Before the billions, there was belief. Watch Chelsea's last dance before Abramovich changed everything.
Chelsea enjoyed our best run of form for some time in 2002-03, finishing fourth in the Premiership with a memorable last day of the season victory against fellow Champions League hopefuls Liverpool. However, this was not just a late flurry from Claudio Ranieri's quality west London side. Two memorable goal-rich cup runs took the Blues to the quarter-finals of both the Worthington and FA Cups, dismissed only by Manchester United, and Arsenal after a replay. The season saw some of the best performances of his life from Chelsea's veteran striker Gianfranco Zola, who defied all records and expectations with cheeky free-kicks and several spectacular acrobatic goals. Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini won plaudits for the consistently brilliant performances that proved he is surely Chelsea's finest keeper since Peter Bonetti. Frank Lampard, too, demonstrated week in week out the excellent England midfield form of which Chelsea fans have always believed him capable.
Acting
Zola's infectious joy, Ranieri's broken English charm
Direction
Ranieri's tactical evolution under pressure
Director
Claudio Ranieri
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This season captures the final weeks of pre-Abramovich Chelsea, when the club was days away from a transformation that would reshape European football economics forever.
Ranieri earned his 'Tinkerman' nickname this season for relentless squad rotation, yet still delivered Champions League football with a squad held together by Zola's magic and Cudicini's saves.
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