Chelsea FC: Can the Blues Win the Champions League This Season?

There will be very few Chelsea fans who will be happy with the way their team has performed in the Premier League this season.

Currently sitting in fifth place (level on points with sixth-place Newcastle United, a team who weren't even in the English top flight two seasons ago), the days of Jose lifting the Premier League trophy high above his "special" head seem like a distant dream.

However, despite this poor showing, form has been spectacularly different in the cup competitions. 

With an FA Cup semifinal against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur just around the corner and a Champions League semi against European (and world) champions Barcelona to come in the next few weeks, the season can yet be saved for the Blues.

With the record that Di Matteo's men possess in the FA Cup, one would have to make them the favourite to bring home the gold—although of course nothing should be taken for granted against a talented young Spurs team.

However, the real test of their abilities will come against the Spanish giants.

Messi and co. have had yet another record-breaking season.

Despite currently sitting four points behind the Galacticos in La Liga, the treble is very much still on for Barca.

Just a month-and-a-half ago, they were 10 points adrift and the Spanish league seemed all but over.

Now with seven matches left of their regular season, and a match against Madrid at the Camp Nou still to come—as well as a Copa Del Rey final against the impressive Atletico Bilbao—things seem bright for Pep Guardiola's boys.

So can Chelsea do what many think is impossible in this competition and beat the reigning champions?

My gut tells me yes.

Of course, Chelsea are completely outmatched in terms of pure skill and ability (as are most teams that take on Barca).

But if Terry—oh sorry, Di Matteo—gets his tactics right, anything is possible.

The great Jose Mourinho was the first man to coin the phrase "parking the bus" in his first season at the club.

This is exactly what Chelsea need to do to edge the tie.

Keep 10—or even 11—men behind the ball and don't give them an inch.

Don't get me wrong, it will be hard—hell, it will be near-impossible—to keep Barca out, but AC Milan showed in the first leg at the San Siro that it is possible.

In fact, had Milan taken some easy chances that night, things could have gone very differently in the fixture.

What will be crucial for Chelsea is taking the very few chances that Barca provide them with.

Also, whoever is marking Xavi has to keep the little man pressured whenever he gets the ball.

Of course, this won't stop him from putting in 90 percent pinpoint passes, but that's still better than the 99 percent he usually manages.

As for Messi...well, Messi is another caliber—but he is human!

Sticking close to him is the key and despite how tempting it might be, the crucial thing to remember is not to let more than two men get drawn in to him.

Messi has countless times drawn four or even five players towards him only to pass off to a completely open Villa or Sanchez to test the keeper (see attached video for proof...)

And remember, that's just the semis! If Chelsea make it through this, then it's a final against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid to come at the Allianz Arena (Bayern's home ground).

The final is of course a completely different atmosphere. 

It's decided on the day, no replays and no second legs.

This plays into Chelsea's hands. Whoever they face, they will be the underdogs and as history has shown, the underdogs take the glory a surprising amount in finals!

But the ultimate message is, Chelsea can do this. It's unlikely, but if this tournament and the English teams in it have shown us anything over the years, we are all capable of pulling off magic.

Good luck, Chelsea.