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Having won the World Cup - scoring a goal in France's 3-0 Final victory
over Brazil in 1998 - and achieved a domestic double with Arsenal, it is
little wonder that Chelsea's capture of Emmanuel Petit from Barcelona
sparked much excitement amongst the club's supporters. Signed for £7.5m
after a disappointing year playing primarily out of position for the
Catalan club, Petit's return to English football was ultimately ruined
by injuries. His first season was certainly a disappointment, with a
number of below-par performances creating a certain amount of resentment
amongst the Blues' supporters, who were expecting performances more
akin to those that he had treated the Highbury faithful to in previous
years.
His only goal of the campaign was a late winner against Derby on
Easter Saturday, which was lavishly celebrated, but the climax of his
first season was a disappointing FA Cup Final defeat against his former
Arsenal team-mates. It was revitalised Manu Petit who helped spark a
Premiership title challenge for a resurgent Chelsea in 2002/03. Fit for
much of the campaign, he formed an outstanding partnership with Frank
Lampard at the heart of the Blues' midfield. A fine goal in a 4-1 League
Cup victory over Everton was followed by a late strike in a 3-2 defeat
at his old Highbury stamping ground.
However, it was in a defensive
midfield role that Manu truly excelled; tackling, tracking-back and
unselfishly slipping into the back-four at regular intervals to provide
cover for another adventurous dash forward by one of his centre-halves.
There can be no doubt that throughout their excellent campaign, Chelsea
played their best football when Petit was in the team. The season
culminated in a final day shootout with Liverpool to decide the final
Champions League position, and Manu was the game's outstanding player as
Chelsea won 2-1. Sadly, Petit's final season at Stamford Bridge was
spent almost entirely on the physio's couch.
Five early season
appearances were followed by four months on the sidelines, and his
January comeback lasted just two games, the last of which - and his
final appearance for the club - was a superb showing in a 3-2 victory at
Blackburn, in which he displayed clearly that he remained the best
holding-midfielder at the club. He also found time to create a goal for
Lampard with an exquisite pass. Chelsea won six of the seven matches in
which Manu appeared that season, drawing the other. Out of contract at
the end of the campaign, he left the club in May 2004. (Kelvin Barker)
1988–1997 Monaco 222 (4)
1997–2000 Arsenal 85 (9)
2000–2001 Barcelona 23 (1)
2001–2004 Chelsea 55 (2)
Total 385 (16 goals)
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