Milan the kings of Europe? (Champs League [R])

[Matrim55]

Hmm. (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=420981&cc=5901) Seems just a bit premature. This wasn't exactly the Munich of Effenberg and Mattheus they knocked off.

I haven't watched as much CL play as I've wanted to this season, but am glad I took the time out of my schedule to sit down for a few hours this week. The football certainly didn't disappoint, from ManU's 7-1 thrashing to Essien's late "wonder" goal, even to Liverpool's clinical dismissal of a relatively weak PSV team.

The nice thing from this point onwards is that no matter how the games turn out, there's plenty of subtext. To wit:

1) Chelsea v. Liverpool: Chelsea's form in the league has been indifferent (relatively speaking) all season. Part of that has to do with long-term injuries, especially to Joe Cole, and part of that has to do with the "been there, done that" attitude that sets in after a few titles. And they've needed some late heroics to advance this far in the Champions League as well, so they wouldn't seem to be a trendy pick.

However...

This is the series they've been waiting for going on two years now and you have to believe they'll be going for more than a half-measure of revenge. The flip side is that Liverpool are the one club in the world that can be counted on not to freeze up in crunch time against Chelsea's 80 trillion pound payroll. Were I a betting man I'd wager on the Blues for this one, but I wouldn't be surprised if 'Pool pulled off yet another upset.

2) ManU v. Milan: The Red Devils have simply been the best team in the world up until last week, when successive 2-1 defeats (first to Roma, then shockingly at Portsmouth in an obvious instance of looking past their guests) knocked them for a bit of a loss. It's safe to say, after Tuesday's performance, that they've recovered.

Milan, for their part, have essentially been jousting for second best in Italy with Roma. Who ManU just beat 8-3 on aggregate. Yow. United are clear favorites here, and with Cristiano Ronaldo on current form it would be a brave man to take the Italians.

3) If Milan advance, they play either Chelsea, who signed their star striker last summer, or Liverpool, who beat them in one of the most memorable finals ever two years ago. Yummy.

4) If ManU advance, they play either Chelsea, who have posed the most concerted threat to Red Devil dominance in the Premiership's history, or Liverpool, their oldest and most intense rival.

5) Whichever club wins, either England or Italy will tie Spain for the most Champions League titles with 11.

6) If Milan win they earn their 7th title, moving within two of all-time leader Real Madrid's 9.

7) If Liverpool win they will tie Milan with 6 titles and move two clear of Ajax and Bayern Munich.

8) If United win they become only the sixth team to win more than two titles.

9) If Chelsea win they become the fifth English side to do so. PS - Yeah that's right, Aston Villa won this thing 25 years ago.

10) Enjoy the next month.

[Eliezar]

Good post with all the subplots and history.

I'm kind of thinking that this may be Manchester United's year.

[Matrim55]

Good post with all the subplots and history.

I'm kind of thinking that this may be Manchester United's year.
Honestly I think it's Chelsea's. Think about how the Steelers and Colts won the last couple of Super Bowls in "down" years, and how the same applies to the Dynamo and Galaxy in MLS Cup. Seems like teams these days win when they're not at their best - and I would argue that this is the weakest Chelsea squad of the past three.

There's some kind of poetic balance to it.

[Eliezar]

Honestly I think it's Chelsea's. Think about how the Steelers and Colts won the last couple of Super Bowls in "down" years, and how the same applies to the Dynamo and Galaxy in MLS Cup. Seems like teams these days win when they're not at their best - and I would argue that this is the weakest Chelsea squad of the past three.

There's some kind of poetic balance to it.

Could be true. I haven't watched a ton of Chelsea this year, but I definitely have not enjoyed the matches I have seen.

I wouldn't be surprised with any result from the two semi's.

[Roma_Wolves]

The worst part about the Italian media's claim is that Milan shouldn't have even been allowed to play in the CL this year.

[FabFiveFigo]

Good post with all the subplots and history.

I'm kind of thinking that this may be Manchester United's year.

That's certainly what it seems like.

Whatever happened to the "Glazer will be the death of United" refrain we heard back some time ago?

[SCBozeman]

That's certainly what it seems like.

Whatever happened to the "Glazer will be the death of United" refrain we heard back some time ago?

He proved that American perseverence, hard work and gumption can overcome the most difficult circumstances and ardent critics. Like in Iraq.

[JMoney418]

I think it would be fantastic to see another Man U treble with all the Chelsea spending the last few years.

[CyphaPSU]

This post appearing at the top of the front page of the website kind of gave away a result to a match that I was still planning to watch.

I still I don't want to whine here--the content of this thread is great and I appreciate the contribution the original poster provides to BigSoccer--but the problem lies in the fact that its appearance on the front page sort of defeats the purpose of the [R] rule.

[Spartak]

This post appearing at the top of the front page of the website kind of gave away a result to a match that I was still planning to watch.

I still I don't want to whine here--the content of this thread is great and I appreciate the contribution the original poster provides to BigSoccer--but the problem lies in the fact that its appearance on the front page sort of defeats the purpose of the [R] rule.
Dude, it's Thursday 10pm EST. Almost 30 hours has passed since the end of the Bayern/Milan match. If you haven't watched the match by now and expected to come to BigSoccer and not know the result you are the one at fault.

As for the CL semis, I think Chelsea will win it. It just seems like they want it more than most teams in Europe this year. But it would be sweet if Milan win the CL completely overshadowing Inter's phony scudetto triumph this year ;)

[Belgian guy]

That's certainly what it seems like.

Whatever happened to the "Glazer will be the death of United" refrain we heard back some time ago?

Are you going to credit Glazer for their current CL and Premiership run? Last time I checked, they were still massively in debt due to his take-over of the club.

[Salop]

He proved that American perseverence, hard work and gumption can overcome the most difficult circumstances and ardent critics. Like in Iraq.

Help me out here, my sarcasm meter appears to be broken.....

[T Nitty]

...The Red Devils have simply been the best team in the world up until last week, when successive 2-1 defeats (first to Roma, then shockingly at Portsmouth in an obvious instance of looking past their guests) knocked them for a bit of a loss...

Good stuff about the teams' histories. I don't know much about Milan.

It's a little thing, but how was ManU's loss to Portsmouth a case of "looking past"? They basically scored two own-goals. It's not like their defense completely failed to show up. It was just one of those off days.

[Kopite Fluffy]

One thing which hasnt been mentioned yet in this thread is the nous of the Managers:
1)Ferguson has a relatively poor record tactically in the continental game (1999 the exception rather than the rule)
2) Mourinho, although tactically astute tends to be outflanked by Benitez in Cups (Champions League 2005, Fa Cup 2006, Community Shield 2007)
3) Benitez is probably the best strategist in the game at the moment, although he has other faults. Come meatch day thpugh he is like an extra player on the pitch
4) Ancelotti is more tactical than Ferguson, but I doubt this will be nough to overcome United's pure class.

Im not going to predict who will win etc, I just thought it was worth commenting on the Managers a bit.

[Cassano]

At times (or even most of the time) we care more about European glory than Italian glory.

I think we have a good chance against Manchester United, we just need a striker to score goals.

The question is, will Ancelotti still continue to count on Gilardino, who can't seem to score in Europe, or start SuperPippo Inzaghi, who has been our best scorer in European play since he arrived 6 years ago.

Another thing I'm afraid of is United's pace upfront and our defense's lack of pace.

And lastly, Ancelotti is very predictable when it comes to tactics. It's either going to be the Christmas Tree formation (4-3-2-1) or the classic Milan 4-1-2-1-2.

[Mick7184]

9) If Chelsea win they become the fifth English side to do so. PS - Yeah that's right, Aston Villa won this thing 25 years ago.



I'm almost positive Nottingham Forrest once won the European Cup as well, which would make Chelsea the 6th.

[Mick7184]

I'm almost positive Nottingham Forrest once won the European Cup as well, which would make Chelsea the 6th.

In fact I think they are the only team to have won the European Cup and later be relegated to their nation's third division.

[Salop]

Yep, they won it in 79 and 80 I think (or thereabouts) under the legendary Brian Clough (RIP).

[Mick7184]

I'm almost positive Nottingham Forrest once won the European Cup as well, which would make Chelsea the 6th.

Actually Arsenal has never won it, as I assumed they had, so Chelsea would indeed be the 5th.

[Matrim55]

Actually Arsenal has never won it, as I assumed they had, so Chelsea would indeed be the 5th.
That's correct. From '77-'84 seven of the eight winners were English: Liverpool (77, 78, 81, 84), Nottingham Forest (79,80), and Aston Villa (82). Hamburg were the only side to upset the English dominance, winning in '83 - incidently, that final was played in Athens, same as this year's game.