Frank Leboeuf has told ESPN that he isn’t sure whether this current crop of Chelsea players can recreate the Champions League success of 2012.
That victory over Bayern Munich will be treasured forever by Blues fans as one of the club’s most historic moments.
Defeating a German side on penalties in their own backyard doesn’t get much more poetic.
Fast forward nine years and the class of 2020/21 are trying to establish their own legendary status.
Leboeuf, who won two European trophies during his time at Chelsea, was asked if Thomas Tuchel’s team could recreate that magic night in Munich.
“I would love to believe so, but I’m not sure about that,” he admitted.
“Remember the kind of players they had and the leaders they had. (Didier) Drogba, (John) Terry, (Frank) Lampard, and some others.
“I don’t see that kind of leadership in this team. The talent is there, the individuals are there.
“But not the same type of individual with lot of characters who believe they can achieve something.
“It’s going to be hard. Not the same generation, not the same kind of players. I don’t think they can do the same.”
Although the squads are clearly completely different, there are some parrels between Chelsea’s past and present.
Both sacked a manager mid-way through the season. Andreas Villas-Boas was relieved in 2012, Frank Lampard in 2021.
They finished top of their respective Champions League groups, despite a domestic wobble in the Premier League.
Roberto Di Matteo inherited a strong squad, with the likes of Drogba, Terry, Lampard, Ashley Cole and Petr Cech still around.
Tuchel did the same. He was offered a plethora of talent and big summer signings to play with after Lampard left.
This season, the Blues have already taken a significant step towards European silverware after they defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 on Tuesday.
There is still a long way to go in the competition, just as the stars of 2012 found out when they had to battle past Napoli, Benfica and Barcelona to reach the final.
The Chelsea Chronicle View
If Lebouef is going to be the pessimist, I’ll be the optimist.
I can’t see any reason why Chelsea can’t go all the way.
With the quality of players and the manager, reaching the final should be a realistic goal.
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