbatov and Inzaghi are two of my favourite players to have watched play, just because of how they achieved massive success while playing their own unique style of football.

Hi drunk

I don’t think Lampard’s blocking ever gets enough credit. Gives Drogba a completely free header with no competition.

I don't think it was intentional at all. I remember a comment Lampard made about seeing the ball coming in and then noticing Drogba out of the corner of his eye and just trying his best to get out of the way.

Idk it looks like he almost got in his way. Gomez was never getting there

Torres aswell.. Just goes on a stroll with his man..

That season was something else. Sitting 6th in the table with no chance of CL qualification. Got destroyed against Napoli in the first leg. Somehow managed to win towards the very end of the second leg to go through. Then beating Guardiola's Barcelona over 2 legs with 10 men in most of the second leg. And then this game. Getting pummeled but managing to not concede until the very end of normal time. And coming from a goal behind with this beautiful header to take it to extra time. But then the same Drogba gives away a penalty and Cech saves it. Even in the penalty shootout we came from behind after missing a shot only for Cech to save 2 shots and giving us the win. Unreal. We were destined to win that season.

That winning Drogba penalty is an absolute classic, almost no run up either lol. He just knew it was going in.

Not only with 10 men but also against the best fucking unreal prime Messi, 73 goals that season, 91 goals that year.

Plus taking Spurs out of automatic CL qualification with the win!

Please don't laugh at me, but this game is the best moment of my life and my happiest memory. I always, always cry when I think about it for more than a few minutes. We tried so hard for this trophy and there was so much pain on the way, my life really sucked at that point too, but this final was amazing. I sobered up and got my life in order after this final and I've never been the same.

One of the best moments for me as well

Dude same here. I lost a big family member and was in a dark place. This CL run helped get me through it. Can't watch any replays of the game or highlights without getting very emotional.

Congrats man :)

Same mate, I get all misty watching it over and over again

This goal and the penalty get me welling up everytime

Me too, man. Yes 2021 champions league win was incredible, but after all years of hard work that we put in CL starting from Mou's time, this was our gift. It was the best and I cried like a kid.

thinking back of the 2009 champions league robbed barca games and the terry losing balance in the last penalty in 2008, 2012"s finals and especially drogba's goal made it all go away; the man shot a bullet with this header than pierced through the tournament for the win

One of the best moments ever for me too!!

This is what sports are all about! I'm glad this moment had such a profound impact on your life :)

Greatest moment in club history

And yet amazingly this isn’t even Bayern’s

the fact that we were in contention to win at 87 minutes of the final was a joke. I still can't even believe a) we even go to the final b) we got to 87 mins only 0-1 down!

That team was a team of destiny. I felt it then, before the final.

"WoRsT tEaM tO eVeR wIn ThE UcL"

They were better than Liverpool 2005 at the very least

Frankly, I love Bayern, but that squad that won that terrible final in 2001 vs Valencia might have actually have been the worst to ever win The UCL

lmao drogba lampard cech and mata? Our team in 2005 had gerrard, raw alonso and hyppia as our best players.

Best to never win it. Sounds just like Man City

Ah yes I was the only Spurs fan in the pub and everyone was confused why I was cheering Bayern... like fair play to Chelsea for winning but UEFA fucked us that year. Glad the rule has changed.

Despite this being a one sided final and Bayern completely dominating this match, I knew Chelsea would win this game as soon as Drogba scored the equaliser. Drogba always showed up in finals and he's one of the greatest big game players of all time.

My god, 10 years ago... Im old

As a Spurs fan, this was by far my worst night in football history, and cemented Chelsea as my least liked club, even below Arsenal. Just about everything went to shit because Chelsea won this match.

For others who lack context: As a result of Chelsea winning this game, Tottenham did not get into the Champions League despite finishing 4th in the PL. Spurs lost Modric to Real Madrid (Modric wanted CL football) at the end of that season. It also encouraged Eden Hazard to go to Chelsea over a Tottenham (or Arsenal), because he also wanted CL football. Furthermore, it gave Bale a reason to leave Spurs when they failed to qualify for the CL in the 12-13 season after having lost their best playmaker, and not managing to make signings they had hoped to make that they might have been able to given the draw of CL football, and the extra money CL qualification gives to clubs.

this doesn't happen

I still can’t believe to this day that Bayern didn’t win this game. It took them 83 min to score and they decided to take Müller off immediately after that

This Chelsea is built different, very good in almost every area, especially defense

Apart from left wing where they played Ryan Bertrand. Right wing where they played Kalou. CM where they played Mikel. Right back where they played Bosingwa. I know they had injuries/suspensions but it's a miracle the won that game with that team.

This and the AGUERROOOOOO

The most clutch player in football history for me

I cried like a bitch that night

I also cried like a bitch that night

my happiest football day

DROGGBAAAAA.... my favourite Chelsea player.

Gary Neville with the wobbly child voice rofl

Drogba had the two big highlights in this game but Cech was even more impressive. The man was a brick wall.

Drogba is why you can’t just use stats to judge a player. What he did for that team was as important as any other CF in that time period.

Well that just ruined my day again. :(

:/

This fucking game.

Watching this really drives home just how done Martin Tyler is as a commentator. That moment today would get a barely raised voice and a comment like "oh he's done it for Chelsea" like he was watching any old goal being scored.

It’s like he’s changed to be more like his FIFA commentary.

Might be a little biased, but this is the greatest Champions League final I have ever witnessed. Also the hardest.

In terms of narrative? Absolutely

What's sadder is that Bayern lost in their own backyard

*funnier

How can I download this?

savevideobot

May 19th 💙

I’m a Man Utd fan, but this is one of my most memorable football experiences.

DROGBAAAAAA

Bayern's 17th corner vs Chelsea's 1 and the man scores. Didier Drogba in cup finals was an enigma. What a player and what a human being.

I lived in a small apartment in NYC and the cops knocked on my door during extra time because someone heard loud screams coming from my apartment.

Still one of the best CL finals. Loved every minute of it.

Insane player

I was in London at the time. West Ham had just been promoted. 2/3rds of the city were partying.

Can't believe no-one has mentioned the suspended John Terry marching onto the pitch in full kit to lift the trophy.

Fucking love Drogba.

To me this was the pinnacle of football. Haven’t felt the same ever since this final

2012's Chelsea was massive.

What a big game player Drogba was. Isn't it something like 8 cup finals, 7 goals?

Such a great header

Prime Drogba was scary.

I miss those Neville goal-gasms.

Also forever known as ''Gary Neville orgasm"

This makes us the first team in London to win the champions league and no one can take it away

Fudging OP in finals

I lived in Germany then and went to Munich to meet up with some Chelsea supporting mates. One of them got offered a ticket for €800 or so a few hours before the match, take it or leave it and actually managed to pay that lmao. Still think he believes it was worth it.

And he scored the winning penalty

The King of Finals 👑

Haha one of the worst choke jobs ever. 20 corners, only 2 shots on target and a saved penalty opportunity against a inferior Chelsea side missing their key players, in their own stadium!!

Had downloaded this full match via Torrent back in the day, still one of my best downloads ever.

I think this is the hardest UCL win in history. Probably one of the weakest squads to win it too.

The original Real Madrid

Chelsea. Just. Will. Not. Let. Go. Of the champions league.

This was the tourney where Torres scored the stoppage time goal in the run up to this final. He had a miserable season w Chelsea and was an expensive acquisition so he was disappointing all round. When Torres was subbed in for Drogba that match it seemed like desperate gamble but the Spaniard came through on a haphazard counter attack at the 90’.

This was my first ever champions league season I followed (American west coast, ie nearly impossible to watch any game before the final) and I couldn't believe how this rag tag team beat Barca so I was so stoked during this final. Incredible! So much drama

Tears to this day.

I was praying so hard in this moment, I knew this is the only chance we are going to get to equalize, with the time running out. Literally was repeating, plz Drogba, Plz Drogba, need a good header and bam. Amazing feeling when us ask and receive it right after.

Always hated playing Chelsea because of Drogba.

The real joke is on Barca

Wish these highlights would start earlier to show it was legend himself, Torres, who got that corner with his run.

still hurts..

PTSD kicks in

I will never not get goosebumps from this game

10 years have gone by so fast. Wow.

Fuck I'm old.

Still brings me joy watching this

DROGBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Chelsea didn’t perform poorly in the match until that goal - that Bayern team was just so fucking stacked. We also had several key players out, one of which was our captain and all-time great defender John Terry.

This match was the starting point of my gambling addiction. Lol

What’s crazy is how the season after, Bayern were destroying everything in their path. It’s as if that night something clicked inside their heads and nothing could stop them from lifting that trophy.

So this is the game where Gary Neville hit Puberty

Phoenix Rising legend Drogba

Worst football experience ever

It's weird that "10 years ago" videos are such clear quality now. I'm used to the grainy throwback highlights. Does this mean we are getting old?

Question for Bayern fans, was this the most painful final lost? Or was it against United?

2012, not even close, just pain

This is one of the greatest headers ever. The angle, distance from goal and the power he gets on it is absolutely unreal.

Greatest knee slide celebration of all time

One of the most aesthetically pleasing bullet headers of all time. The impact noise is incredible.

where is bidens ministry to truth, i want to fact check this vid. im pretty sure this vid is fake

never forget <3

Gotta say.. I hate Chelsea, but love Drogba

This is still the most insane header I’ve seen. Incredible goal.

Sad day that was.

Chelsea 2012 just couldn’t lose.

Fuck yeah he did :’)

Well, it wasn't going to be Torres...

Bullet header and he was not even in front of the goal. The way he just goes hunting for the ball and he hits it in the air. Unstoppable.

Looking back on Chelsea's European Cup final victories I can't help but think both times their opposition just bottled the game.

Didier le monstre !! Le grand!!

There is a clip of Henry talking about Benzema scoring headers, where he explains how important it is to keep your shoulders in line with the goal when heading the ball to make it go where you want. Drogba twisted his body in the air to perfectly hit that ball.

The game that made me a Chelsea fan.

Crazy how Drogba nearly went from hero to zero in extra time with his penalty on Robben. Cech came up with a big save which allowed Drogba to be the hero in the penalty shootout.

I’ll wait for someone to show me a better headed goal than that one. Drogba’s goal against Bayern is the greatest header I’ve ever seen.

Such a painful memory. Watched it on my best friends birthday and I couldn't believe they didn't win. Bayern was so good that game, apart from scoring obvs.

I still can't believe they scored. I remember watching and it was completely out of nowhere. What a header.

This gets posted every year, which I know because it was my wedding day. I'm divorced.

Their game vs Barcelona im Vamp Nou was even better than the final. One of the best games I've ever seen

Damn the mercurials that year were something special

One of the best champions league runs

my tears of imminent doom became joy followed by 45 minutes of anxiety. Didier became my childhood hero that day