Football's beating heart
April 24, 2013 Leave a comment
It’s been over 10 years since Real Madrid have been crowned kings of Europe; this maybe doesn’t sound a lot to some, but this club demand and expect European success. Their 7th, 8th and 8th European titles came over a six-year period but it’s been a frustrating wait for the Los Blancos’ fans, who crave that 10th title so badly.
Raphael Varane would have been 10-years-old when Los Merengues last won the UEFA Champions League. There have been some of the world’s best players don the famous white shirt since the last European success, but perhaps the failure to replace central defender Fernando Hierro, who was an integral part in those three European successes over six years, appears to hurt Madrid’s recent European campaigns.
Hierro is a Madrid legend. He was the commanding figure in defence who ensured the attacking flair players could fulfil the clubs philosophy demands and play freely, while he would organise and lead the back line. In his time at the club between 1989 and 2003 he played over 400 games and a major part in the club lifting five La Liga titles and three European cups.
Since Hierro’s departure the club have tried and failed to find another player who possessed such mental and technical qualities. Expensive purchases have been made on Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Ramos and Pepe; all very good ball playing defenders but all prone to concentration lapses and perhaps would benefit from a commanding centre half beside them. Step forward Raphael Varane.
The Frenchman is only 19-years-old; as a young boy he progressed through the Lens youth academy and made his competitive debut for the club when only 17. After some excellent mature performances for such a young player he attracted the attention of many top clubs. He chose arguably the biggest club in the world to provide his next challenge. He signed for Real Madrid for €10million in 2011, turning down Manchester United, and quickly made his debut in the first team in his debut season. However this season has really seen Varane show his value and perhaps Mourinho’s recent selections suggest he may be first-choice centre half for the remainder of the season and long-term future.
So early in his career Varane has already shown real quality and Mourinho already has put faith in his ability by selecting him in all Madrid’s crucial European and domestic matches this season, while expensive more experienced players watch from the bench. He is quick, strong, good in the air, can read the game, a clean tackler; all the attributes required to be a top centre half. He is the one clearing up from whenever his defensive partners have made errors. Dare I say it, he reminds me of Fernando Hierro.
This season Madrid’s defensive set up seems a lot more solid with Varane in the team. Diego Lopez has established himself as number 1 after Iker Casillas’ fall out with Mourinho. Ramos can now attack the ball as he likes to do knowing that Varane will be covering behind him. In front Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira protect the defence and break up the attacks whenever possible and cover for the full backs, who Mourinho likes to push forward. Then it’s up for the attacking four (whoever selected) to show their flair and creativity.
At the moment Varane’s name on the team sheet might not strike fear into the opposition the way Cristiano Ronaldo or Mesut Ozil would, however he may be a major contributor to Los Blancos finally lifting their 10th European Cup, be it this season or in the very near future.
By Sandy White
March 24, 2013 Leave a comment
Much has been written about Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, with the Spain international having to live with a world of abuse from the football community for the last two years. My overwhelming emotion when I look at the Spaniard these days is one of pity. He has lost his pace, confidence and killer instinct, but still has the attributes to play at the highest level. It is now time for both Chelsea and Torres to call for an end to an agonising period at Stamford Bridge for the attacker, and let him return to his homeland.
Let’s not forget who we are talking about; before his misadventures at Chelsea, Fernando Torres was one of the most respected and deadly strikers in world football. With the Spanish national side Torres has won two European Championships and a World Cup, and is his nation’s all-time third top goalscorer currently.
With Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, the forward was at times unplayable, and he was awarded third place in the 2008 Ballon d’Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But, there is no denying that the wheels have come off for Torres since his move to London.
He is not the first big-name forward to underachieve at Chelsea – look at Andriy Shevchenko; widely regarded as one of the most lethal hitmen to grace European football in the modern era, the Ukrainian had a similar experience at Stamford Bridge.
Whether it was the astronomical price tag hanging over his head, the constant media scrutiny or just bad luck, Torres must now draw a line under his time at Chelsea and look to get back to his best elsewhere.
And where better than where it all started, at Atletico Madrid. The Vicente Calderon outfit have come on leaps and bounds since Torres donned their red and white strip; they used to be a mid-table side but in the modern day they are looking almost certain to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.
One player that has been critical in this has been Colombian marksman Radamel Falcao; but the South American looks likely to leave the Spanish capital for Manchester City, PSG or even Chelsea this summer. Torres is the ideal replacement.
Coming into a city and club that he knows, with a manager in Diego Simeone who he has played alongside, means there can be the familiarity that breeds comfort. It was at Atletico that he made a name for himself; it is there that he can re-find the player that was once awarded world acclaim.
In terms of Torres’ time in England, we should remember him in his Liverpool days; devastating pace, scoring from impossible angles and torturing defenders, not his nightmare at Stamford Bridge.
March 16, 2013 1 Comment
For the first time since 1996 there is no English representation in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Despite this, the draw has still thrown up some potentially exciting ties that are bound to produce plenty of goals and talking points.
Malaga v Borussia Dortmund
Probably the least glamorous looking of the ties but has the potential to be one of the most entertaining. Both teams have been extremely impressive in getting this far. Malaga topped their group, remaining unbeaten, and finishing ahead of AC Milan and Zenit, before overturning a first-leg deficit against Porto in the last 16. Dortmund meanwhile were put in the so-called Group of Death alongside Manchester City, Real Madrid and Ajax. They too remained unbeaten though, and also finished first in their group before sweeping aside Shakhtar in the last 16.
While most people will look at Isco as Malaga’s main threat, the experience they possess with the likes of Joaquin, Toulalan, Saviola and Demichelis is not to be under-estimated though, and they will be prepared for the occasion. Dortmund’s youth and attacking style may just prove to be too much for the Spaniards however, and with the guaranteed goals and creativity of Mario Gotze, Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski along with home advantage in the second leg, the Germans may well be a good outside bet to make it all the way to Wembley.
Real Madrid v Galatasaray
The second favourites meet the rank outsiders in this quarter-final tie. Madrid cruised through their group, even though they finished second to Dortmund, and then controversially saw off Manchester United over two tense games. Galatasaray just edged through their group ahead of CFR Cluj and their attacking prowess saw them score three in Germany to get past Schalke.
There is no doubting the Turkish side’s attacking options. Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder were the big name signings in January but they also boast the joint top scorer in the competition with Burak Yilmaz. Add to this the experience of Felipe Melo and Hamit Altintop in the midfield and they certainly have a strong core to their team. Over two games though it is hard to see a defence which has already conceded in all but one game in the competition so far this season containing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and company. Galatasaray do have the advantage of being at home for the second leg but they cannot afford to be more than a goal or two behind after their trip to the Bernabeu.
Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona
Undoubtedly the tie of the round, the big-spending French team against the side who have raised most of their players through their youth team. Despite a couple of wobbles along the way against Celtic and in the first leg against AC Milan, the Catalan giants still remain the team to beat. As they showed in the second leg against Milan they are still unstoppable when they are on form. PSG were very impressive in topping their group and despite a nervy second leg against Valencia they deservedly fought their way through.
The biggest problem for the French side in the first game will be the continued suspension of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. To have any chance against Barcelona they will need their strongest team and it will be a big blow to not have their talisman. Not that PSG are a one-man team though. Ezequiel Lavezzi continues to show his talent with five goals in this tournament and they have the exciting young talents of Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore. The problem they may find though is getting the ball to these players, but if they can there is no doubt they can cause Barcelona problems. It would be no surprise if Paris Saint-Germain got a positive result at home but as Milan found out in the last 16, it needs a big lead to take to the Nou Camp for the return game.
Bayern Munich v Juventus
The final tie pits together two of the heavyweights of European football over the years. Bayern have been very impressive to this stage and despite their second-leg defeat to Arsenal they still dominated in terms of attempts at goal and possession. Juventus came through a slow start to qualify first from a group containing Shakhtar and defending champions Chelsea, before brushing aside the challenge of Celtic.
Bayern will be determined to make amends for their final defeat to Chelsea last year and they certainly have a team who find it easy to create chances and, certainly at domestic level, score goals. They are coming up against a side though that is more of a stereotypical Italian team. Solid at the back and good in possession, Juve play the game at their own pace. They may be short of big names but they have an Italian core that are well drilled and know exactly what they are doing. This is probably the hardest of the quarter-finals to call, but it may well be that Bayern’s extra options in the attacking third will be enough to see them through; but only just.
By Chris Newman
March 5, 2013 Leave a comment
Champions League football returns tonight with a mouth-watering last 16 clash between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford. The tie is on a knife-edge after an end-to-end 1-1 draw between the teams at the Santiago Bernabeu a couple of weeks ago, with the game very unpredictable. However, with the calibre of the defeated opposition, will the victorious team become frontrunners to lift the trophy at Wembley come May?
Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho will know that progression will give their respective team a massive psychological boost and lift confidence heading into the quarter-finals. Plus, with the possibility that Barcelona could be eliminated by AC Milan, the winner of this tie has every chance of going all the way.
United have all but wrapped up the Premier League title, with a 12 point advantage at the summit and only ten games to play. The Red Devils are on a run of scintillating form, and a 4-0 victory over Norwich at the weekend is a continuation of recent victories.
Ferguson will be pleased with how the tie is positioned given the draw in the Spanish capital, and now knows that victory at home will send his side through. However, this will be no easy task.
At the turn of 2013 Real Madrid looked to be a faded force from the team that lifted the La Liga title last season, with internal wranglings and inconsistent form making the headlines. However, over the course of the last month Los Blancos have set the record straight; back-to-back victories over arch rivals Barcelona show that on their day Madrid can beat anyone in world football.
The 3-1 victory at Camp Nou in the Copa Del Rey will be of specific relevance to the United clash. Madrid sat back and allowed Barca to have the ball, defended diligently and pressed the Blaugrana’s main attacking players. Consequently, when this pressing resulted in a turnover, Madrid hit their Catalan foes on the break clinically and with devastating precision.
At Old Trafford United will be expected to have the bulk of possession and look to kill the tie off by scoring the goals needed to win the game. The English side must be wary of committing too many men forward however, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria in particular have all the attributes to punish.
The absence of Phil Jones will mean that the hosts lack a real physical force in the centre of their midfield, and as such the likes of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, if selected, will need to work their socks off to close Madrid’s playmakers down.
A fixture that would be a fitting final, both teams will treat this game as such, and come full-time a new favourite to lift the 2012-13 Champions League crown could well book their place in the last eight.
February 20, 2013 Leave a comment
Two European powerhouses collide on Wednesday evening, when Spanish maestros Barcelona travel to the San Siro to face seven-time European Champions AC Milan.
Having met in last seasons Champions League in both the group and knockout stages, the teams will be all too aware of the dangers each present.
Milan held Barcelona to a draw at Camp Nou in last years group stage; also drawing the first leg of the last-eight clash before the Spanish league leaders went on to win the second leg 3-1 courtesy of goals from Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. If the Italians are going to qualify for this years quarter-final they will have to come away from this first leg with some sort of advantage. Stephan El Shaarawy will be hoping to start after his late fitness test, but Giampaolo Pazzini will definitely be part of the squad having overcome a thigh injury. Milan will be missing Mario Balotelli (cup-tied); otherwise they have their strongest available line up.
Barcelona, sitting top of La Liga by 12 points, may feel they have a point to prove in this competition. Arguably the best team in the modern era, Barca have won the Champions League three times in the last seven years – and were it not for stout defending by Chelsea last year, may have made another final. Having faced Milan several times in recent seasons they will know that an away goal will be key in this tie.
Barca will welcome Xavi back into the squad after a fitness test on Monday, but it seems David Villa will unfortunately miss the tie. Lionel Messi will of course start the game; the Argentine with five goals in the competition already will look to add a couple more to his ever-impressive scoring record.
Milan will look to keep this game tight – but if they fail to defend properly against Messi and co, the tournament could be over before it has even started.
By Stephen Reid
February 13, 2013 Leave a comment
According to Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, this is ‘the match the world is waiting for’. When you consider the talent on display, the numerous subplots and their history, it is hard to disagree. In short, when Manchester United face Real Madrid, anything can happen.
Just look at the sides’ eight previous meetings in Europe’s premier competition; 31 goals have been scored between them, 11 of which came in the epic quarter-final of 2003. Many are predicting a similar total this time round, but the tie could just as easily be a tense affair where goals are at a premium.
Much depends on how United cope with their former player Cristiano Ronaldo. If they manage to shackle him, they will nullify Madrid’s most potent threat. But if they don’t, they may be torn apart by the Spanish side’s incisive counter-attack. Sir Alex Ferguson will hope his instructions are carried out to perfection, whilst being blessed with a little luck on the side.
Phil Jones has found fitness and form at precisely the right time and he, along with Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, will bring the regimented energy the Red Devils need to keep the likes of Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil and Ronaldo at bay.
In defence, Rafael will hope his man-of-the-match performance against Everton can be replicated in a competition where his rashness has proved most costly. While the rarely-spotted partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will have to be at their very best.
At the other end, the likely attacking trio of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa will have chances they must take. It is games like this that Kagawa was bought for, and that van Persie has the ability to win with one movement.
Aside from Ronaldo, Madrid’s strike-force is out of form of late, but both Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema possess such natural ability that they can punish the smallest misjudgement. Meanwhile, even Kaka was hailed by Spanish newspaper Marca as being back to his best after a rare start in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Sevilla.
First legs of knockout competitions are too-often cagey affairs. And don’t bet against the pressure on Madrid to perform – from a home crowd desperate for success in a season that is fast becoming a write-off – to have a bearing on the game. Already 16 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and with a fight to stay in the Copa del Rey, the Champions League may be Mourinho’s only chance of a trophy this season; a trophy that would go down in history as the fabled Décima – their tenth European title.
Too often, pre-game hype is unjustified; but not this time. It may be the second leg that ultimately proves to be the one the world is waiting for, because it is then that a winner will be decided. But this week’s match will be both clubs’ biggest challenge so far this season – for United to raise their game in a year when they have hardly needed to, and for Madrid to prevent theirs from ending three months too soon.
September 4, 2012 Leave a comment
The only deal of note from Stamford Bridge on transfer deadline day was the west London club’s decision to loan out Michael Essien to Real Madrid. The Ghanaian midfielder has suffered from injuries over the last 24 months that have seen a lack of regular action and a dip in form. However, will the African battler’s switch to the Santiago Bernabeu be good or bad for the player?
Essien moved to the Blues back in 2005 from Lyon and quickly impressed with his boundless energy, ability to win back possession and even a rocket of a long range shot on occasion. When at his best Essien was certainly recognised as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the division and played a major role in the side’s triumphs in the mid-to-late 2000’s.
Unfortunately for Essien and Chelsea, the player has suffered a number of long-term and serious injuries, with cruciate ligament ailments keeping him on the sidelines for prolonged periods of time. Last season Essien was a virtual non-feature in the Blues side that lifted a memorable Champions League and FA Cup double, and as such is now viewed as a back-up player rather than an automatic starter by Roberto Di Matteo.
Jose Mourinho brought Essien to England and it appears that the Portuguese trainer will now be charged with restoring the player to his former imperious self. A season abroad surely will be good for the Ghanaian, who will look forward to training and playing alongside some of the best players on the planet, and he will hope to regain sharpness, both physically and mentally, in the Spanish capital. The chance to play for the La Liga champions will be one that he will relish, and a change of scenery may well give Essien the shot in the arm he needs to return to his best.
However, one can’t help but think that Essien’s opportunities to play in the Madrid first team are going to be limited. With the likes of Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Kaka and now Luka Modric all challenging for a place in Los Blancos’ central midfield, Essien could well find himself used less sparingly than what he would have been at Chelsea. Lassana Diarra has left the club to join Anzhi Makhachkala, but even still Essien will need to return to the form of his early Chelsea days to stand a chance of holding down a regular place in Mourinho’s team.
August 15, 2012 4 Comments
Chelsea’s summer splurging has been a sincere statement of intent, as new faces such as Oscar, Marko Marin and Eden Hazard will have the Stamford Bridge faithful excited ahead of the new season. However, one area that the Blues are thought to be keen to strengthen is at centre forward, with stalwart Didier Drogba leaving the club after eight years for pastures new. Although a raft of different strikers have been touted as the Ivorian’s replacement, surely a move for Fernando Llorente would make sense?
The burly frontman has been a hero in the Basque country over the last number of years, and has been a key reason for Athletic Bilbao’s development into a respected and dangerous attacking side. The 27-year-old has scored over 80 goals for the San Mames outfit, and been rewarded at international level with 20 caps for world champions Spain. However, after spending the entirety of his career at the club, Llorente has made the decision to explore other options.
”Llorente has told us that he does not want to renew his contract with the club,” Bilbao president Josu Urrutia revealed at a press conference recently.
” I can tell all clubs that want to sign one of our players that we are not a selling club. They will have to pay a player’s buy-out clause.”
Juventus are thought to be leading the chase for the targetman, however the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and many others have been linked with a move for Llorente in the recent past. Surprisingly, Chelsea are one club that have not had any real accredited interest in the Spaniard. Whilst the likes of Radamel Falcao, Hulk, Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain, Andre Schurrle and others have all been speculated with a move to west London, Llorente could well be the best option.
Although Roberto Di Matteo is eager to add a creative and expansive element to his new-look Blues side, the direct approach and physical threat of Drogba will surely be missed. Llorente has the stature, work rate and aerial ability to replicate the qualities that saw Drogba lead the side to double success in 2011-12. With Juan Mata, Oriol Romeu and Fernando Torres already at Chelsea Llorente would have compatriots to help him adjust and is certainly suited to the English game. The move makes sense as it would allow Di Matteo to alternate between the pace and threat in-behind of Torres and the aerial and direct approach of Llorente.
The Spaniard will not be short of suitors this summer, but a move to the Premier League has seemingly been in the pipeline for a number of years. Given the circumstances Chelsea looks like an ideal destination, and Llorente could well be the final piece in Roman Abramovich’s jigsaw.
August 13, 2012 5 Comments
With the 2012-13 Premier League season less than a week away, the top six have strengthened their squads ahead of the new campaign. However, a number of the biggest sides, such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham, still remain in the market for a creative central midfielder. Given the fact that Nuri Sahin is openly available, why have one of these teams not snapped him up?
The Turkey international moved to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer after a spectacular 2010-11 season in leading Borussia Dortmund to the Bundesliga title. However, injuries and extreme competition in the centre of midfield in the Spanish capital have seen the talented 23-year-old only make a handful of appearances for Los Blancos to date.
Jose Mourinho has Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Kaka, Lassana Diarra and Esteban Granero fighting for a berth in the engine room, and continues to covet Luka Modric. Due to the dearth of talent the Portuguese trainer has admitted that he will not stand in Sahin’s way should an alternative offer of employment arrive.
The old adage that form is temporary whilst class is permanent remains true in this case. A year ago Sahin was one of the hottest transfer prospects in the European game and the star of a young Dortmund team that had dazzled in a scintillating domestic campaign. He was awarded the Bundesliga Player of the Year award for his guile, eye for a killer pass and energy around the park. These characteristics may have been out of the limelight but are still present.
At the time of writing Tottenham look destined to lose a wantaway Modric to Madrid; Spurs could take Sahin at an excellent price as a ready-made replacement, as the Spaniards struggle to meet the north London club’s exuberant financial demands.
Manchester United have missed out on Paris Saint-Germain-bound Lucas Moura and still cry out for a new deep-lying playmaker to take over the mantle from the evergreen Paul Scholes. Surely Sahin, who was linked with a move to Old Trafford 12 months ago, would fit the bill?
Finally, Brendan Rodgers is eager to instill a footballing ethos at Anfield; a midfield arsenal of Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen, Steven Gerrard and Sahin would surely be one to rival any of the other top teams.
Sahin is currently being scouted by AC Milan, and is thought to be available on loan. Mourinho has admitted that he will not block a permanent move that offers the playmaker regular first-team football; so what’s the hold up?
Published – Bleacher Report
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