Preview: 2006/2007 Champions League Favorites Preview PART II
By Joseph Schoenbauer
Barcelona – Catalunya
Barcelona returns to this year’s competition as champions of Europe and of Spain, having remarkably completed the double last year. They became champions of Europe in dramatic fashion, having come from 1-0 down to defeat Arsenal 2-1 following goals from Samuel Eto’o and Giuliano Belletti, who had never scored a goal for Barcelona before that night.
Barcelona actually found a way to strengthen their all-conquering squad over the summer, signing Lilian Thuram and world-champion Gianluca Zambrotta from the demoted Juventus for a combined 15 million euros, and Eidur Gudjohnsen from rivals Chelsea for 8 million euros. Fan favorite Javier Saviola has also returned to the first-team squad following a loan spell with Sevilla and reluctance to sign for another team.
In attack, they will look to continue with the three-pronged attack of Ronaldinho on the left, Eto’o in the center, and Messi on the right. Gudjohnsen provides muscle following Henrik Larsson’s departure to Helsinborgs in his native Sweden, Giuly provides speed and goals on the right, and Saviola provides a quick and active option. Maxi Lopez has been loaned out to RCD Mallorca for the year.
In midfield, Xavi returns, having been out for most of the year following ACL surgery. He will look to make up a very skilful three-man midfield with the likes of Deco, Iniesta and the more physical Brazilians Edmilson and Thiago Motta. Iniesta was highly impressive last season as both an attacking or defensive midfielder and will likely earn even more playing time this season, with Deco an automatic selection. Rafa Marquez also provides more depth should he be required to move from his defensive position.
In defense, Barcelona has added two champions in Thuram and Zambrotta. Zambrotta has been brought in to solidify Barcelona’s right back position. Oleguer and Belletti performed admirably at right back last year but still were unable to fully convince the coaching staff. Lilian Thuram has been brought in to share time with Carlos Puyol and Rafa Marquez in the middle, while Gio and Silvinho will continue to split time at left back. Zambrotta is also very comfortable performing on the left.
Victor Valdes continues in goal, with Jorquera his understudy.
While the task of repeating as European Champions is near impossible, this Barcelona squad has the ability to do just that.
Strongest Starting XI: Valdes; Gio, Puyol, Marquez, Zambrotta; Deco, Iniesta, Xavi; Ronaldinho, Eto’o, Messi
Arsenal – England
Last year Arsenal dramatically advanced past the quarterfinals, a round they had been unable to get through for what seemed an eternity in time, rolling all the way to the final, before coming undone in the last 10 minutes against Barcelona.
While the core players return, there have been many changes to Arsenal’s side over the summer. Veterans Pires and Sol Campbell have moved on to Villarreal and Portsmouth respectively, while the legend Dennis Bergkamp has retired. Want-away Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes got his wishes when he moved on loan to Real Madrid, while left back Ashley Cole also got his money by signing for English league rivals Chelsea. Remarkably, Arsenal may have gotten off with each of the last two deals, receiving ‘La Bestia’ Baptista in exchange for Reyes, and William Gallas and 9-million Euros for Ashley Cole. Gallas is a better defender than Ashley Cole, and will also slide into the middle if Clichy can return and stay healthy. In Baptista they have a powerful attacking player that will give Arsenal a different look if necessary, while they also offloaded a player that was clearly not happy in rainy London.
Arsenal’s attack is scary. Thierry Henry is still the undisputed star, having stayed on despite a lot of noise from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. The options to partner him include the ever-improving Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor, Julio Baptista, 17-year old Theo Walcott and Jeremie Aliadiere. All 5 of these players are more than capable of doing the job and all have youth on their side. As scary it is, if Arsenal switches to a 4-5-1 formation as they did in Europe last year, all four of these talents might find themselves on the bench.
Arsenal’s attack does not end at forward. In teenager Cesc Fabregas and Thomas Rosicky they have two of the best creative attacking midfielders in the world, capable of providing goals, and more importantly, decisive passes against any opposition. On the wings, Arsenal can rely on the experienced Freddy Ljungberg and Alexander Hleb, who despite his lack of goals, was highly impressive, especially at the end of last season. Gilberto Silva provides the steel in the center. In cover are more and more youthful talents. Flamini, who played bravely last year at left back, is just 22 years old, while Abou Diaby, Alexandre Song, and new signing Denilson (from Sao Paolo for 8 million Euros) are all 20 years old an under.
Defensively, Arsenal has lost Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, but still looks stronger than last year. Both players were on the sidelines for large portions of the year, along with soon-to-be-healthy Lauren. However, Senderos emerged last season from Sol’s shadow, Flamini was fantastic at left back until going out injured in the semifinals and Emmanuel Eboue became a star at right back in Lauren’s absence. This year they can count once again on Kolo Toure, as well as the equally strong and athletic William Gallas in the middle, with the young and capable Johan Djourou waiting in the wings. Pascal Cygan has also moved on to Villarreal in a 3.5 million Euro deal, which looks like good business on Arsenal’s side.
Jens Lehmann continues in goal following his award-winning performances last year and strong World Cup showing for Germany. Almunia is the capable goalkeeper who came on when Lehmann was red carded in last year’s final.
Arsenal looks to have gathered a lot of experience following their run to the finals last year, and are now on the brink of obsession when it comes to winning the Champions League. It is the only thing Arsene Wenger is still missing, aside from the Carling Cup. They have a number of new signings, but if they gel throughout the year, they should not be afraid of anyone they may come up against.
Strongest Starting XI: Lehmann; Clichy, Gallas, Toure, Eboue; Rosicky, Gilberto Silva, Fabregas, Hleb; van Persie, Henry
AC Milan – Italy
AC Milan is a team very fortunate to even be competing in this year’s edition of the Champions League, having escaped from the scandal that saw Juventus relegated to Serie B and fellow would-be qualifiers Fiorentina dropped out of European competition via point deduction. AC Milan were docked only enough points that they remained in 4th place, and qualified for the Champions League through the third qualifying round.
Now that they have been accepted into the competition, they automatically take their seat alongside the others as top contenders for the trophy.
In spectacular fashion, Andrii Shevchenko left the comforts of Milan, where he was a king amongst the fans, not only for his outstanding goal scoring record over 7 seasons, but also for his seeming dedication and love for the club. But money talks, as does family, which was Shevchenko’s reasoning for his departure for Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea in a 50-million Euro deal. Aside from Shevchenko, veterans Rui Costa (Benfica) and Jaap Stam (Ajax) have also moved on.
In return, they have signed lightning fast Ricardo Oliveira from Real Betis via Sao Paolo, right back Daniel Bonera from Parma, and French teenage sensation Yoann Gourcuff from Rennes. These signings should provide a youthful spark to an ageing side, but it does not look to be a sure fire solution, especially when the defense is concerned. Costacurta (40), Maldini (38), Cafu (36), Favalli (34), Serginho and even Nesta are all the wrong side of 30, as are attackers Pippo Inzaghi and Clarence Seedorf.
AC Milan’s dependence on Kaka’s brilliance will grow in leaps and bounds this year, but don’t let that be a reason to count them out. Kaka is as agile as the come, and has an eye for goal greater than attacking midfielders from Milan’s recent past, from Boban to Leonardo to Rui Costa. If Kaka can maintain his level, forwards Pippo, Gilardino and Oliveira can make up for Shevchenko, and any of Serginho, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Maldini and Costacurta can stay relatively healthy, Milan are in with a shout.
Strongest starting XI: Dida; Jankulovski/Serginho, Nesta, Kaladze, Bonera; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Gilardino, Oliveira
Chelsea - England
Chelsea is proving to be resolute in their quest for the Holy Grail that is the Champions League trophy. Abramovich continues to spend millions on new players every year despite claims from Mourinho and company that eventually Chelsea will not have to keep buying players because they are buying young players that will eventually become champions also. But only in theory…
Chelsea have gone through a remarkable amount of players in the 3 years that Abramovich has taken over, all of them expensively brought in. Players like Mutu, Crespo, Veron, Johnson, Parker, Del Horno, Kezman, Huth, Gallas and on and on have all failed or refused to stick around for one reason or another, while new acquisitions are constantly being brought in. This year Chelsea shelled out over one hundred million euros in transfer fees and salaries to get Shevchenko from Milan, Ballack from Bayern Munich, Kalou from Feyenoord, Boulahrouz from Hamburg, Obi Mikel from Manchester United/Lyn Oslo and Ashley Cole from Arsenal.
In return, Chelsea has formed a truly world-class side, strong in goal, defense, midfield and forward. However, it is still very much up in the air whether the side is stronger than it was last year, at least on paper. With Gallas’s mumblings, it was probably best for the team to have him move on, but he is arguably a better left-sided defender than his replacement Ashley Cole, though Cole is a better option than both Del Horno and Bridge, who will probably be praying to move on by January should he stay healthy. Boulahrouz was an expensive signing at 9 million euros, but his versatility across the back line should help provide cover for Terry and Carvalho in the middle when necessary, while likely starting at right back in front of the Portuguese Ferreira, who after being bought for 12 million euros, has found playing time hard to come by at both club and country.
In midfield, Makelele continues where he left off in front of the defense, with Essien likely to be his sidekick, as Mourinho tends to choose safety over excitement at the beginning of games. That leaves Ballack and Lampard to play in front of them in a rotating box to diamond formation that will also likely provide more freedom at times to Essien to burst forward with the tactically astute Ballack dropping in at the left point of the diamond when necessary. In attack, Chelsea will surely go with Drogba and Shevchenko, which possibly leaves England star Joe Cole, Dutch winger Robben, Kalou, and the forgotten Wright-Phillips, not to mention Jon Obi Mikel little options but to fight to be the 12th man and a hope for a rotation policy that includes them. Regardless, Mourinho’s man management will be pushed to the limits even further this year than last, when Carvalho and Gallas took their turns to complain.
In the long run of the season, the chances are the highly intelligent Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing when he made the changes to the squad over the summer, and will have more up his sleeve than we can know at this point in time. Unfortunately for Abramovich, futbol is a funny game in which money can only take you so far. But in the end there are millions of players in the world, hundreds that are world class and only 11 can fit on one team on the field at one time. Only time will tell, but certainly Chelsea has as good of opportunity this year as they’ve ever had. But expect changes next year regardless of this year’s outcome.
Strongest starting XI: Cech; A. Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Boulahrouz; Makelele; Essien, Ballack; Lampard; Shevchenko, Drogba