<P> Gullit capped an impressive first season in management by leading Chelsea to their highest league placing since 1990 (sixth) and winning the FA Cup, ending the club's 26 - year wait for a major trophy . The most memorable match of the run was a fourth round comeback against Liverpool, in which Chelsea, inspired by Hughes, overturned a 2--0 half - time deficit to win 4--2 . The 2--0 victory over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley got off to a frantic start with Di Matteo scoring after 43 seconds; Eddie Newton's late goal clinched it . The win was a happy end to a season which had looked to be dominated by sadness after the death in October of popular director and financial benefactor Matthew Harding in a helicopter crash following a League Cup match against Bolton Wanderers . </P> <P> Gullit was suddenly sacked in February 1998, ostensibly after a contract dispute, with the team second in the Premiership, and in the semi-finals of two cup competitions . Another player - manager was appointed, the 33 - year - old Vialli . Vialli began his management career in style by winning two trophies in two months . The League Cup was secured with another 2--0 win over Middlesbrough at Wembley (with Di Matteo again on the scoresheet). Chelsea reached the Cup Winners' Cup final following a dramatic semi-final win against Vicenza . Having lost the away leg 1--0 and then conceded an away goal, Chelsea bounced back to win 3--1 on the night and go through, with Hughes again the catalyst . They won their second Cup Winners' Cup title with a 1--0 victory against VfB Stuttgart at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm, with Zola scoring with his first touch having been on the pitch for just 17 seconds . Following that, Vialli led the club to a 1--0 win over European champions Real Madrid in the Super Cup at the Stade Louis II in Monaco . </P> <P> During the 1998--99 Premiership campaign, Chelsea made their first sustained challenge for the title for years . Despite an opening day loss against Coventry City, the side were not beaten in the League again until January and topped the table at Christmas . Their title chances eventually disappeared after a home loss to West Ham and consecutive draws against Middlesbrough, Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday in April, which saw the Blues finish third, four points behind winners Manchester United . A season which promised much ultimately ended trophyless, with Chelsea's defence of their Cup Winners' Cup title ending in a semi-final loss against Mallorca while they were knocked out of both the other cups in the quarter - finals . Third place in the league was nevertheless high enough for a first - ever appearance in the Champions League . </P> <P> Forty - four years after being denied entry to the inaugural championship, Chelsea made their debut in Europe's premier competition in August 1999 and they put in a series of impressive performances en route to a quarter - final tie against Barcelona . It included memorable draws at the San Siro and the Stadio Olimpico against Milan and Lazio respectively, as well as a thumping 5--0 win against Turkish side Galatasaray at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium . During the first leg of the quarter - final against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea took a 3--0 lead, only to concede a late Luís Figo away goal . Trailing 2--1 during the second leg at the Camp Nou, the team were just seven minutes away from the semi-finals, but conceded a third and were eventually beaten 5--1 after extra time, losing 6--4 on aggregate . </P>

Did chelsea win premier league back to back