Let the exodus begin

As Chelsea's 2008 season comes to nothing and billionaire owner Roman Abramovich sees his dream of lifting the European Cup end in tears, the question now is will the Blues' heartbreaking defeat to Manchester United be the beginning of the end for Chelsea?

Or will Abramovich, who many believe could walk away from the club just as quickly as he suddenly appeared to bankroll the underachieving London club to such an extent that they have become one of England and Europe's best teams, spend up even more and be even more determined to see Chelsea become the first London club to lift the biggest prize in European football?

That could happen but right now there are plenty of question marks hanging over Chelsea - amidst speculation the galaxy of stars at Stamford Bridge could soon be heading out the door.

And as for manager Avram Grant - surely he cannot survive a season in which Chelsea, for all their millions of spending on superstar players, has won NOTHING.

It has been a year of what could have been for the Blues - runners-up in the English Premier League to Manchester United, runner-up in the League Cup Final when hot favourites against Tottenham and beaten on penalties in the final of the European Champions League by United.

Already there is talk that striker Didier Drogba - whose ridiculous sending off in extra time again cast a question mark over his big match temperament and crucially prevented him from taking a penalty in the decisive shoot-out - has been linked with a move to Italy as has the heartbeat of the Blues' side in top-scoring midfielder Frank Lampard.

Lampard claims he wants to stay at Chelsea yet the two parties have been at loggerheads all season over his contract.

And then there are players such as Shaun Wright-Phillips, Julian Belletti, Andrei Shevchenko and quality back-up keeper Carlo Cudicini - who have struggled for opportunities and may be looking for a move elsewhere.

As for Grant, this crushing defeat will almost certainly ensure he is axed by the powerful Abramovich - even though he took Chelsea into its first European Champions League Final, something even his charismatic predecessor Jose Mourinho could not achieve.

But in the end the low-profile Grant could not deliver a trophy this season for Chelsea and that will surely be unacceptable to Abramovich - who right from the outset has been very much hands-on in his running of the club.

However while disappointed Chelsea fans around the globe ponder whether their club will emerge stronger from such a heartbreaking season or begin to see their star-studded team of recent seasons break-up - United fans can rightly celebrate one of the famous club's greatest achievements.

The Red Devils' veteran manager Sir Alex Ferguson can now be rightfully be acclaimed one of the greatest managers in the history of the game after adding a second European title to his 10 English Premier League titles and five FA Cup triumphs.

It seems Ferguson, manager of United for the past 22 years, won't be satisfied until he tops Liverpool's record of 18 English titles and five European titles but with 17 and three respectively - the Red Devils are closing in fast and it was almost as if it was meant to be for United this season in what was the 50th anniversary season of the 1958 Munich air disaster and the 40th anniversary of the club's first European success in 1968.