THE EL CLASICO- REAL MADRID’S JUDGEMENT DAY, BARCA’S ONLY WAY?

Real Madrid on Sunday evening will welcome League leaders Barcelona in a tie that promises not only to be emotional, but breathtaking, riveting and highly intriguing. After suffering back-to-back defeats; one to Levante in the league, the other to Manchester City in the Champions League- and further extending their patchy run of form, this Sunday(a sacred one), would offer Real Madrid a chance for redemption.

It’s now or never for Los Blancos, desperation and a sense of mini-crisis have somewhat been a result of an unexplainable two-week collapse. Initially, a 2-2 stalemate at home against a relegation threatened Celta Vigo side, then a 1-0 defeat to Levante away following a drab and disoriented show and ultimately a 2-1 loss in the Champions League to Pep’s City, summing up a torrid few days for the team from the Spanish capital. Embarrassingly, Real Madrid have failed to pick up a win in three games played in the space of eleven days leaving their season hanging by a thread. What went wrong? Why the sudden collapse?

Some few weeks back, in January, it was Real Madrid lifting the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Fast forward to the present day and it feels Los Blancos badly need a lift in spirit and belief by triumphing in the Clasico no matter what. Just eleven days, and it already feels like judgment day. This is why we love the game of football, the reason we are madly in love with match-days like these, the EL Clasico, which often than not verily defines a team’s fate especially at the business end of the season.

In a press conference in January, Zidane’s words were, “if I lose two games they will criticize me”. Now, they have lost three in their last five games and losing the Clasico on Sunday would ultimately be a nail in the coffin and perhaps would draw the curtains on their season. A failed one, a disastrous one with an unexplainable abrupt collapse despite a promising start in which they exuded a definite sense of confidence and an insatiable hunger for success, quite not the case now, even more damaging when Barca had an internal crisis and were in deep turmoil and melt down.

Now the tides have partially changed, the baton is not with the men in white but those in red and blue, those who had their manager sacked few weeks ago, those facing an increasing sense of division between players and management as well as having to deal with a small squad since suffering long-term injuries to key players. A team currently in a state of flux tactically and even more so mentally. All these dark forces at work couldn’t still derail Barca’s competitive advantage till date, what makes you think the men in white can?

Last Wednesday, Quique Setien was present at the Bernabeu to observe Real Madrid’s fragilities. After a tactical masterclass by Pep Guardiola to hand Madrid yet another defeat, the Barca boss might as well had a revelation on Los Blancos’ fallibilities and learnt a thing or two from a genius like Pep. In this titanic clash, Madrid will play at home, but it is Barca who would be at ease and play with a sense of entitlement to walk away with all three points having won each of their last three games at the Santiago Bernabeu.

For the Catalan club, the most realistic way to ease-off rising tensions and mini-conflict currently is by defeating Zidane’s men, staying five points clear atop the league. A Laliga title at the end of May, will paper over the cracks despite an awful mismanagement by the club’s board and all the off the pitch issues that looked alarmingly damning just weeks past. A season definer for both clubs, an emotionally engrossing game on Sunday. Enjoy the Clasico.

Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi

REAL MADRID TO END BARCA’S LALIGA DOMINANCE?

On Saturday afternoon in the Spanish capital, it was Madridistas in full voices gleefully yelling out their slogan “HALA MADRID” after witnessing their club hand Atletico Madrid their first Laliga derby defeat at the Bernabeu since the 2012/13 season. A narrow 1-0 win that ensures Los Blancos remain League leaders until the foreseeable future. But do Real Madrid stand a chance of winning their first League title since 2017 despite only three points atop the league, and perhaps, put an end to Barca’s dominance in the past two seasons?

FC Barcelona have been far too irregular this campaign, erratic and routinely terrible especially away from the Nou Camp. Numerous irregularities have lucidly been depicted in both their performances and results over the course of the season. One time they play badly and win with a huge margin at the Nou Camp, next - get beaten away from home after an embarrassing display, and next - play well only to grind out results. A repeat of this flawed ritual and the cycle lives on.

Granted, all these pattern of behaviours were under the watch of former boss Ernesto Valverde who got himself sacked anyway, but newly appointed manager, Quique Setien, a devoted Cruyffista with intense obssession for possession-based free-flowing attacking football, has hardly gotten the show on the road and despite his team racking up huge possession stats in his few games in charge, Barca is a far cry from a team with relentless ruthlessness. Setien’s first acid test against Valencia at Mestalla exposed the teams flaws in the 3-5-2 or 3-3-4 formation, and unsurprisingly when he reverted to the 4-3-3 set up in the Copa Del Rey game in mid-week, the team responded positively with a 5-0 drubbing of Leganes at the Nou Camp. The 61-year-old Spaniard is working against the clock to put Barca in a better condition to compete and the sooner, the better.

On the flip side, fierce rivals, Real Madrid, seem to have found a formula, “the winning formula,” right on time at the business end of the season where trophies are won. Notably, what most articles and intellectuals emphasize when talking about addiction is almost certainly always with a negative connotation. For instance, addiction to alcohol, drugs. But what about positive addiction? Conversely, addiction could be positive, like getting addicted to winning and always on the hunt for the next win. Dopamine is secreted by the brain when one does something pleasurable, and what could be more pleasurable to these footballers than winning games and having trophies to show for it?

Simply put, Los Blancos’ 15 wins in the last 20 games in all competition has an element of addiction in itself. What about Real Madrid needing penalties to beat Atletico in the Supercopa finals in Saudi Arabia? Long story short, outcomes of finals are either a win or a loss. Madrid won, full stop! They might go on and win LaLiga as well; a trophy much yearned for at the Bernabeu. After a lackluster first-half display in the Madrid derby by the hosts, it seemed Atletico would once again get a favorable result as they have done in their last six visits. But Zidane’s immediate 4-1-4-1 tweak right before the second half commenced, which saw Federico Valverde move centrally and in situ ensured whiles Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Junior offered width in those wide areas, the Uruguayan added penetration and dynamism in the central zones too.

Ten minutes later, in the second half, Karim Benzema found the back of the net to send the Bernabeu faithful into hysteria after Vinicius and Mendy combined brilliantly on the left side of the attack. Onwards, the home side matched on, playing with great flair and an admirable gusto. There’s the belief; there’s Zidane, there could be the Laliga trophy at the end of the season. It’s only mid-season with 16 Laliga games left and a lot more games in other competitions like the Champions League as well as the Copa Del Rey, but if Real Madrid could sustain their insatiable hunger for success and further get addicted to wins, they might as well clinch all three trophies.

CREDITED TO - Bright N. B. Antwi

LIVERPOOL’S MONSTROUS ANOMALY IN THE LEAGUE MIGHT HAVE SET THE TONE FOR PEP’S CL QUEST.

Who would have thought that after just matchday 21 in the Premier League, Liverpool would be in such a commanding lead. The reds leading 3rd placed Manchester City with a bloody 14 points with a rejuvenated and an overachieving Leicester side trailing the league leaders by 13 points

Liverpool’s hegemony in the PL this season has been emphatic, ruthless and devastating. Furthermore, albeit a game in hand due to Club World Cup duties in Qatar, the team from Merseyside have still managed to establish a great chasm between them and the chasing lot. Last season Premier League winners, Manchester City, have struggled without the presence of some key cogs. The loss of Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane to long term injuries has been telling on City’s chances of completing the League treble.

 In addition, Otamendi and Stones who have been deployed in Laporte’s stead have come up short. To illustrate, egregious blunders by the duo in the Norwich defeat at Carrow Road earlier in the season dealt Guardiola’s team a huge blow as their greatest rival Liverpool kept on firing on all Cylinders. Unsurprisingly, Otamendi not playing with a full deck for club and country in recent years has been somewhat evident. Stones lack of consistency marred with injuries at such damning frequency has further exacerbated City’s defensive woes. It comes as no surprise that Pep’s men are far off Liverpool and now their objectives at the start of the campaign must be revised. Why not the Champions League?

Admittedly, that would have been one of the most important goals before the start of the season and drab displays in the league which have put Liverpool in the driving seat might have ensured the focus now shifts significantly to winning the European title. In Pep Guardiola’s enviable 10-season managerial career, he’s failed to win the League only twice. A Mourinho inspired Real Madrid ending Barca’s dominance after the Catalan club had won La Liga three times on the trot within 2009-2011. The Spaniard’s stint at Bayern in Germany yielded 3 League titles as well. However, his first season in England wasn’t so memorable. A season Pep failed to lift a single trophy, a rarity. But, later in subsequent seasons won the league supremely, and in a devastating way, perhaps producing the best side ever in English football with last season’s domestic treble epitomizing City’s divinity.

Obviously, Pep is yet to lift the Champions league without winning the League title. So, it begs the question, how does the Spaniard inspire his side to the CL title whiles being so frail in the league?

Aymeric Laporte is back in training now Leroy Sane would soon follow. The League chase looks over and a dead-end. Certainly, “Elvis has left the building”. Guardiola has the chance now to shift focus to the CL and could at least draw inspiration from the fact that, in the last two seasons Champions League winners weren’t League winners as well.

Credited to Bright Nana Antwi

BARCELONA’S AWAY STRUGGLES SHOWS HOW THE TEAM HASN’T RECOVERED YET FROM THE ROME AND ANFIELD DEBACLES.

FC Barcelona’s uninspiring away form this season has left much to be desired and called into question Ernesto Valverde’s capacity and tactical nous as the head coach of the Catalan based club.

In no way is this breaking news, that many Cules globally have lost faith in the Spaniard’s method. After the Rome capitulation two seasons ago, there has been a general sense of insecurity with regards to the Former Bilbao manager’s style of play, the predictability of his side and the lack of free-flowing beautiful soccer accustomed with Barca. Against Roma in 2018, it was Kostas Manolas piercing a sword through the hearts of many Barca fans worldwide with the third goal, a sucker punch, which in subsequent years will be telling on how Ernesto’s version of Barcelona will be addressed. The Bottlers? 

The fact is, Roma knocking FC Barcelona out of the Champions League in the Quarter-finals could be forgiven because it’s the Champions League and surprises like these are simply inevitable. Maybe, Roma’s 3-0 comeback to exit Barca from the CL despite being oddly strange, could still be forgiven. But for many, what can’t be pardoned is a repeat of the same scenario a year later against Liverpool. Valverde to blame entirely? 

In Rome, it was Kostas Manolas heading home the corner to make it 3-0 on the scoresheet and initiating a series of crises that would unfold in the same competition a year later. Indeed, Divock Origi didn’t disappoint and what had been scripted already in the Greek books would finally be fulfilled when he converted from Trent Alexander-Arnold's quickly taken corner-kick to make it 4-0 to complete the comeback. Two corners in two years straight, completing two extraordinary comebacks. “Once bitten, twice shy”, but twice bitten how many times shy? 

Currently, there’s a strange feeling that this Barca side haven’t recovered from these shocking comebacks over the last two years. And this season’s poor away form has all the more emphasized this belief. Over the weekend, Nemanja Radoja’s beautiful strike handed Los Cules their third La Liga defeat. In shocking perspective, Barca lost only three La Liga games in the last campaign. They have lost 3 now from 11 games played.

At Nou Camp, FC Barcelona have been incredibly rampant and in good form as opposed to how uninspiring they have been away from home. A 5-1 thrashing of Valladolid and an emphatic 4-0 win over Sevilla in the last two Nou Camp games are what makes us believe the team doesn’t need a drastic overhaul. The cracks are still there for all to see and this time have been showcased much earlier. This might be Valverde’s last season in charge, but he needs to learn how to goad a reaction from his men in decisive away games.

Credited to Bright Nana Antwi

TOTTENHAM'S TAILSPIN, POCHETTINO'S PUZZLE

What next? Where next? Who next? The question ardent Spurs fans would be asking themselves as the Seagulls ruthlessly plucked away at them. After a week of utter humiliation, Pochettino faces his most arduous task as he seeks to identify the bogeys that knocked the usually vibrant Spurs team into a tailspin.

A seemingly successful season last season papered over what was a seemingly normal 2019 for Spurs as they blinded the world with their moxie but unfortunately, the statistics revealed the malaise that has been hidden. Since the turn of the year, Spurs have played forty-one (41) games in all competitions which have produced 19 wins, 7 draws and 17 defeats while scoring sixty-nine (69) goals and conceding fifty-four (54) in return.

So, what has gone wrong and what can be done? For starters, Pochettino has to be the man to solve this puzzle as he has been all year long. it is not an understatement to say his coaching has saved Spurs all year hence giving him the boot will be doing the team more harm than good. His 2019 has been dogged by rumors that centered around Real Madrid while managing a team without signings and absence of key players at points in the season. Despite all these near catastrophes, he managed to lead Spurs into the group stage of the Champions League. All these setbacks and strenuous circumstances led Poch to channel his inner innovator as he navigated successfully to the Champions League Final. 

The start of the season has been a nightmare that has culminated with humiliations at the hands of Bayern and Brighton, as well as the loss of Club captain Hugo Lloris for an extended period. This international break and season will require some more soul searching as he seeks to realign and push towards a major title for Spurs.  

 

Pochettino has to come up with a tactic or system that will confound the Premier League. A system that will maximize the full potential of the players at his disposal. It doesn't necessarily have to be a new formation, just a slight tweak in his existing one. Similar to the one that made Kieran Trippier a focal point in the offense and later creating an “Air Raid” style offense that bypassed the midfield altogether. Also, he must find a way to incorporate the threat of Lucas Moura into his side as he has shown he holds the key to a shift in system.

Upgrading the current personnel by signing new players or promoting from the youth set-up to gradually phase out the old guard in defense, and midfield while planning the future of the attack. Included in this should be the sale of under performers and players with uncertain futures. The likes of Eriksen, Alderweireld and Aurier should have their futures sorted out as soon as the January window as two of them reach the end of their contracts. 

Making a splash in the transfer window by making a marquee signing as seen in the pursuit of Dybala

should rejuvenate the side and give Spurs a fear factor among clubs in the Premier League and Europe.

He seems to have the board on his side but not the players and that might be a problem. Getting to the players can make this transitional period bearable for the coach, players and the fans. Not to say there is a problem but a gradual unrest has been seeping into the club especially among the senior players and this can lead to a full-blown mutiny and jeopardize the club. 

As a football purist, it is disheartening to see one of the game's brilliant minds in a sorry state but it is time the board and the players drag the downhearted yet genius figure of Pochettino for some time as he tinkers and get his team back at a cruising altitude.

WOLVES DEVOUR PEP, LIVERPOOL WITH A BLOODY LEAD. THE REDS YEAR OF RETURN?

Last weekend, where the title race of the top 5 European Leagues shaped up, it was Liverpool who were extraordinarily shaping their destinies. Gradually orienting their ship towards the promised land, a destination that seems unreachable, perhaps unthinkable, simply because it's been 30 years traveling without finally arriving. Biblically, 10 more years to go Reds, but could Klopp's divine team ultimately rewrite the scripts?

Could this be the season? The season of return, where the Reds could actually end their 30-year-wait for the Premier League title. What better way could they have possibly dreamt of starting any Premier League season?

A quick glance at the PL table, and in an unusual fashion, Liverpool lead unsurprisingly, but astonishingly with 8 points after just 8 games having won all 8 matches, BLOODY! This is the Premier League, arguably the best league in the World, and Liverpool are such a supreme team this season, it feels like the chasing lot aren't quite on the level to compete. To be specific, their closest rival, Manchester City, sit second on the league table, with 16 points from 8 games. Evidently, 8 points separating the two teams, and in an exaggerated sense, 8 more points plus the difference (8 points separating both clubs) results in the Sky Blues' total point tally,16, after 8 games played, incredible!

However, let's not get ahead of our ourselves, Pep's men are a formidable side, and rightly so having earned that right. "THE FORMIDABLES" they were called after amassing an unprecedented four trophies in England just the season ago. A devastating 2-0 loss to Wolves at their own backyard, which in normal sense, isn't truly normal, shouldn't be a basis for which this team is doubted. They remain an incredible side and even more so, after a similar and familiar case last season, triggered their beast mode, as they overcame a 7-point deficit to narrowly clinch the league title from Liverpool.

Klopp's men know it best, Manchester City is a wounded Lion now, and this condition most likely makes them dangerous. The feeling of bottling a 7-point lead last season remains fresh in memory, and their unflinching desire to finally end the wait for the PL title is ever dominant. For now, it's 30 more games to play and 90 points to earn.

The season is still young, and Liverpool's recent past might have taught them a thing or two on how to take the lead and never look back. 1990 has been long, 2020 should be born. This 2019/20 season might just be it!

Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi

LIONEL MESSI'S RETURN MAKES SEVILLA'S WINLESS STREAK AT THE NOU CAMP UNLIKELY TO END.

On Sunday night, a rejuvenated Barca side will welcome sixth placed Sevilla at the Nou Camp in a game that promises to be keenly contested.

Despite both teams going into Sunday's clash with identical points,13, the standings reveal the slight chasm between these clubs, with Barcelona at 4th on the League table with a goal difference of six and Sevilla 6th, with a goal difference of three. Ironically, Los Hispalenses boast of a better defence having conceded 7 in 7 games to Barca's 10 in 7 games somewhat highlighting the ability of the Catalan club's front men to bang in the goals despite spells in which key cogs like Luis Suarez, Dembele and team captain Lionel Messi have had to battle with minor injuries.

On Wednesday, midweek, against Serie A league leaders, Inter Milan in the Champions League, Luis Suarez's double and an inspiring Lionel Messi performance ensured that, FC Barcelona were able to claw their way back from a goal down to ultimately register their first CL win after two games in the 2019/20 season having had to settle for a stalemate at Signal Iduna.

Noticeably, a slow start against Inter which has actually been the case for Valverde's men all season, meant they had to win the game the hard way, with a goal down against a Conte inspired team that were defensively solid with a flat 3-5-2 shape. At half time Inter led which was soon going to change after the break, when the sheer brilliance of Luis Suarez in the final third in the second half, demonstrated how demoralising this Barca side have been at home for so many years in the CL.

A fortress it was midweek, a fortress it will be for Sevilla this Sunday as Lionel Messi's return all the more rightly suggest Barca might make it four wins in their last four games, a win-streak that the team badly yearns for at the moment after huge struggles initially in the season.

However, despite Barca's immense superiority at the Nou Camp, this new Sevilla team under the tutelage of Julen Lopetegui could well eye for an end to their bizzare winless run at the Nou Camp. Granted, Sevilla haven't won at the Nou Camp for years, and to heighten the difficulty, the return of Dembele and Messi, yet it still would be utterly ridiculous to write them off. A "work-in-progress", a perfect description for this Julen Lopetegui's side, perhaps, exhibited after a show of pure quality last weekend in an engrossing nail-biter against Real Sociedad that ended 3-2 in their favour marking arguably the best La Liga game yet this season.

Four wins in their last six games shouldn't be bad for a potential top four candidate. The trip to Nou Camp may refreshen ill memories on the the path of the former Real Madrid boss, Lopetegui, whose side lost 5-1 in a clasico to ultimately end his reign as head coach of Los Blancos.

At Nou Camp and with Lionel Messi's return, Sevilla faces an uphill battle as they aim to cause an upset.

Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi

Weekend Insanity Index

Weekend's over and back to work! Boooriiing! Like Garfield, we all hate Mondays (or most of us). Till now! Your Weekend Insanity Index looks at the top 3 crazy (and unexpected) events on the football scene over the past weekend and scores them over an Insanity index of 5.

1. Manchester City 8-0 Watford 

Oh dear , look what Norwich did! Pep and his men roared back with an absolute romp. Taking no prisoners as Watford came to the Etihad to take eight bloody goals with 5 coming in the first 20 minutes.  Scary thing is Pep didn't start with his preferred starting XI (does he even have one?) !
1959 was the last time Watford conceded 8 goals; how crazy is that ?
Insanity Score : 5/5

2. Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa

 
Madness! Absolute Madness I tell you! That Arsenal team has no business playing defense, they just can't (stares angrily at David Luiz and Maitland-Niles) ! These saps (except Aubameyang) from North London provide good entertainment value almost every weekend and this weekend was no different! Here's what made this game insane:
-Arsenal a goal and a man down at the break.
- Arsenal concede right after levelling it.
-Aubameyang with a late winner !

The only missing was Mings-El Ghazi 2.0
Absolute wringer of a match. Most entertaining league for a reason

Oh before I forget #EmeryOut
Insanity Score: 4/5

3. Granada 2-0 Barcelona 

This is a bit of a strange one for all involved. Granted Messi didn't start the game but its Barca and everybody expects them to win. Not! Barca have been dreadful on their travels since they got back from Anfield last April winning nothing in 7 games. With arguably the best youngster in football in Ansu Fati, Griezmann, Messi, Suarez and De Jong, Barca managed a single shot on target all game ! How insane is that ?
Insanity Score: 3.5/5

Honorable Mention: Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois kept a clean sheet! Yes this is real. Real Madrid and Thibaut Courtois have kept their first clean sheet since February. What's crazy about this, they did it at  a ground they haven't won at in 4 years, against a Sevilla team that came into the game as the league leaders.
Insanity Score: 3/5

Quite an insane weekend. Expect more and add your insane moments and comments in the comments box.

FC BARCELONA SIGN GRIEZMANN TO ADD TO THEIR PLETHORA OF ATTACKING TALENTS, BUT COULD THIS ULTIMATELY END A FIVE-YEAR WAIT FOR THE CL TROPHY ?

It's official, Barça completes the signing of Antoine Griezmann. After several days of Josep Bartomeu trying to negotiate a fee with Atletico Madrid had gone south, finally the Catalan club have paid the €120m buyout clause to release the French World Cup winner from Atletico Madrid. 

Now, the Griezmann signing has been completed after so many months of uncertainty around the 28-year-old French. An acquisition by FC Barcelona that further makes for a jaw-dropping attacking depth in their ranks. Now there's Messi, Suarez, Dembele, Coutinho and then Griezmann. A formidable attack so it seems. Perhaps one of the best if not the best group of striking force you would find anywhere in the world. 

Judging from each players individual qualities, goal-scoring would be the least of problems that would be of immediate concern. But a quick reminder, just last season, following the Anfield debacle and capitulation, questions were asked about the ineptitude of the attacking line of Barça to register just a single goal that would have eventually ended the tie. Despite the fact that Barça were without the services of Dembele due to injury, none of Messi, Suarez and Coutinho managed to find the back of the net. Would the story have been any different had Dembele featured ? Maybe yes, maybe not. 

The Griezmann signing gives a clear indication that the Barça attack still needs improving. Yes, Coutinho hasn't lived up to the billing and his form last season was nothing to write home about drawing lots of criticisms from Cules. Also, Dembele has had to battle with injuries every now and then painfully restricting his momentum, consistency and confidence. But in view of this, would the arrival of Antoine Griezmann solve Barca's moment of collapse in decisive CL games that renders their attacking front toothless and out of sort as happened in Rome and Anfield ? Clearly, the French forward was acquired not to win yet another LaLiga title or regain success in Copa Del Rey, but to help bring back the ever eluding Champions League trophy back to Nou Camp since 2015. 
And with Lionel Messi in his early 30's and in the latter part of his career a little help would do. The former Real Sociedad man lifting some amount of workload off Messi's shoulders. 

In another perspective, the two most painful exits suffered by Barça in their CL history has come under the tutelage of Ernesto Valverde. The Barça coach seems to have parted ways with the tiki-taka and possession based style associated with the Catalan club and introduced a now "conservative approach style" that has evidently garnered back-to-back La Liga titles but failing to yield the same output in the Championship League. With all these said, it makes one wonder if just an addition of one more attacking delight could be the solution or that a new manager with a more daring approach who can revive the Barça way of play could actually do the trick.

De Jong was announced earlier in the week, now Antoine Griezmann follows. Maybe in the coming days Neymar might as well join, but whether the arrival of Griezmann and other key signings can ultimately end Barca's five-year wait for the Champions League trophy remains to be seen. 

For Cules, it's fingers crossed.

Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi

KLOPP'S LIVERPOOL ARE THE KINGS OF EUROPE

Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the finals to clinch their 6th Champions League title, their first CL title since 2005 and also their first trophy under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage.

An emotional night for Klopp and his Liverpool side. Alas, Jurgen Klopp has finally won a trophy with this unbelievable bunch of mentally resolute players. This is a team that has character, fortitude and impeccable believe. This is a team that deserves a title, the Champions League for that matter. Forget the Premier League, Liverpool are the Kings of Europe.

Having failed to win the Premier League albeit amassing an incredible 97 point-tally, the Reds didn't despair. Maybe they should have, considering the fact that at one point in time they led City with 7 points in the league. Was it fate flirting with Liverpool and somewhat reminding them they haven't won the English title for 30 years ? Was it fate signalling to the Red family that perhaps Jurgen Klopp looks good and perfectly fits the "runners up" costume having lost his last 6 finals ? What was it then ? Amassing 97 points in the Premier League is no joke. This point-tally should have won them the title, but for Pep's City, being just an inch better.

After surrendering their 7-point lead to City in the Premier League, it seemed as if this remarkable Liverpool side would end another season without a trophy, without a reward for their excellence. Manchester City looked possessed and hellbent on lifting a second PL title on the trot. The League was slipping away and their only hope of silverware was the Champions League. Liverpool were in the semis, a tie with the competitions favourite, Barcelona, further aggravating the difficulty. This was a tough test. In the first-leg, Barça came into the game as Spanish Champions beating Levante four days prior to clinch the title.

In spite of the fact that Liverpool played with unparalleled verve and gusto, the results hardly reflected the performance. 3-0 the scoreboard read, Liverpool's valiant display proving to be a dead loss. The tie was nearly over. A reaction was needed in the second-leg, a response of great magnitude was yearned for by the fans. But this was Barça, this wasn't going to get any easier, especially when the team was without Mo Salah and Firmino, two of their feared trident. Jurgen Klopp knew this, he had vowed some years back, in 2015, to deliver at least a trophy within his initial four years. This was his fourth season, still without silverware, with the PL and CL looking close to impossible to attain.

Then what followed next at Anfield was madness !! Liverpool had overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to edge Barça out with a 4-3 aggregate scoreline. Liverpool's fourth goal by Divock Origi sent the Anfield crowd into delirium, as if they had just won the  Champions League, it was a scene defined by pure ecstasy and simply orgasmic. Liverpool had done the impossible, onward they match to the finals ! Now it was Tottenham, a team the Reds had defeated twice already this season in the Premier League. If the mighty Barcelona couldn't quench the fire in Liverpool, certainly not Tottenham [with all due respect to Spurs].

Then the "Kingslayer", Divock Origi, showing up again in the Champions League finals, with a sublime left-footed shot to extend Liverpool's lead to two, ultimately handing Klopp his first ever title with Liverpool. The celebrations were wild and loud, the team from Merseyside had just won their 6th CL title, Origi had once again come on to do the trick. All this while Jurgen remained in the zone, until the final whistle. His display of emotions were indescribable. He had said it, and he had done it !


This Liverpool team will go down as one of the best in the clubs history, 97 points in the Premier League, with the Champions League triumph epitomizing such great achievement. The former Dortmund manager has built a great team, he has given this side a new lease of life. Hopefully, an era can be built.

From dreamers to achievers, Liverpool are the new Kings of Europe !

Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL- PREVIEW.

Liverpool take on Tottenham in a blockbuster Uefa Champions League final-showdown at Wanda Metropolitano. An all-English final, Liverpool's second successive CL appearance, Tottenham's first ever in the clubs history.

A long, hectic and tedious journey for both teams who had to defy quite a number of odds to come this far. Drama, suspense and breathtaking footballing display by each passing match-day. In general, enormous show of quality and sheer will have verily defined this season's CL.

Ridiculous comebacks have reigned supreme. Not just Cristiano's majestic hat-trick in Turin against Atletico, not just Manchester United's absurd 3-1 win at Parc Des Princes, not just Liverpool's unbelievably spirited show at Anfield that ripped Messi's Barça apart, but also Tottenham's astounding second-half display at Amsterdam that saw them turn the tie on its head. The European defending Champions, Real Madrid, were also victims of such enigmatic comebacks, when a ruthless and youthfully exuberant Ajax side dazzled at Santiago Bernabeu.

Indeed, this season's CL has been one characterised by constant mystery. So many unpredictability in its peak form, so much drama that left some coaches in a quandary. Yes, Diego Simeone against Juve in Turin, also Santiago Solari at home versus Ajax, then Ernesto Valverde at Anfield. The Champions League has been in every bit entertaining, captivating, amusing and certainly riveting.

Now the finals, Liverpool versus Tottenham, two teams that know each other through and through. This season, both teams have battled it out twice in the Premier League. In each game, the team from Merseyside triumphing. Firstly, a 2-1 win at Wembley, then a dramatic 2-1 win again at Anfield, a nail-biter, a completely engrossing game. Maybe psychologically, Liverpool would have an edge over Tottenham if the two wins this campaign is anything to go by. Maybe not. Champions League finals aren't like league games, are not like any other game, it has its own puzzle and mystery.

Last season, Liverpool were in the CL finals, and a 4-1 battering by Real Madrid ensured their campaign ended trophy-less. Perhaps, Liverpool have gone back to the drawing board and done their homework. Another successive CL final defeat would be calamitous, especially when they narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to the mighty Manchester City, and especially when this incredible Merseyside team would go another season barren, without a trophy. This team deserves better, this team deserve a title.

For Tottenham, what a great achievement to be in the CL finals! This was not meant to happen, but has happened. An Inter win against PSV in the group stages at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza would have ultimately ended Tottenham's CL aspirations, but then again fate ensued. Then again, Tottenham progressed at the expense of Ajax, when the Dutch Champions had earlier won the first-leg 1-0 at Wembley and led also 2-0 in the first-half at Amsterdam. Spurs with an unbelievable spirited second-half, produced a scintillating comeback. On aggregate it read 3-3, by the away goal-rule, Spurs with a job well done !

On Saturday, an English team would be crowned European Champions for the first time since Chelsea in 2012. Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino would fiercely contest for the European throne, and if there's something we have learnt at all this season in the CL, we know this final would be glueing and simply mysterious.

 Don't ever miss this final !


Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi

THE PLAGUES: CHELSEA VERSION

After another difficult and wildly inconsistent season, Chelsea has a lot to look back on. They've made the Europa Finals, they made the Carabao Cup finals on one hand and on the other hand, limped out of the champions league and have played a majority of the season like a bunch of semi pros trying to perfect the art passing (which has already been done), just like the guys next door. They too have not been spared by the plagues that hit the big teams this season.

PLAGUE 1: INSANE SARRI

Einstein said, 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results'. Either Sarri didn't get the message, or he smoked it all away with his brilliance.
Sarri came to England to mesmerize it with Jorginho and Sarriball. He has failed so far in two respects. He charmed us for 10 games (or so) and made Jorginho look bad. His style has no substance and is as useful and effective as Steven Gerrard's plans to topple Celtics from the pinnacle of Scottish football. It doesn't win but he's still sticking to it. He's addicted to it like Tony Montana and gave him and Chelsea fans a high that was short lived. Now, this is taking Chelsea down a path of mediocrity and dourness that has only been seen over at Old Trafford and this will lead to his demise as the Chelsea boss.  In short, Sarri and his winless Sarriball has dogged Chelsea all season. His refusal to get a plan B makes it worse. Defeats to Wolves, Bournemouth and a demoralising 6-0 loss to City (How are you guys holding up?) among many other disappointing a dour performances have hindered what looked like a winning season.

PLAGUE 2: EDEN HAZARD

Now wait! Before you crucify me and label me a heretic or a guy who knows nothing about what he talks about, hear me out. Hazard has been marvellous this season chalking up some career numbers. Simultaneously, he has hindered Chelsea because he wasn't sure he wanted to be there. You can't fault him for that. He doesn't want to be there but he wants to be a god in their  eyes. He plays when he wants to (to get that move) and when he feels it won't yield anything, he simply doesn't show up. His refusal to commit to a new deal coupled with vague comments about his future shows where his commitments and psyche lie.
Now crucify me !

The Jekyll and Hyde nature of Chelsea's season has been fun to watch as a neutral and this is as a result of their own creation.
Get back to the top Blues, we can't have some sleeping giants wake up and get back up there.

For the sake of Humanity
And for the Love Of The Game.

THE PLAGUES: MANCHESTER UNITED VERSION

In a recent conversation with a random football lover on public transport, he asked me to name the greatest clubs of my lifetime and naturally I started off with Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Celtic. He had a look of bewilderment as he muttered 'Manchester United?' and ended the  conversation. His reaction got me  wondering. I initially thought he's crazy and started watching football in 2006. Maybe he was not one for history but to disregard Manchester United as one of the greatest clubs was just saddening. I remained in deep thought while wondering what made him respond that way and had a bit of an epiphany! He must've been scarred by the recent history of  United. A period characterised by various plagues that have devastated The Theatre of Dreams and made it a nightmare of mediocrity!

PLAGUE 1: THE BOARD

The sorry combination of Edward Woodward and The Glazer Family as the leaders of Manchester United has been a nightmare for all concerned. Some might argue they have raked in enough money but the club is in debt, and the team is a mess. They have absolutely no idea as to how to run the club and seem to make decisions impulsively. 

Openly refusing to back managers in the transfer market as well while throwing away huge sums in gut wrenching deals to sign and resign players who have absolutely no business wearing a United kit! 

PLAGUE 2: JOSE MOURINHO AND OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER

Where do i start with this pair ? Chronologically of  course! Jose Mourinho got his dream job of managing the Red Devils (quite late) and led them to some success but never won the hearts of fans. His abrasive and seige mentality to football did not help in an era where footballers are more diva than man! Some appalling transfers coupled with mind numbing and ineffective football set the club back on a number of levels. His approach made him few friends and his replacement has been no better despite appearing to be the antidote to the venom Mourinho left at Carrington. He started well and like a charismatic yet brainless general, had the players on his side. As soon as the players realised his tactical limitations, they bailed out on him. You can't blame him but yet still we blame him. He showed a future that did not exist and got the job. A husband who appeared as an angel in the courting phase and became a demon after the wedding. Basically, United replaced a Ruthless yet Effective General with a Norwegian Gideon Pillow. 

PLAGUE 3: PAUL POGBA & DAVID DE GEA.

If Manchester United has been plagued, then Paul Pogba is the cause! He's the flea that carried the strain that has infected some otherwise weak and over hyped players. Sounds quite harsh to single him out but for a player who has not been good as he's made to seem and causing so much havoc, I'm being nice. Fans would gladly point out that this has been a career season for Pogba as he's put out some solid numbers but for him to attack his critics and give a flimsy excuse on how Messi and Ronaldo have altered the landscape is just mediocre. His venomous and ineffective ways infected some members of the squad and produced some horrendous displays. Truth is he's never been good enough and is nothing more than a Dabbing Mulumbu (no disrespect to Youssouf Mulumbu). 

David De Gea. A hero. Previously the light at the end of the tunnel, but now a bit of curse. De Gea has been the top player at United for some time now but has been tripped and fallen into abject the mediocrity that has engulfed United. His issues seem to be more of the psychological nature as his apparent inability to make the move to his dream destination and the feeling of injustice towards he and his country men has made him a laughing stock. His poor form will do him no good as it will in no way attract his dream team. We all can't live the dream Dave so get your head in the game.

It is no secret, The Redd Devils have been afflicted but unlike the Biblical Character Job, they have to get themselves out of this one. 

They broke it, they must fix it. 

For The Love Of The Game. 

MESSI'S DOUBLE SINKS KLOPP'S LIVERPOOL.

The recently crowned Spanish champions dealt Liverpool's Champions League aspirations a telling blow after Messi's double and Suarez's opener ensured the English side traveled back home with a daunting task to overturn a 3-0 deficit next Tuesday.

As usual, as we all have become accustomed to, Messi once again was on alien-mode. In this game? Yes. In the next game ? Yes. And in every other game, yes ! During the build-up to this titanic clash, a lot was asked, about how to nullify the 31-year-old Argentine. In spite of this, stopping Lionel Messi completely was out of the question. He's simply unstoppable. For a player like him, with ridiculous abilities and skills, it's always strenuous, depressing and stressful to keep him under control especially in two high-profiled games.

In games in which slight margins and details separate both teams, Messi shows up to always decide the tie in his team's favour whenever he wants to. Wednesday night was no different, and yet again he made the impossible seem so normal. Whatever Jurgen Klopp planned on as the optimal strategy to halt Messi surely failed. Liverpool could have lost by a bigger margin had Barça been more clinical upfront. After the third goal, in the dying embers of the game, Dembele missed a sitter. Maybe a more confident Dembele would have slotted home such a glorious opportunity. And yes, Valverde's intuition to play Coutinho and Vidal ahead of Dembele and Arthur respectively really paid dividends.

Irrespective of the fact that Messi decided the game, Ernesto Valverde had his tactics spot on. His conservative approach was what allowed Barça to be rock solid at the back which made it difficult for Liverpool's front men to cause any havoc. After an even and well matched first-half, Liverpool started the second-half on the front foot, strongly and looked likely to restore parity by each passing moment. Mo Salah and Sadio Mane worked brilliantly on the flanks and looked menacing anytime they were in possession. The Merseyside team in fact pinned the home team deep in their own half and incessantly mounted pressure and attacks one after the other. Barca's defense never crumbled, succumbed or capitulated. Lenglet and Pique's partnership was just a delight, with their telepathy giving an impression as if they had played for years. Both were well composed and neatly timed each tackle. Ter Stegen also was superb. He made some great saves which kept Liverpool at bay especially in the second-half until the magical Messi decided to kill the contest. Enough was enough. His great awareness was exhibited as he converted Suarez's rebound off the post. Soon his second of the night followed. A free-kick so far away, almost impossible to convert, against a top-notch world-class Alisson who has already 20 clean-sheets in the Premier League if not more. Messi never really cared about the distance, he knows his abilities. He knows he has magic in his boots. Then he converted, highly demonic and unreal. Just unbelievable. The world was left in deep stupefaction. A technique just out of this world. The power, the speed, the accuracy. Full venom !

Everything about that goal summarized how great Messi has been all these years. Yes all these 12 years, maybe 15 years. He's changed the scripts in football and reinvented new ones. Isn't this what great players do ? Isn't he the best ever ? Isn't this magic ? How can you stop Messi ? How can u stop magic from happening ? That divine free-kick his 8th of the 2018/19 campaign, his personal best in any season. He has 12 UCL goals, he's also top scorer and assist leader in La Liga with 34 and 13 respectively. On Saturday against Levante in La Liga he came off the bench to clinch the title for Barça. After his promise to the Camp Nou faithfuls initially in the season, it looks as if he will deliver the Champions League too. The Copa Del Rey as well to complete the treble.

Where would Barça be without Messi ? With him they can believe, have no fear and are an unbelievable force.

Messi will spearhead this Barça team on Tuesday when they visit Liverpool at Anfield. Knowing Liverpool need four goals without response to qualify, an away goal from Barça will evidently end the contest.

As a Cule, embrace yourself for more magic, because Messi isn't done yet.

Credited to Bright N. B. Antwi