Feelfootball blog

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?

Comments31 - 60 of 85
First
Previous
1
2
3
Next
Last

Perhaps Fergie suffers from short term memory loss when he says this is the best squad he has had. They did the treble not too long ago with a variety of players who could score and the best keeper anyone has had for a long long time,not the one man team he carries now, take away Ronaldo's 40 goals and where would the be in either Premier or Champions leagues
From jryder50 on Tue May 06 01:06PM
Report abuse
man u is going to collect the premier league cup why champion's league is for chelsea. chelsea reach the final for the first time and they will collect it for the first time.
From gazal4mum on Tue May 06 01:08PM
Report abuse
Primo: For a team we beat 4 - nil, Wigan don't have it in them to beat United. Chelsea plays worse against most teams than they play against United. On the other hand, maybe they just prefer to score aa goal or 2 and defend (anyone remember how many times United have scored 4 goals in a game?)
Secundo: Most of u guys probably hate United so much, u can't be reasonable and objective. Do you really think it's possible that we'll lose the last game of the season, since the players know winning it will hand them the cup? Yes, at times we've lost cup matches by the lone goal, but the Prem was made for United. I don't expect Bolton to beat Chelsea either. Hence, the powers that be at Chelsea will learn that scoring loads of goals a.k.a. playing attractive football, does count in the long run. So the Prem cup is staying at Sir Matt Busby Way.
I hate penalty kicks. I love extra time though. The outcome of the final really depends on how Chelsea go about it. If they come out attacking all-guns-blazing, United will trash them (I already mentioned somewhere that u can't outscore THIS United team). If Chelsea make it a tight game and wait till the last 20 minutes to start sending the long balls to Drog, there might be problems (maybe...Barca couldn't manage). If United score first (earlier), it's game over Chelsea.
Anyways see u guys after the final whistle.
From tosinsbox on Tue May 06 01:15PM
Report abuse
still see some Ronaldo haters in here Peeps still fail to see the logic even Ronaldo in all his arrogancy sees every week. WITHOUT THIS PRESENT TEAM BEHIND HIM, RONALDO WOULDN'T SCORE 40.
Besides very few players haven't score for the team this season (only Evra and VDS I think). Without THIS defense, we wouldn't have such a high goal diff. Without THIS midfield, we wouldn't tear so many teams apart. If there were no Ronaldo, someone else would do the magic. Weren't YOU ALL scared, when Fergie let Rudd go??)
From tosinsbox on Tue May 06 01:18PM
Report abuse
I'm a manutd fan and i want manutd to win both the champions league and the premiership.I hate drogba because he is too arrogant.Lete from port harcourt,nigeria.
From letegreen on Tue May 06 01:28PM
Report abuse
Hey Naija boy...big up. P.S. Ronaldo is arrogant as well...but we just love him, innit?
From tosinsbox on Tue May 06 01:29PM
Report abuse
I understand Wigan have managed to draw against the other 3 BIG FOUR teams, but please. please, please - give Bolton some respect too. Why doesn't anyone think they could hold Chelsea??
From tosinsbox on Tue May 06 01:35PM
Report abuse
Arsenal's beautiful game is enough for the season, but remember trophies will surely come in multiples when it will come, soonest. man u or Chelsea, any way i give it to man u b cos they played better football than Chelsea. IN GUNNERS I TRUST !
From deledabiri on Tue May 06 01:39PM
Report abuse
Believe it or not Liverpool has demonstrated to the world that Brazil is to the World Cup as Liverpool is to the Champs League.Notwithstanding Liverpool is not in the final, both Chelsea and Man U had a tidal breath for not meeting the Red Devil whether again or for the first time. ...dont just think it's bcuz of Jose absence that we lost. No, Never. If Jose was still there it thing would have been the same and Man U will still take both.
From micpando1 on Tue May 06 01:40PM
Report abuse
Quite honestly as a Man U fan I believe who ever is the best team on the day and takes their chances will win. If United win them fantastic. If Chelsea happen to beat us on both occasions, I will salute them. May the best team win on the day. Good Luck to Man Utd & Chelsea for both games.
From martialartuk on Tue May 06 01:51PM
Report abuse
Another great article from Jim White whose book "Are you watching Liverpool" is still one of my all time favourites, brilliant!. Firstly lets get real, who ever wins the Prem or Champs league do so because they deserve it, thats football, end of. You can moan and groan until the cows come home, its as simple as that, so stop your whinning and wait and see! Also, you may be interested to know that there are as many local Man Utd fans as there are any other club in the country, fact! Is it the fault of Man Utd that thousands of people from beyound the city gates follow the reds, as I'm sure happend with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool...get a life, mancunian and proud!!
From nelsonbrian66 on Tue May 06 02:11PM
Report abuse
a really high performance from the red devils since the begining of the season, key for that is the usual succes from the Sir Fergie and the key player Ronaldo, no one loss in the Champions league , leading the Premier league, magnifient record for ronaldo to lead the goal scorers in Premier league and champions league, definitly it is the RED DEVILS season.
just i'm really confused about how some people thinks, specially regarding the remaining matchs for red devils against West Ham and Wigan, why so many think that they will hand the match for the man utd? just have a look to previous results for the face to face matchs to have an idea about how tough they are when meeting man utd, west ham beat man utd 3 in a row, wigan performed well in the first round, loss by 2/1 after a tough game.
in general, man united is the best in the league, and the records are talking, even for those fans who wanna close eyes, just compare the face-face league matchs between man united and chelsea, first round was 2/0 and the second round was 2/1, which means still the red devils are better than the blues
From maherbluebird2005 on Tue May 06 02:19PM
Report abuse
comparing the face-to-face league matchs, man united is better than Blues, win 2/0 in OLD TRAFFORD and lose 2/1 in Stamford Bridge.
comparing the matches against the strong four in premier league (Man - Arsenal - Liverpool - chelsea) man united took 13 points out of possible 18, just a loss and a draw while the rest didn't even come near to man united record
so the best is in the lead.
at least man united can decide thier destiny by thier own not waiting some help from other teams
From maherbluebird2005 on Tue May 06 02:23PM
Report abuse
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED
From maherbluebird2005 on Tue May 06 02:24PM
Report abuse
sorry tone.gunner i dont understand how the champions league is meaningless u say u want 2 be entertained and come 3rd well u be entertained and we will carry on being superior and wining trophies it is an insult to wigan to say that they r going to lay down and let us walk all over them bruce has to much pride for that as for al u who say man u supporters r not from manchester grow up that is well old now
From fb_inn on Tue May 06 02:27PM
Report abuse
Quote: "eoinoraghallaigh, 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"
Re-read the statement. "BOTH teams could be left empty handed" - it's a false statement.
eoinoraghallaigh is correct - one team HAS to win something as it's only 2 teams competing for both trophies, so the correct statement would be "EITHER team could be left empty handed"
Again, re-read the statement eoinoraghallaigh has wrote. "if United get a better or equal result" - that means if Man Utd win and Chelsea lose (BETTER) or if Man Utd draw and Chelsea draw (EQUAL) or even if both teams lose (EQUAL).
So no, his statements are'nt b******s at all - maybe you could go get an English reading qualification
From luke_argent on Tue May 06 02:43PM
Report abuse
ithink this has been a wonderfull season to think that a winger could score 40 goals in all competitions 30 in the league man u have the edge on chelsea for the champions league as for the prem we just have to see wigan and bolton hav a lot of pride to finnish off well done chelsea & man u for a great season
From fb_inn on Tue May 06 02:46PM
Report abuse
BIG UP RONALDO AND MAN U
From fb_inn on Tue May 06 02:49PM
Report abuse
Hats off to ya HAGONZO took the words right out off my mouth..
Some peeps dont know what there talking about.... TONE.GUNNER rather come 3rd and play good football than win anything...RUBBISH.... HOPPERMAN if everyone in manchester is a city fan then youve only seen about 5% off it, next time ya about me and hoganzo will give ya a tour city dont even fill there council house when the big teams go there.and theyve had a good season this year so ya cant say poor form has kept them away (there aint as many as you think) having live in MANCHESTER all my life i think i know what im on about..
Now back to chelsea and united. not only are they the best 2 teams in england but in europe too. and a the last 8 months prove that.. anyone can win a 1 off game which will make the final a great game and anyones but the in the league united have just had the edge wont drop points at wigan,, and it will have nowt to do with bruce being manager he has a job to do and keep more to the point.
From lchip333 on Tue May 06 03:19PM
Report abuse
That Chelsea has come far this way shows that nothing should be taking away from them.Chelsea has gotten the character and the will power to overcome Man U. This Moscow encounter will prove that Chelsea is not a team to be toyed with. At the premiership, luck can still smile on Chelsea. Up Blues.
From babafemioluwole on Tue May 06 03:36PM
Report abuse
Ronaldo has been magnificient this season and so have been Man U, so they really do deserve the shield. But i really dont see Chelsea loosing any of the remaining two matches, either by playing entertaining or boring football. A lot has gone wrong with chelsea this season, its amazing how they bounced back under pressure. i wonder if any of the big four can cope with that much pressure and instability.
From eniolobo on Tue May 06 03:56PM
Report abuse
other three, i mean
From eniolobo on Tue May 06 03:57PM
Report abuse
the odds favour Man U 4 THE PREMIERSHIP but there's still 90 minutes to play.come moscow Chelsea has all it takes to lift the trophy.we've beaten man u recently and i think we'll do it again.
From opsybrown01 on Tue May 06 07:27PM
Report abuse
hooperman..as a mancunian living in surrey who has supported Man U since he was 3...i feel you are a little out of touch..not to say biased.Thank god i support Manu and the cavalier football we usually get ..though of late sadly missing..i could not watch 90 mins of Chelsea..solid yep like constipation..we will see when the final whistle blowws in Moskva..just who has the silverware..?..but at least 1 team will be trying to win it in style.
From chrisalisburgess on Tue May 06 07:40PM
Report abuse
Jesus...this season has shot my nerves to S**T. I am a lfe-long United fan FROM MANCHESTER, I might add, but this season has taken it out of me so much, i cosidered going to a few stockport county matches next season! I am also a realist, I am not going to sit here (while I should be working) and say United are going to win the lot. Chelsea f*****G scare me! they seem to have come strong at the crucial point of the season, Im pretty sure they will beat Bolton, but I am not so sure united will beat Wigan. I watched Wigan last weekend beat Villa away from home, and ok, it was only Villa, but the put in a tight performance non the less. For most of my life, i would never have dreamt of writing something as unsure as this...I have been a United fanatic and would never say a negative word, or one pointing to defeat, My prediction is this, United will win the Champions League, and Chelsea may win the Premiership...I hope I am proved a very bad prophet, and United win everything.
From adammale135 on Tue May 06 08:21PM
Report abuse
Hey Guys Arsenal really did me proud who could have thought they wiil be here at the end of the season to me it all boils down to MAFIA, against liverpool they were not given their penalty later the referer apologised what for the deal has been done, until FIFA start using replay as in the US, soccer will never have a clean results in Europe
From andyak2 on Tue May 06 08:51PM
Report abuse
I am a United fan but something tells me Man U will win the Premiere League title whiles Chelsea goes for the Champions League, Its sad but thats what i feel, i have tried all but the same feelings come to mind. - Nii Mantse, Ghana
From nii_mantse1 on Tue May 06 09:31PM
Report abuse
chelsea have had more ref and lines man decisions than most clubs , ie the penalty that gave chelsea victory , ballack pulling ronaldo down in penalty box from a corner , come on fool most teams get the rub of the green so stop crying over spilt milk , chelsea as a big squad of class players and should be winning all the games but so should man u , but its football and sometimes this dont happen so remember all teams have a bit of luck look at my team pompey in the fa cup final great , but we had all the luck go our way other times it wont , but thats football , also football is about scoring and trusting officials lets hope we can at least trust in that or the game is ruined ,
From pompey80uk on Wed May 07 05:09AM
Report abuse
Honestly, what would you be without Cristiano Ronaldo?
Everytime you play without him the commentator takes note. Wayne Rooney seems to have lost his magic touch and Carlos Tevez runs like crazy but often is simply ineffective. Man U's game v Barca was an Italian game on Man U's part. Paul Scholes scored one of his many screamers (his 2nd goal of the season, after his Pompey goal on Tevez's debut) but Leo Messi was outstanding and Barca were style-before-substance with their finishing. And it was rumoured that Ronaldo actually started the game, but presumably everyone only saw him in the dressing room. You have Nani too but judging by his little soap opera v West Ham, he's in urgent need of the boot (David Beckham will be happy to lend Fergie his). I'll concede that Anderson is efficient, and Carrick is an able midfielder. Giggs and Scholes have had their pace robbed aeons ago, but skill remains. But without your 40-goal winger, would the league have still gone to Old Trafford?
From newswirm313 on Wed May 07 06:22AM
Report abuse
Chlsea coach is realistic they have done better than his eexpatations that also meets he has come to his end . He ends without a trophy thats to Man U double.
From psdranigas on Wed May 07 08:05AM
Report abuse