Thursday 1st March 2007
It was brilliant to travel down with the rest of the squad for Sunday's Carling Cup final in Cardiff. I've really missed that time we have travelling together as a team, so it was wicked to get involved in the banter on the coach and to play computer games with the boys.
It wasn't as nice having to sit and watch the match from the stands though, I must admit. I get a bit frustrated and start to feel horrible about the fact that I can't join and play with the team!
The incident where John Terry got hurt was really frightening. I knew it was a bad one straight away and was very, very concerned. I actually saw one of JT's mates sitting nearby and he looked just as worried, so I grabbed him and rushed straight down to the dressing room area to see if John was OK. It was such a relief to find that he was conscious and had come around by the time we got there. I watched the rest of the final from the dressing room!
JT is made of strong stuff and he proved that yet again by getting back from the hospital in time to celebrate with the lads. It was inspiring to see how much resolve our skipper has got. He didn抰 even hold us up in our return journey as we had to wait for a couple of players to do their drug tests. He was fine on the way back ?it really was incredible!
Sadly I couldn't join John and the rest of the squad for their celebrations in London, as I had to be in early for my rehab training the next morning. I didn't mind though. Getting fit to play is the only incentive I need.
Overall I thought we deserved to win the final. Credit has to go to Arsenal's young side but we did create the better chances ?especially in the second half. The main difference between us and them was experience and knowing how to win a big match. Chelsea's players have been involved in games like that many times and know how to get the job done. Unfortunately for Arsenal's young players they didn't have that background. Learning how to win is the hardest thing to do and it takes time. That was the difference in my opinion.
Didier Drogba did the business for us again. He's having a brilliant season. He's so on form that we just have to keep on giving him the ball and making chances for him. There's no doubt he's been one of the players of the season, not just in the Premiership but in Europe.
I thought he was great last season but his improvement is as much down to the change in system as it is purely form. I think having Andriy Shevchenko upfront alongside him has given him so much help. Sheva is looking the top-drawer player he has always been right now too. I think he's doing great.
As for me, I'm still on course with my rehabilitation. It's all going well and I'm taking each day at a time. It's hard work but I am getting there.
It was brilliant to travel down with the rest of the squad for Sunday's Carling Cup final in Cardiff. I've really missed that time we have travelling together as a team, so it was wicked to get involved in the banter on the coach and to play computer games with the boys.
It wasn't as nice having to sit and watch the match from the stands though, I must admit. I get a bit frustrated and start to feel horrible about the fact that I can't join and play with the team!
The incident where John Terry got hurt was really frightening. I knew it was a bad one straight away and was very, very concerned. I actually saw one of JT's mates sitting nearby and he looked just as worried, so I grabbed him and rushed straight down to the dressing room area to see if John was OK. It was such a relief to find that he was conscious and had come around by the time we got there. I watched the rest of the final from the dressing room!
JT is made of strong stuff and he proved that yet again by getting back from the hospital in time to celebrate with the lads. It was inspiring to see how much resolve our skipper has got. He didn抰 even hold us up in our return journey as we had to wait for a couple of players to do their drug tests. He was fine on the way back ?it really was incredible!
Sadly I couldn't join John and the rest of the squad for their celebrations in London, as I had to be in early for my rehab training the next morning. I didn't mind though. Getting fit to play is the only incentive I need.
Overall I thought we deserved to win the final. Credit has to go to Arsenal's young side but we did create the better chances ?especially in the second half. The main difference between us and them was experience and knowing how to win a big match. Chelsea's players have been involved in games like that many times and know how to get the job done. Unfortunately for Arsenal's young players they didn't have that background. Learning how to win is the hardest thing to do and it takes time. That was the difference in my opinion.
Didier Drogba did the business for us again. He's having a brilliant season. He's so on form that we just have to keep on giving him the ball and making chances for him. There's no doubt he's been one of the players of the season, not just in the Premiership but in Europe.
I thought he was great last season but his improvement is as much down to the change in system as it is purely form. I think having Andriy Shevchenko upfront alongside him has given him so much help. Sheva is looking the top-drawer player he has always been right now too. I think he's doing great.
As for me, I'm still on course with my rehabilitation. It's all going well and I'm taking each day at a time. It's hard work but I am getting there.
