All photos included in this article (unless stated otherwise in the caption), including the cover photo (above), were all taken by myself throughout the course of the season.
It’s been a remarkable season of football.
Manchester City and Liverpool battled it out in one of the most gripping Premier League title races ever, City completed an unprecedented domestic treble and both the Champions League Final and Europa League Final will be all-English affairs.
It was also an amazing season for myself. I was lucky enough to go to 24 football games this season, the most I’ve ever been to. With six stadiums and eight competitions attended across nine months, it has certainly been a season to remember.
So, in homage to this campaign as it reaches its ultimate conclusion, here are my highlights from the 2018/19 season.
BEST GAME
3. Luzern 2-3 BSC Young Boys, 12 August 2018
In the early days of the new season, I was treated to a thriller as my adopted Swiss team FC Luzern hosted reigning champions BSC Young Boys. It was an excellent game, with end-to-end action and some superb goals at the Swissporarena.
While Luzern were narrowly beaten, both teams were outstanding. The hosts took the champions right down to the wire, but in the end YB’s outstanding quality showed as they prevailed and went on to win back-to-back titles.
2. Chelsea 1-1 (4-3 pens) Eintracht Frankfurt, 9 May 2019
In a close second place, my season finale turned out to be a gripping European semi-final tie. With Chelsea and Eintracht Frankfurt all square after the first leg in Germany, another 120 minutes of football couldn’t separate the two sides as it went to penalties.
In only my second penalty shootout ever, the Blues were 3-1 down at one point and looked to be bowing out of Europe. However, some heroics from Kepa Arrizabalaga and nerves of steel from poster boy Eden Hazard sent Chelsea off to Baku and the Matthew Harding Lower into bedlam.
1. Chelsea 2-1 (4-2 pens) Tottenham, 24 January 2019
My game of the season and my best Chelsea game ever, this Carabao Cup semi-final second leg was one to remember. After Chelsea dominated and went ahead on aggregate, Spurs took their only chance of the game and drew level on aggregate to send the game to penalties.
This was in fact my first ever penalty shootout, and to beat our arch rivals to reach a cup final was the perfect result. I’ve never experienced better atmosphere or celebrations at Stamford Bridge, in what was a fantastic game of football.
BEST GOAL
3. Gonzalo Higuaín (2nd goal), CHELSEA vs Huddersfield, 2 February 2019
An hour after scoring his debut goal, Higuaín netted a beauty. N’Golo Kanté laid off the ball on the edge of the box, and the Argentine sublimely curled the ball first time into the top corner to well and truly announce himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful.
2. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, CHELSEA vs Fulham, 2 December 2018
(Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Loftus-Cheek scored many super goals this season, but this was the pick of the bunch. The Lewisham Ballack finished off a wonderful team move, combining with Hazard and Pedro to cut open the Fulham defence and slot home in style.
1. Petr Ševčík (2nd goal), Chelsea vs SLAVIA PRAGUE, 18 April 2019
My goal of the season comes from Slavia Prague midfielder Petr Ševčík, for his stunning strike against Chelsea. Having just scored three minutes earlier, Ševčík made some space and drove his shot into the top corner, giving Arrizabalaga no chance with a sumptuous strike and therefore deservedly being named as my goal of the season. Sublime.
BEST MOMENT
3. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s first Chelsea goal vs PAOK, 29 November 2018
It was a proud moment to see Chelsea’s wonder boy Callum Hudson-Odoi score his first ever Chelsea goal. Right on the hour mark, the 18-year-old cut inside and placed his shot into the goalkeeper’s near post, in a wonderful moment for himself, the club and the fans.
2. Eden Hazard’s winning penalty vs Eintracht Frankfurt, 9 May 2019
It had to be, it was written in the stars. Eden Hazard, with possibly his last kick of a ball in a Chelsea shirt at Stamford Bridge, stepped up for the deciding penalty. Remaining as cool as ever, he calmly converted to send Chelsea into the Europa League final as Stamford Bridge erupted with joy.
1. David Luiz’s winning penalty vs Tottenham, 24 January 2019
This was the absolute pinnacle of the season. David Luiz scoring the winning penalty against our arch rivals to send us through to a cup final was a sight to savour- I will never forget that deathly silence as Luiz struck his penalty, and the celebrations I experienced in the Matthew Harding Lower- what a moment.
Looking back on it, 2018/19 was a wonderful season. So many memories, and for all the lows I experienced ecstatic highs. All the goals, the games, the joy and the despair perfectly encapsulated why I love football.
I know that next season will be even bigger and even better, with Chelsea returning to the Champions League and English football at its best. I cannot wait to do it all over again in August in the 2019/20 season- bring it on.
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