Final Frontiers
This season would be exactly what the footballing scriptwriters would have wanted. The script has been laid out and the climax of this thriller the season has unfolded into is amazing. The only season that seems a very obvious case when is the French Ligue1 where Marseille is 11 points clear. As a matter of fact the Serie A is interesting where Roma and Inter is fighting a close battle, the German Bundesliga another interesting situation between Bayern and Schalke. I had my money on Barca closing things up but all of sudden they drew with Espanyol and Madrid is hot on their heels.
Back on English soil I always felt the title was Chelsea’s to lose and despite United draw against Blackburn a resurgent Spurs beat Arsenal and then Chelsea to give a United a life liner. United in return beat their noisy neighbours and handed a favor to Spurs in strengthening their quest for European football with that coveted 4th position. Despite these nervy anti climax I still think the script does tilt in favor of Chelsea and even if United manages to win all their remaining 3 games they need teams like Stoke, a certain Liverpool and Wigan to take points of Chelsea in a bid for United to retain their 4th consecutive title and overall 19th. What a historic achievement that would be?
I watched the Inter Vs Barca with an attitude that Barca will run Inters socks and the first goal by Pedro jus reinforced my belief that this will be a rout. Interestingly the special one Mourinho who has got a drilled team crawled back a 3-1 result. Deservedly Inter won and I was thinking was it the 20 hour journey by bus that made Barca look wary. I observed that the way to overcome Barca is to close down their play, getting in close and defending tight – in the process a few tackles might just shackle them. Inter was physically imposing and resilient, Messi wasn’t even close to the magic he created at Nou Camp against Arsenal. I think the tie is poised for a dramatic finish for the return leg at Barcelona. Bayern too has gone close with a 1 goal advantage against Lyon and now travel to France. I’m going to go with Lyon in bringing a performance that will enable them to be in the finals
Among other things I wanted to cover was imminent news that Sir Alex Ferguson is all set to go at the end of next season. The contenders have already been set by the media mainly Mourinho who has a self confessed love to manage United one day or the Glaswegian rooted David Moyes who have done fantastic work at Everton with the limited resources. The issue I fear is that United is looking at continuity and the institution Sir Alex has built over the past 24 years means that the system should carry on, but Mourinho has a habit of leaving too early, he is winner of course and a controversial act with quite justifiable responses. But he might not be the solution as I personally think. Throw in a few more names along and the headhunters and the media will be in frenzy.
I must say who so ever takes up the job will have uphill task and replacing one of the most successful managers in club history will mean the weight of expectations is going to be massive. Let’s wait and watch how things will pan out, to be honest SAF will go on as long as he wishes and that’s a fact, unlike 2003 he won’t be making any hue and cry about his departure as he rightly learned how his team’s performance dipped during that season and there was a lull for 3 years without much silverware.
These days everyone has a final frontier, winning a season, reclaiming a title or even leaving an empire built over time they all have their charms. Few more weeks and the end for this seasons blockbuster will lead to another – WORLD CUP, South Africa!!
Darel Luiz
