True Blues — Chelsea FC
ΕΛ

Season: 2008–09

Premier League

🏆
  • FA Cup

League

From Scolari’s bright start to Hiddink’s Wembley farewell, 2008–09 tested Chelsea’s resilience.

Division
Premier League (Tier 1)
Manager
Luiz Felipe Scolari (until 9 February 2009); Ray Wilkins (caretaker for Watford, 14 February); Guus Hiddink (appointed 11 February 2009; first match in charge 21 February)
Top scorer (league)
Nicolas Anelka (19)
Top scorer (all comps)
Nicolas Anelka (25)

Cups & Europe

FA Cup
Winners
League Cup
Fourth round
Europe
European Cup / Champions League: Semi-finals

Notes

From Scolari’s bright start to Hiddink’s Wembley farewell, 2008–09 tested Chelsea’s resilience. The Blues finished third in the Premier League with 83 points: 25 wins, eight draws, five defeats and goals of 68–24. Manchester United won the title on 90, Liverpool finished second on 86. At home Chelsea went 11–6–2 (33–12); away they were stronger still, 14–2–3 (35–12). Luiz Felipe Scolari began with a 4–0 league win over Portsmouth on 17 August. Liverpool’s 1–0 victory at Stamford Bridge on 26 October ended Chelsea’s 86-match unbeaten home league run. After a goalless home draw with Hull on 7 February, Scolari was dismissed on 9 February. Guus Hiddink was appointed on 11 February while retaining his Russia role. Ray Wilkins took charge at Watford in the FA Cup on 14 February, with Hiddink in the stands; the Dutchman’s first match in charge was the 1–0 win at Aston Villa on 21 February. Chelsea won 11 of their final 13 league games, including a defiant 4–1 at Arsenal four days after the Barcelona heartbreak. Nicolas Anelka won the Premier League Golden Boot with 19 goals, sealing it with his strike in the final-day 3–2 win at Sunderland. He scored 25 in all competitions: 19 league, four FA Cup and two Champions League goals. Frank Lampard added 20 (12 league), Didier Drogba 14 (five league), Salomon Kalou 10 and Florent Malouda nine. The FA Cup journey began with Southend, 1–1 at the Bridge and 4–1 away in the replay. Ipswich were beaten 3–1, Watford 3–1 through an Anelka hat-trick, and Coventry 2–0. Malouda and Drogba overturned Arsenal’s lead for a 2–1 Wembley semi-final win on 18 April. In the final on 30 May, Louis Saha put Everton ahead after just 25 seconds. Drogba headed in Malouda’s cross in the 21st minute; Lampard’s left-footed winner in the 72nd completed the 2–1 comeback. Chelsea’s fifth FA Cup gave Hiddink a farewell to treasure. The League Cup ended in the fourth round: after winning 4–0 at Portsmouth, Chelsea drew 1–1 with Burnley after extra time on 12 November and lost 4–5 on penalties. Chelsea finished second in Champions League Group A behind Roma, ahead of Bordeaux and CFR Cluj. Juventus fell 3–2 on aggregate (1–0 home, 2–2 away), then Liverpool were beaten 7–5: Ivanović’s two headers helped earn a 3–1 win at Anfield before an extraordinary 4–4 at the Bridge. The semi-final brought 0–0 at Barcelona on 28 April and Essien’s wonderful early volley at home on 6 May. Iniesta’s stoppage-time equaliser made it 1–1 and sent Barcelona through on away goals. Wembley could not erase that hurt, but ensured the season ended with silverware.

Kits

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Samsung replaced Samsung Mobile.

Illustration from hex colours (not official kit photography).

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History

Eras, trophies, and great matches in the History section.

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Sources

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