Manchester United's bleak near future

Perhaps more than Liverpool's great performance in their 0-3 victory over Manchester United, was the low level to which Manchester United has sunk. I am not going to comment on whether David Moyes is the right coach; I think everyone expected a period of instability after Sir Alex Ferguson's exit, but it is clear that besides the poor tactical choices, Manchester United's players have lost confidence. Robbie Van Persie, who was a goal machine last season, misses shots he could have made with his eyes shut. And the defense is much more worrying, with particularly Rafael increasingly seeming like a blind man. Even Juan Mata, who joined the club with such fanfare, seems a shadow of himself.
Manchester United are effectively out of the title race, and seem unlikely to make it to the Champions League. In that self-same tournament they still have a ray of hope, but must play much better than they have done against Liverpool if to avoid elimination by an Olympiakos side that overcame them by 2-0 in Greece.
So what is to be done? David Moyes is under pressure, and many will be claiming to get a new coach. However, it may come down to what Sir Alex Ferguson has to say. If the club continues to believe in Moyes' project, they may be willing to have a couple of bad seasons as Moyes builds up a strong side. That is nevertheless a great luxury in modern football, where patience is a rarity. It remains to be seen what they will do, but it may be many years before we see Manchester United with a title again.

The end of an era

Sir Alex Ferguson has announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United after 27 years at the end of this season. He took over in 1986 after a brief stint as Scottish national coach at a time when the club had not taken the English title since 1967. In the first years Manchester United didn't win the title, but steadily improving, Ferguson held on, taking the FA Cup in 1990, and the UEFA Cup winners cup in 1991. And in 1993 Ferguson won his first Premier League title. By the time he retires, he will have led Manchester United to 13 League titles, of the 20 that Manchester United have ever won. Besides the League titles he won five FA Cup titles, four League Cup titles and two historical Champions League titles.
The speculations about who will replace him next season abound, with the favourites being David Moyes and Jose Mourinho. But no matter what no new manager will achieve what Sir Alex Ferguson achieved, and not only Manchester United fans but all football fans should be sad and respectful of the end of one of the impressive eras in football.

Out of this world

I had anxiously been expecting a great game in the Champions League final, which I watched in my new football-hangout in Caracas over a few Soleras. I was not disappointed, although it did not go exactly as I thought. That FC Barcelona was so superior to Manchester United was surprising, and nobody can say that their 3-1 victory was undeserved. The Catalonians controlled the ball superbly, and besides an outstanding Wayne Rooney goal, Manchester United's players were all but invisible. One can say a lot of things about how much space the English defense gave players such as Xavi or Messi for some of the goals, but at the same time Barcelona are splendid in finding open spaces.
The great Sir Alex Ferguson, disappointed but graceful in defeat, immediately admitted that his team had lost to the best team in the world.

In the world? Many FC Barcelona players are out of this world, most notably Messi, and I really do not know what UEFA rules say about using extraterrestial life-forms on your team...

Repeat final

After Manchester United's perhaps expected 4-1 victory at home to Schalke 04, it is now confirmed that the Champions League final at Wembley om May 28th will be a repeat of the 2009 final, where FC Barcelona defeated Manchester United 2-0. Back then, the English side had been weak favourites, as many expected them to be stronger physically and tactically. But in fact, the Spanish side matched the English side in both respects, and was superior technically.
FC Barcelona is today hailed as the best team in the world, and is probably the slight favourite this time, although one must never underestimate Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as the United side being hungry for revenge.
No matter what, it will be exciting!

Super Tevez

In spite of Manchester City still being behind Manchester United in the Premier League (and in my view, Alex Ferguson's United is still far better, although the Glazers might soon ruin that as well...), today City defeated United 2-1 in the semifinal of the Carling Cup, and both City goals were scored by none other than Carlos Tevez.
Last season Carlos Tevez was not good enough for mighty Manchester United, so the talented Argentinean changed club: he stayed in the same city, but changed to Manchester City, who ambitiously is trying to catch up with its mighty neighbour by buying its way to success. Although City may still have a way to go, Carlos Tevez is having an outstanding season.

Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid

Manchester United's concentration for tonight's Champions League final cannot be the best as the rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo's exit for Real Madrid are getting out of hand: Alex Ferguson called a Spanish journalist "idiot" for asking about it, and apparently, Manchester United are adamant about letting their super-star (who has a 5 year contract) go.
But Cristiano Ronaldo apparently wants to go - will he want to leave the possible Champions League champions?
In any case, the rumours cannot be good for Manchester United, as Chelsea gets its time to fully concentrate on the match.

Manager of the year

Alex Ferguson, the manager of Machester United, has just been made manager of the season in the Premier League after leading the Reds to their 17th Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic, thus leaving Chelsea trailing with a useless tie.

Manchester United will have the chance to keep Chelsea trailing yet again at the Champions League Final in Moscow, possibly cementing an extraordinary season for Manchester United, not seen since the legendary 1998-1999 season (but this team, in my opinion is better than the team from back then).

But be sure that Chelsea will fight: they will undoubtfully not want this season to be remembered as the season where they were nothing but runner-ups to Manchester United. Everyone remembers the winners; nobody remembers the runners-up.



But my warmest congratulations to Alex Ferguson, whom I still consider to be one of the greatest coaches of all time.