One trophy, two trophies or no trophies?
Mon May 05 09:30PM
Two teams, three games, two trophies. The mathematics has come down to this. Chelsea and Manchester United are about to embark on an epic mini-series to decide the destiny of two of the most coveted trophies in world sport: the Champions League and the English Premier League. Next Sunday, United play Wigan and Chelsea Bolton in the final matches of the domestic season. The permutations could detain the entire University of Cambridge maths department for a year. Though there is a simple thread at its heart: should United win, the title is red. Such is the gap in goal difference between the two clubs, not even a defence as flaky as Bolton's could concede sufficient goals for Chelsea to do it in that eventuality.
Then, ten days later, the pair meet again in Moscow to decide the Champions League. One of the teams could, by the late evening of 21st May, be cradling a double. Or both could be left empty handed. The stakes are that high. Higher even than last season when the same suspects fought for the double of English title and FA Cup and end up splitting the difference, taking home one trophy each.
But the really extraordinary thing about this modern day carve up, is that back in January nobody would have bet a single penny, euro or any old bit of currency they happened to find stuffed down the back of the sofa on the chances of it happening. Back then, if any English team was going to emerge to dominate all competitions, it appeared to be Arsenal. They were streaks ahead of the rest domestically, and, after smashing Slavia Prague 7-1 appeared to be equipped to take control of Europe too. Chelsea, on the other hand, were in the midst of their post-Jose Mourinho hangover and looked jaded, uneasy, unlikely. Crippled by injuries to Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard, they had none of the solidity, the assurance of old. But gradually, slowly they regrouped. Michael Ballack began to earn his massive wages, Nicholas Anelka was a shrewd January investment and Didier Drogba returned from the African Cup of Nations with his scoring boots restored. As Arsenal slipped and faded, the blues were there, first in their rear view mirror, then scorching past into the distance. Chelsea's march back to form and contention has been perfectly timed.
United, meanwhile, have always been there, in touching distance of a trophy that recent history suggests has been made for them. Blessed with a squad as populous as China, they have also been relatively lucky with injuries (Louis Saha, the balsa-wood man apart). Nobody, though, can have been as surprised as them to discover that it was not Arsenal or Liverpool with whom they would be disputing the end-of-year honours, but, as last season Chelsea. These are two teams who must be growing sick of the sight of each other.
We have just under a week to wait until the outcome is certain. There is not long left for feverish speculation, so let's make the most of it while we can... Surely the league is United's. Or do you think Wigan have it in them to do the blues a favour? As for the Champions League final, who do you think has the better big match temperament? And if it all, in this most tense and unpredictable of seasons, came down to penalties, who would crack first?
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IM this storyHats off to Grant.
From eliotot on Tue May 06 06:04AMUnited were handed the Premiership last season by some incredible referee decisions while this year, well it is friends and @#$%ctions. The West Ham manager raised a glass to United and Fergie by his team's non-performance on the field, while Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, simply adores his mentor - Fergie. United will therefore, probably, win the Premiership but Chelsea definitely to beat United in the final - in 90 minutes!
From kshacolas on Tue May 06 10:14AMI find the review very interesting and detailed. My take on the poser is that the trophies would go in two ways - Chelsea would pick the League Cup and Man United the Champions League Trophy.
From soty_f on Tue May 06 10:17AMWow wow wow, wat a wonderful season this has turned out to be. Who will ever think that Chelsea will out of no where pick form. Just like last season, the cups will be splitted. Wigan and West haam are Fergie's boyz, so Fergie is rest assured of the Premier league, however, Moscow is Chelsea's. Even Fergie knows that. He his always scared of Chelsea when it comes to finals. I wonder why FA didnt keep Chelsea Vs Man Utd match as the last day match. 2 gbosa for Grant and 5 to Jose for his good works
From orisy2k on Tue May 06 10:38AM"United were handed the Premiership last season by some incredible referee decisions" Are you having laugh? Can't honestly believe some people are that anti-United. I suppose Ronaldo has been "lucky" to score 40 goals this season and didn't deserve the player of the season award? You are one of those people that probably still believes that Carragher and Terry are better defenders than Ferdinand. Absolute Clown.
From ima_fat_tw on Tue May 06 10:39AMsome o n united
From zachnitr on Tue May 06 10:43AMDespite media hype in respect of top four English teams and the emerging two for the double particularly, none of them has shown any real consistency throughout the season. Arsenal have played some superb football, as have Manchester United, although Arsenal have been described as playing definitive football this season, United's home record really indicates a better team, recent form suggests a draw more likely away to Wigan Athletic, their only hope being a draw at Stamford Bridge.
As to the game in Moscow, it's a one off, which would normally favour United, it really depends on how much influence Chelsea's Owner still has in Russia? It will either be a high scoring game, which case United will top it, if it's nil all at full time then Chelsea will probably edge it on penalties.
Whatever the results, one can hardly call this season boring, whether the same four teams are involved next season or not, Arsenal were still in with a chance of bagging the title back & if history is correct, they should have done being the team at the top during Xmas & end of 2007. [Must be the first in the "old" 1st Division & the Premiership, to have lost the league title from that position.
From kenltops on Tue May 06 10:46AMthis season was a great season ever i had saw...no liverpool n no barca...MU will take both trophies to old trafford..watch out chelsea
From fifi_nazirul on Tue May 06 10:47AMPlease let man utd win both, just so we don't have to put up with ferguson blaming the ref or someone kicking ronaldo, because we all know he does'nt dive! and then with a bit of luck ferguson will retire.
From johnmiller45 on Tue May 06 10:50AMI think you will find that orisy2k was refering to last season not this one. Personally as a Chelsea fan I am surprised to see us competing for the League title given our start. I could have no issue with Man U taking that title, but the Champions League is ours... it's in Moscow, the Yiddish mafia are in charge of the whole team, we are hitting flair football form just in time. We will own the Reds in Russia, but good luck and gratz to them on the League
From shoemanchris on Tue May 06 10:52AMWhat a review!!! You do not consider one Trophy each as a possibility?
From otiduah2000 on Tue May 06 10:54AMLearning from experiences of this season,Arsenal remained first in the league.. later went to third place because of mental dipression created by injury to eduarodo silva......Manu was second initially and later moved to first place..chelsea roamed somewhere in the table due to injuries and finally got the edge and moved to second....now Manu too got injury issues and i dont know how its going to be..I think purely its a battle between chelsea's luck and Manu's strength..
From jonsten08 on Tue May 06 11:06AMit has been a great season. The last time the title went to the last game of the season was way back in 99 when united did the treble, so yes it has been a little boring since. As a united fan I would love them to take both title but if it has to be split I'd rather win the european cup.
Well done to Chelsea who I was really not expecting to be up there in January.
May the best team win (both)... I mean glory glory man utd!!! ;o)
From keztofab on Tue May 06 11:06AMWho cares united and chelsea have put too many people to sleep, if we havent forgotten Arsenal consistently played good football, and at the end of the day, you watch football for entertainment.
Id rather come 3rd but be entertained every bloody game, then lift a trophy meaningless to me personally by winning 1-0 every week.
Go the Gunners!
From tone.gunner on Tue May 06 11:07AMthough fans are so mutch in love of the out come of the two games man u has what it takes to wina a double.my fear is on the match officials who are always below stardand,when it comes to such big games.
From anoldphiri on Tue May 06 11:08AMI am guessing all the Man U fans commenting here don't actually live in Manchester? Having spent a lot of time there everyone there supports City!
Lets hope that neither side draws the card happy Mike Dean on the last day of the season, worse referee I have ever seen tread a field!
From hooperman_98 on Tue May 06 11:15AManoldphiri is abvious..
yes referees went wrong and forbidden with their decisions in previous games ..particularly chelsea vs manu..From jonsten08 on Tue May 06 11:19AMim a west ham fan,and im pleased with our season we done the best we could we all our injuries.a superb goal for tevez at old trafford at the wkend had us west ham supporters clapping.with utd at wigan and chelsea hosting bolton you never know whats going to happen.i think the championships utds but bruce could put the last twist to an amaaazing season.the champions league is anyones but in my mind i see chelsea taking it for the first time in there history in extra time but you never know its a funny old game.
From bungle682002 on Tue May 06 11:22AMSorry tone.gunner but you say 'Arsenal consistently played good football, and at the end of the day, you watch football for entertainment'.
So what happened to all those years when it was boring, boring Arsenal and 1-0 to the Arsenal - from what you have said you can not have followed them then?
From delt.cadman on Tue May 06 11:22AMi care not about the league title, afterall we don"t deserve it,not with the club owners insenstivity at begining.i do think that MAN U deserve the tittle they have worked so hard for(FA PRM LEAGUE),BUT COME MOSCO,MAN U SHOULD FORGET IT FOR WHO THE CAP FITS.10 GBOZA FOR CHELSEA ANB THE SPECIAL ONE.FROM ELWOODS.
From matthewelonna on Tue May 06 11:28AMI think MU and C.Ronaldo are destined for success this year after the Messi and Kaka is out of picture then the double would crown a glorious season.But Chelsea is never a push over always a grear team.
From adealabi2001 on Tue May 06 11:33AMChelsea will tack both trophies to s. bridge. Respect for man utd, but Chelsea has play definitive football during this season.
From shabanmurturi on Tue May 06 11:37AMoh yes boring United. every game's a 1-0...wait a minute, then how did we score 78 goals? 4-0 against the 'entertaining' arsenal. i was there, and that WAS entertaining. Is a 1-1 draw more interesting than a 1-1 win? if so then yes, Arsenal are far more interesting. Oh yeah, and I live in Manchester.
From hoganzo on Tue May 06 11:44AMAnything can happen and it probally will!
Chelsea missed a few to many chances to go ahead of Man U and apply some real pressure. As in the costly late goal in the game against Wigan,that was two very vital points lost there. And to think it's down to Wigan again,this time to do Chelsea the same favour seems very doubtful in my eyes. Looks like a given for Man U.Chelsea have a much better chance taking the Champions League title for the first time. As hinted upon Chelsea will be well looked after in Moscow all they need to do is concerntrate all their efforts on a very tougth 90 mins after a possible extra time both teams are level, Man U will have a definate advantage. Chelsea have always been flakie at Penalty shoot outs.
I hope the Blues turn up for this and it's third time lucky for Chelsea.
From stevezodiac5 on Tue May 06 11:48AMgreat review. I don't really like ManU, but I think there's no chance for Chelsea to win Premier League. But Moscow is our.
From mlight888 on Tue May 06 11:51AMhooperman,I'm from Manchester and i support United as does more than half the city,so where you get your 'everyone supports City' bit is strange,and rather stupid.Still when everyone is that jealous of United it means the club is doing things right.We'll win the premiership and Brucie will have a couple of bottles of champagne too.Champions League?I think United will 'nick' it too
From harrisianrobert on Tue May 06 11:52AMNice one by u all. Like i said b4 and i'll still say, Moscow is Chelsea's but Man U should watch out, becos Wigan has played some exceptional football in the late hours of the season, see dem against chelsea, and lastly the Aston Villa shocker. Man U, be warned. Anything can happen in 5days time, it is not over till it is over, e.g. Liverpool Vs Chelsea @ Anfield.
From orisy2k on Tue May 06 11:54AMthe writer says " The permutations could detain the entire University of Cambridge maths department for a year." What league are you talking about? If United get a better or equal result to Chelsea's on Sunday, they win the title, if Chelsea do better than United they win it. It couldn't be much simpler in fairness. Also, "both could be left empty handed"; how do you work that out? They're the only two teams competing for the trophies, so at least one of them will have to win something.
Bollocks article
From eoinoraghallaigh on Tue May 06 12:23PMeoinoraghallaigh, the quote 'both teams could be left empty handed' points to the fact that either team could end up winning nothing, thus being left 'empty handed' also you say if Chelsea 'do better' than United they win it. Not sure if you are aware of goal difference?? If United win 2-0 and Chelsea win 8-0 Chelsea won't 'win it' Therefore your statements are b******s!! Maybe you could do with that Cambridge Maths qualification mentioned!!! Doh!!!
From jtgs_afc on Tue May 06 12:47PMQuote: "Who cares united and chelsea have put too many people to sleep, if we havent forgotten Arsenal consistently played good football, and at the end of the day, you watch football for entertainment.
Id rather come 3rd but be entertained every bloody game, then lift a trophy meaningless to me personally by winning 1-0 every week.
Go the Gunners!
tone.gunnerFrom tone.gunner on Tue May 06 11:07AM"well when thats what you want, i wish you arsenal play good every season and finish third
From kik4o148 on Tue May 06 01:05PM
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Jim White
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