A Common Fan’s Sports Diary

In the EPL and other football leagues in Europe, the bottom three teams are relegated at the end of the season.  Relegation is bad for the clubs – they lose TV revenue, ticket sales drop and their reputation takes a beating. Clubs are paranoid about getting relegated and do everything possible to avoid it. The system of relegation ensures that a club cannot get away with being a bad team. A team cannot be bad on a regular basis because they won’t be in the league after their first bad season.

This is an example of punishing poor performing clubs.

In North American sports leagues, the clubs at the bottom of the pile are given preferential treatment when it comes to picking the best new players entering the league.  All the new players enter the league through the draft and the bottom dwellers from the previous season are allowed to make their picks first. By adding the best new players, the doormats are given a chance to improve themselves and become more competitive.

This asymmetrical  distribution of talent helps in closing the talent gap and is an example of the league helping the poor teams come up to speed.

This system also ensures that teams don’t remain bad for too long ( it works in most cases unless you are the Los Angeles Clippers or the Detroit Lions)

The IPL currently has no system. A team could continue to be bad and nothing will happen. By being in the league it will get its share of the TV and ad money and cricket crazy fans will continue to flock the stadiums.

Therefore, the IPL needs to have a system in place soon. So lets try and identify the best model for the league.

The IPL is similar to the American leagues in the sense that we don’t have a second tier and cannot  relegate the Kings Eleven Punjab for finishing last – simply because there is no place to send them. The lack of a second tier also means there can be no replacements for Punjab. Usually the top teams in the second tier are promoted to the first tier.

And unlike the American system, the IPL cannot have a draft based model to induct new players. So while the IPL should ape the Americans by helping their weaker teams improve, they don’t have the option to copy the American solution.

There is draft-like system to induct the under 19 players but those guys won’t even be making the playing elevens; forget making an impact on their team’s fortunes.

The IPL, however, could tinker with the Salary cap rules, allowing a little extra wriggle room for the bottom two franchisees. They could add an additional amount ( say 10%  for the last placed team and 5 % for the second last team) to the cap value, thereby giving these teams a chance to make some extra reinforcements. Armed with the extra cash, these teams could be a bigger force in the auctions and the free agent market and hopefully lift themselves up from their  position of misery.

These teams will still have to do all the things that go towards creating a winning side starting with signing the right players. The league will just give them a helping hand.

Also, the extra cap should only be applicable for one season.  If the team finishes sixth or above, then the extra cap goes away for next season. Teams will have to manage the cap by signing players for one season or lowering their salary commitment by trading away some players.

The gulf between the sides hasn’t been very huge in the first three seasons. But some teams are showing early signs of having bottom dwelling tendencies. It’s natural that over the course of a few seasons, consistently good and bad teams will emerge. And that as the history of North American leagues shows us, is bound to happen irrespective of the salary cap. It will happen because there will be well run teams and poorly managed ones. The league has no disincentive for the bad teams and cannot get rid of them.  Therefore, it will need to have some kind of a “help the poor teams” system in place. If not for the owners, then atleast for the fans’ sake.

Jacob Oram’s injury was probably the best bit of good fortune enjoyed by any of the teams in this year’s IPL. It opened a slot for a foreign player and the Super Kings plugged a gigantic hole in their fast bowling department by adding the Australian. Bollinger made an immediate impact and the rest as they say is history.

It was akin to the way teams in European football or in North American sports replenish their squads through the mid-season trade window, albeit in Chennai’s case it was the injury to Oram which created this opportunity. Teams generally add a few vital pieces as they head toward the business end of the season. The mid –season trade window is an extremely important element of the league; additions made during it have been known to affect the destination of league titles; fans excitedly look forward to it and sports analysts have a field day conjuring up various trade scenarios.

The IPL governing body could well give their teams a chance to do the same by adding a mid season trade window starting from 2011. It will ensure that teams struggling in one or more departments of their game will have a chance to address their flaws in a manner very similar to Chennai’s. A side like Delhi could have added a new batsman instead of recycling the out of form de Villiers and Dilshan. The home stretch of the league could become even more interesting.

Additions could be done in two ways : teams could either trade amongst themselves and/or have the option to sign one or two foreigners. The number of foreigners in the playing eleven does not have to be changed.

Even if the governing council fails to make this change for the next edition, teams could create this opportunity on their own by leaving one or two foreign player slots empty. This shouldn’t impact them adversely in the first half of the league because hardly any sides use all their foreign players. And even the best prepared sides ( Chennai had three fast bowlers who had played for India) can be stumped by the conditions, injuries or a sudden drop in player form. The trade window will see to it that they have a chance to bounce back with a Bollinger or two of their own. The quality additions can be made because there is a large enough pool of cricketer not playing the IPL; many of them missing from the initial part of the league because of international commitments.

Bollinger’s addition lead to a fairy-tale revival for the Super Kings. Thanks to his example, more bounce backs can be expected in the coming seasons

Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben were deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid after the Spanish giants signed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso. They were sold to Inter Milan and Bayern Munich for 15 million and 25 million Euros respectively. The transfers fees were huge amounts but nothing compared to the kind of money that was splashed out last year.

And now after, Sneijder and Robben have both engineered huge turnarounds at their clubs, the money looks to be the best piece of business done in the whole of last season. Sneijder is the single biggest reason ( other than coach Jose Mourinho) that Inter are a force in the Champions league; now on the cusp of their first final since 1965 and securing a historic triumph over all-conquering Barcelona. His presence behind the strikers makes Mourinho’s 4-2-1-3 system work like a dream. He has injected the necessary attacking flair to transform a dour, defensive minded side into a dangerous counter-attacking unit.

Robben’s impact is just as dramatic. He came when Bayern were floundering and immediately kick-started a revival scoring twice in the opening game itself and has since been their biggest offensive weapon. His biggest contribution, however, is the three key Champions League goals he has scored in the last three ties – hitting match winners against Fiorentina, Man United and now against Lyon. The first two won the ties for Bayern and the third could result in the same.

Their sparkling performances have ensured that a lot of people around Europe are now eating their words for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Two sets of people deserve special mention

One set which gave them away and one set which didn’t grab them.

First the people at Real who let go of both of them.

Why in God’s name did Jorge Valdano (or Perez or whoever made that decision) sell Sneijder and hold on to the likes of Van der Vaart, Diarra and Gago. Selling the three would have generated much more cash for Real ( The club sold Sneijder for a pittance of 15 million Euros. The other three could have been sold for 10 million Euros each. Just do the math Mr Valdano) and Sneijder’s presence could have altered Real’s fortunes on the pitch as well. He had made an impressive debut for them and could have done a lot more had he not been injured for the rest of the season. His sale for 15 million Euros was the bargain of the season.

Robben’s sale was even more surprising. Atleast Real replaced Sneijder with Xabi Alonso. Robben was Real’s only world-class wide player. They never got a replacement for him and have suffered for lack of width all season long. Also unlike Sneijder, he had already proved his match winning credentials at Real. Unfortunately for the Spaniards, that reputation is now getting enhanced further at Bayern.

And now Real are trying to buy Ribery to replace the void created by Robben’s departure. Robben has been far more effective than the Frenchman at Bayern but Real could end up spending almost three times the money to replace the Dutchman with the Frenchman. That will surely be a coup for the Germans. Upgrade from Ribery to Robben ( atleast for them Robben has been the better player) and make a cool 50 million Euros in the process.

Massimo Moratti of Inter is also smiling away to glory. He gets Etoo and Sneijder plus a hefty 30 million in exchange for Ibrahimovic.

If Bayern and Inter make the Champions League final, they atleast need to send a thank you card to Real Madrid.

The other person who should twitch with regret is Sir Alex Ferguson.

Just consider this

Man United are soon going to lose the services of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
Robben and Sneijder would have been tailor-made replacements for the two veterans.

Man United were handing over Cristiano Ronaldo to Real.
They could have surely negotiated the rights to Robben and Sneijder as part of that deal.

While Rooney is a great goal poacher, he cannot create goals out of nothing like Cristiano Ronaldo could.
Robben could have provided that spark of creative brilliance like he has time and again for Bayern.

Sneijder is better than any of United’s mid fielders
Robben is better than any of United’s wide players
Their addition could have overcome the subtraction of Ronaldo and Tevez.

In his defence, Sir Alex Ferguson had argued that he didn’t use the Ronaldo windfall because he thought the market was overpriced and he couldn’t have gotten value for his money.
But is 25 million Euros for Robben and 15 million for Sneijder a bad deal, when the same manager had splashed out the following amounts for other players.

Michael Carrick for 18.6 million pounds. A move which had left everyone stunned.
Antonio Valencia 16 million pounds.
Nani and Anderson for something in the region of 20 -25 million Euros each.

Therefore, Ferguson could have gotten both the Dutch players without adding significantly to the outlay he made last year. He could have just sold Carrick to Tottenham ( they are always ready to buy back their old players) to finance Sneijder and used the money he spent on Valencia to buy Robben.

And with both Robben and Sneijder being just 25 years old at the time of the transfer, Fergie couldn’t have argued that he was investing in players past their prime.

United’s lack of firepower let them down at crucial times in both the Champions League and the Premier League. We can only guess what it could have been with both Robben and Sneijder on board.

The transfer market is a beautiful thing. Even the smartest people are sometimes made to look like fools.

In the case of Robben and Sneijder, Real Madrid and Man United will have to bear that ignominy.

Xavi and Andres Iniesta kept Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso out of the Spanish starting eleven during their triumph in Euro 2008. Do we expect to see anything different in the World Cup or after that?

The simple answer is no, because there is no point in changing a winning formula, especially in the case of Spain, who rarely if ever get their formula right. Going by that logic, Alonso and Fabregas will continue to warm the benches, at the 2010 World Cup and beyond, unless the Barcelona pair suffers a major loss in form.

The loss in form doesn’t look like happening anytime soon. Xavi was the player of the tournament at Euro 2008 and has since enhanced his reputation to become arguably the best central midfielder in Europe.

And while Iniesta might be inferior to Fabregas, he has something special which the Arsenal captain doesn’t have: a chemistry with Xavi; borne out of all the match-practice they get playing together in the same position for Barcelona. Why would you break a pairing which has worked on their understanding throughout the year and is a proven alliance, for another one which has very little time to find its bearings?

Therefore, Fabregas and Alonso can either wait for Xavi or Iniesta to suffer a major loss in form

or

start to get some match-practice as a pair themselves. They can either join hands with one another – that will happen if Cesc decides to move to Real. If that happens then the pair of Alonso and Fabregas would get a chance to prove to the whole of Spain that they are better than the Barcelona pair, when they lock horns in the the El Clasico. If they take that chance then great, else they will atleast not have reason to complain.

But its unlikely that Cesc will move to Real. The team is a mess and more importantly, he is a Catalan and proud one at that.

He could go to Barcelona instead. The club is his natural home and they are his long time suitors. Even Xavi has publicly appealed to him to move to Barca. He will get to join on his own terms and command a starting place immediately.

That will give him a chance to pair up with Xavi. He will then get all the time to develop a chemistry with Xavi and show to the entire world, what a fine mid field pair they can be. Once that happens, its only a matter of time before they start for Spain together.

He might not be able to do that before the South Africa World Cup but he has a long time left in the game and lots of international matches to play. The current Spanish squad is young and they will be good for years to come. For all the glory Cesc Fabregas wins at club level, his career will be unfulfilled if he doesn’t achieve the same at international level. And for him to even start doing that, he needs to make a move to Spain sometime really soon.

The seven biggest metropolitan areas of Europe – Istanbul, Moscow, Paris, London, Athens, St’ Petersburg and Berlin have never won the European Cup or the UEFA Champions League. Even Rome, the capital city of football mad Italy, has never won the title. On the other hand provincial towns like Glasgow, Rotterdam, Dortmund, Nottingham and Birmingham have all won the biggest prize in European club football.

This is surprising considering that these capital cities are home to some of the biggest clubs, have large fan bases and most importantly have the financial muscle to compete with biggest clubs in Europe.

I have absolutely no explanation for this unique fact. The European Cup is more than 50 years old. It couldn’t have been all because of bad luck.

This information comes courtesy of Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski’s wonderful book, “SOCCERNOMICS”.

By his own admission Jose Mourinho isn’t happy in Italy. He is itching to either return to his beloved England or satiate his ego further by taking charge of the biggest club of them all – Real Madrid.

The Champions League will give the ‘Special One’ the perfect platform to make a pitch for the Spanish job.

His biggest challenge in the Champions League semis would be to rein in Lionel Messi and shackle the free-flowing Barcelona attack. This is a prospect which no manager in Europe relishes.

But if Mourinho can manage to do that, and I wouldn’t bet against him pulling off this almost impossible feat, then Florentino Perez would walk to his door step to sign him. It is another matter that the door would be guarded by Massimo Moratti himself.

The Real Madrid president isn’t too pleased with his current manager and would be tired of the sight of Messi scoring yet another hat trick and the sounds of the experts singing Barcelona’s praises over and over again.

Signing the world beater that Mourinho is, could well be the final and most crucial piece in world beating squad that Perez has assembled.

On the flip side, if Mourinho’s side is overrun by the Barcelona juggernaut, then he can kiss his Real Madrid dreams goodbye. He will still remain the “Special One”, but not special enough for Perez and Real Madrid. They have not time for losers, especially those humbled by their bitter rivals.

Jose always loves a challenge. The make or break nature of the Barca clash will bring out the best in him. Or will it be the worst.

Is Ibrahimovic 46 millions euros better than Eto'o ?

Ever since the Eto’o – Ibrahimovic deal happened, I have been trying to think of a more lopsided transfer.

Finally, I have to accept that I have failed.

If I were Inter, I would take Eto’o and 46 million euros in exchange for Ibrahimovic, eleven times out of ten without as much as batting an eyelid.

Assuming we put a value of 35 million euros on Eto’o (the same amount that City paid for a far less accomplished striker in Carlos Tevez), this puts the value of Ibrahimovic at 81 million euros, which technically is more than the value of Cristiano Ronaldo (80 million euros)!!!

Does that mean that Barcelona have pipped Real in making the biggest transfer splash of the season, in terms of signing the player with the highest transfer value?

You can make the argument that Eto’o’s tempramental ways was good riddance for Barcelona (and hence we can discount his transfer value) but what about Ibra’s sulking ways and his poor reputation as a team player.

And while both strikers have been feared hitmen in their resppective leagues, Eto’o has proven to be the more reliable goal poacher on big match ocassions. That should accord some premium on the Cameroonian’s market worth.

That, we can actually debate who is better is the reason this transfer is such a shocker  – if the difference in value of two players is 46 million euros,  the possibility of the debate shouldn’t even exist. Normally you would assume that they are on a different plane altogether.

Its baffling because Barca found David Villa’s 50 million euro price tag too high. Even a 20 million booty for Eto’o could have reduced Barcelona’s net outlay for the Valenica striker to far less than the 46 they paid for the Swede.

The big winners in this transfer are Inter Milan and some praise is due for the usually much maligned Massimo Moratti.

He usually ends up on the wrong side of any transfers involving big-name players.

But this one makes him look like a genius.

What does it say for Barcelona if they can make you say that for the Inter chairman!!!

To be a BIG Club Man City first need a BIG Manager. Like one of these guys

When Jose Mourinho went to Inter, the likes of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were ready to go join him.

When Luis Felipe Scolari came to Stamford Bridge, Deco and Bosingwa followed

As soon as Carlo Ancelotti became manager of Chelsea, rumours of Kaka and Pirlo joining the Blues started doing the rounds

In Mark Hughes’ reign at Man City, the only player willing to come to Eastlands purely because of the manager has been Roque Santa Cruz.

See the difference.

Forget tactical acumen and man management skills, Mark Hughes is light years away from the likes of Mourinho, Scolari and Ancelotti, when it comes to having the persona and the resume to attract big name players to come and play for them.

In the case of Man City this becomes an even bigger handicap because they are a second rung club – not big enough in their own right for the big names – a club which for all its riches has managed to sign just a single world-class player; and that guy supposedly thought he was joining Man United and often appears to be disenchanted at the club. The club has suffered the humiliation of having its overtures for the likes of Kaka and Buffon turned down in spite of tabling bids which would have dwarfed previous transfer records. And that too in today’s recessionary times.

You can argue that Mourinho, Scolari and Ancelotti can attract these players only because they have coached them previously and the superstars are very comfortable playing for them again. But that is exactly the point that we are trying to make.

Big time players want to move to a club primarily for two reasons – either because of the club’s name or because of the star power of the other players playing for the club. Man City have neither. They are the poor cousins of Man United, have never won anything and I don’t know any super stars who are dying to rub shoulders with the likes of Stephen Ireland and Richard Dunne.

They cannot change their history or their stature overnight. And they don’t even have European football to offer.

As for raising the quality of their players, that is exactly what City are trying to do in the first place -they are caught in a classic catch-22 situation. Until, they get the first lot of quality players, other big names are not going to join.

That brings us back to our original argument now that we have exhausted all the other options.

The most sure shot way of getting the first lot of superstars is to target the ones who are willing to move with their manager. And the easiest way of doing that is by getting a manager who has managed a clutch of big name players. Once City have their manager and their first set of big names, the others will automatically follow. They will be assured in the knowledge that this club is now on the move in the right direction.

Additionally having a big name manager helps in keeping the inflated egos of the superstars in check. Do we have any evidence to believe that Mark Hughes can handle the tantrums and mood swings of players like Didier Drogba or Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Especially after having seen Robinho toy with him on a regular basis.

That leaves us with one last question.

How hard will it be to get a world class manager?

Not too hard at all.

There are scores of great managers around. In addition to big bucks, which is quite an incentive in itself, City also offer any manager a fresh challenge, a complete free hand to run things and an opportunity to build a world beating club. Great managers have fallen for far less.

It is difficult to understand the reluctance of the Abu Dhabi Sheikhs in parting with Mark Hughes. Even from a purely footballing standpoint, he has fared worse than his predecessor Sven – Goran Eriksson and that too with a far bigger budget.

Time is running out fast. Ideally City should have moved into the top 6 in the 2008-09 premiership season and put on a good show in the Europa League to establish their credentials as a club growing in stature. That would have helped in attracting big time talent. Now they are hopelessly running from one agent to another, chequebook in hand. They will end up signing a bunch of mediocre names or some talented malcontents, much like their efforts in the January transfer window. With Florentino Perez back at Real Madrid and Chelsea looking to start afresh under Ancelotti, the bidding war for big names is going to be hotly contested.

Man City with Mark Hughes doesn’t have a chance to compete with these big boys.

That is unless they decide to get a big boy of their own.

This year's final is bound to have a mouth watering match-up

The Draw for the Champions League Semis; Chelsea- Barcelona and Man United – Arsenal, while mouth-watering in itself, sets up the possibility of a very interesting finals match-up. Each of the four possibilities is extremely fascinating; both in terms of the action on and off the field, the history between the two sides and the other associated story lines.

The football fans are really spoilt for choice here.

So let’s look at each of the 4 potential show downs and identify the reasons why we would want to see a final featuring these two sides.

Chelsea – Man United – These two sides gave us 120 minutes of attacking football in last year’s final – a rarity in ECL finals and therefore, this match-up would be the first choice for those who are bored of the safety first defensive approaches which are the staple of such occasions. This would also pit two of the greatest managers of the last 20 years, Guus Hiddink and Alex Ferguson, and that would be a real battle of wits. And finally, there is the revenge and redemption angle as well, a chance for John Terry to exorcise his worst nightmare. Man United’s successes over Chelsea in the last two Premier league races, in the last ECL final and in their last encounter has resulted in the sacking of Mourinho, Avram Grant and Phil Scolari respectively. Another triumph could bust all the euphoria over Hiddink and herald the arrival of yet another new manager at Stamford Bridge.

The battle Royale

Man United –Barcelona – This final would determine a lot of things. The battle between two of the most dominant and attack-minded teams in Europe would settle the debate, about who are the real Kings of the continent. As the leaders of their respective leagues, this clash will also be billed as the showdown between the Primera Liga and the Premier League. The two best players in world football, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would come together for a long –awaited duel which will give one set of supporters the bragging rights as the fans of the best player in football. In addition, hostilities will be resumed between United and their old foe, Thierry Henry.

This final could prove one man right

Barcelona – Arsenal – As the rematch of another final, the 2006 one, this match will also re-kindle passions of revenge and deliverance. A much greater twist will be added by the presence of Thierry Henry. Losing the 2006 final forced Henry to leave Arsenal in pursuit of trophies. A win would justify his decision, although it will be ironic to see one of the greatest Gunners ever, denying the club, their long awaited place in the annals of the European greats. A loss would make the Frenchman a massive loser – the only person to end up on the losing side in both Barcelona – Arsenal finals. An Arsenal win will be doubly sweet for Arsene Wenger as the triumph will vindicate his decision to let Henry leave rather than compromise on his youth policy. It will shut up his critics once and for all.

Arsenal – Chelsea – Thanks to their lack of European pedigree, these two clubs are the second class citizens of the Premiership Big 4. After this final, there will be only one set of supporters suffering from an inferiority complex. It will also be a contest of two contrasting philosophies – the most frugal big name club in Europe with an unwavering belief in the power of youth and the biggest spenders in the history of the game with a penchant to throw obscene money at established superstars. Liverpool and United have foiled Abramovich’s European ambitions in the past and Arsenal could become the third English club to do so, also becoming the third Premiership side to win the title, the Russian craves the most, since the time he heralded the Russian revolution at Chelsea. It could well be the final straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Personally, I want to see United play Barcelona. You tell us which final match-up you want to watch.

Even the talismen of Liverpool will find it difficult to overcome this crushing debacle

A high-flying side chasing multiple titles takes on a hated adversary in a high-profile clash at home. Gets an early goal and it looks as if they will coast to victory. Their opponents slowly claw back into the game and then literally blow them away, tearing their defence to smithereens. A historic win for the opposition and a morale crushing defeat for the high-flyers – one which brings them crashing down to earth.

Liverpool did this to Man Utd last month and look what’s happened to the Champions ever since – there is no confidence in the side, no rhythm in attack and tentative is a euphemism for their defence.
Liverpool were dealt an almost identical blow last night by their hated ECL rivals, Chelsea. The Old Trafford triumph gave a massive boost to the Merseysiders and turned the EPL title race back into a two horse one. Chelsea will get a similar lift from their conquest of Liverpool and the possibility of the race turning into a three –way chase cannot be ruled out.

Crash-landings like these are crushing and it is difficult to see Liverpool escaping without any scars.

Finally Roman could have found his man

The Legend of Guus

Another chapter was added to the storied career of Guus Hiddink. The same Chelsea side were beaten by both Man Utd and Liverpool, not too long ago. And look what they have done now. It was easily the most convincing performance by either side in the five year history of Liverpool-Chelsea clashes in the Champions League. The English FA were undecided on whether to hire the Dutchman when he was available and their dithering and indecisiveness pissed him off. Luckily for them, they managed to hire Capello. What are odds of Hiddink signing a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge?

Another European night at Old Trafford where United's defense collapsed against an unfancied opponent

Déjà Vu for United

While Liverpool were getting a taste of their own medicine, Man Utd relived the horrors of one of their worst European nights. And I am not talking of the defeat to Porto in 2004. I am referring instead to the 2-2 draw they suffered at Old Trafford against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League semis in 2002. That year also, Utd had got the luck of the draw, facing an unfancied Bayer side in the semis.

Unfortunately for them, the Germans passed the ball around beautifully and almost played United off the park. United were horrible in defence and had no answers to the trio of Ballack, Basturk and Bernd Schneider, just about escaping with a draw. And if they need any more bad tidings, they drew 1-1 in the return leg and crashed out of the competition, after conceding another late goal.

A silver lining in the dark cloud

Liverpool have a near impossible task of overturning the first leg deficit. They have a far better chance of challenging for the League title. One can argue that the return leg clash is now less important than the remaining premiership fixtures. So how about resting their big guns and saving them for the more important games instead. I am sure the Anfield faithful will not mind as long as it improves their chances of winning the league. Man Utd on the other hand have a realistic chance of making the semis and cannot afford their players any such luxury. The premiership race could come down to how much hunger and energy the players of the two teams have in the final stretch. Thanks to the defeat Liverpool are actually better placed on that front than United. The crushing defeat could well be a blessing in disguise.

So who are the favourites?

As we have seen, form in the ECL can change from one round to the other. So it is still too early to predict the champion. But which was the most impressive side in the first leg games?

Barcelona enhanced their reputation as favourites with a brilliant attacking display at the Nou Camp. But in spite of that virtuoso performance, the laurel of the best side rests with Chelsea; for the sheer tenacity and mental fortitude that they displayed. Anfield is an intimidating fortress on European nights and it requires supreme self belief for a visiting side to not just recover from an early but totally impose their dominance on the game. Attacking firepower is great to have but it is the self belief and mental strength which will count for more in the final reckoning. And that is why Chelsea look best equipped to go all the way