Archive for champions league
Red Devils Rejoice
Manchester United hoisted its 3rd UEFA Champions League trophy in Moscow today after narrowly defeating bete noire Cheslea FC 6-5 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 stalemate in normal and extra time. The scoreline, however, belied Chelsea’s increasing domination of the game, especially towards the latter stages of normal and extra time.
Soccernet’s Richard Jolly comments on Chelsea’s loss and, in his eyes, United’s deserved the accolades. He points out eloquently,
“Tradition triumphed as, in a country overflowing with new money, the nouveau riche came off second best.”
Hubbard, one of Soccernet’s many erduite and insightful writers, is, of course, referring to Chelsea and its billionaire owner/oil magnate Roman Abramovich. Abramovich has spent truly inordinate amounts on new players during each of the transfer periods he has oversaw, and after this heartbreaking loss, this close-season will surely prove no exception, with beleagured Israeli boss Avram Grant eying a discontented Ronaldinho and Kaka.
Grant deserves more plaudits than his effusively praised counterpart, Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson. Admittedly lacking a personality comparable to charismatic predecessor Jose Mourinho, Grant has attained something the celebrated Mourinho never did: an appearance in the Champions League final. Although falling to United, Grant steadied the unsettled dark-blue London outfit to remarkable second place finish in the Barclay’s Premier League as well. In first place? Ferguson’s Manchester United.
Obviously winning the hallowed double, a Champions League and Premier League trophy, is no simple feat. Nevertheless, the more hands-off approach employed by the Glazer family has proved far easier for coaches to work with, juxtaposed against Abramovich’s intrusive, meddling methods towards managing his expensive team. Facing scrutiny from Abramovich and the media, former Chelsea boss Mourinho found his job untenable and and himself unable to develope the type of rapport with his aloof Russian boss that the Glazers and Ferguson have enjoyed.
how inglorious the end
John Arne Riise’s late own goal in the 95th minute (the last minute of stoppage time!!) doomed European giants Liverpool to a 1-1 draw withLondon rivals Chelsea just a few hours ago. To be fair, a lucky bounce coupled with an uncharacteristic comedy of errors helped Dutch winger Dirk Kuyt’s opening goal bounce under Petr Cech, but then again, Kuyt’s immense work rate facilitated the play in the first place.
The match at Anfield proved a cagey one, as the British commentators on ESPN2 would say — that is, not exactly the most exhilarating. Tomorrow’s affair at the Camp Nou between hosts Barcelona and the sublime Manchester United will hopefully be more entertaining. United enter the match led by their supremely confident talisman, the scintillating Portugese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, while their Catalan opponents are in disarray, as clubhouse factions between the Brazilians and others at the club have escalated in recent weeks, climaxing with revelations from the team’s economic adviser (and really famous Columbia university professor) Xavier Sala-i-Martin. (Please click that link – his webpage is incredibly funny for such a venerable economist, replete with outrageous pictures of him and beavis and butthead, among other things) The economist reported that the club has been labeling players such as the (previously) irreplaceable Ronaldinho as injured in order to keep the out of the squad –when they are actually not. Ronaldinhois set to put pen to paper with AC Milan at the season’s close.
Tomorrow: Manchester United v Barcelona. 2.30 ET. ESPN2. Prediction: Man Utd 2-1.
Ah Finally: Here’s video of the tremendous own goal. Wow. Hopefully this video will still be working in a few hours, UEFA and the Premier league are notorious for taking down soccer videos due to copyright claims.
what we’re watching (updated)
THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RETURNS.
Liverpool FC vs. Inter Milan
Tue., Feb. 19 at 2:30 pm ET
Winner: Liverpool 2-0 in dramatic fashion, scoring both goals in the closing minutes after a tedious first half noted only for the sending-off of Marco Materazzi (infamous for his role in the 2006 World Cup Final Head-butt). Roma shocked Real Madrid 2-1 in Rome while Chelsea and Olimpiakos drew 0-0.
Arsenal FC vs. AC Milan
Wed., Feb. 20 at 2:30 pm ET
And in honor of the oft-injured Ronaldo, here’s one of his best games, scoring a hat-trick against Manchester United in the Champions League. (To novices, the Champions League is European Soccer’s NCAA tournament, except exponentially bigger. The best sides from the best European leagues square off in a group stage and then a knockout round to determine the best team in Europe. AC Milan are the current holders.)
Shaj Mathew
kahutzler
