Champions League: Chelsea is in pole position
If somebody say this few weeks back, the response will be either exclamatory or rejection. But last Saturday, the match between Chelsea and Manchester United changed all equations. Now the question is who will take the league title and who will reach in the final of Champions League. A couple of weeks back, United was in an amazing form and their players were doing very well. Injury crisis was considerably low to the squad and form of the squad was at peak. Suddenly, we saw the defensive partnership between Rio Ferdinand and Vidic were departed due to injury to the later. This affected their prospectus in the away match of Champions league Semi-finals against Barcelona. Then they lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week and also lost two key players, Rooney and Vidic, for the next match, which is the second leg of Champions League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea slowly picked up their form in between started showing their abilities against big teams. Their lost to Spurs in the Carling Cup final was the low patch and after that they gained enough confidence to face strong opponents. They defeated Arsenal and Manchester United in the league and gained a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool. One away goal is certainly an advantage to a team like Chelsea. They have better chance to go further and grab the trophy this time.
Liverpool, who mastered in Champions League are facing a tough task. Rafael Benitez, the manager of Liverpool is known as the master of Champions League and he took his team to success three years ago and also took them to the finals of last year against AC Milan. Credentials of Benitez is much higher than his opponent Avram Grant of Chelsea. Still, the depth of the squad, advantage in the first leg, form of players etc. supports Chelsea. Against Arsenal, Liverpool had same advantage which is troubling him against Chelsea. Arsenal had better attacking unit but their defense was very poor. Though, Arsenal had a slight advantage in the first leg, they lost out to Liverpool in second leg, just because of their poor defense performance and inexperience of squad. While, Chelsea has all those things which was lacking with Arsenal. Their squad is experienced, mid field is good enough to attach any team and equally good to come down and support the defense. Defense unit of Chelsea is much stronger than Arsenal and they have few players who can play in any position and get result. Apart from these, Chelsea hasn’t lost any home match for quiet long time at Stamford Bridge.
So, the second leg semi-finals between Chelsea and Liverpool will be more comfortable to Chelsea. They will have a full strength squad which includes Frank Lampard and Michel Essien who were missing in the last match against United. Influence of in-form Ballack will add more woes to Liverpool. Within last three years, Liverpool and Chelsea faced each other in the semi-finals of Champions league twice and in both occasions, Liverpool was successful. This time, things are not going in favour to Liverpool and they lost their golden chance to keep an upper hand on the second leg by losing one goal advantage.
Pundits like Alen Hansen also started saying Chelsea have better chance in this year against Liverpool. But, he still believes that United is the best team and they will manage to defeat Barcelona in the second leg and reach in the finals in Moscow. Yes, they were stronger and favorites in the beginning of April. But, their two draws in the EPL and CL raising some question marks on the ability of the squad on big occasions. Sir Alex is a seasoned campaigner and shrewd manager with enough experience in top level. Still, the incidents occurred in the match against Chelsea and injury of Wayne Rooney and Vidic creates much worries for United. Their goalless draw at Nou Camp was not a great result for a team like United. It was Barca’s terrain but like Arsenal, Barcelona is also badly known for their fragile defense. There, Manchester United failed to gain a goal matters a lot in the second leg. Barcelona possess a very strong attacking unit and their players like Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, and Therry Henry. Absence of Ronaldinho will be a big relief for United but Barca found another lethal weapon in Bojan, who is capable in getting goal from difficult positions.
In the second leg, Manchester has to face few unwanted things. One is dipping form of Christiano Ronaldo –the most influential players of United for long time. His penalty miss in the first leg of CL last week raises few questions about his ability to show up in big occasions. Injury of Wayne Rooney will be a big problem for their attack, but this lose will be much more for overall team performance. Rooney is known as an effective striker but his performance never ends with getting goals. He is the first person who retracts down to the pitch to support his defenders and also wins balls from the opposition midfielders. In his absence, United are losing one most influential players on pitch. If United makes any mistake in the match, I am sure they will badly punished by Barcelona. United are still in the fight of English league Championship and Barcelona is completely out from the race. Champions League will remain as the last hope for a silver ware for this season for Barcelona. So, they will do their best to gain it and most probably they will reach in Moscow against Chelsea.
If Chelsea wins Semi-Final against Liverpool, Avram Grant will achieve what his predecessor failed to reach. But he should be thankful to Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranierri, from whom he received this existing squad. Michel Ballack will be key player to open up the game against Liverpool tomorrow and he will remain as the key player for upcoming games. Still, Chelsea can land up the double this time but it is better to focus on one, which especially eluded them for quiet long time. I still believe, Manchester United will remain in the top of Premier League and Chelsea will either lose a point of will lose out to United on goal average.
Meanwhile, Chelsea slowly picked up their form in between started showing their abilities against big teams. Their lost to Spurs in the Carling Cup final was the low patch and after that they gained enough confidence to face strong opponents. They defeated Arsenal and Manchester United in the league and gained a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool. One away goal is certainly an advantage to a team like Chelsea. They have better chance to go further and grab the trophy this time.
Liverpool, who mastered in Champions League are facing a tough task. Rafael Benitez, the manager of Liverpool is known as the master of Champions League and he took his team to success three years ago and also took them to the finals of last year against AC Milan. Credentials of Benitez is much higher than his opponent Avram Grant of Chelsea. Still, the depth of the squad, advantage in the first leg, form of players etc. supports Chelsea. Against Arsenal, Liverpool had same advantage which is troubling him against Chelsea. Arsenal had better attacking unit but their defense was very poor. Though, Arsenal had a slight advantage in the first leg, they lost out to Liverpool in second leg, just because of their poor defense performance and inexperience of squad. While, Chelsea has all those things which was lacking with Arsenal. Their squad is experienced, mid field is good enough to attach any team and equally good to come down and support the defense. Defense unit of Chelsea is much stronger than Arsenal and they have few players who can play in any position and get result. Apart from these, Chelsea hasn’t lost any home match for quiet long time at Stamford Bridge.
So, the second leg semi-finals between Chelsea and Liverpool will be more comfortable to Chelsea. They will have a full strength squad which includes Frank Lampard and Michel Essien who were missing in the last match against United. Influence of in-form Ballack will add more woes to Liverpool. Within last three years, Liverpool and Chelsea faced each other in the semi-finals of Champions league twice and in both occasions, Liverpool was successful. This time, things are not going in favour to Liverpool and they lost their golden chance to keep an upper hand on the second leg by losing one goal advantage.
Pundits like Alen Hansen also started saying Chelsea have better chance in this year against Liverpool. But, he still believes that United is the best team and they will manage to defeat Barcelona in the second leg and reach in the finals in Moscow. Yes, they were stronger and favorites in the beginning of April. But, their two draws in the EPL and CL raising some question marks on the ability of the squad on big occasions. Sir Alex is a seasoned campaigner and shrewd manager with enough experience in top level. Still, the incidents occurred in the match against Chelsea and injury of Wayne Rooney and Vidic creates much worries for United. Their goalless draw at Nou Camp was not a great result for a team like United. It was Barca’s terrain but like Arsenal, Barcelona is also badly known for their fragile defense. There, Manchester United failed to gain a goal matters a lot in the second leg. Barcelona possess a very strong attacking unit and their players like Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, and Therry Henry. Absence of Ronaldinho will be a big relief for United but Barca found another lethal weapon in Bojan, who is capable in getting goal from difficult positions.
In the second leg, Manchester has to face few unwanted things. One is dipping form of Christiano Ronaldo –the most influential players of United for long time. His penalty miss in the first leg of CL last week raises few questions about his ability to show up in big occasions. Injury of Wayne Rooney will be a big problem for their attack, but this lose will be much more for overall team performance. Rooney is known as an effective striker but his performance never ends with getting goals. He is the first person who retracts down to the pitch to support his defenders and also wins balls from the opposition midfielders. In his absence, United are losing one most influential players on pitch. If United makes any mistake in the match, I am sure they will badly punished by Barcelona. United are still in the fight of English league Championship and Barcelona is completely out from the race. Champions League will remain as the last hope for a silver ware for this season for Barcelona. So, they will do their best to gain it and most probably they will reach in Moscow against Chelsea.
If Chelsea wins Semi-Final against Liverpool, Avram Grant will achieve what his predecessor failed to reach. But he should be thankful to Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranierri, from whom he received this existing squad. Michel Ballack will be key player to open up the game against Liverpool tomorrow and he will remain as the key player for upcoming games. Still, Chelsea can land up the double this time but it is better to focus on one, which especially eluded them for quiet long time. I still believe, Manchester United will remain in the top of Premier League and Chelsea will either lose a point of will lose out to United on goal average.
1 comment:
thats a good analytical piece. should think of sports journalism as alternative!
anoop
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