Here we are again then, probably for the final time we arrive back in Portugal to see how the Brits Abroad are getting on in their quest to hold every title possible. Last week, we retained the European Super Cup and the World Club Cup. If we can retain the league, the cup, the Champions League and then win Euro 2004, well that’s the lot. There’ll be a statue of me outside Champman Studios I’m sure. Christmas preparation is in full swing in these towers. My son is obsessed with advent chocolates and my 11 month old is teething so enjoys eating her hand and screaming. We’ve all been there. As for me, I have no idea what’s wrong with me but my temperature is up and down and my throat is like razorblades. Merry Winter to you all, let’s football.

Here’s a reminder of the squad, not overly sure it’s necessary but it’s nice to see what you’re dealing with.

Lovely news to start with. Tricky Trev is going to be struggling for Euro 2004 at this rate.

Reinforcements arrive in the shape of Jamie Day. The ex-Arsenal youngster is available for a mere £7.5m but with Staton not up to the task of Redknapp understudy, I need to improve our chances not only now but at the Euros.

Right, to business and Feirense are brushed aside.

Off to Moscow for the Champions League quarters and in what promises to be a busy time of season for us, winning this so handsomely means the return leg will allow us to rotate.

Goodness. I wouldn’t rule these cockroaches out just yet but they’ve got it all to do.

From 2-0 up, I expected to win this. Curtis plays his part in making sure we don’t despite being the man to put us 2-0 up.

More men in green now as perennial rivals Sporting welcome us to their home. From 1-0 up at half time, the damned Icelandic regen equalises and when Leandro makes it 2-1, that’s probably the end of the dream. Not for these boys. Gallen smashes in a rebound from a corner and a replay (after extra time) offers some hope.

Fowler’s at the double to see off Melveira.

A rotated line up sees Dion Dublin net a Champions League goal aged 34 but we plod to a draw. No harm done, we’re through 5-1 on aggregate.

Valencia did see off Sporting but Real Madrid and Ajax loom large.

Real Madrid it is. They have Alfonso and Ronaldo up front, so that’ll be fun.

Varzim come close to taking a point after our usual profligacy is punished 12 minutes from time Luckily, Owen and Gallen dig us out.

Porto arrive and as usual give as good as they get. I’ll take a point, given what is looming.

Over 100,000 people are in the Bernabeu to see Martin Smith of Denmark give the home side the lead. Phil Neville sees red and we prepare for a backs against the wall hour or so. Fowler snaffles a leveller though and somehow Abbey keeps out Ronaldo and co to give us a pretty great result.

Some points are better than others. Two more dropped here.

Replay time now and thankfully Gallen & Fowler are at their best to give us a 4-0 lead. Page takes pity on them late on but it’s not even a consolation. One hurdle dodged. Do you dodge hurdles?

Obviously the other part of the mighty three await us in the final. If that’s at our place, we might struggle.

Day’s first goal for the club is enough to edge past relegation threatened Braga. It’s points not results I care about at this stage.

This helps.

6 ahead with 5 to play.

The return leg with Real Madrid brings a whole new set of problems. So many injuries and suspensions. I have to play Le Tissier in this huge game, not ideal but when the choice is between him, Deane and Tomlinson…Real Madrid must be loving it.

When Anderton departs we are yet another right sided player down but it is fortunate their centre half has already been sent off. Despite our best efforts, Barthez repels 10 of our shots with a further 9 off target. The away goal gets us through. Phew.

Didn’t expect that! Valencia in the final.

This is more expected. Anderton’s Euro 2004 hopes are over, I would suggest.

This is a poor result even if I am amused by the winner being scored by Rogerio Murdock. What a name. Problems for us though.

1 goal in three games doesn’t exactly fill me with joy ahead of the defining month of the season.

Starting with the Cup final against Porto

I spoke many times about my fear of the cup curse and on the face of it, you’d think this was just a narrow defeat.

This is not normal.

So the dream of holding every trophy is over, but I feel it was always unlikely with this sort of tomfoolery afoot. On we go.

Two days later (!) and it’s Sporting at home. A tired performance. The goals have dried up. It’s a panic.

We’re ahead by two goals with 3 to play.

So many questions here.

A gutsy win at 7th placed Maritimo gets us back on track.

Sporting won 3-0…we’re top on goals scored.

Only 1-0 against Felgueiras. Owen scored a second late on which was disallowed. Sporting won 3-0, so we’re off the top with one to play.

We have to forget about that for a few days as we head to Rotterdam, or anywhere, Liverpool or Rome. No, it is Rotterdam. The Champions League final sees Gallen rediscover that form of old that made us all fall in love with him. A first half hat-trick and a romantic goal for the previously stricken Tricky Trev. Champions.

We need a big score away at relegation threatened Alverca and we get it. For context, Zamora is their goalkeeper. When they get it back to 3-2 at half time I am livid but the circumstances of them needing to win and us needing lots of goals and having an extra man mean we get what we wanted. A 6 goal swing then, which puts us 4 ahead. You wouldn’t rule it out.

Phew.

Champions by…wait, what?

Hahaha my lads all have to go to Euro 2004 and if we make the final we have to be sober by July 7th. This ruddy game. Problem is as well, we’re at home for that playoff and you know how the cup curse works.

The squad is named for the Euros. Anderton didn’t make it, obviously.

Sakes.

No point calling anybody in, we already have our best men on the job. Not playing any warm ups either, these lads need ice baths and rest not 90 minutes with Spain or Chile or whatever the FA have up their sleeves.

Consider our marker down, lads. 5-0 doesn’t flatter us.

Russia and Belgium draw 0-0 which further heightens our chances.

Phew. Ex-Benfica keeper Ovtchinnikov (now at Chesterfield) plays a wonderful first half but we keep our cool to come from behind and win. We’re through, and probably top based on our escapades against Germany.

A scratch team narrowly loses to Belgium.

Hurrah.

Boo. Although France would have been worse.

Big idiot that I am, I brought Fowler on to try and get a point in the last game and he got booked. So he’s out of the Spain game and Gallen is still a week away. A graphic tells me Anderton has recovered, which is irrelevant.

What a performance. Mr Reliable comes up with the good again.

Urgh. Thorpe is banned too.

NO. NOT THE SKIPPER.

Do it for John, lads.

They did! I Carnot believe it. Hosts Italy await in the final.

100%. His only game of the tournament will be the final.

There is little choice.

Once more into the breach, you heroes.

It takes penalties. Abbey saves on in extra time but then two more in the shootout (and one wide). Bridges fluffs his lines…Thorpe doesn’t. We’ve done it!

All of that with Michael Dangleberry at centre half. My word.

Right, back to Portugal now.

I want the last screenshot of this journey to be the decider. It’s been a long journey that started many years ago, had a break in the middle and then came back stronger. Thank you all for reading this over the last few months. It’s been great fun. The blog will be back on Wednesday with the 2023 CM Cup, but for now, here’s how we did:

(oh and obligatory awards picture)