Confederation Cup is
over and the football world is back in the League fixtures. Latin America and
Africa produces the best talents in football but Europe is the place where they
have to prove their worth. World Cup is very near and it is essential for a
player to get into a good club and play maximum game in the highest level. So,
there is a surge in the players market and clubs are also preparing to buy the
best talent or best future talent. By mid August, European leagues will start
and by the beginning of September the transfer window will be closed. Before
the start of Champions League and other league games, most of the clubs wants
to complete their transfer efforts and prepare for the next season.
What are the
specialities for the next season? Apart from World Cup year, it is about the
absence of two people. Yes, absence of Sir Alex Ferguson is something makes the
football world completely different. Legacy of Manchester United was that they
stood with their manager when he was struggling to build up a proper team in
the initial four years and the legacy of Sir Alex was he prepared the club
through his unparallel service with success. End of Ferguson era means an end
of a tradition that consists a long list of items i.e., team building method,
discipline of players, guts to challenge anyone, ability to define and redefine
the game plans, mind games, and ruthless decisions. In a league where managers
are the first scapegoat for any failure of the team makes Ferguson’s
achievement remarkable. He was there with Manchester United for more than two
and a half decades and took them to the maximum height they could reach. Sir
Alex achieved everything he could reach in club football. Under his managerial
career, Manchester United won the league title for 13 times, FA cups five times
and UEFA Champions League twice.
By selecting David Moyes
as the successor of Sir Alex, Manchester United made it clear that they will
continue their traditional approach in supporting manager. This is what
Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs deliberately forgot.
David Moyes has big tasks to come across and most crucial one is coming out
from the shadows of Sir Alex and become a success in Old Trafford. He has to
establish his own approach to develop a successful team, game plan and
engagement with clubs’ loyal supports. Bench mark of success in Manchester
United is much above than any other team in the league. The club expects that
he will deliver it and continue for a long tenure like Sir Alex.
The second absence was
unexpected. Tito Vilanova was the manager of Barcelona FC until one week back.
He was successful in his first year itself and he won’t be there with Barca for
next year just because of the relapse of his illness. During his one year
managerial career, he took Barcelona to their best league victory in the La
Liga with maximum number of points ever achieved. His presence was there when
they succeeded and his absence was the main cause when they failed. Cancer
troubled him badly in his first managerial career with Barca and its relapse
forced him to call it a day. We all hope he will defeat the illness and will be
back to football.
In fact, Vilanova’s
absence is a major turning point in Barcelona’s football tradition. He
succeeded Pep Guardiola, one of the most successful managers in Barca’s history
and the football world was sceptical about his ability to continue the
successful reign of Barcelona. When club chairman Sandro Rossell decided to
look for a new manager from outside Europe, the indication was very clear that
they are not going to continue the traditional approach.
The game plan or game
approach which Barca followed for last couple of decades were heavily
influenced by the Dutch football and the list of managers proves this fact.
Rinus Michel successfully transplanted the total football tradition to
Barcelona through his disciple Johan Cruyff. This influence was continued
through Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova. The selection of Gerardo
‘Tata’ Martino proves the difference of opinion between Rossell and Cruyff and reflected
it in the club decision. Now, we look forward that whether the Tiki-Taka game
will continue or something new will replace it under Martino’s guidance.
Absence of Sir Alex and
Tito Vilanova will be reflected in the future football schedules.
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