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Soccer News, World Cup News | March 29, 2010
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Manchester United and Chelsea showdown is the Super Bowl of soccer
By Martin Rogers
March 29, 2010
The lack of a playoff system in the English Premier League is often a source of bewilderment to American sports fans, who argue that a sudden-death finish is the only way to cap off a season. European soccer purists defend the structure just as vehemently, claiming a straight league format is the only way to go.
This year, we get the best of both worlds.
Next Saturday’s EPL showdown between Manchester United and Chelsea is the Super Bowl of soccer, a one-off extravaganza that for all intents and purposes has everything at stake.
Yes, it would still be mathematically possible for the winner of this clash of the titans to surrender the title, or even for third-place Arsenal to leapfrog the top two. However, the dominance exerted by United and Chelsea last weekend has given this contest the overwhelming feel of a final and, in the context of the season, it would only be fitting if the result of the match proves ultimately decisive.
If the last couple of days were the appetizers, then the main course next week should be truly mouthwatering. The flexing of muscles began with Chelsea’s swashbuckling 7-1 destruction of Aston Villa, a signal of intent that was immediately answered by United, which was not as domineering in its visit to Bolton but was both clinical and mightily impressive with the way it picked apart its opponent in a 4-0 rout.
United has Champions League action during the week, but whatever happens, each team should go into the biggest game of the season with their confidence reserves fully stocked. What makes this tussle even better is the potential long-term ramifications. United has enjoyed a glut of success under Sir Alex Ferguson, but it has never won four straight titles, a feat it is gunning for over the next six games.
For Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea, the Premier League is what their season is all about now, having been dumped out of the Champions League by Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. Failure to end the season with some silverware would put Ancelotti’s job security on shaky ground, especially given owner Roman Abramovich’s infamous lack of patience.
Seven months ago, the Premiership didn’t necessarily shape up like this, but it has become a special season and a special title race. The carrot of the approaching World Cup seems to have brought out the best form in elite players such as Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, who are performing at unforeseen levels of excellence.
What a treat it will be to see such unpredictability and drama still coursing through the upper reaches of the league even at this advanced stage. It will be a wonderful tonic for the EPL, which is not only fully established now as having the highest quality and most toughness of any league in the world but also more excitement – at least this time around.
The Premiership campaign started with a bang and there have plenty of shocks and thrills along the way. This tumultuous tale is still keeping us all guessing.
Let Super Bowl week begin.
Weekend Best XI
1. Get him an Advil
These are tense times for Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola, whose weekend was filled with mixed news. A hard-fought victory at Mallorca kept Barca level on points with La Liga leaders Real Madrid, but it came at a price, with influential midfielder Andres Iniesta ruled out for Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Arsenal.
2. Get him a beer
What was that you were thinking about Frank Lampard a couple weeks ago? That he was looking jaded and ineffective compared to his usual high standards? Well, the Chelsea midfielder was back at his finest Saturday, slamming home four goals (including two penalty kicks) as the Stamford Bridge side routed Aston Villa. England boss Fabio Capello will have allowed himself a smug smile.
3. Get him some earplugs
Gianfranco Zola was already on thin ice as West Ham manager after a string of demoralizing defeats put the club in real relegation danger. That was before Zola took the remarkable step of giving his failing players a three-day holiday next week, a move that is certain to provoke more ire from furious co-owner David Sullivan.
4. Keep an eye on…
The Los Angeles Galaxy. They have no David Beckham due to his Achilles injury and doubts remain over Landon Donovan’s future in Major League Soccer, but Bruce Arena’s men made a solid start on the first weekend of MLS action, defeating the New England Revolution 1-0.
5. Catch a flight to…
There are plenty of reasons to go to Munich at any time, and not just for Oktoberfest. This intriguing city in the south of Germany has another selling point for the soccer-minded tourist with Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal between Bayern Munich and Manchester United. United is in spectacular form and looks unstoppable, and a certain Mr. Rooney is back in action, too.
6. Useless and completely made-up statistic of the week
89 – The number of days before the Ivory Coast realizes that appointing Sven-Goran Eriksson as manager really wasn’t such a good idea after all.
7. Sad goodbye
Teenage soccer pro Godwin Lawson, an emerging prospect with Oxford United, was stabbed to death after getting caught up in a vicious East London gang battle last week.
8. Get ready to say hello to…
The New York Cosmos? According to reports emanating, strangely enough, from England, the Cosmos brand could be back in action next year if a consortium funded by New York investment bank Inner Circle has its way.
9. Get ready to say goodbye to…
Jonathan Bornstein. The Chivas USA defender is often derided by fans of the U.S. men’s national team, but Bornstein’s improvement over the past two years has attracted some attention from Europe. Clubs in Germany and Portugal are rumored to be considering a bid over the summer.
10. Get excited about…
The U.S. women’s national team began its 2010 domestic campaign in fine style, beating Mexico 3-0 in San Diego on Sunday. Pia Sundhage’s side looks in fine form, but the most impressive milestone was recorded by the evergreen Kristine Lilly, who has now represented the team in four different decades.
11. Why it’s good to be a soccer player…
Take a look at Melissa Satta, girlfriend of recently retired Italian star Christian Vieri.
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