‘The Drogba goal was a blur really’: Ashley Cole lifts the lid on Chelsea’s remarkable Champions League victory over Bayern Munich in the 2012 final
- Ashley Cole recalled Didier Drogba’s equalising goal vs Bayern Munich as a ‘blur’
- Drogba scored to take the final to extra time before scoring the winning penalty
- Cole revealed it was ‘hard’ to put feeling of his whole career on Drogba’s penalty
Former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole described Didier Drogba’s late equaliser against Bayern Munich as a ‘blur’ in the Champions League final, eight years ago.
The Blues reached the final in Munich after a hard-fought two-legged tie with Barcelona in the semi-finals. They faced a tough Bayern side, who had a fortunate home advantage, with the likes of Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Bastain Schweinsteiger amongst their ranks.
After Thomas Muller scored for Bayern in the 83rd minute, Drogba equalised minutes before final whistle to take the match to extra time and Cole recalled the whole moment as a ‘blur’ as he relived the infamous night.
Ashley Cole said Didier Drogba’s late equaliser in Champions League final was a ‘blur’
The striker scored a header in the 88th minute to take the final to a gruelling extra-time
‘The Drogba goal was a blur really,’ Cole told Football Journalism at the University of Derby.
‘I was physically and mentally drained but after the goal went in I was ready to go again and knew we would win.’
After a gruelling extra-time period the final went to penalties where the Chelsea players tried to keep their nerve in front of a hostile crowd.
After Juan Mata missed the Blues first spot kick, David Luiz, Frank Lampard and Cole stepped up and found the net to leave the fate of the final on Drogba’s penalty.
Cole said it was a ‘hard’ moment as the striker stepped up but the celebrations afterwards ‘will never be forgotten’.
Cole was confident the Blues would win the match after the striker equalised late on
Drogba scored the winner as Cole recalled it was ‘hard’ to put feeling of his career on one man
‘Putting a feeling of my whole career on one man was hard,’ he added.
‘But, to share making history with Chelsea, the fans and my family is an experience that will never be forgotten.’
Cole, who was 31 years old at the time, believed that night in Munich was the last chance to get his hands on the Champions League trophy. He admitted: ‘When Muller scored, I thought it was over and my last chance had gone.’
The former England international said winning the Champions League was ‘everything’ to him
The former England international revealed that one of his greatest ambitions was to earn European glory, after watching many of the world’s best stars win the competition.
‘It was something I’ve walked past and saw other teams celebrating with and that stuck with me throughout my football career,’ Cole added.
‘So, to finally hold it and join some elite players who have won it was amazing. It was everything.’
