http://www.chelseafc.com/Player.asp?plid=7029

PLAYER PROFILES

Hernan Crespo


     In their hearts most Chelsea fans believed they had seen the last of
the Argentine striker when he left for Milan on loan at the end of a mixed
bag season at Stamford Bridge.


     But a year later Hernan is back — and with a vengeance — his
spectacular final seconds winner at Wigan the best way possible to
announce to the Premiership that he means business.


     Hernan was the big name striker signed in the summer of Roman
Abramovich's takeover — ￡16.8 million paid for our equivalent of a Real
Madrid 'galactico'.


     On the face of it his first year in London wasn't a total
disappointment. He scored 13 times in 21+12 appearances, finding the net on
the big occasions - a wonder goal at Highbury, an opener in the thumping of
Lazio in Rome and an away goal in the Champions League semi-final included.
However behind the scenes the striker and his family were struggling to
come to terms with some aspects of life at Chelsea and in London.


     It was no surprise that when the decision was taken for Hernan to
spend last season on loan, the destination was the same Italian league in
which he had built his big reputation.


     Twice a league champion in his homeland of Argentina and a winner of
the Libertadores Cup (the South American equivalent of the Champions
League) when he scored twice in the Final, he moved to Serie A with Parma
during that club's golden period, winning the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia
and finishing second the table.


     Seventy-four goal in four seasons in a league not known for gifting
chances tempted Lazio to splash a world record ￡37 million for his
signature, their reward a Serie A top-scoring season of 26 goals in 32
games.


     But poor finances hit the Rome-club hard and in 2002, Internazionale
chose Hernan to replace Madrid-bound Ronaldo. He got off to a flier with
nine goals in eight Champions League games before a three-month injury
lay-off intervened and then the Chelsea offer brought an end to short
one-year stay with the Nerazzurri. His Serie A goal record at that point
stood at a hugely impressive 108 goals in 188 games.


     His return to the San Siro with Inter's red-and-black clad city
rivals peaked with a Champions League run to the Final, his two goals
having knocked out Man United on the way. Against Liverpool at the climax,
he echoed his Libertadores Cup experience by again scoring twice but this
time, as the whole world knows, he would ultimately be very disappointed.


     Strong in the air and famed for his movement off the ball, Hernan is
a classic penalty area predator, although as his weaker-foot strike at
Wiganproved, defenders should not relax when he aims from distance.


     His talents have found a fan in Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea boss
opting to bring him back from Milan rather than continue the search for a
new signing. With the player having succeeded the legendary Batistuta at
international level and Argentine hopes high for the World Cup in 2006,
Hernan will be desperate for a productive season leading up to the
tournament.


     He has indicated that life under Mourinho at the new Cobham training
facility is more to his liking that his prior Chelsea experience. If that
is the case, Chelsea can only benefit from the contribution of one of the
world's top marksmen.