Grudge Champions
Barring a major reverse Chelsea will this afternoon secure their Premier League Championship while FC Barcelona will once again become Spanish champions next week.
Both victories open up the prospect of a deepening rivalry between two clubs whose encounters in the Champions League in recent seasons have been tough and bitter, thus securing the reputation of being one of the must-watch ‘grudge’ matches of the international football calendar.
Last night Barca played the kind of beautiful football that has earned it universal respect, even if Sevilla’s two goals were the product of an appalling loss of concentration by Barca’s defence which left a furious Pep Guardiola punching the side of his dug-out.
Guardiola was in a strange mood for much of the match, his concentration wandering at times when not drawing him into a contemplative state which seemed far from removed from the developing drama on the pitch.
One suspects that with the season almost over, Guardiola’s thoughts could justifiably be turning to the future. Will he settle for his achievements so far and quit while the going is good, or hang in there, an inseparable part of the Barca institution, interminably, much as Ferguson has endured at Manchester United?
If and when Guardiola’s mind turned to last night’s match, his thoughts must have revolved round his decision to keep Ibrahimovic on the bench, and opt for Bojan instead at such a critical stage in the championship. It was after all Guardiola who was largely responsible for bringing the Ibrahimovic over from Italy in the subsidised swap deal involving Samuel Etoo, and most Barca fans now believe this to have been a big mistake. The tall Swede has generally underperformed and the worst games that Barca has played have been with him present in the team.
By contrast Bojan who has spent large chunks of the season relegated to an observer status was last night like a terrier off the leash, a constant menace in attack, and scorer of a hard-won goal. While in my view Bojan lacks the speed, strength and skill of Pedro-for me the revelation of the season-he nonetheless showed himself hugely motivated, while motivating Messi in a way that Ibra fails to do.
I hope Guardiola stays on at Barca next season, just as I hope Mourinho ends up at Real Madrid. Then we can look forward to not just two grudge encounters, but four or more!
No reverse at Stamford Bridge this afternoon! Just 8 (eight) goals going in bringing the total to 103 for the season in the toughest league in the world. Sensational performance and very worthy Champions. Yes, its a shame both teams were knocked out by Mourinho as a European Cup Final between the Premier and Liga Champions would have been far more interesting than the Calcio & Bundasliga. Wherever Barcelona’s tormentor will land next season, he will be a thorn in everybody’s side. Mourinho has an unequaled record in 3 diferent leagues and wherever he lands, it will become a media and football spectacle. As for Guardiola, after winning an extraordinary 6 cups in his first year, one wonders if he has it in him to keep winning like Ferguson, surely the best managerial record ever. Well maybe Ancelotti is starting a glorious episode in Chelsea’s history when he achieves the Double next Saturday, FA Cup & Premier League.
i sign for Mou to carry on tormenting Barca. Since he does so we have won 2 Champion League titles whereas he has won well, NOTHING (he might change that in a week time though). The same applies for the ‘rivalry’ with Chelsea… while we have won 4 La Liga titles and 2 Chapions League titles (vs Man U and Arsenal… both part of the ‘hardest League in Europa’ Chelsea has won… well 2 Leagues and Popmpey for the FA Cup final…)