• Defender says pitch was ‘worst we’ve played on all year’
• Chelsea captain also pays tribute to team’s ‘determination’
John Terry said it was a “special” feeling to help Chelsea seal their first league and FA Cup double by beating Portsmouth 1-0 at Wembley. But even as his team’s celebrations were getting under way the defender was quick to add his voice to those condemning the national stadium’s playing surface.
“The pitch ruined the final,” said Terry. “It’s probably the worst pitch we’ve played on all year. It was not good enough for a Wembley pitch. The FA have to decide if this is a football pitch or events stadium.”
• FA Cup final match report: Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth
• Read Rob Smyth’s minute-by-minute report of the game
• In pictures: Tom Jenkins’s best images from Wembley
Even if he felt the final had been compromised, however, Terry described the achievement of winning the double as “unbelievable”. “It’s never been done in the club’s history and to do it with this group of players feels so special,” he said. “I thought our luck was out, but what a great free-kick from Didier.
“It was one of those days, but we came strong and full credit to Didier. The reason why we are top of the league and won the FA Cup is that we are the best team and we have great determination.”
For all that Chelsea outplayed Portsmouth, hitting the woodwork five times during the game, the south-coast club had an opportunity to take the lead when Juliano Belletti brought down Aruna Dindane in the area. Petr Cech saved Kevin-Prince Boateng’s spot-kick, but suggested afterwards he had been “lucky” after the Portsmouth midfielder scuffed his shot.
“I knew what the choices were and, from the body language when he ran towards me, I chose that side – but I was lucky to get there,” he said.
The Czech international added that the players were desperate to write their names in the club’s history, which he felt may have played a part in them missing so many chances before Drogba finally made the breakthrough.
“I’m speechless because during the game there were a lot of emotions,” he said. “We wanted to be the first team at Chelsea to win the double – and we also defended the FA Cup, which is an achievement as well.
“We kept missing and missing, and it looked like it was not going to be our day, but to make two crucial saves I am delighted.”
Drogba admitted it was hard to come back down to earth after sealing the Premier League title last weekend with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan.
“It was difficult to come back and stay focused [after] we celebrated the title,” he said. “It was difficult again against a very good Portsmouth team. You start to feel that you won’t score, but if you manage to create chances in the first half it means, in the second, you will have some.”
Of his free-kick goal, Drogba added: “I saw a little gap, not a big space, because the wall was in its position. I hit the post again, but it went in this time.”
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