ABSTRACT

On 19 May 2012, Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties in their own ­stadium, the Allianz Arena, to win the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. This chapter analyses the way in which Chelsea fans articulate their identity in relation to a shifting conception of the ‘other.’ It argues that the concepts of opposition are continually shifting based on the fans’ perception of the club’s success and subsequently the fans’ self-perception within football culture. The chapter analyses the different ways in which the fans construct their identity in negotiation with the players, the owner and rival fans. R. Abramovich’s ‘hiring and firing policy’ was criticised by the fans for ‘making the club a laughing stock’. Appointment of R. Di Matteo the team had been achieving good results, particularly in Europe, beating Benfica and tournament favourites Barcelona on route to the Champions League final, helping to restore a sense of pride and communality around the club.