SIR ALEX FERGUSON: AN EPITOME OF SUCCESS

It was something that had been most speculated on for a while. Many wondered when the knight would call it quits with the beautiful game after a life time of achievements. Well, the world of football was agog with excitement on the 8th of May, 2013 and not a few tears were shed when Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson announced to the world that he would be retiring as Manager of Manchester United - a position he held since 1986.

The Scot, 71 who has been at the helm of affairs at Old Trafford for the past 26 years is without doubt, the most successful coach in England and arguably, the world. His career at the Theater of Dreams has fetched him a most impressive haul of 38 trophies which include 13 League Titles, 2 Champions League Crowns, 5 FA Cups and 4 League Cups - a trophy haul that will not be eclipsed by any coach any time soon.

Accolades have continued to flow in commemoration of what is considered as a great loss to the football world. Rarely has the world seen a coach who has remained a relevant shot caller for such a long time. Before Sir Alex took over the club, Manchester United had not won a silver ware in 26 years and it didn't take too long for him to put the club back to winning ways. He injected a highly competitive and professional spirit into the club which transformed Manchester United to one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Happily, the knight may have retired from active participation in the game but the affairs of Manchester United remains close to his heart. He is to become a director and ambassador for the club after his last game as coach against West Brom which will be his 1500th in charge at United. Ferguson will undergo hip surgery in the summer and is confident his successor will take over a club in good health after winning their 20th top-flight title 18 days ago. He stated in his press conference yesterday that it was important to leave the organisation at the strongest possible shape to ensure the long-term future of the club remained a bright right.

It was expected at a time that Sir Alex's closeness with former Chelsea and current Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho meant that he was grooming him for the job, especially as Mourinho had expressed a desire to coach United after Sir Alex retired. However, from all indications, it seems Everton coach and fellow Scot, David Moyes who will be receiving the flaming torch. It is believed that Moyes will blend in perfectly because he understands the club's history and is committed to youth development and would maintain the attractive and attack-minded game United is known for.

Sir Alex Ferguson was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 31 December, 1941. He began his football career as an attacking forward with Queens Park at the age of 16. From there, he moved to St. Johnstone where he was unable to command a regular place and moved again to Dunfermline in 1964 where he became full-time professional footballer. In 1965-1966 season, Ferguson had an amazing 45 goals in 51 goals and was joint top scorer in the Scottish League with 31 goals. He joined Rangers when he left Dunfermline and later moved to Falkirk where his coaching career began when he was promoted to player-coach. He ended his playing career in with Ayr United in 1974 with a total of 107 goals in 370 appearances.

He began his managerial career in 1974 with East Stirlingshire at the age of 32. He gained reputation as a disciplinarian which stuck for the rest of his career. He later moved to St. Mirren where he transformed the team from a lower Second Division team to First Division champions in 1977. He moved to Aberdeen in 1978 and won many silverwares and had his first taste of European victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup where they defeated Real Madrid in the finals in 1983 as well as retaining the Scottish Cup.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1984 honours list and became highly sought after being courted by top clubs in England. He was part of the coaching staff of the Scottish national side that qualified for the 1986 World Cup and had to take charge of the team when the manager Jock Stein suddenly collapsed and died. When Scotland failed to progress past group stages, he stepped down as national team manager. He rejected offers from Rangers, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs and Wolverhampton Wanderers before he took over the reins at Manchester United on 6th November, 1986.

He was knighted by the Queen in June 1999 after the famous treble which included United's first Champions League title. He won his second Champions League title against Chelsea in 2008 and has led United to a record 20 league titles; a feat never to have been achieved by any English club. He has won a total of 49 trophies as a manager, 38 of which were with Manchester United. In 1498 games as manager at Manchester United, he had 894 wins, 337 draws and 267 defeats. He bought a total of 104 players during his stay at Manchester United; the last being Wilfried Zaha, signed from Crystal Palace for fee rising to £15m in January and loaned back to Palace. On the 23rd of November 2012, he was honoured with the unveiling of a statue of him at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson is married to Lady Cathy Ferguson and they have three sons; Mark who was in born 1968 and a set of twins Darren; born 1972 and the current manager of Peterborough United and former manager of Preston North End, and Jason who runs an events management company. In 1998, Ferguson was named as one of the biggest financial donors of the Labour Party of which he has been a life-long voter and in January 2011, Graham Stringer, a Labour MP in Manchester and Manchester United supporter, called for Ferguson to be made a life peer. If this happened, it would make Ferguson the first current or former footballer or football manager to sit in the House of Lords. In 2009, Ferguson received a Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the Manchester Metropolitan University. It was the second degree received from the university, after receiving a honorary masters in 1998.

The wiley old fox as he is fondly referred to, will be sorely missed at Old Trafford and indeed the English Premiership as one so passionate about the game. It will be a relief to some of his peers who must have been intimidated by his frightful competitiveness and staggering successes which never seemed to age as much as he did. This indeed marks the end of a golden era for Manchester United.

Thank you Sir Alex!

Malcolm O. Ifi.


Photo Credits: The Internet
Info Credits: Wikipedia

THE RISE OF THE GERMAN MACHINES: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA?

This has certainly been one of the most scintillating Champion League weeks ever. More so, as we are at the most sensitive of stages at the European competition - the semi-final knock outs. Without doubt, these last four teams have been the best teams so far in this competition which is heading toward an unbelievable conclusion.

Enter Barcelona at the Allianz Arena. This class which is composed of the cream of the Euro and World Cup winning Spanish national team and probably the greatest footballer to ever have graced the game have arguably been the best team in the world in the past four years, winning the UCL at least three times in the last ten years.

Enter their hosts, Bayern Munich who have shown quality over the years but haven't seemed to have the luck. Since their painful loss to Manchester United at the Nou Camp in the 1999, they won it in 2001 at the San Siro in Milan and have featured prominently in four more finals since then, the last being against Chelsea last year. The team has been under massive construction with the influx of the new generation of young German players who are highly touted to be the next world champions in football.

Both sides went into the game with full fire power with the blessed triumvirate of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi having being spectacular all season despite taking a few knocks and the German side having the prolific Mario Gomez who has been in good form, scoring 15 goals in his last 14 UCL appearances at the Allianz Arena. However, most people expected Bayern to perform well but still come short behind Barcelona. What nobody expected was the severe thrashing they meted out to the Blaugrana.

A disappointed Messi and Iniesta

It began with a bit of a controversy as Gerard Pique escaped handing a penalty to the hosts. However, it didn't stop Thomas Muller from getting a sumptuous header that put the Bavarians ahead. Prolific Mario Gomez added a second in the 49th minute with text book finishing. With a comfortable two-goal lead, they pressed on, not conceding possession to the Blaugrana in the back line and soon enough, Arjen Robben scored a beauty assisted by Muller with a controversial body check before Muller sealed a historical win when he added his second of the night.

Barcelona's chances of turning this around are slim as no team has ever lost the first leg of a Champions League/European Cup tie by four goals and progressed to the next round. While it would do no good to write Barcelona off totally, the odds to progress to the finals are heavily against them.

Just when we thought we had seen it all, enter Real Madrid at the Signal-Iduna-Park. The Blancos have been in spectacular form all season after getting the upper hand against their nemesis, despite losing the La Liga title to them; thanks to the tactical soundness of the special one, Jose Mourinho and the superb performance of talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, as well a better-bonded team. The Blancos went into the game with just a win in their last 7 semi-final away fixtures and one win in 24 away games in Germany in European competitions. The stats definitely didn't favour them but somehow, most expected the Spanish to dominate.

However, that was not to be as Borussia Dortmund seemed bent on exacting the same pummeling their fellow compatriots displayed on Tuesday. It was a game where we all expected to see Ronaldo at his best and he didn't disappoint but a certain Pole stole the show. Robert Lewandowski was on target in the 8th minute after sustained pressure on the Blancos as they struggled to find their footing in the game. As the game progressed, Madrid got a hand of the game but never really looked too dangerous except from set pieces.

Madrid got back in the game via a beautiful counter seized on by Gonzalo Higuain who laid up a beautiful pass for Ronaldo to score a confident goal 12th UCL goal in 11 appearances to level things just before half-time. Unfortunately, Dortmund didn't seem to be shaken by the equalizer as they started the second half with Lewandowski again punishing the Madrid defense in what many considered to be an off-side goal. The Pole was unrelentless as he took advantage of a shot that took a deflection and fell perfectly for him and with such skill and calm, he executed a perfect finish, hanging the ball at the roof of the net to seal his hat-trick; the first player to ever do so against Real Madrid in UCL history.

The Pole wasn't done. When an unnecessary shove from Xabi Alonso led to a penalty, it was Lewandowski again who stepped up and blasted through an unfortunate Lopez who had been spectacular, scoring his fourth of the evening. This is the first time in Champions League history that two teams have conceded four goals in one game in a set of semi-finals. However, Madrid have better hopes than their Spanish counterparts with an away goal in their bag.

The odds seem to favour an all German final rather than the El Classico we all had anticipated earlier. Could this be the end of the Spanish dominance, and the beginning of the domination of the German Machines in club football? The German Machines were most impressive at the last World Cup with so much potential for future domination which may have already begun in earnest. All indications point in that direction but only time will tell.

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Photo Credits: The Internet

HISTORY: MADE IN OLD TRAFFORD...AGAIN!

It was an amazing night of celebrations for every Manchester United fan world over as they sealed off an emphatic 3-0 win at Old Trafford against a hapless Aston Villa side that was simply no match for the rampaging red devils. However, no player deserved the crown for the EPL more than Dutch international Robin VanPersie. The ex-Arsenal talisman who joined the Theater of Dreams last year has been nothing short of sensational and extremely instrumental to Manchester United's successful bid to unseat her wealthy but noisy neighbours on the blue side of town.

It was the acute sharpness of the Dutchman that opened the score sheet as early as in the 83rd second of the game. This was followed by a thunderous volley in the 13th minute via a sumptuous long pass from Wayne Rooney which the Dutchman dispatched in typical fashion. By the 33rd minute, Robin VanPersie netted a third when veteran Ryan Giggs found him in the box, getting his second hat-trick of the season and taking his impressive haul of goals to 23. The celebrations erupted almost immediately. Robin VanPersie who wears the No. 20 shirt is without doubt the arrowhead whose over 20 goals handed United a 20th League Title. He has now scored five Premier League hat-tricks, elevating him to the same pedestal that holds the names of Andy Cole, Dimitar Berbatov, Ian Wright and Ruud VanNisterooy.

It is quite an injustice to consider the fact that a player of such pedigree is getting his first League Title after a stellar career in England. Since January 1st 2011, the Dutch striker has scored an astounding 72 goals in 89 League appearances. Last night, he joined the league of players who left the Emirates in search of greener pastures and immediately struck gold.

What better way to silence the critics and fanatics who heavily criticised the top striker for his controversial £22.5million departure when United face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, the 28th of April. Its is quite likely that Robin VanPersie and the rest of the United team will get a hero's welcome as a corridor of applause better known as a guard of honour will be formed by his former team mates when he appears at the Emirate Stadium for the first time since his departure.

This would definitely prove to be most embarrassing for many Gunner fans who wrongly predicted that he would amount to nothing at the Theater of Dreams. They failed to realise that dreams do come true at the Theater of Dreams, especially when its in the voice of a little boy speaking from the heart. How's that for poetic justice?

I celebrate with all Manchester United fans all over the world on our 20th League Title. A roller coaster season it was. Title 21 looms on the horizon...

We are United!

PS: Veteran Ryan Giggs has now won the English Premiership Title a whooping 13 times, as much as Arsenal have in total. Wow!

Malcolm O. Ifi.

THE POTENTIAL CLASSIC THAT TURNED OUT TO BE JUST THAT!

Lionel Messi

Never say never!

In my last post about the first leg of the UCL round of 16 knock-out stage fixture between AC Milan and Barcelona, I suggested that it would be unwise to write off Barcelona in the second leg. What I did not forsee was the ruthless efficiency and totally brutal manner in which the Catalans would dispatch their quarry. I had expected a hard drawn battle that could have gone either way. Apparently, the Catalans were deeply incensed by their woeful performance at the last meeting and came at their visitors like wounded lions.

The Catalans were favorites to exit the UCL after a 2-0 loss at the San Siro but completely turned the tables around hammering the Rossoneri 4-0 to become the first ever team to advance to the quarter-finals of the UCL from that first-leg scoreline with such a display that left no doubt in the minds of anyone that they are without doubt, the best team in the world with one of the most potent strike forces ever seen in the history of the game.

It was Lionel Messi once again who inspired his team to a well-deserved victory by opening the flood gates of goals after a dismal performance in the first leg. His fifth minute strike was nothing short of pure class from a delicious one-two pass between him and Xavi that left Abbiati completely immobile - his second fastest goal in UCL history coming behind his fourth minute strike against Basel in 2008. His second goal which came a few seconds after Niang beat Valdez only to hit the wood work, put Barcelona on aggregate a few minutes before the interval.

The 25 year old Argentine has now scored a whopping 33 goals in 32 UCL appearances in the last three years and is now the second highest goal scorer in the history of the Champion League with 58 goals passing Dutchman, Ruud van Nistelrooy's 56 goals and now trails the Spaniard, Raul Gonzalez who has 71.
David Villa who was quiet for the most part of the game extended the lead a few minutes into the second half after another sumptuous pass from Xavi which he finished beautifully.

It became clear that the park-the-bus tactic which worked so well at the San Siro had to be discarded as Coach Allegri responded by introducing Robinho and Muntari into the fray in place of Niang and Ambrosini. The changes seemed to balance the game as the Rossoneri finally found a bit of possession but they lacked potency upfront to deal the fatal blow of a goal that would have sent Barcelona packing based on the away goal rule. With a few minutes to go, it was a done deal when Alba handled a brilliant pass from Sanchez and slotted it past Abbiati.

Barcelona, with the superb and out-of-this-world talent of Lionel Messi is now seeking its fourth UCL title in eight years and is aiming for its sixth Spanish title in nine seasons.

What a team!

Malcolm O. Ifi.
Photo Credit: The Internet

My OPINION ON TUESDAY'S UCL FIXTURE BETWEEN MANCHESTER UNITED AND REAL MADRID

I decided not to blog about Tuesday's match because I kind of figured lots of bloggers would do so. Honestly, I didn't because I was depressed at what I saw as an attempt by the referee Cuneyt Cakir to truncate Manchester United's attempt to advance to the next stage of the UEFA Champions League. In case you haven't realised, I am a die-hard Manchester United fan and while what I am about to write may pass off as the unobjective perspective of a disgruntled fan, I must point out that I am not a sports reporter. Thus, I am free of any encumbrance that checkmates any emotional outburst that applies to sports reporters.
That being said, I would like to commend the tactical effort of Sir Alex Ferguson and the business-like attitude with which the United squad approached the game. Read Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was right when he said the world would be focused on the highly anticipated encounter between two of the most successful football clubs in world history. United went into the game with the awareness that their work which began at the Bernabeu was only half done courtesy a goal from Danny Welbeck.
Sir Alex Ferguson's line up came as a shocker as he left out Shinji Kagawa and Wayne Rooney out on the bench after an awe inspiring performance at the Premier League match against Norwich City where Kagawa became the first Asian player to score a hat trick in the League. However, the line up proved to be tactically effective as they matched the star-studded Madrid side blow for blow despite conceding possession which was expected considering the pedigree of the Madrid side.
Considering how the game went in the first half, it looked like master tactician Jose Mourinho had no reply to the game plan of Sir Alex Ferguson which was to soak up pressure and catch Madrid unawares on the break. For that reason, Sir Alex paraded a speed laden attack force that comprised of Nani, Danny Welbeck and veteran Ryan Giggs with Robin Van Persie upfront. This yielded result with United getting a goal at the early minutes of the second half. At that point, the odds favoured United to go through having bagged an away goal the Bernabeu.
As it is with football, an erroneous decision was all it took to turn the tide. Nani was sent off for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa. I was stunned at the harsh decision of Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir to deliver a straight red rather than a yellow for what was an attempt by Nani to control a long pass in which Arbeloa carelessly barged into and got a kick in the process.
I understand that the rules state that any form of dangerous challenge which occasions harm on the opposing player merits a red. What I don't understand is how Nani got a red when he merely attempted to control a loose ball. It wasn't a challenge and it could be fairly assumed that he had no idea that Arbeloa would barge in on him the way he did. Unfortunately, Cuneyt Cakir didn't possess the much needed sensibility to understand that a yellow card would have sufficed.
Things spiraled out of control for United from there when Mourinho took advantage of the gaping hole and brought in Luka Modric whose brilliant goal pretty much sealed the deal for Madrid as it became apparent that United couldn't keep up with 10 against Madrid's rampaging 11. The United side, despite being a man down, put up a spirited display but it was the ex-United player Cristiano Ronaldo who put the nail on United's coffin with his brilliant finish from the wonderful interplay between Mezut Ozil and Gonzalo Higuain.
While, I won't attempt to take anything out of the sound tactical changes Mourinho made, I maintain that the turkish referee totally ruined the dynamics of the game. It would appear that the 36 year old referee who is an insurance agent is quite fond of waving cards after it was found that he hasn't refereed a single game without booking players this year. Last saturday, Cakir showed showed six yellow cards in a game between Akhisar Beledi and Elazigspor in Turkey. Similarly, a week earlier, he booked five players and sent one off in Gaziantepspor's win over Bursaspor. A Turkish journalist confirmed that he has been the source of controversy with his incessant card waving in the Turkish domestic league and as a result, he had been denied refereeing high profile matches in recent times. Apparently, 3 days to the highly anticipated fixture between United and Madrid, he was the darling of the sports news headlines as he failed to award a clear penalty in Akhisar's 1-0 defeat to Elazigspor. Also, it was discovered that the referee is big fan of Madrid star player, Cristiano Ronaldo whom he follows on twitter.
Ex-United captain Roy Keane took the opportunity to shoot himself back to prominence after a long spell in oblivion after a failed attempt at coaching by coming out to support the controversial decision. I personally decided to pay no mind to the rants of the ex-United captain who apparently is still bitter over the acrimony that led to his departure from the team.
After all said and done, what's done is done and I will not say Real Madrid didn't deserve the win even though Jose Mourinho attempted to play down the controversy surrounding the Nani red card by his statement that the better team lost. Mourinho's reaction after the red card was nothing short of brilliant and contributed immensely to United's crash out of the UCL. Also, Cristiano Ronaldo refused to celebrate after scoring the winner - kudos to him for that especially as he is well aware that he is still highly respected by United fans world over.
I hope I have satisfied some friends who accused me of not blogging about the game due to United's loss. Contrary to popular belief, I took the loss with all equanimity as one of those things that make football the greatest sport in the world. Nze, take note. ;)
Malcolm O. Ifi.
Photo Credits: The Internet

THE BATTLE OF THE EAGLES

The Super Eagles In Training With Coach, Stephen Keshi

I have maintained silence on sports issues, particularly football for a while now ever since a dear friend began a sports blogs. He is an avid soccer aficionado and has been able to provide informative and a much more in-depth analysis of the beautiful game of football. Honestly, I am much more content to sit back and wait for him to write and publish, then I read. I encourage you all to visit his blog. He's got really awesome content . www.footynyx.wordpress.com

Anyway, I decided to jump out of my self-imposed sports lethargy to make a confession. Since AFCON 2013 began, I have watched just one match and that was Nigeria's final match in the group stages which saw the individual brilliance of Chelsea's Victor Moses hand to Nigeria a two goal win over Ethiopia which provided the much needed 3 points that ensured she qualified for the quarter final stage.

However, I feared that our luck and good fortune had finally run out when we were to meet the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire which boasts of a true African Legend by the name of Didier Drogba and the current African Footballer of the year, Yaya Toure. I was afraid that the Eagles were to going to be stampeded by the highly rated elephants so I didn't watch the match but I monitored it closely on the social media and it was a pleasant surprise that the Super Eagles for once, lived up to their names by soaring high above the elephants.
Today, we are a step closer to the finals of the AFCON 2013 and also a step closer to the "losers finals". Having come this far, hopes are high that the Super Eagles will advance to the finals. It was reported this morning that our dear President had a conference call with the boys this morning to inspire them to greatness as they face the Les Aigles of Mali. I hope they get inspired, even if it is coming from a most uninspiring source.

I will be painting my face in our national colours after the close of business today as I intend to go all out in support of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and hope they emerge victorious against the Eagles of Mali. Win or lose, they certainly deserve some credit for coming this far as a new team under coach, Stephen Keshi.

May God be with them all!

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Engage on twitter @saymalcolm

A RECORD-BREAKING SUNDAY OF FOOTBALL ACTION

Rio picked up an injury when an object was thrown by an irate City fan. Hart and Tevez prevented a scene with another.

It was indeed a Super Sunday yesterday in the world of football. A day of fantastic football results and record-breaking achievements. In the English Premier League, the most anticipated derby between the Blue and Red sides of Manchester proved, as always, most thrilling and entertaining.



English champions, Manchester City welcomed their visiting neighbours and fiercest rivals in the league campaign with utmost confidence after not having lost a match at the Etihad Stadium in 37 home league games which started on 20th December, 2010 after a 2-1 defeat to Everton.  

Goal scorers, Rooney and van Persie with Young

Wayne Rooney was the star of the match as he put the visitors in front with two clinical finishes, leaving the home side stupefied. His brace yesterday was his 150th League goal as well as a record breaker for the most goals ever scored in a Manchester derby. He broke Sir Bobby Charlton's previous record of 9 goals by scoring the 9th and 10th goals respectively.

City rallied in the second half and brought themselves back in the game courtesy goals by Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta but it was Robin Van Persie once again, who won the day for the visitors. His superb injury-time free kick ensured that Manchester United went home with three points, truncating City's 37 unbeaten home run. The 29 year old forward has been in superb form since moving to Manchester United in August this year, scoring an impressive 16 goals in 23 appearances so far.

In Spain, it was once again, all about Lionel Messi as the Argentine forward bounced back from a minor to injury to catch up with and surpass Gerd Muller's goal scoring record in a calender year when he scored two fantastic goals in La Liga fixture when Real Betis hosted Barcelona.

Lionel Messi: The 25 year old Argentine/Barcelona forward is now officially the greatest goal scorer in the game of football

Muller found the net 85 times for Bayern Munich and West Germany in just 60 matches in 1972, while the Brazilian icon, Pele, had previously sat in second place for most goals in a single year with his haul of 75 in 1958, before Messi effortlessly breezed past that figure last month.

Messi's awe-inspiring haul of 86 goals in 2012 now officially makes him the greatest goal scorer of all time in the game of football. What a legend! 


Joke of the day: Messi has scored 23 goals in La Liga this season while Real Betis as a team has scored just 24. #Amazing!


Malcolm O. Ifi.

Follow on twitter @saymalcolm 

Photo Credits: The Internet

AN IGNOBLE OUTING FOR THE ENGLISH AND EUROPEAN "CHAMPIONS"

The final phase of the UEFA champions league knock-out stage which was concluded last night proved to be a night of shameful records set for the champion English teams run by money bags. Manchester City under the helms of Roberto Mancini earned a shameful record of being the first and only English team and the only English league champions to have played six Champions League games without winning a single one. Chelsea on the other hand, broke barriers for being the first defending champion to exit the UEFA champions league at the group stage and head to the Europa league.

It would appear that a lot of pundits and passionate fans who believed that Manchester City's win in the Premier League and Chelsea's win in the Champions League last season was a flash in the pan have been vindicated. Manchester City won the English Premier League above Manchester United by mere superior goal difference while Chelsea, by virtue of being UEFA champions, denied Tottenham Hotspurs a place in this season's competition after a shabby league performance last year. It was a flurry of hilarious comments last night capturing the turn of events. Tottenham fans would be thrilled by last night's results.

Manchester City was worst hit after having ended their Champions League campaign at

Roberto Mancini

the bottom of Group D with a miserly 3 points out of a possible 18 points by drawing three games and losing three. Its safe to say their campaign was over before it started having being drawn in the group of death and with the club having virtually no European football experience. This abysmal performance however leaves Roberto Mancini's job on the balance except he can convince the club's Abu Dhabi owners by delivering the Premier League title again.

Fernando Torres and Rafa Benitez

Chelsea however, seemed to finally have bounced back confidently after walloping FC Nordsjaelland six goals to one with Torres finally registering not one but two goals on the score sheet. However, it proved to be an exercise in futility as a win by Juventus put them at the third rung in the group ladder effectively banishing them to the Europa League. Rafa Benitez would be pleased with this result as he had stated a few days ago that Torres was doing very well in training and it reflected in last night's game. He would be relieved and just may have postponed the evil day especially with word on the grapevine that the ever impatient owner, Roman Abramovich is already plotting to bring in ex-Chelsea coach Avram Grant as a consultant after Benitez failed to transform the club's fortunes in his first three league games.

One thing can be said for Chelsea though: despite the ignoble exit as defending champions, they left with their heads held high. Who knows, they may yet break the record of winning the UCL and Europa League back to back. But as the saying goes, we shall see.

As an aside, with 84 goals to his name this year, Lionel Messi was touted make history by catching up with and surpassing Gerd Muller's impressive haul of 85 goals in a calendar year last night when

Messi being stretchered off last night

Barcelona faced Benfica. However, it was not to be after the super star was stretchered off at the 85th minute after coming on as a sub in the second half. 85thgoal - 85th minute...coincidence? You be the judge. I certainly hope the injury isn't serious. I would love to see him break the record because we all know he can.

When he saw Messi being stretchered off the pitch.

Joke Of The Day: I stumbled across this picture with this really cruel caption.












Malcolm O. Ifi.

Photo Credits: The Internet

CHELSEA AND ALL ITS DRAMA

Roberto Di Matteo

The axe came down on Roberto Di Matteo as Chelsea coach in the early hours of yesterday morning after a woeful 3-0 loss to Juventus in the UCL on Tuesday. In many ways, I had been expecting the sack knowing the impertinence of Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich and especially with regard to Chelsea's recent poor form both in the League and in Europe. However, I think this was an unjust way to treat a coach whose name will forever be etched in the history of Chelsea FC as the first manager to lead the club to UCL glory barely six months ago.

I can't blame the owner though. A lot of money was pumped into the team this season to acquire the choice signings of Hazard and Oscar and with those two in the same team, a lot of magic really ought to happen. What is baffling though is the fact that a certain erstwhile-potent-now-turned-barren #50 million striker Fernando Torres has continued to sit pretty through all this. I mean, his goal per coach record since he joined Chelsea is awful to say the least. He is a painful reminder of the days of Andriy Schevchenko in Chelsea. Both were great players in their previous clubs until they came to Chelsea (I shan't say more than this lest I become fodder for irate Chelsea fans).

Fernando Torres

Rafa Benitez

Well, the news of Di Matteo's replacement finally came through and surprisingly...quite surprisingly, it turned out to be former Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez. Seriously, I'll love to have some of what Abramovich is smoking. Benitez?! I'm not even going to chronicle the failures of that guy as a coach since he left Liverpool but I guess he who pays the piper dictates the tune and Benitez seems quite ready to redeem his good name. His appointment to me is a gamble and the final chance for Fernando Torres to break the yoke of barreness or be cast out unceremoniously as another bad investment. If that's the case, Torres is truly favoured by the gods. Who knows? Rafa may just be the miracle Torres has been praying for. I definitely would love to see his barren streak come to an end because regardless of his massive misfortune at Chelsea, he's still a great player.

Congratulations to Rafa Benitez anyway. I hope you beat the shit out of Manchester City! (Yeah, you guessed right. I'm a Manchester United fan. Hehehehehe....)

Malcolm O. Ifi.

Follow on twitter @saymalcolm

Photo Credits:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk