The football world rightfully lauded Frank Lampard; the tireless trainer who continues to define the image of spirit and determination.
They praised the efforts of Didier Drogba; the old warhorse of the bygone era of Chelsea Football Club, for his destructive efforts in terrorising European defences.
But one man’s efforts have also not gone unnoticed, as the nimble Ramires gives Chelsea a taste of the new, as the old guard prepares for its last hurrah.
It’s a paradox of sorts, to be frank, as Lampard and Drogba typify the fight of an admittedly aging Chelsea side, that the fresh-faced Ramires, reflecting a carefree attitude, has perhaps been Chelsea’s most influential figure in this thrilling European journey.
His goofy smile reveals his braces, which immediately projects his youthfulness, but there was a moment last Tuesday evening, in that glorious night in Barcelona, where Chelsea fans glimpsed the Ramires of the future.
Following yet another lung-busting run before that exquisite chip over Victor Valdes, he looked skywards to the pocket of travelling Blues fans at Nou Camp, and pecked the Chelsea badge. It was a signal that he was a Chelsea player, and he was here to stay.
Of course, being Brazilian, a little samba dancing would accompany his celebration. However, in many ways Ramires has succeeded in breaking away from the typical Brazilian, Premier League mold.
The failures before him have been ravaged by the inability to physically confront the challenge, and often plagued by their temperamental tendencies.
The Blue Kenyan, as he is more affectionately known, bases his game off work ethic and consistency. Against Barcelona, as with almost every Premier League match, Ramires’ job is to simply be everywhere. He is a harrier in defence, unsettling the opposition playmakers, before busting forward to provide options for the pass.
His game is not yet complete, his finishing could do with some work, and sometimes he is a bit heavy on his first touch in close spaces, but he is improving in both areas.
After all, in these days of being a fan favourite at the bridge, it is easy to forget the difficulties he faced in his first season of English football.
His incredibly slight figure seemed easy to bully for opposition defenders, and he often seemed to struggle to read the fast pace of the English game, more accustomed to the slow build-up of many continental European competitions.
So what he has achieved since is all the more remarkable. Of the four Chelsea players suspended for their Champions League date with Munich on May 19, it could be argued that the absence of Ramires surpasses that of captain John Terry in terms of importance, such is his rise among the Chelsea ranks.
In fact, in the eight Premier League matches he has missed, Chelsea have won just one, that a lucky victory over Wigan not long ago.
Still, with the race for fourth going down to the wire, the Brazilian international is vital in Chelsea’s hopes of guaranteeing UEFA Champions League football next season. The visit of Newcastle is followed by a trip to Liverpool, with the FA Cup final sandwiched in between.
His admirers are becoming plentiful. Roberto Di Matteo, the architect of this stunning Chelsea turnaround knows the importance of Ramires to his side, but still, he cannot gain a place in a Brazil side, despite the local media pleading for his inclusion.
The former Brazil coach Dunga held the midfielder in such high esteem that he maintains that had Ramires not been absent through suspension in their World Cup quarter final against Germany, the result would’ve been very different.
And so, parallels are obviously drawn to the Champions League final in just under three weeks time. Ramires will be missing, and Chelsea fans just hope that, like Dunga, Di Matteo isn’t left to rue a petty yellow card for his man in Barcelona.
In a season of ups and downs for the Blues, Ramires has been a story of consistency throughout.
At the Bridge this week, Chelsea fans sang, ‘We need a song for Ramires’. Indeed they do.
All hail the Chelsea old guard, but don’t forget about the diminutive Brazilian, Chelsea’s player of the year.
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