LONDON: Chelsea wrapped up a mixed-up season by defeating doomed Blackburn 2-1 to finish sixth in the table, their worst placing in all of Roman Abramovich’s 11-year ownership of the club. They can retain their presence in the Champions League next season only by defeating Bayern in Munich in next Saturday’s final.

Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo had insisted that he wanted a decisive win to provide the ideal momentum heading for Munich. He achieved that despite fielding a weakened team with neither David Luiz or Gary Cahill risked in the centre of defence.

Ex-Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku made a first start in the league while there was a place at rightback for Sam Hutchison who has benefited from new medical development to play again after retiring two years ago through knee trouble.

Top strikers Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres were held back as substitutes but there were starts for Munich absentees Brane Ivanovic in defence, midfielders Raul Meireles and Ramires plus John Terry.

Appropriately it was skipper Terry who put Chelsea ahead with a sixth goal which made this his most prolific season in terms of league goals. Meireles added the second before half-time. Yakubu pulled one back in the second half for Blackburn as Drogba, on as substitute, made perhaps his last appearance in the league for the Blues.

 

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