Demba Ba: Chelsea players didn’t enjoy ruining Liverpool’s title dream in 2014
Chelsea did not enjoy breaking Liverpool’s hearts in 2014 by winning 2-0 at Anfield, according to Demba Ba, but the former striker insists he feels no guilt despite pouncing on a humiliating Steven Gerrard slip.
Jose Mourinho’s side punished a sloppy Reds outfit who were inches away from sealing a first title win in decades as they battled with Manchester City in the final games of the season, and Chelsea proved to be their final stumbling block.
Goals from Ba and Willian, both from counterattacks, ensured a day of misery for Liverpool fans that will go down in Premier League history – with City going on to win the league after Brendan Rodgers’ men imploded.
Liverpool would go on to surrender a 3-0 lead against Crystal Palace in the following game to hand their rivals the crown.
Speaking to the Athletic, Ba said the Blues took no pleasure from causing the heartbreak and just savoured the three points – and admits had no clue the game held so much significance until a few years had passed.
“It was traumatic for them but we didn’t enjoy the fact that we killed their dream, we simply enjoyed winning.
“‘I only realised how big a deal that was a couple of years later, when people still talked about it. They still talk about it!,” he said.
Ba played for just two seasons at Stamford Bridge, having been a surprise signing from Newcastle in 2012 – playing 51 games and scoring 14 times across that period – and he endured a rare trophyless patch during that time as the Blues struggled briefly after winning the Champions League in 2011-12.