It’s the biggest club tournament in the world, every player dreams to take part and today saw how this seasons tournament will look, the four English clubs discovered their opponents for the group stages of the Champions League.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are regulars at this level so had the added comfort of being in Pot 1 meaning they avoid clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Manchester City however do not have such luxuries, being in Pot 3 would mean they would meet one of the teams from the elite, albeit not one of the other English sides at this stage.
As the first two pots were drawn the keen eye would notice that City would at lest avoid Barcelona as the two Manchester clubs would need to play their Champions League football on separate nights, Barcelona had already been drawn to play on the same night as United.
All in all the English teams should be relatively satisfied with the draw, Man City, the new boys to the tournament will expect to be in the mix every season from now on and will be intent on being European Champions sooner rather than later. The debutants will face Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli in what could prove to be the toughest group.
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| 2010 finalists Bayern will be tough opposition for City |
Even with Manchester City’s inexperience at this level there is no denying the quality of player throughout the squad, key players have already started the season in devastating style, David Silva, Sergio Auguero, and Yaya Toure will find themselves at home in this tournament, with the thoughtful and sometimes conscientious tactics of the Manager you have to feel that they will qualify from this group, and from there who knows, if the draw is kind they could find themselves in the final but if they meet, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester Utd at the quarter final or semi final stage it could be the end of the road. A successful first campaign will be expected from the big spending blue half of Manchester. Prediction - Semi Finals
Arsenal came through their qualifying round comfortably in the end, even with the departure of the two midfield talisman going on in the background. They have been drawn against Marseille, Olympiakos and Borussia Dortmund which makes up an even group of teams. A lot will depend on the business Arsene Wenger can do with his new found millions before the transfer window slams shut, but the level Arsenal are currently at makes this group wildly unpredictable and could see any two from the four teams going through, but with a couple of new signings, fitness and good form from Van Persie and Walcott and the Manager’s experience in the competition should see Arsenal progress, but I wouldn’t fancy their chances in the knockout phase. Prediction - Second Round
It is well documented that Chelsea and Roman Abramovich in particular are desperate for Champions League glory and the pressure will be on the new man at the helm to deliver. This season is likely to be a transitional one for Chelsea Football Club, the mix of an aging squad and a new manager with fresh ideas could provide a little vulnerability but with the arrival of Juan Mata and potentially others before the end of August, Chelsea will be hoping for a strong campaign. Unlike previous Chelsea Managers, AVB’s fate should not be sealed on this seasons inevitable failure to win the Champions League alone, assuming there is relative success in domestic competitions this season you would expect to see the youngest Premier League manager around for another crack at the big time next year when Chelsea will be a team more in the mould of their new manager.
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| Is it only a Mata of time before Chelsea get Euro glory? |
Games against Valencia will see Juan Mata face the club he left for Chelsea, which could prove to be evenly contested games however home and away matches against Bayern Leverkusen and the Belgian side, Genk, should see Chelsea get the points they need to progress to the knockout stages.
Prediction - Quarter Finals
Last years runners up will be facing Benfica, Basel and Otelul Galati. This is a group that Manchester United will ease through and should see them qualify with games to spare. Sir Alex Ferguson will then have the perfect opportunity to focus his key players on the Premier League while also providing the perfect stage to nurture his younger players that have already shown so much promise this season. Rooney and Hernandez will relish this seasons competition.
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| United collect their runners-up medals |
Whether Alex Ferguson can guide his team to another Champions League trophy remains to be seen but it could be that again only the Spanish giants will stand in their way. Prediction - Semi Finals
No doubt this seasons competition will throw up the usual high standard of football with plenty of surprises and excitement along the way. Barcelona will be the favourites again but who can stop them? Manchester United will be a threat as usual but my tip to win the famous trophy this season will be Real Madrid, their flamboyant manager has an outstanding record at this level and will no doubt conjure up the usual controversy in an attempt to distract and unsettle his peers but it could be that this season he will finally get the better of his bitter rivals while in charge of Real Madrid and conquer Europe once again, this season the last word will go to Jose Mourinho.
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