Boro fans afforded Colin Cooper an emotional welcome back before the veteran centre half revealed that he had planned to quit the game in the aftermath of his young son's tragic death in January.
Cooper's wife Julie talked him back to the training ground as the grieving couple fought to come to terms with two-year-old Finlay's death when he choked on a toy. She persuaded the former Millwall defender that life had to go on for them and their three daughters.
Cooper, visibly moved by the reception he received, admitted: 'I said I'd never play again. I just didn't feel as though I had the heart for it any more. It was as though I wasn't important any more. But you have to pull through.'
Cooper, ready now to see out the final year of his Boro contract, had a first-half goal ruled out for pushing and saw his attempted block on Boudewijn Zenden's 43rd-minute shot merely deflect Chelsea's second goal past Mark Schwarzer.
McClaren, whose spirits were lifted by young substitute Stuart Downing's promise, can see Chelsea prevailing in Cardiff. He said: 'They're a good team with quality players and it won't be easy for Arsenal. I wouldn't be averse to putting my money on Chelsea to pull off a shock.'
