Tom Hiddleston asks permission to sign a Loki helmet. (x) // Moscow, April 17 2012
J - Juan Mata
Juan Mata is a Spanish attacking midfielder who joined Chelsea Football Club from Valencia in the summer of 2011. He made his debut against Norwich City, scoring his first goal in stoppage time in a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea’s number 10 made a clear impact on the performance of the squad - ending his first season with 12 goals in all competitions and 13 assists in the EPL. He created over 100 chances total.
His creativity and speed with the ball provided the squad with a more attacking mindset, especially in the latter half of the season. Against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League, he scored the only goal in the away tie - giving the club hope for a successful return leg at the Bridge.
He was voted Man of the Match in the FA Cup Final win over Liverpool on May 5, 2012. In the UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, Mata provided the stunning corner for Drogba to score off a header in the 88th minute, sending the match into extra time and ultimately penalties, in which Chelsea secured their first ever Champions League.
Mata ends the year with an FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League and our Player of the Year Award (he is the first player since Ruud Gullit, in 1996, to win the award in his first season at the club).
I - Branislav Ivanovic
Branislav Ivanovic is a Serbian defender who came to Chelsea Football Club in early 2008 from Lokomotiv Moscow. He didn’t make his first team appearance until October 2008.He scored his first Chelsea goal against Liverpool at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals in 2009. Later on in the match, he scored again. Both goals were headers from corners. Chelsea won the overall two-legged tie 7-5, proving Ivanovic’s goals to be decisive.
Branislav “Two Goal” Ivanovic quickly became a fan favorite. Furthermore, in the 2010-2011 season, Ivanovic scored goals, including two in a UCL match against Spartak Moscow. He was on the shortlist for the clubs Player of the Year Award.
In the 2011-2012 season, Ivanovic came back into favor as a center back while David Luiz was out with injury. In March 2012, Ivanovic scored one of the most memorable goals in Stamford Bridge history - a superb rocket from inside the penalty box in extra time against Napoli in the UCL. The goal meant that Chelsea advanced to the quarter finals, after losing 3-1 to Napoli mere weeks before.
During the semi-finals against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Ivanovic again proved his worth - teaming with Bosingwa in central defense after Gary Cahill’s quick hamstring injury and John Terry’s red card. He was unfortunately yellow carded, and missed the UCL Final in Munich. His contributions were not overlooked by fans, however - he was once again shortlisted for the Player of the Year Award in May 2012.
