Chelsea's first XI before Roman Abramovich's £140m takeover - and what happened next
dailystar.co.ukPremier League season, the race for the elusive final Champions League spot went right down to the wire.Chelsea and Liverpool went head-to-head at Stamford Bridge in what was dubbed 'the £20million match'.It was a winner takes all affair which would have seen one side qualify for the Champions League and the other settle for a place in the UEFA Cup.But goals from Marcel Desailly and Jesper Gronkjaer cancelled out Semi Hypia’s opener for Liverpool to send the West Londoners into the Champions League.A couple of months later, Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea for around £140m, and Daily Star Sport considers the Blues’ first team which sealed their place in the Champions League.
Carlo Cudicini was still Chelsea’s undisputed No.1 goalkeeper at the time, while a back four of Mario Melchiot, William Gallas, Marcel Desailly, and Celestine Babayaro held down the fort.
Ahead of them was an industrious but creative midfield of Gronkjaer, Frank Lampard, Emmanuel Petit and Graeme Le Saux, while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen led the line up front.After Chelsea sealed their place in the top four, Abramovich’s takeover was completed just in time for the transfer window, and what a transfer window it was!11 players departed Stamford Bridge, including the likes of Jody Morris, Graeme Le Saux, and perhaps most prominently, Gianfranco Zola. What was the biggest moment of Roman Abramovich's era at Chelsea?
Let us know in the comments down belowBut while 11 players departed the club on a permanent basis, another 11 were arriving through the other side of the revolving doors.Their exits appeared to be a means of making room for a plethora of expensive talent that would help drag Chelsea to the next level.
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