Chelsea FC’s 5 greatest upsets of all time
By George Perry
3. Chelsea vs Bradford City, FA Cup Fourth Round, 24 January 2015
Up 2-1 at the half against League One side Bradford City, Chelsea had little reason to worry about in an FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge. The Blues would play Liverpool 3 days later in League Cup replay, having drawn 1-1 earlier in the week. The visitors were showing spirit, but not enough for Chelsea to jeopardize what would be a much more difficult fixture against Liverpool.
Jose Mourinho made nine changes to his usual starting lineup, not that you would know it from the quality of the Blues’ back-up starting XI: Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Oscar, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ramires all took the pitch. Alongside these veterans were promising youngsters Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen.
Mourinho brought on Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard in the 70th with Chelsea still up 2-1. The Portuguese aimed both to steady his team by injecting experience, and destabilize the visitors’ with the midfielders’ offensive punch.
But the soccer gods were with Bradford City, and minutes later they tied the match. Willian’s introduction in the 76th was not enough to take Chelsea clear. The Blues conceded the go-ahead goal soon after. Even the Stamford Bridge faithful had to acknowledge their fate and appreciate the underdog as Bradford City notched a fourth in the 94th minute.
The 2014/15 FA Cup was full of upsets even by FA Cup standards. Chelsea were not the only Premier League title contenders to fall on what became known as Black Saturday. Manchester City lost to Middlesbrough, joining Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton as defeated Premier League teams. Manchester United drew 0-0 at Cambridge United, and would go on to lose the replay.
After the match, as Stamford Bridge warmly applauded the visitors’ triumph, Jose Mourinho went to the Bradford City locker room and shook every players’ hand to congratulate them.
Next: 2. Chelsea FC, First Division champions, 1954/55