Just when you thought the season had ended, bit part players have resurrected belief and resuscitated dreams.
Thibaut Courtois hit a dodgy streak, then goalkeeping maestro Willy Caballero proved he’s still got the gift... despite being double the age of defender Ethan Ampadu.
Alvaro Morata lost his mojo, then regained it overnight after scoring the opener against Leicester in the bitterly cold FA Cup quarter-final.
Pedro was dropped to the bench in favour of Willian and Eden Hazard... then leapt higher than everybody to score the winner, though the only people smaller than him at the King Power were N’golo Kante and a five-year-old Leicester mascot.
Hurrah for second strings, deputies and No 2s, for salvaging hope where once-dependable first choices had failed.
Blues fans have a spring in their step as winter disappears, with the prospect of a Wembley semi-final against Southampton guaranteeing a joyous few weeks of blissful sleep, pretending to be Gary Cahill climbing 107 steps to lift an old jug.
What’s gone right? Morata could hardly have sunk much lower in terms of confidence, but visibly bloomed again against Leicester.
And Tony Conte is starting to relax, knowing he only has another two months to go before he’s free as a bird. He’s already starting to miss his job.
The fixture list looks reassuringly congested, as cup ties bump league games, but that’s how the fans like it.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
