The Pride of London’s 10,000th article: Chelsea fans’ origin stories

Chelsea's German midfielder Kai Havertz (L) vies with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Belgian midfielder Leander Dendonckerduring the English Premier Lea gue football match between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in London on January 27, 2021. (Photo by NEIL HALL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NEIL HALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – MAY 29: Eden hazard celebrates with the trophy during the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Vansh Ambashta (Contributor)

I spent my early childhood in India and was not connected to football at all. Instead, I spent my days playing and discussing cricket like every other kid in the country. In 2011, at the age of 10, I moved to Belgium and started watching football to blend in with the crowd. At that time, I used to watch only the big games with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. When I saw Chelsea win the Champions League in 2012, I felt a bit of a connection, a bit of a purpose, but I still didn’t pick my club. I was still a casual fan that liked watching the “big games.”

I have always had a knack for opting for the underdogs, the outsiders, the lesser-known names. Back in those days, Eden Hazard was the talk of the town in Belgium, he was regarded as the next big thing, and he announced that he would be moving to Chelsea. This was the moment, the exact moment, when I decided that I would start supporting the Blues. In a world where teenagers were drooling over Ronaldo and Messi, I chose Hazard.

Since that particular moment, I have watched each and every Chelsea game, irrespective of the opposition. Be it Krasnodar or Barcelona, all I have cared about is watching my beloved club, sometimes until four in the morning.

In the beginning, I always feared the when that Hazard would leave the club, I felt that it would weaken my bond with Chelsea. The Europa League final victory in Baku was one of the most challenging moments for me as a fan as Hazard announced his departure. But as it turns out, Hazard was only the trigger, and my love for Chelsea has only grown in the past few years. When I watch Chelsea, I genuinely feel free of everything going around in the world, and football has been on my driving forces in these difficult times. This pandemic has genuinely shown that Chelsea will always be a part of me, despite all the problems going on, and I will be a Blue for life!

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