There has been one phrase that it is safe to say I have uttered more than perhaps any other in my life – well except ‘I want’ as I’m sure my parents will try to tell you – and that is ‘we’re going to Munich.’

A phrase that means more to Chelsea fans than most; with the exception of Spurs and therefore Arsenal who clearly have a vested interest in the outcome of the final, but for Blues fans the fact that they have managed to reach a Champions League final this season has been nothing short of a miracle, especially for a club who seemed in such disarray under Mr Clueless or AVB as he is more commonly known,  yet interim manager RDM along with the senior players who have suddenly found their drive again after the departure of AVB  – funny that- and managed to turn in some of their best performances which have somehow got Chelsea to the final this Saturday.

Now I am not going to sit here and pretend Chelsea were the best team in the competition this season, far from it, but how often is it the team that are best on paper who actually win the biggest club competition of all? Very rarely – in knockout competitions, as Chelsea know only too well, gifts from the footballing Gods can occur and a team can find themselves in the final to the shock of even themselves.

Chelsea fans will look back to years gone by and each will be able to tell you of their own personal heartbreak in the competition – it might be Terry’s missed penalty in Moscow, or the penalty shootout in the semis to Liverpool, it could even be the heart wrenching 89^th minute goal of a certain Andres Iniesta or my personal favourite the ‘ghost goal’ from Garcia which denied Mourinho’s team a place they so desperately deserved and craved in the 2005 final. Whatever the case, it is certainly arguable that of all the clubs, Chelsea have been harder done by than most in the competition down the years, although anyone who has played Barcelona when they have been shall we say ‘given a helping hand by the officials’ Arsenal I am looking at you here – may disagree.

Whatever the case, it seems that the footballing Gods this season are smiling on the team from West London, and their comeback against Napoli was nothing compared to the downright heroic performances over two legs to knock out the defending Champions when even I will confess the crossbar and fate played a huge part in the result – you know when Torres scores the big man in the sky is on your side, and how Chelsea fans must be praying that stays the case on the 19^th.

It is the biggest ask of all to go and play what is effectively an away game for the final – thanks for that UEFA – with the amount of suspensions and injuries currently facing the squad, yet it was not individuals that got Chelsea to the game at the Allianz; it was team performances with more heart and passion than I have ever seen from the club or their fans who at times can give the Prawn Sandwich brigade at Old Trafford a run for their money, yet for those who did not stick their shirts in the washing machine on the highest heat in order to turn them City blue during the earlier parts of the season, the final on the Sky Sports dubbed ‘Day of Destiny’ is something that is nothing short of a dream come true – well if the club manage to lift the trophy that is.

To win the Champions League is the icing on the cake for any club, and let’s not forget the only way Chelsea can re-enter the competition next season, something that has surely seen the Bayern Munich shirt sales in the white half of North London go through the roof, and victory for Chelsea and their owner for the trophy that has caused so much hurt in the past is something most would agree would feel better than winning the euro millions – after all as they know better than anyone, there are some things money cant buy…

18 months later and Liverpool’s diminished ambitions have led to the demise their former hero.

The Scot may have won a trophy this year but after a serious dip in league form and a string of questionable transfers it was inevitable the Anfield hierarchy would eventually lose patience with his ever darkening fairytale return.

Given their current decline, should Liverpool prepare for an era playing second fiddle to the Premier League’s powerhouses?

For a club with so many past glories it seems unthinkable that Liverpool wouldn’t be able to compete with the best teams in the league.

“5 European Cups and 18 Leagues, that’s what we call history” they sing with pride. Truth is that’s all it is now, history.

Belief from the fans is still there but how far can the next manager take them considering the ever increasing gap between the Reds and top sides?

Liverpool ended the season in 8th place with their worst points tally for over 50 years. To their dismay they even finished behind their old enemy Everton and lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup final. In the end their League Cup triumph was the only highpoint of a season that raised serious question marks over their ability to compete at the highest level.

Strangely had they won the FA Cup it may have been regarded as a decent season, Dalglish may even still be in charge but it would’ve only papered over the cracks.

There were a number of factors that plagued them during the season. Their big name signings didn’t work out, the manager seemed out of his depth tactically and the fans expected more than the team could deliver.

With that in mind it’s easy to see why Liverpool underachieved so badly but of course hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Some of their transfers seemed astute at the time. Effectively swapping an out of form Fernando Torres for Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez appeared to be an excellent deal.

In contrast they also spent roughly £70 million on a home grown combination of Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. No one can ever predict how successful a transfer will be but are the North East’s finest really worth that kind of money?

Unsuccessful deals like these coupled with so many disappointing results have ultimately led to Dalglish being sacked.

Still there is some hope. Should Liverpool’s new manager blend their talent into a more cohesive unit then their results may well improve, especially if he is given the same financial backing that Dalglish received. With the players at his disposal there would be no reason why they couldn’t challenge the top 4 teams.

Newcastle proved this season what can be achieved with a small budget and a few choice signings. They may have overachieved but if they can gain success when they’re not considered as one of the league’s elite clubs then why can’t Liverpool?

Consistency is key because the Premier League is so competitive that anyone can win on their day. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham suffered major blips during an unpredictable season while Newcastle simply beat the teams that were put in front of them. They weren’t as strong as the rest but they pushed them all the way deserved their 5th place finish.

There’s definitely potential for Liverpool even if their misfiring home form has seen them become more comfortable playing away from Anfield. Their struggling players may have found it easier because the home crowd expectation became too much for them but confidence can quickly change. A new manager with fresh ideas could reinvigorate the whole club.

Ultimately this summer could have a major say in Liverpool‘s future.

If it’s time for a change then the new manager should be backed heavily. Dalglish may not have used his money wisely but another failure to qualify for the Champions League would be so detrimental to the club’s finances that they may never recover.

Liverpool are on the cusp of ‘football limbo’. Not as quite good the top teams but clearly bigger than the mid table group.

Miss out on Europe’s top prize again and they could be walking alone for very long time.

Well, the season’s over, the post mortems done, England haven’t been humiliated in the Euros yet, therefore it’s time to start refreshing the Palace squad ahead of what could be a tough season next time out.

With doubts over budgets and promising youngsters attracting a lot of interest, Palace’s starting XI for the first game of next season could be unrecognisable.

The Outs

Nathaniel Clyne – With the right back’s contract up in the summer, it seems likely that Clyne will be heading to the Premier League. It will require a spectacular u-turn for new contract to be signed now, but it’s not over until it’s over.

Paul Mcshane – The big Irishman’s loan is up, but may return as a squad player next term if Freedman can do a deal.

Chris Martin – Martin received a lukewarm reception from Palace fans, and his loan from Norwich now up, I wouldn’t expect him to return.

Tony Popovic  – the big man who has been helping out with the coaching is returning to the Antipodes to coach Sydney United and is already being touted as future national coach of Australia.

Potentially going

David Wright – Injury restricted Wright’s season to 25 games, and could move on if Freedman is looking to free up space in the squad. That said, he seems to be a favourite of the manager, and has attributes on and off the field. His versatility and leadership qualities could mean he’s kept on.

Anthony Gardner – His contract is up at the end of the season, and if last summer is anything to go by, he could be angling for a move to a bigger club if better wages are on offer. A move to the Premier League seems unlikely but the likes of Leicester, Wolves, Birmingham or Cardiff could be tempted.

Darren Ambrose – it seems  ridiculous that Palace would sell their top scorer, but Ambrose had an indifferent season with a mixed impact. Likely to be on big wages.

Kagisho Dikgacoi – KG had a disappointing season, and with the emergence of Joniesta and Stuart O’Keefe, Freedman might be tempted to get rid of the chunky African.

Owen Garvan – Surely Garvan’s time at Palace is drawing to a close. A drunken tweet at the POTY night suggested he’d just signed for an Irish side, but this seems unlikely. The boy has got talent, but not enough to regular turn out in the Palace midfield, and may need to step down a level to make an impact.

Sean Scannell – this was supposed to be Scannell’s big season, and he started well enough, but was not played down the middle in his preferred striker’s role enough. He looked disillusioned by the end of the season, and it will be interesting to see how career pans out from here.

Out on loan?

Alex Wynter – It would be nice to see the England youth captain given a run out at centre back in the first team, but the youngster may be sent out on loan to gain much needed experience.

Antonio Pedroza – The Mexican forward was given limited first team chances, and despite some flashes of ability towards the end of the season, may benefit from a run out at a lower level.

Matthew Parsons – The young left back impressed at the end of the season, but will find his route to the first team blocked by POTY Parr, and Dean Moxey.

The Ins

Some of the players that were on loan at Palace this season may well return, particularly defenders.

If Clyne moves on then expect Freedman to move for Doncaster Rovers right back Mustapha Dumbuya who looked really good in a short loan spell earlier in the season.

In terms of central defenders, a lot will depend on whether Gardner moves on or not. In an ideal world he will stay. If this is the case, expect Freedman to sign at least one defender to provide competition and back up for the anglo-irish axis of Gardner and McCarthy. Leicester’s Tunchev has already been approached, and Paul McShane could be a further option. If Gardner stays , Freedman may look to Alex Wynter to provide cover.

If Freedman can move on a couple of players, he might look to refresh the midfield. KG needs to up his game if he’s to stay, and a more attacking midfielder might be a option too. However Freedman may be reluctant to sign a more experienced creative midfield in case it hinders the development of latest academy prodigy Jonny Williams.

Depending on how the team develops, wide midfielders would be an option too, particularly if Ambrose moves on or Zaha or Scannell are moved into a more central attacking role.

The final piece of the jigsaw will be a goal scorer. Glenn Murray did not quite cut the mustard this season, but with better service, could kick on. Freedman may look to play Zaha or Scannell down the middle too.

Both Manchester clubs wanted the France international after he decided to leave Arsenal, and the playmaker has stated that winning the Premier League title with City has shown that he made the correct decision.

“I thought for a few months before making my decision, with my parents and my advisors,” Nasri stated, covered by Mirror Football.

“Patrick Vieira’s argument was that United are used to winning everything.

“Last season they won the league title and got to the Champions League final and if you sign this season and you play less well, it won’t have been a success for you.

“Whereas City is a club that’s building, which has recruited smartly with the likes of Sergio Aguero, and if you win the title you’ll be part of history.

“I weighed up the pros and cons, Roberto Mancini was calling me every day and I decided to go there.

“I came to Manchester to help the team become champions. Next season the club’s ambition is to go further in the Champions League and win the title again.

“In terms of statistics, it’s not my best season. Last season I was much more prolific in front of goal with Arsenal.

“But what counts is the team and the title with Manchester City, so it is my best season,” he confessed.

By Gareth McKnight

The Blues have progressed through to the final stage of Europe’s top club tournament, and will take on the Bundesliga giants at the Allianz Arena this weekend.

The Ivory Coast international may well be playing his last game for the Stamford Bridge club as his contract is expiring, and he is keen to right the wrongs of being beaten by Manchester United on penalties in Russia four years ago.

“After Moscow we thought we were going to get to the final the next year. But that’s the Champions League, it’s very difficult to reach the final and that shows how much we deserve to be there today,” he confessed to The Guardian.

“It’s not good to speak about the past because we have a great moment here. I’m going to try to make sure that for my team-mates, this is a great one.

“I’ve played a lot of big games with Chelsea but this one is going to be special because it’s only the second time we have reached the Champions League final.

“We are going to do everything to go there and be ready to play against this German team,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

The Etihad Stadium outfit paraded the Premier League title through the city on Monday, with the Argentina international sighted holding up the banner taking a swipe at the Manchester United boss.

Although City and Tevez both issued apologises to the legendary Scottish manager soon after, claiming the banner had been handed to the South American by a fan, the temperamental forward has made statements to the contrary.

“It seems Ferguson is the president of England,” Tevez told reporters back in Argentina, published by The Telegraph.

“Each time he speaks badly about a player, and he has said the worst about me, I never asked him to apologise. But if somebody makes a joke about him, you must apologise to him.

“But I don’t apologise. There’s no relationship at all between me and Ferguson,” he confessed.

By Gareth McKnight

The temperamental QPR man was shown a straight red card for elbowing Carlos Tevez, before appearing to kick Sergio Aguero and try to head-butt Vincent Kompany as he was being escorted from the pitch.

Barton has admitted that he kicked the Argentine, but has rejected the alleged head-butt on City’s captain.

“Joey Barton has accepted an FA charge against him for violent conduct against Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero,” the FA statement said.

“The Queens Park Rangers player has denied a second charge of alleged violent conduct against Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany.

“The player has requested a personal hearing, the date of which has yet to be set. Both charges against Barton are in relation to Sunday’s match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

“Following the player’s dismissal in the 54th minute of the fixture, there followed two incidents involving Aguero and Kompany. As Barton had already been dismissed, both of these incidents fell outside of the jurisdiction of the referee,” it concluded.

Along with the mandatory four-match suspension for the red card, Barton is believed to be facing a ban that could run into double figures for the start of next season.

By Gareth McKnight

The new Three Lions head coach revealed his 23-man party for the tournament on Wednesday, with a number of candidates to lead the side after John Terry was stripped of the captaincy earlier in the year.

However, the Anfield midfielder was given the nod by Hodgson, who feels he has made the right choice.

“In my opinion, he is the man who merits this award or distinction,” Hodgson told reporters, covered by Sky Sports.

“I know him, of course, as a player. I know him as a person. I know how committed he is to the England cause.

“He was delighted last night when I told him of my decision.

“I will be counting on him to help me as much as he possibly can to build the type of team unity and the type of environment that I think is going to be very necessary for us to thrive in an important tournament,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

The Manchester United central defender was conspicuous by his absence from the 23-man party that will travel to Ukraine and Poland this summer, with the likes of Phil Jones in the squad instead.

Despite the fact that Terry is due to face trial in July for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand’s brother Anton, Hodgson stated that this had no bearing on his decision-making process.

“It was purely a footballing decision,” he told Sky Sports.

“Rio is a man that I both respect as a player and as a person. I don’t know him well personally, but I have seen enough of him over the years to realise what a fine footballer he is and what a good person he is.

“But I had to make a footballing decision and to decide on the basis of what I have seen in recent months, and it was influenced to some extent by the fact that Rio hasn’t played so much since the World Cup and has only played once for England in the last year.

“On a footballing basis, I wanted people like Phil Jones in the squad because he helps balance out for me at right-back in the absence of Kyle Walker.

“So it’s purely a footballing decision and it was a hard phone call to make because you hate to disappoint people, but I hope Rio can accept my decision and understand that it was based purely on football and nothing else,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

The veteran striker is out of contract in the summer at Stamford Bridge, and the Blues have been reluctant to offer the African the two additional years that he desires.

With the Ivory Coast international knocking back the option of a one-year extension from the Premier League side, a big-money move to join former team-mate Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai Shenhua has been speculated.

However, the latest inclination is that Barcelona will look to bring the forward to Spain on a free transfer and offer him a two-year contract worth up to £5 million a season in wages.

Barcelona have had first-hand experience of Drogba’s abilities this season, with the forward scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 Chelsea win in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

With Drogba expected to lead the line in Chelsea’s final against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, the player’s future is set to be resolved after the end-of-season clash.

By Gareth McKnight