So, we are just hours away from Wednesday's glorious UEFA Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester United. The English giants square off in what will be the first ever all-English final.
There has been plenty already written about this tie, so I'm going to stay away from the usual "one team is better than the other" lark.
Many are claiming this final is between the two best and biggest clubs in the world! I however have my own views...
Chelsea and United have been, by far, the best teams in Europe this season, and this cannot be disputed simply for the fact that they shall contest the final of arguably footballs greatest club tournament.
Does that make them Europe's best and biggest clubs? I say no, and I have my reasons.
If Chelsea are the biggest in Europe, why does star striker Didier Drogba dream of Milan?
If Manchester United are the biggest, then why does Cristiano Ronaldo dream of Madrid?
We all understand the "circumstances" that have surrounded Chelsea this season, and it makes reaching the final in Moscow even more remarkable.
Drogba, though, has made a career out of saying he wants to leave Chelsea and join a "glamour" club; this is what it's all about.
Chelsea are not a glamour club, and as a result can't compete with such "dreams."
Manchester United I always thought were very much a glamour club.
A look at the squad though, tells a different story.
Many great British players like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Wayne Rooney but where are the world's best?
Only one player from a different planet, Ronaldo, and they didn't sign him when he was world class.
One can argue Sir Alex has built a world class side, and I can't dispute that. United are also the biggest club in the world when it comes to support, but what is the criteria?
We could argue till we are blue in the face.
Many also claim the English Premier League to be the best league in the world. If so then why do Drogba, Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, and the likes of Alexandre Hleb and Mattieu Flamini have their eyes else where?
Simply put, they want to play for the world's most glamorous clubs and to a wee boy growing up on the west of Scotland, those clubs will always be Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, and Juventus!
I still wouldn't say no to United though!
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2 months ago
I think the culture in Italy and Spain more than anything is the reason English teams are behind Barca,Real,Milan and Juve etc, when it comes to attracting the worlds best players.
from 2 months ago
Good point Chris, it's just a different way of life. Not that EPL players have a hard life in the UK haha.
2 months ago
the worlds best players? to barca etc. by and large i have always found continental football to be a terrible bore. add all the speculation about years and years of fixed results and its all the less exciting. its just football snobbery really. i honestly think i would watch a championship match sooner than watch a match from la liga or the serie a.
bring back a team like club brugge.
from 2 months ago
Don`t go on too much about the `FIX` in Europe my friend.
With all those Yank dollars floating around in your EPL......the word `FIX` might come back to haunt you.
2 months ago
United will always be a massive club, but clubs like real madrid, barcelona, milan, juve, all have another type of appeal. I can't explain it.
Quick note, looking back through recent years, I discovered that la liga corresponds with the premier league.
Whenever Valencia have won La Liga, Arsenal have won the Premier League
Whenever Barcelona have won La Liga, Chelsea have won the Premier League
Whenever Real Madrid have won La Liga, Man Utd have won the Premier League.
That's in the last few years obviously, not historically before anyone jumps down my throat.
So, I wonder what will happen next season, in both leagues?
from 2 months ago
Interesting point Michael. Can't see Barca being tarred with the Chelsea brush for too long :P
2 months ago
True but .....strange stuff coming from you Andy.
What happened to all the EPL number one stuff?
Try watching a little Libertadores now and open those eyes even wider mate.
By the way got meself a Chelsea jersey...I asked for Drugba but my mate brought me Terry instead....ah well.
An all England match being watched in Brazil!!
from 2 months ago
S I have watched plenty of Libertadores over the years as well as coached teams through it on my pc so I know the format etc.
I still think the EPL is the most exciting at the moment even though their have been some exceptional games in Spain and Italy lately.
I was thinking more from a players perspective than my own.
2 months ago
Hey I did not even really comment on the article.......well here goes......English clubs have to win world titles to be world recognised. England has only won one title. Everyone in Brazil and South America knows who Beckham,York and Giggs are cause they beat Palmeiras in the final.
Milan has won many time and are also well known.
You see while English people tend to keep their heads buried in their local stuff........the rest of the world pays attention to more global titles.
from 2 months ago
Are trying to say people in South America dont know the likes of Lampard, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole? I dont think one needs to WIN the world club cup (I assume thats what you mean by "World Titles") to be recognised world wide.
I agree that winning it enhances one's porpularity no doubt but by giving impressive perfomances for a top team in the Champions League on a regular basis, one is already known world wide.
To the article, I dont there's a definite answer as to why, Andrew. I think Chris came close with the cultural thing. Ac Milan, Juve, Real Madrid and Barcelona, as you rightly pointed out, will always be the most prestigues clubs in the world...
from 2 months ago
Salo, Trust me no one here knows who those guys you mentioned are. A small group of people including myself know who lampard is ...but it`s not like he`s highly rated or anything.
I got me Chelsea jersey for tomorrow but my mate gave me Terry in stead of Drogba. For sure no one will know who the hell Terry is. Many people know the African players here like Eto`o and a bit less Drugba. Interest in African players started after Brazil lost to Nigeria in the Olympics and they even show the Africa`s cup here now.
Brazil is very result oriented. If you don`t win we don`t care too much. Does not matter if you play `well` ....we got tonnes of people who `play well`. So the mentality of the people is results only.
I don`t know of any other country in the world where 15mins into a match the home frans start booing the home side if they haven`t scored. This includes the national side.
I speak for the masses here. Bear in mind there is a small minority who think differently. Bear in mind also that Brazil is the biggest country here. There are more people in Sao Paulo city than all of Argentina.
Flamengo club has a fan base of 45 million ....that`s almost getting close to Britain`s population.
from 2 months ago
S B, your speaking a lot of sense.. But, I recently spent two years in Africa and then 6 months in Asia before returning home.
I wont even talk about Asia because we all know how Premier League crazy they are. In Africa, however, in a country where they do not have great EPL coverage or any football coverage for that matter, it is surprising how many times Rooney's name is shouted in the street. Or how big a fan base United have in that country.
In a country, where the football played and skills displayed in the street, is greater than the one played in the EPL, the likes of Lampard, Ronaldo and Gerrard get an awful lot of attention.
Thierry Henry was a GOD there in his Arsenal days and it was like a country in mourning when he left for Barcelona.
I get what your tryna say but maybe it only applies to South America. Could that be S ?
from 2 months ago
Yes ...funny you should mention that...I almost added the Asia,Africa point in my last comment...real funny.
Yes in Asia mainly due to ManU touring, Beckham etc. and general good exposure on TV... EPL is very popular I would suspect and well Africa would depend on where exactly. Countries that speak Portuguese tend to go for Brazilian stars. But like you say the others especially ex-English colonies would definitely go for EPL and just about everything British. It`s what I thought,having never been there myself but glad to have you confirm it for me.
I mainly refer to South America and Brazil to be even more specific. Chile,Uruguay and Argentina have greater percentages of EPL awareness so to speak. However not the way you mentioned with people wearing jerseys in the streets etc. It`s not as fanatic.
Another thing worth mentioning is that all of this is slowly changing. I actually saw a guy at the supermarket wearing a Fenerbahce top. But then again it was probably because of all the Brazilian influence on that team. The most popular non-Brazilian jerseys you`ll see here are of Milan.
People pay such little attention I think they don`t even know Milan is out this year yet!!
from 2 months ago
You may have a point in saying it depends what country in Africa it is. I didnt know there were any Portuguese speaking African countries. Ive heard of a lot of french speaking countries, namely Ivory Coast and Senegal.
My point in original comment was that most of the world actually prefer the EPL over other leagues. People in South America, mainly Brazil, might prefer more 'glamorous' leagues, such as La Liga.
Asia and (i'll be careful to say) 'most' of Africa also prefer EPL. I was brought up in Denmark where the English is the third language behind Danish and German, the EPL is constantly on TV and it is announced first, before the local football, in the sports news.
Going by that information, I would say that EPL is the most porpular league in the world. Maybe not the most glamorous but the most porpular...
from 2 months ago
Point taken. I can only speak from my local perspective.
I guess if you really want to talk worldwide we need to figure out what China and India watch.....they are the world!
More than likely it could be majority EPL. I know its not Brazilian League for sure!!
Who can really say if they watch LaLiga or Italian?
But does clever marketing amount to real quality.....or is that a whole other topic?
from 2 months ago
Yeah probably, but you do express some very good points.
Your one of the few people that talk real sense in here and the same time you express views that nobody else do...
Good going homie..
2 months ago
Andy to me your "Mr EPL" as S' mentioned, don't back out man I have seen comments by you saying it is the best league this new course of thought upsets me greatly haha...
Love the read great points you make...
I believe Liverpool and Manchester United can match Barcelona, Juventus, Milan, Inter, Real Madrid with history and prestige and trophies, no question and then some, we see it from another side and thegrass is always greener.
I know having been away with Celtic that our history and prestige is like no other, and although we play in a small business league when compared to the big 3 there is no greater club and no greater support.
When I have been in Barcelona to them play the culture there is different, simply put it is great for all the things the UK is not and more, but at the same time home is home and the life that surrounds football in the UK from the dedication of fans like us to the atmosphere at games top to bottom the way we have lived the game since its origin we outclass the best.
Ours traditions and way of life when it comes to football I feel is healthy. There are many countries where it is controlling but in a pantomine circus melodramtic kind of way.
Certain clubs in our game have what money can't buy no matter how many Russians try and that is history at the top level, reputation for being at one stage or another kings of the world and for the rest all teams in the UK have something and that is the rights to the game in the first place...
Teams who can hold their own due to what they have done at the highest of levels, off top of my head and some are not even currently the greatest, but they have what no club can buy which is history and prestige...
Example take the European Cup Winners and to me all listed below have these things mentioned above that you cannot create or buy it is timeless.
Nottingham Forrest
Celtic
Liverpool
Man Utd
Ajax
Benfica
Porto
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Porto
Marseille
Red Star Belgrade
Steaua Bucharest
Plus big guns
Juventus
Inter Milan
AC Milan
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Alby
from 2 months ago
As I said above I ain't putting on a new badge just yet Alby haha.
Would be so interesting to know if I'd have found any British team glamerous growing up outside Britain. I'll never know if I would have done.
Maybe people from outside Britain can comment and tell me....
from 2 months ago
Oh Alby I watched the 1967 Euro Cup final the other day. Great game and I could still relate to it. Amazing the rule changes since then....so many indirect free kicks in the box lol.
2 months ago
I can see why Chelsea aren't considered a glamor club. But after all of United's success I always considered them a glamor club. Most players would jump at the opportunity to play at Old Trafford.
But I think if Chelsea win tomorrow night then their status will shoot up. Maybe more top-class players will want to play at Stamford Bridge too.
from 2 months ago
Football is not about glamor. The most glamorous Brazilian side was 1982-86. Football ballet. They lost.
Chelsea is efficient,well organized with good fire power up front.
I think they are a great side currently.
Of course talented players are always fun to watch but ultimately results make a side famous.
2 months ago
Good point S, it's just that a lot of players these days just go to clubs based on their glamor. It's a shame because that's not what is important when it comes to a football club.
from 2 months ago
We must not forget that when it comes to players, with extremely rare exception, the MONEY is all that matters.
If playing in a `glamor league` gets them more endorsements then so be it.
If playing in the EPL gets them more salary and press then so be it.
If playing in a league with cultural similarities gets them a good working environment then that counts too.
They weigh the prospects based on return like any professional in any field.
We the fans are caught up in the loyalty emotion team spirit thing. They the players do not.
Unless they are rich and accomplished enough to really choose their team irrespective of money etc. like Maradona is Boca Juniors. This is as rare.
2 months ago
Real Madrid, AC Milan are the two biggest clubs in Europe, undoubtedly, as they consistently have the best players AND consistently win the biggest prize.
After them you have the next level, where you have the clubs who consistently win the big prize (Liverpool, Ajax, Bayern Munich) but who are not quite as big as the other two because they don't always have the WORLDS best players itching to join them. They carry the name of a great club, and that often gives players who are not necessarily the best an extra edge, because they have the weight of history on their side.
Then you have the glamour clubs, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Barcelona for example, clubs whose history doesn't actually have that much European success compared to those above, but who are big names with big fan bases who always attract top players (Barca being the ultimate 'mythical' club, always with great players, but rarely win the big prize - 2 cl wins to Real Madrid's 9). Manchester United have one of the biggest fanbases in the world, and are one of the richest clubs, but I think if you asked the 100 best players in the world who they would like to play for out of any team, not many would say Man Utd. Often the weight of history goes against these teams, because they look enviously at their contemporaries (Liverpool, AC Milan, Real Madrid, United have quelled Liverpool's domestic dominance, but Liverpool are still comfortably the bigger force psychologically in Europe as United have failed to turn domestic dominance into European dominance)
Chelsea are a modern team, like Lyon, Sevilla, Villarreal, who have very little European history but who are making recent history with a mixture of money and good players coming through or being bought. This might last 5 minutes, it might last 20 years, who knows?
from 2 months ago
Haven`t seen you in a while Simon. good to hear your views.
Seedorf just gave an interview 2 hours ago where he stated that to him the Champs League is just a stepping stone to The FIFA World Club Cup which is the top trophy as far as clubs go.
Not me saying it this time.
Care to comment?
from 2 months ago
Well I will have to trust you on that S, Seedorf may well think that, and good luck to him, but I still think the majority of Europe, and the world, does not recognise the World Club Cup with the same esteem as you do, and the thoughts of one famous footballer will not change that opinion I'm afraid.
You will need more evidence than that to convince me that me that the World Club Cup holds much water in the rest of the world. From a purely English point of view, I know for a fact that it's just not important, and never has been. I know you think that is just because we don't win it, and that may be true to some extent , but we don't win the World Cup or the Euro's either (or even qualify these days!), and we still hold those tournaments in very high esteem, so I think that argument is flawed.
2 months ago
ma hnger bofen
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