What price for European glory
Can Barca repeat their feat?
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Tuesday, 12, Sep 2006 03:24
This week sees the return of the most famous club competition in football - the Uefa Champions League. Ben Arnold and Numan Badshah assess the chances of the English representatives going all the way this season.
A late 70s/early 80s purple patch aside, English teams have struggled to sustain any real dominance in the Champions League. Recently however, signs have suggested the glory days could be returning - Liverpool winning in 2005 and Arsenal finishing as runners-up last season has given new hope to English clubs and their fans and this will only be reinforced if English clubs can perform on the highest stage once again this campaign.
Chelsea have arguably the best chance of success. Among the bookies' favourites, the Premiership champions have added the likes of Michael Ballack, Ashley Cole and Andriy Shevchenko, the competition's most prolific scorer, to their already formidable squad. Two semi-finals in the past three years have not satisfied Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner who craves success in this competition, this year.
But the Blues find themselves in a tough group, alongside holders Barcelona, who got the better of them last season, Werder Bremen, with star striker Miroslav Klose, and a potential banana skin against Levski Sofia.
The key to Chelsea's campaign will be how the new big-name signings settle into Jose Mourinho's tactics. Can the outstanding individual talents be moulded quickly into a winning machine in Europe like that which has dominated the Premiership for the past two seasons? This is no easy task and despite their short odds, a slender section of insiders are predicting a ropey ride for them in Europe this campaign.
Arsenal bravely lost out to Barca in last year's final after defying the plentiful critics who questioned their strength in depth. Inexperienced players such as Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue, trusted by Arsene Wenger, were outstanding and they will need to be again if the Gunners are to go one better this season.
The form of the talismanic Thierry Henry is crucial, as will be that of the midfield quartet of Freddie Ljungberg, Tomas Rosicky, Robin van Persie and Fabregas. Fans will be eager to see how Wenger will use new signing Julio Baptista - whether he will partner Henry or play him just behind the Frenchman - but unquestionably the team has been boosted by the arrival of William Gallas from Chelsea - a terrific signing for the Gunners.
Also in their favour, and not for the first time, is their group stage draw - Porto, a shadow of Mourinho's team which triumphed in 2004, CSKA Moscow and Hamburg should present little trouble for Wenger to ease his way through this year's competition.
Five-time champions Liverpool struggled in their defence of the competition last season, losing to Benfica in the last 16. Rafa Benitez has bought well since then with the arrivals of Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy particularly exciting for Reds fans.
Considered outsiders for this year's title, Liverpool find themselves in a tricky group alongside Galatasaray, Bordeaux and PSV Eindhoven but they should progress to the business end. However, Benitez must ensure his team cuts out the error-strewn performances which have punctuated their start to this Premiership campaign.
Manchester United, two-time winners, have endured a comparatively miserable record in this competition since reaching the lofty peak of their glorious triumph in the 1999 treble-winning season which had even the most devout of rivals cheering them on.
This term, they should cruise through group F and into the knockout rounds. Benfica could offer some resistance but neither FC Copenhagen nor Scottish champions Celtic should provide any real threat.
With the money-spinning arrival of Michael Carrick, plus the return from injury of Paul Scholes and Alan Smith, United's midfield has been sufficiently bolstered. Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo have started this season in the form of their lives and Louis Saha is looking sharper than a razor blade. It bodes well for Sir Alex Ferguson.
Predictions:
Chelsea - losing finalists
Arsenal - quarter-finals
Liverpool - second round
Manchester United - second round
Winners - Real Madrid