Devils on the loose

Red Devils had several opportunities to goal in the first half, but found Almunia in an inspired evening. Arsenal could have gone to the Old Trafford’ locker rooms losing by three or four goal at first hand of the semi-finals of the Champions League, but a really good display of the Arsenal’s goalkeeper prevent it.

Only the defender John O'Shea was succeeded beating Almunia, with a strong shot, after a corner, at 16 minutes. The Irish established the final result of the match.

The truth is that United was very strong for Arsenal. Anderson, Ronaldo,

Rooney or Tevez had stronger arguments than Touré, Silvestre, Diaby or Gibbs.

Above all is important to say that Arsenal’s defense is really its Achilles' heelpiece and without Gallas (injured) is more than fragile. The virtuous Fábregas and Adebayor were also somewhat inspired last night.

PS: Replaced in the last minutes of the match against Arsenal, the Manchester United’ defender Rio Ferdinand can be three weeks out according to Alex Ferguson.

Wall in the mid-field hobbles Barcelona's show

Barcelona-Chelsea duel promised much, but the game was nothing as we suppose it would be. Much of blame can be assigned to Chelsea, because it has showed very deference to his opponent. The display was well played, but ended without goals. The void leaves everything open for the second hand of the half-final of Champions League.
If Guardiola promised that Barcelona would be stick to its philosophy and it
Really has, the same can not be said of Guus Hiddink. The Dutch coach said that Chelsea was not team to play in pleading, but it was exactly was we saw in the game.
Before a Barcelona that has given spectacle after spectacle, the blues decided to be realistic and worry with that situation, above all, to prevent the opponent to play. With a five elements’ wall in the mid-field, and Drogba 'abandoned' in the front, Chelsea managed to avoid the situation of Barcelona create clear goal. Bosingwa was the 'police' of Messi, and fulfill the task very well. The Argentine also has tried other areas, but never managed to unbalance.

PS: The void pleases Chelsea, but leaves everything in open for the second hand. In Stamford Bridge, the 'blues' will play in a more open way, and Barcelona, as we know, play the same way in all fields. However, Pep Guardiola will have to get round Puyol’s absence (punished) and the most likely absence of Márquez (injured).

Have you asked for Sessegnon?

Stéphane Sessegnon is one of the biggest attractions of France’s top clubs, the 24 years old from Benin is making quite an impact in domestic and European football – PSG as endure until the UEFA Cup quarter-finals – and with the approach of the summer talks of transfer is in order. The blues from Stamford Bridge are – according to French media – in the pole position to bring the man from Parque des Princes to the Premier League. Brought in the late summer from Le Mans to PSG for about 8 millions pound, it is expected PSG’s board reluctance to let him go for less than 15 millions. Money at Chelsea is not a problem; the real question is to understand if the man formed in Benin’s Requins de l’Atlantique is worth the money.
Until today, I’ve seen less than ten games of Sessegnon but most say I’m very impressed with his ability to dribble the ball and to get always cool and innovative moves with the ball – if you haven´t seen him play do a quick search on Youtube. Born in 1984, his still young and has a perfect physical balance, 172cm for 72kg, he’s very quick and usually evolves like a typical right winger – going to the end line and cross or do a move to the middle and try to score, he can also play in the middle and on the other side, but his most impressive moves came from the sideline. Being a small forward his not apt to play with the head, but he’s still very combative and able to chase the ball in the team’s defensive moves – although sometimes he just stops in middle line.
Know in PSG has the new Jay-jay Okocha, he is a truly creative player that spear the opponent defenses with the sin of shame. With 30 games and five goals (until today, La Ligue is still running) in his first season, he’s a fans favorite and one of Africa most promising players. You will need a lot of money to buy this man that in five professional seasons has played for four clubs – Requins l’Atlantique (Benin) and in France for Créteil, Le Mans and PSG.

Tip: He’s one of the most effective dribblers on the European football, if you have the money and a well balanced structure to help him get more consistent in his top exhibitions then you should buy him. Chelsea, AC Milan but also Arsenal and Newcastle seem to be on the dispute.

About a month that Bavarian try to convince Arsenal’s coach to move to Munich

Bayern Munich will increase its efforts to persuade Arsène Wenger to change Arsenal for the Bavarian next season. For a month now that the German champion is trying to seduce the French coach, but he refused the proposal, demonstrating desire to stay in the Gunners, the team that he coaches since 1996.

However, Bayern will not give up. The German team will press Wenger, offering him money to hire the best players in the world.

Jürgen Klinsmann was fired after a seventh defeat in the Bundesliga (1-0 at home before Schalke 04), and Jupp Heynckes has accepted to lead Bayern in the remaining five days of the championship. The Bavarians are in the third position with three points of drawback from the leader, Wolfsburg, which plays central the Portuguese central Ricardo Costa.

Nani stays in Manchester United?!

Nani is still unable to justify the expectations that surrounded his transfer from Sporting to Manchester United. If his first season in the Red Devils was obviously to his adaptation to English football, it was expected that in this second season he could finally blast. This is not happening, but more than the fault itself, the truth is that he had not much opportunities.
In the Premier League, for example, was only six times and holds none of them aligned in the 90 minutes. One day after the victory against Tottenham, the Portuguese international keeps the hope.

Raul’s hat trick promises a flaming Real-Barça

With a hat trick pointed out by Raul, yesterday Real Madrid won Sevilla by 4-2, reducing to four points the distance that separates it from the leader Barcelona.
Sevilla soon began to win, but even before the time-out, Raul scored with a cross from Metzelder, who played in the place of Pepe.

In the second half, the striker highlighted two more goals, having achieved 18 in the Spanish League. Marcelo closed the counting, but the man of the match was without a doubt Raul, who has not scored a hat trick in the championship since September 2003. Real is four points from Barça, and it is expected that a high-up duel between the two teams, scheduled for next week-end in Santiago Bernabéu. If Real Madrid wins the league will be high-level, if not, Barcelona will hardly let escape the title.

Ancelotti’s riddle. Blue? No way

The year’s the one million dollar question is: “Who will coach Chelsea?”. A various amount of names have been thrown away, but the AC Milan’s boss is the most referred. But, although that’s true, it seems pretty unlikely that Carlo Ancelotti will leave the rossoneri for the blues. To support my theory I have to important aspects, Ancelotti’s character and the current market movements.
First, the Italian coach is one of the great thinkers of the game, he makes the teams play for and only for the score. His dream is to conquer the Serie A and the CL winning all the matches 1-0. He uses a monstrous 4-3-2-1 tactic, that needs a lot of defensive concentration, (yes the 3 means three defensive midfielders), and opt for a quick offensive game, with high pressure on the ball. In theory, this is a cool tactic, it has helped Milan to a lot of titles – and remember France and World Title win in a similar scheme? – but as a major down to a club like Chelsea and – most important – to the owner Roman Abramovich: he needs three or more season’s to put the players in the correct places on the pitch, and the Russian likes results fast and in a cool offensive fashion.
Second, the rossoneri are known for their stability, with the season coming to the end and teams trying to secure valuable players, it’s logical that Ancelotti – with the help of Galliani and Leonardo – has a major role in new acquisitions, therefore the names of Bruno Alves (Porto) and Stéphane Sessegnon (PSG) – this one also linked with Chelsea –that have been systematically appointed to being part of Milan’s squad next season are important to make us understand that Ancelloti will stay at San Siro. On the other hand he (just like Claudio Ranieri) is eager to defeat José Mourinho.

Tip: Make no mistakes, (his one of my favorites) Ancelotti’s tactical knowledge would help the blues to cause a big impact in the Premier (after Mourinho what have they won?), but he needs a long term commitment and, nowadays, you have to look somewhere else rather than Stamford Bridge for that.

Tevez will land in Villa Park

The prolific Argentinean striker is one of the ‘most wanted’ mans on the transfer period, but, if on one side we hear everybody at Old Trafford saying Carlitos should stay, the truth is, economically speaking there’s no reason to keep such a high profile player on the bench. While Berbatov, Ronaldo and Rooney are indisputable on the starting eleven, Carlos Tevez has lost a lot of field time since the arriving of the Bulgarian star and is keen – he has public admitted that he wants to play more time – to find a place where he can be a regular choice.
Until now, speculation – besides Real Madrid – is low about Tevez future, but knowing the potential high fee for such a gifted player, it’s important to find who can be exchanged to down cut the final pay. That said and according to praise words of Sir Alex Ferguson about Ashley Young, it´s time to make a bet. I bet Carlos Tevez will be an Aston Villa player for 2009/10, the question is to know if Young or Gabriel Agbonlahor will go as quickly as that to Man.Utd.

Tip:Next week’s will be determinant to find if I’m right, but this is the most realistic picture for the incoming transfer period. But, who knows?

João Moutinho tipped for Toffees

In the same day that Sporting Lisbon announces the extension of the contract to 2014, the 23 years old is – once again – referred for Everton. Now with a 22.5 million euro pass, the Portuguese international seems to be in the agenda of several European clubs – Everton has opposition from Valência, Lyon and Udinese (at least according to Italian media). Potentially one of the next stars coming from Portugal, Moutinho has international experience, being in the Champions League with Sporting Lisbon for the last couple of years – with very poor results such has the 12-1 agg. against Bayern Munich – capped 17 times and usually called for the National team coached by Carlos Queiroz, still needs to improve in some vital aspects to be able to play in the Premier, Spain or even Italy.
After five years as a professional player (always with Sporting), Moutinho’s raw pace and very short injuries list give him a strong credential of always being fit to play. Always smart on the field, eager to fulfill the coach’s orders, he can play as a defensive or offensive midfielder – only in the centre, he doesn´t have enough speed to play close to the lines – but he is way to short and light weighted to cope with the awesome pressure in the middle of more evolved championships (1.70m/67kg). The basic image of Sporting’s captain is to see Moutinho crawl on the grass, complaining to the referees about alleged fouls.

Tip: If David Moyes can give Moutinho the physical evolution that Ferguson’s gave to Ronaldo, then The Toffees should try to get him, with then can´t they should look elsewhere to spend the money. Looking for abroad solutions to the midfield? Try Fábio Santos from Brazilian squad Grémio (sorry I’ve seen Univ.Chile-Grémio one of those nights and this is the first name that pops into my head).

Bring van Gaal to the Premier

The championship winning form of Az Alkmaar as turned my attention to Louis van Gaal. Obviously, the players are the real heroes behind the second Eredivisie title of this (the first was in 1980/81) – at the moment - small club. But, without a doubt van Gaal – once one of the most prominent coaches in Europe, has a central role in this epic achievement. Without star-players in the field, the biggest name in Az Alkmaar is the coach, a man that knows the club inside-out and, according to my vision, should say goodbye once again. (Lois van Gaal has played for Az and coached the team for a couple of months in 1986, then he went to Ajax to assist Leo Bennhakker).
Premier League is the place for this coach, is profile seems apt to a long term commitment and a mid-table team would benefit from his experience. In his resume he got Ajax, Barcelona (twice), National Squad and – of course – Az Alkmaar and, besides a poor performance with the National team, he got championship titles everywhere. Methodic, always looking angry and never smiling, this 57 years old man has come to a new life, forgotten in Europe, this title puts him back in the mainstream soccer. But, like all the clubs he coached, needs time – usually a couple of years – to put team’s playing as he wants (he sack anyone who doesn’t play by his saying’s). Typically he changes his team’s from a 4-4-2 to a very flexible 3-5-2/3-4-3, wants the team to own the ball and attack in a short pass way, always in progression and constant midfield rotation. He chooses quick wingers, so they can pass the ball to two permanent strikers – and get goals.
Looking to the table has it is and to their actual coaches, I believe Newcastle Utd, Blackburn or Bolton would be ideal for him. The first has the money, the second a truly good squad unfulfilled and the third the time to bear with any coach. Most important, in second half of the table, this teams are the only ones with money for such a high profile manager.

Tip: If somehow you have doubts about Louis’s van Gaal being Premier material, just remember – he is one of Mourinho’s (alongside with Sir Bobby Robson) biggest influences. So bring him.

Cristiano Ronaldo with Real Madrid

The Manchester’s United winger/striker/pop star (whatever) seems to be the world for everyone at Madrid, if Marca assures that Cristiano Ronaldo will turn ‘merengue’ in July, the transfers theory’s are – by all means – just a little bit over the top. The last one say that Real Madrid will pay about 45 million Euros (nobody now’s the pound value in July so we didn’t bother making the conversion, but seems to way to cheap for one of Ferguson’s babies), but, obviously, like all Spanish newspapers dedicated to protect some interest that are some few twitches on the buy: beside de 45 millions, Real Madrid will accept the offer from Valência to purchase David Villa and David Silva for 40 million and will make them jump to Man.Utd.
True or only the theory’s of a madman, the next couple of months will show, at the moment we can only say: If Real Madrid offers 45 million Euros, plus David Villa, plus David Silva for CR7 we can only shout one thing – LET HIM GO.
He is awesome, but Villa and Silva are also world class in their respective positions. Villa is one of the most destroying forces in the National Team that has won the last European, with an ability to score goals from every angle (only loose to CR7 when it came to score header goals) and Silva is a creative player, excellent technique, capable of unlock any defense (in this matter, lacks the speed of the Portuguese, but has more capability to play in short spaces). In resume, none of them is the world’s greatest player, but both are very above the average as a striker or offensive midfielder.

Key players of the Champions League semi-finals

In Champions League semi-finals some players will definitely make the difference. Here are the key players who are likely to decide the fate of their own teams.
In the struggle between Arsenal and Manchester United, we point out Fabregas. The Arsenal captain is moving into peak form since returning from injury in December. His role in the middle cannot be underestimated because is has unmatched qualities to help the Gunners to achieve glory.
In the Manchester’s side, we put in evidence Cristiano Ronaldo. With a fantastic, brilliant and also provocative football, he remains the most endowed player in English league. Another key man is definitely Wayne Rooney, whose spotless exhibition in Porto proved a decisive factor in his team's victory.
In the game that will put Chelsea and Barcelona face to face, John Terry should make a difference. The astonishing 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge tinted how valuable the central defender is to the Blues.
Lionel Messi is the key player of Barcelona and he has been in thrilling form this season. Let’s see, he scored a hat-trick in the Copa del Rey against Atletico Madrid, scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions and in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, he scored twice in the 4-0 win over Bayern Munich laying down a personal record of eight goals in the competition.

VP

CL Semis preliminary preview (Arsenal)

Only Barça had such an easy quarter-final, the gunners waited for the second leg to trash Villareal but they’ve made it in cool fashion. Three shoots have opened the way to face Man.Utd. For the fans the first reason to celebrate is that the offensive football is back, the forwards Adebayor and van Persie are finally connecting, the wingers Nasri and Wallcott seem to be physically in top form and de playmaker Cesc is pulling the strings (what a pass for the first goal). The second reason is that the unbelievable number of injuries seems to be ending and last, emotionally worst but strategically important, they seem doom to relay on fourth on the Premier League, which mean’s Wenger can manage the squad with only the CL in mind.

Tip: Injuries seem to be over, but there are still a lot of players out of pace. The full backs and the guys in the midfield tend to attack too much and to forget their defensive responsibilities. Besides a lot of experience the squad seems too young to cope with the pressure.

CL Semis preliminary preview (Man.Utd)

And that’s it! Six minutes into the game and a powerful strike from CR7 ends everything for Porto’s fans. There are few words to describe the impressive impact of Man.Utd’s attacking line, with Berbatov back and Ronaldo again ‘in the game’ the red devils seem to recapture the dream of a back-to-back CL win (something that doesn’t happen since 89/90 with AC Milan). From here on the Ferguson’s guys will increase their form and the Bulgarian and the Portuguese will soon be at Rooney’s current level. On the other side the defense seems more coherent with Ferdinand’s return and Anderson’s appear to have the ability to cover more ground than before the injury (of course he need more games). Their football is coming together – right know when it matters the most.

Tip: Ferguson’s obsession with offensive football will meet their match with the gunners, the devils have a slower defense and they are clearly weak on the right side, either Neville, O’Shea or Possebom will have a bad time against a top form Nasri, van Persie and Clichy.

CL Semis preliminary preview (Barcelona)

There are few words to describe the cool fashion showed in the first half of the initial leg against Bayern Munich. They trashed the german side in no more that 30 minutes and virtually assured the presence in the semis. Guardiola is making quite an impact in his first season at the wheel of the blaugrana and is recovering the spirit of Johan Cruijff’s dream team – in wich Pepe Guardiola took part.
Against the german champions they seem to have no weaker points, but the defensive line is the part to assault. Dani Alves is more a winger than a right back, Abidal is not as quick as he should be to play at this level of competition and in the center the spirit of Puyol is not enough to stop all the fires.

Tip: The offensive power of the strikers start on the amazing work of continuous short passes in the midfield, but neither Xavi nor Iniesta like to chase the ball. That´s the only way to stop Barça. If Xavi and Iniesta don´t have the ball, Chelsea won´t need to worry about Messi.

CL Semis preliminary preview (Chelsea)

In one of the most thrilling games of the year Chelsea as gained the right to be in the semi-finals of the European Champions League, by putting Liverpool out in a 7-5 on aggregate they will face Barcelona. Still living with Jose Mourinho's ghost, the Stamford Bridge club as – one more time – the opportunity to win a major title after the departure of the ‘special one’.
On one side, it seems almost an impossible mission to stop the amazing offensive game played by the ‘blaugrana’, and on the other the pathetic defensive errors against the reds have to end. Hiddink is enjoying a good start at the club, but the premier title seems a mirage and the champions league (and, beside thus two titles is there anything left in football?) can’t be won by a team that defends that poorly.

Tip: With Terry and Bosingwa the defense will be better. But with Carvalho, Drogba, Deco always in constant physical effort and Cole suspended the team’s work as to be in the defensive line that will be under pressure. Lampard should let the other midfielders touch the ball as well.