Cudicini became the favorite of a big fans for his nine years as a blues player before he followed a number of roles in the club after his retirement.
The former AC Milan Shot stopper had helped Chelsea to establish ourselves as a top four club prior to the start of the 2004/05 season, with fourth and then second place in the Premier League.
The arrival of Petr Cech in the summer of 2004 meant that the possibilities of the first team became more difficult to come by, but Cudicini remained an important member of a team who was going to win with the first Premier League title of Chelsea with the record track of clean sheets (24) and some goals will never be broken.
Monday (March 9, 2025) marked the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Chelsea Football Club, so what a better time is to think about a really remarkable campaign that will live for a long time in the memories of players and fans.
The summer of 2004 saw the arrival of Jose Mourinho. What did you think of Jose when he arrived, especially after that famous first press conference?
“He clearly came across as a very confident man. Personally, I have always learned that until you got to know that person face-to-face, it is hard to make a judgment.
“The impact he had on the team from the first day was huge. He immediately tried to set up a winning mentality. His arrogance was – in a fun way – to be arrogant towards the opposition and to recognize how strong we were.
“That was the most important piece, but it was also the way he would prepare things. His training sessions were completely different from Claudio Ranieri, the preparations for the games, the slides, the meetings for the competitions, it was all a relief.
“You could see from the preseason in LA that there was one way and that was the winning way, there was no doubt.”
Did players enjoyed playing under Mourinho?
'Yes. There were no long runs, it was a different type of preparation in the preseason. There were many games and ball work and I am sure that you as a player enjoy it more than anything. As goalkeepers it doesn't change much in terms of training, but there was a big difference for the outfield players. '
What were the most important differences Mourinho made after his arrival?
'The change in mentality, the different approach to the training sessions – where it always concerned the balls – the meetings, even the graphics he would show in meetings – it was all new and all very welcomed by American players.
“After that you had to achieve results and we did that immediately, what a huge help was with the trust of the team and the confidence in the manager.”
Petr Cech arrived in the summer of 2004. How was that for you personally, because it was the number 1, but then the club drew a highly rated keeper?
“The fact that the club brought another keeper was just competition. It was not as if I was against it or was afraid of it, but I had a difficult preseason. There was a long gap between the end of the previous season and the start of the new ones because of the euros, so we had about six weeks off, then I had a physical problem in the preseason and when we arrived at the first game, the manager Petr.
'I was not the happiest man on earth, as you could imagine, but I have always been a team player and I tried to show my upset and my disappointment on the field by training hard every day and trying to put doubts in the coaches when it came to selection.
“But Petr had an incredible season. We have admitted around 15 goals and have the Premier League record for clean sheets, so I couldn't do much.
'The manager trusted me, he gave me opportunities in the FA Cup and things like that. However, it was not my happiest season, because even when I played against Newcastle, I was sent and it was the game for the final of the League Cup when I was the intention to play.
“But regardless of that, it was a very successful season as a team and that is the most important thing.”
How was your relationship with Petr? Are you well together?
'Initially we did not know each other, but I had been long enough to know that keepers work as a group and it was a very competitive environment that the manager had wanted. I pushed Petr very hard and in a way that probably helped him to do his best and to be excellent for the team.
'Over the years we have got to know each other much better. We became very good friends, and it is a friendship that is still there today. We can find it very well. '
How were those early months of the season? Could you see that there was a feeling of momentum structure?
'Without a doubt. There is nothing better than getting results if you have a new manager, with new ideas and a very strong winning mentality. We had a great start and we carried that on and created a good momentum during the Christmas season and then you suddenly start to believe it will happen.
'Don't forget the year before we finished second and the season that we were fourth, so we got close but not close enough to win it. So there was a big desire to come to the finish line.
'That season, with that momentum and the second half of the season, we just knew that we would win every game and it was a rolling effect that went in every game.
'Fits Christmas, the team just flew and the trust was really high. We were almost unstoppable. '
You said it might not be the best season personally on the field, but was it still a special season for you?
'I had won a title with AC Milan, but because of the importance of this first Premier League win for Chelsea, it was an incredible achievement. After 50 years there were so many people who had been working for the club for so long who could celebrate that performance and it was more for them.
“People had been working for the club for a long time and they saw them being able to win after winning the title after so many years, it was without a doubt appreciation for them and a big achievement for the team.”
Where does this achievement rank in terms of your career performance?
“It is clear that it is very high. Although I was on the field as much as I had wanted, you are still part of the team and push your teammates into training every day, motivate the players in the dressing room before matches or after competitions that may not rely on you.
“Certainly, returning the title back to Stamford Bridge after 50 years was one of my proud moments.”
How special was that 2004/05 team? You played in so many great teams, where did that one rank?
'It would be unfair to say that one team was better than the other, but it was a special time. The spine of that team, with Petr, JT, Frank and Didier, also had incredible players around them. That generation and the team that went back-to-back were a great team that turned out to be a winning team. '
Carlo is one of the many players who are on line for Chelsea Legends versus Liverpool Legends on Saturday 22 March.
The game at Anfield will raise money for the Chelsea Foundation and in particular the Trust of Chelsea Players, who supports the well -being of those who have made the club what it is today. Tickets for the competition are now for sale.
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