After this summer is all said and done I expect we will sit back and look and the newly formed Los Galacticos and wonder how any side will stop what will surely be an attacking dream team. With Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo already on board and with potentially Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and David Villa joining them Real Madrid will have the best attackers in the world with the exception of maybe Barcelona.

Clearly this Real side will not be the same one we have seen for the past few seasons, flattering to decisive in both the Spanish League and Europe. However, I can see Los Blancos still having the same frailty when it comes to the defending side on their game. Anyone who saw Real Madrid last season will know they were shocking at the back, just take the 6-2 defeat to Barcelona as the prime example of that.

So far Florentino Perez and Manuel Pellegrini have only added Raul Albiol to try and bolster their leaky backline. That won’t be enough though because Real will need a whole new defence if they want to challenge for the Champions League next season. Fabio Cannavaro is now gone, and with good reason following some dreadful displays, while Sergio Ramos is still to show me and anyone outside of the Spanish capital why he is so highly thought of. Gabriel Heinze is another one who has struggled, along with Christoph Metzelder and the frankly crazy Pepe.

In my eyes none of the aforementioned players deserve a place in the new Galaticos leaving Perez with a big problem. There is no way the spending can go on forever, despite what some may think, and if Perez keeps collecting attackers like they are stickers he could well run out of funds to strengthen the defence.

What I feel Perez will try and do is emulate Barcelona in creating a side that can keep the ball so well and score at will that the opposition are afraid to attack. But you can’t always rely on your attacking players to provide that. That is were Yaya Toure comes in for Barcelona, the defensive midfielder who I feel doesn’t get enough credit for his contribution to the side. The Ivory Coast international is immense at breaking up play and just calming things down when the going gets tough.

Where is Real’s Toure though? For that matter where is Real’s Carlos Puyol? A man who many predicted would be ripped apart in the Champions League final but instead put in one of his greatest performances to date. As everyone has figured out Real are trying to match their biggest rivals by flecking their financial muscles.

But those ‘muscles’ will need to be stretched to breaking point if Real want European success because without a spine Pellegrini’s side will collapse like a house of cards and be forced to watch Barcelona take home the silverware again.

{ 0 comments }

The Champions League is the latest incarnation of the UEFA-organised cup competition for the top European sides. It was previously known (from 1955 to 1992) as the European Cup and remains Europe`s most prestigious club tournament.

THE TOP XI

GOALKEEPER

Oliver Kahn
German `keeper Oliver Kahn earns his place in the top XI courtesy of his formidable shot-stopping ability. A record signing for Bayern Munich in 1994, he helped his side to the 1999 final, where they were denied by 2 injury-time goals from Manchester United. However, Champions League glory was only delayed, with Kahn being named “Man of the Match” in Bayern`s 2001 Champions League success over Valencia, where he made crucial saves in the penalty shootout.
DEFENDERS

Marcel Desailly
Of Ghanaian descent, but a naturalised Frenchman, versatile defender Desailly joined Olympique Marseille in 1992, and was influential in their success in the inaugural Champions League tournament in 1993. He was a member of the winning side again in 1994, with AC Milan, becoming the first player to win consecutive Champions League titles with different sides.

Fernando Hierro
Hierro, another versatile performer, won 3 Champions League titles with Real Madrid in 1998, 2000 and 2002. A combination of solid defensive performances, precise passing and goalscoring ability make him well worthy of inclusion.

Paolo Maldini
Italian left-back Maldini is widely viewed as one of the greatest defenders of all time. He is renowned for his electrifying pace, precision tackling and leadership qualities. He has lifted the trophy five times, the latest coming in AC Milan`s 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the 2007 Athens final.

Ricardo Carvalho

Portuguese centre-back Carvalho, now with Chelsea, is renowned for his strength, durability and an exceptional ability to win the ball in the air. He came to prominence in 2003-04, with his exceptional performances contributing to FC Porto`s Champions League success. He was voted the best Champions League defender for that season.

MIDFIELDERS

Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard is a right-sided midfielder who has skippered Liverpool since 2003 and has become one of the first names on the England team sheet in recent seasons. Returning from injury, he scored what he considers his most important goal in a 2005 group match against Olympiakos, securing the Reds` progression to the knockout phase. He was also on target in the final against AC Milan (in which he was named “Man of the Match”) as Liverpool recovered for a win on penalties, having trailed 3-0 at half-time.

Zinedine Zidane
An attacking midfielder, Zidane was a losing finalist with Juventus in 1997 and 1998. However having joined Real Madrid in 2001, he scored the winning goal in the 2002 final, in a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. With great creativity and exceptionally skilful, Zidane was voted FIFA “Player of the Year” on 3 occasions.

David Beckham
Central midfielder Beckham made his first-team debut for Manchester United in 1992. His creativity on the ball and precise crossing was influential in United`s 6 Premiership title successes and a Champions League victory in 1999. United trailed 1-0 against Bayern Munich in the 1999 final, but scored twice in injury-time, both goals coming from Beckham corners. He was runner-up in both the European “Footballer of the Year” and FIFA “World Player of the Year” in that season.

Deco
Anderson Luis de Souza, commonly known as Deco was born in Brazil, but is naturalised Portuguese. He led FC Porto to the 2004 Champions League final, scoring the 2nd goal in a 3-0 success over Monaco, being named “Man of the Match.” He was also voted UEFA “Most Valuable Player” and “Best Midfielder” in the 2004 tournament. Deco tasted success again, with Barcelona in 2006.
STRIKERS

Samuel Eto`o
Cameroon international striker Eto`o has been a prodigious goalscorer for Barcelona, with 105 goals from 139 appearances. He contributed 6 successful strikes in Barca`s 2006 Champions League campaign, including the equaliser in the final. Barcelona went on to beat Arsenal 2–1 and Eto`o was awarded with the UEFA “Best Forward of the Year” award for his accomplishments.

Raul Gonzalez
All-time leading goalscorer (64 goals) and 3-times Champions League winner with Real Madrid, second striker Raul is a must for inclusion in the starting XI.
SUBSTITUTES

Peter Schmeichel
Voted “World`s Best Goalkeeper” in 1992 and 1993, Schmeichel skippered Manchester United to Champions League success in 1999.

Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand, who skippered Manchester United to Champions League success in 2008, is a composed centre-back, offering great physical presence.

Jurgen Kohler
Former German international defender Kohler tasted Champions League success with Borussia Dortmund in 1997. Famed for his defensive perception, physical strength and prowess in the air, he rates a place in the squad.

Ryan Giggs
Former Welsh international Giggs made his 800th appearance for Manchester United in April 2009. At his peak, he was a left winger with devastating pace and well worth his place in the 18.

Stefan Effenberg
Controversial, former German international midfielder Stefan Effenberg led Bayern Munich to 2001 Champions League success. A particularly elegant player, with precise passing ability and a fierce shot he was the guiding light to Bayern`s success.

Fernando Morientes
A 3-times Champions League winner with Real Madrid, former Spanish international striker Morientes possesses excellent aerial ability and has a good goalscoring strike rate.

Alessandro Del Piero
Juventus` second striker Del Piero is a creative, attacking player renowned for his free kick and penalty taking. Influential in Juventus` 1996 success and top Champions League goalscorer in reaching the 1997 final, Del Piero just misses out to Raul in the starting line-up.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING TIPS
In weighing up Champions League odds, the advice to punters is to focus on the teams, and, in particular, nations, that have been most successful in the Champions League since the inaugural tournament of 1992-93. Although Italy had no teams progressing further than the quarter-final stage in 2008-09, Italian clubs have contested 9 of the 16 finals played, with 3 wins for AC Milan and 1 for Juventus. Spain have 4 wins (3 for Real Madrid and 1 for Barcelona) and Germany 2 (Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayern Munich in 2001). English clubs have been resurgent in recent seasons, with wins for Manchester United in 1999, Liverpool in 2005 and the first all-English final, in which United beat Chelsea on penalties, in 2008.

{ 2 comments }

With less than a week to go until the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals both Arsenal and Chelsea were in domestic action in the past two days, with varying degrees of excitement as both picked up a solitary point from their respective matches. Whilst the Gunners were involved in one of the matches of the season in their thrilling 4-4 with Liverpool the Blues played out a fairly dull 0-0 draw with Everton. Having seen both games though it seemed that both sets of players had other things on their minds as they failed to perform to their sparkling best, with the Champions League semi-finals perhaps an obvious distraction.

From the outside it seemed their respective ties against Manchester United and Barcelona had drawn their minds away from the matter at hand. This got me to thinking whether the Champions League has become more important that the domestic game. Many would argue that today the Champions League has overtaken every other club tournament around the world in importance and difficulty. Any side who gets to lift the European Cup is in my eyes the best side in the world, without having to win FIFA’s ridiculous World Club Challenge.

Since the Champions League has become pretty much dominated by the English sides in recent years clubs from the Premier League have begun to realise that there chances of winning the tournament have increased dramatically. The other big leagues around Europe have become weaker since the European Cup was re-branded the Champions League. Now English sides who have yet to achieve Champions League glory have set lifting the big eared trophy as their top priority.

Using the Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas as an example of this he looked to be saving himself for the trip to Old Trafford next Wednesday despite his involvement in a game which, if the Gunners had of won, would have pretty much secured fourth spot and Champions League football next season. The Spanish midfielder strolled around the Anfield pitch for much of Tuesday night’s thriller, looking as disinterested as possible at times. Arsenal’s defence certainly didn’t have their mind on the game as they produced an awful display, going against the grain for the Gunners in recent times who have been solid at the back.

For the ‘big four’ in the Premier League qualifying for the Champions League has become second nature meaning unless they are facing one another league matches have taken a back seat. The Champions League is a glorious competition and one that I enjoy a lot, but when sides start prioritising it over their domestic league fixtures then the league begins to look like a bit of a joke.

Whilst their Premier League title chances have gone I hope Arsenal and Chelsea put the effort in this weekend, although I feel I maybe be clutching at straws there as the Champions League continues to dominate the European game.

{ 3 comments }