‘A Crucial Match That Defined My Career’: Ex-Chelsea Star Reflects on the Game That Altered the Blues’ Destiny

Chelsea competed against Liverpool in 2003, marking one of the most crucial victories in the club’s history. This win not only secured Champions League football for the Blues but also paved the way for Roman Abramovich’s purchase of the club just weeks later, setting them on a trajectory toward success.

The match against Liverpool started off on a rough note, with Sami Hyypia scoring first for the visitors at Stamford Bridge. However, Marcel Desailly quickly equalized, and Jesper Gronkjaer netted the winner in the 27th minute.

In doing so, Gronkjaer played a key role in convincing Abramovich to acquire Chelsea, ultimately transforming the team from underachievers into one of the premier forces in English football, underpinned by the financial backing of the Russian oligarch.

Chelsea transformed by victory against Liverpool

Carlo Cudicini, who was the goalkeeper for Chelsea during that match, acknowledges the significance it held at the time and how pivotal it ultimately became.

“It was without a doubt one of the most important matches that I played in my career,” Cudicini shares with FourFourTwo.

“It wasn’t just Champions League football – it was a whole club at stake. Given Chelsea’s subsequent history, there was so much riding on that game. If we hadn’t qualified for the Champions League, we would have been in serious financial trouble, and I’m not sure Abramovich would have bought the club at all. It was a huge, huge match.

“Being involved in that game feels like playing a significant role in the history of Chelsea.”

The 2003/04 season marked a pivotal turning point for Chelsea, as they finished second in the league behind the Invincible Arsenal and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

High-profile signings such as Hernan Crespo, Claude Makelele, Damien Duff, Juan Sebastian Veron, and Adrian Mutu followed, in addition to Jose Mourinho taking over from Claudio Ranieri in the summer of 2004. Under Mourinho’s first tenure, the team achieved back-to-back Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and two League Cups, highlighting the importance of that match against Liverpool.

Without Abramovich’s influence, it’s reasonable to argue that much of this success would not have occurred, including the two Champions League titles that followed.