Previously on my BAL game;
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The story continues;
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The team had a good rest at Xmas, and I ignored a couple of offers that came my way during the break. We were full of confidence for the rest of the season ahead, and were gunning to make our mark in Europe having given ourselves a great chance of qualifying for the last 16 of the European Championship. So we went at it, but right at the time when most needed I hit a goal drought and no-one on the team was really able to pick up the slack. Our performances suffered but we were griding out results as I was still able to set-up a few and the team was trying to share the load of scoring.
We had a big game against Chelsea that ended up a 3-3 draw and it seemed to drain the team, but I ended my drought with the equaliser when we were 1-0 down. On the European stage we were firing on all cylinders and we made it to the last 16 with ease. Our first match however of the knock out stage was Man U. They were on top form and had a full squad to play, and had even splashed out on Rosicky to make him the mid-field rock. The first leg was a hard fought contest, we battled hard and broke up attacks as we could and managed to grind out a 1-0 win at home. In the second game however things were much different
It was like a master class, attack and counter attack, free flowing passing, fantastic movement on and off the ball, wonderous shooting ability, and incredible dribbling skills. And then there was Man U, they were CRAP. They were squandering the ball every pass and couldnt string a move together at all. Sir Alex must have been mighty peeved as he went all guns blazing in the second half by putting 4 strikers on, 3 in forward roles and one playing just off them. It did nothing to help and only made matters worse for them. We tore them up for arse paper, and left them in tatters. 6-0 we won on aggregate, with me getting 2 goals in the second half from set pieces. We went on to make it to the final against Real Madrid, puting out Inter Milan along the way.
We stayed ahead in the league followed closely by Chelsea who were keeping us pegged to 1 point ahead, and won the league cup convincingly against a hard West Ham side who had put in a great cup run to make it to the final. With 3 games to go we were on for the treble.
The final of the European Cup, Fulham vs Real Madrid. It was actually a rather dull affair as Real never got going properly, and we hit them on the break 3 times in the first half and 6 in the second to take a 3-0 win and lift the trophy. We had done it, we were European Champions! Two down one to go, and the last 2 league games were Man U and Everton.
The game against Man U was a tough tough match, and I scored from a corner in the first half to give us the lead. Just after the restart, Tevez broke free down the center and unleashed a pile driver which the keeper managed to save but spill out wide. Our side back picked the ball up and punted it long up field. It bounced in front of me, and both Ferdinand and Vidic both leaped for it and took each other out. I was clean through and stuck it away with a neat shot in to the bottom corner. 2-0 with 50 mins on the clock. I went on the hunt for my hat-trick and had 2 shots parried and cleared. Then shock and disgust! The manager SUBBED me at 60 mins even though I was still fresher than others in the team and playing extremely well. I coudnt beleive it! Well lo and behold my team fell apart with out me to lead them, Rooney scored a brace in 5 mins, and Ronaldo made it 3-2 with a header at the near post.
Last game against Everton the manager benched me for the entire game and we lost 4-0. Chelsea meanwhile had hammered Arsenal 5-0 to go top of the league on the last day and take the title. The manager had blown it bigtime, for the second year running we had finished second when we should have won the league.
I just coudnt take it and took the first offer that came up for another decent team. It turned out the team with big ideas was Celtic, they came with an offer to double my wages. What the hell I thought, if I can make it with Fulham who were bottom feeders when I joined I can do great things with a mid table team.
A new stage awaits. Parkhead is trembling with anticipation of the great things to come.