The Sun has not Yet set on the Old Empire

The Sun has not Yet set on the Old Empire

            The UEFA Champions league and the Europa League will be contested by four English club teams. Liverpool versus Tottenham for the champions league match and Arsenal against Chelsea for the Europa League. An astonishing feat for a league that has not had recent success in the Champions league. The last English team to win it was in the 2011-12 edition when Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout. Manchester United was the last English club to win the Europa League fairly recent as the red devils lifted the trophy in the 2016-17 season. Having all four teams be from one league in Europe is an impressive accomplishment that I can remember. The most recent kind of dominance in Europe by one league that comes to mind is during the 2013 to 2016 span when both European competitions were won by teams from La Liga. This will guarantee that the English premier league will secure a similar kind of dominance in Europe.

            It will come to know surprise to those who share the game watching experience with me that I am not too big on the English side as being thee best league, or top five in international competition. However, their recent run in Russia during the 2018 World Cup was an entertaining run and one worth acknowledging their great performance. This adds to it as I will concede that the English have gained traction in getting things right that past couple of years. Now for those who think I take the contrarian route in disliking the English have it quite wrong. I do not go against them simply because they are popular and well marketed league, hats off to them for it. My view has always been that I did not see the same thing that the fans of their respective teams saw in them. For example, I did go for the English national side during their run in the world cup because I enjoy a good underdog and redemption story like most fans. But, that is how I have always seen them.

            Now that that clarification is out of the way, back to the English being good in football. The Europa league will be contested by two sides that really did not look so great for the majority of their domestic campaigns. Chelsea brought in Mauricio Sarri to take the club to the next level and potentially challenge for the title. That did not go as planned. The Sarri ball side finished 3^rd in the league but it did seem as if the team regressed from the previous year and limped their way into third as neither of the other teams really wanted it either.

            Arsenal can be seen in a more positive and forgiving manner as the side was managed by a new coach in Unai Emery. Arsenal were and are currently in a rebuilding phase and at times showed the grit and resilience that was lacking under Arsene Wenger’s last few seasons in charged. Emery has given the Gunner’s faithful some hope for the club, if the board fully commits and gets behind their new manager, and confidence that he is the right man to lead the team back in the right direction.

            Both teams had their issue in their domestic campaigns, but little of that was visible during their European cup competition. Not sure if this is as impressive of an accolade given that both clubs are much more financially off then the rest of the teams that compete in Europe, but both Arsenal and Chelsea are teams that began their campaigns in the actual group stage of the tournament. Which has not been the case for the last six tournaments where at least one has been from the Champions league tournament. Now both teams could potentially be in the Champions league next year depending on the outcome in Baku.

            Liverpool and Tottenham will play in Madrid for the Champions League final. Liverpool just finished the league in second pushing Manchester City to a record run only to fall short off them by a point. Liverpool under Klopp is not really a surprise as I think most footballing fans will be aware on what kind of team Liverpool has become under the German manager. If Liverpool win on June 1^st they will become the third most successful club in the competition. They will go from 5 trophies to 6 placing them on clear of Bayern Munich who have 5 and one shy of second place AC Milan.

            Tottenham will have an opportunity to win their Champions league trophy and award Pochettino his first title with the club as well. The Argentine manager has done a phenomenal job guiding the club to their current position without any new signings this season. The club has transformed into a well playing side that has challenged the top clubs in England and Europe.

            Liverpool are heavy favorites, but Tottenham are not a club to be overlooked. Chelsea may have a great side compared to Arsenal based on player for player comparison by position, but Arsenal did not reach the final by accident. Tottenham will be without an inform Henry Kane who will most likely be available but will be a surprise if he starts. Liverpool at the moment look like the side that has not faults other than the mental fatigue that can be attributed from a hectic domestic season. Arsenal seem the weakest of the side simply because their defense is still awful and in desperate need of an upgrade over the summer. This season belongs to the English as their teams have demonstrated that they can play among the very best and have gifted us with two exciting finals that I will definitely watch.

The Old Trafford woes continue

     Manchester United and the Spanish side Valencia finished in a 0-0 draw. The red devils hosted the match, which their bus happen to be late arriving to, at Old Trafford. Either side could have taken 3 points, but at the end of the match a draw was what both teams could muster and deservedly so. Valencia in the first half attacked down the left flank with the Guedes and Gaya connection, but wasted plenty of crosses and build up play for the majority of the match.

     Manchester United did not have a clear idea when it came to the attack, relying heavily on the long ball. Their most dangerous moments seemed to come via dead ball, whether it be from a corner or free kick. Pogba did what he could to deliver dangerous and effective passes, but the team as a whole seemed out of sync. So much that I forgot Alexis Sanchez was on the pitch.

     Neto, the Valencia goalkeeper had a decent night with a few saves for the night. I enjoy the center back pairing between the Argentine, Garay, and the Brazilian, Paulista. I think when fit that is the best defensive pairing for Los Che. Garay was solid winning long balls in the air and putting his body in front of the ball to prevent any Manchester United player shot from reaching his Keeper.

     Gaya, the left back, had an excellent game on both ends. Completed his defensive duties as well as timing his runs forward effectively overlapping Guedes where the two seem to play well off one another. Guedes had a mediocre game for his standards. From what I saw last year, this looked like Guedes has some preseason rust on him still, but was the most threatening player on the pitch for both teams when it came to attack in open play.

     As a whole the Valencia side were much better in the build up attack and noticeably had a plan on moving the ball forward and attempted to control the midfield via passing than using the long ball approach. But, overall the team was wasteful in the final aspect of the attack. plenty of crosses from beautiful build up wasted. However, this Valencia side looked better than the way they started this season's campaign. If this can build off this performance moving forward they can easily challenge for a spot in the knockout stages of the UEFA  Champions League tournament. At the end of the day a point at Old Trafford is not a bad result even given how poor the home side's  form as been.