I get the impression that some of y’all think I don’t appreciate watching good football.
I don’t like Manchester City the same way Chelsea used to annoy you lot when Roman Abramovich turned up.
And the Scousers are one of Chelsea’s biggest enemies, but when either side are “on” (especially Liverpool), I more than admire what they’re capable of and certainly respect how they play.
I’ve also reached the stage of acceptance, where, I’m not pinning my hopes on anyone, (let alone Chelsea) competing for the top-two places.
It’s a good place to be at, because there’s a whole league and important spots to make just beneath them.
BACK AT THE TOP TABLE: Chelsea in Champions League. Picture: Hannah McKay/Reuters.
Well, that might be changed soon as proposals being floated by the European Leagues Association (ELA) are starting to take root and if agreed, would mean only three guaranteed Champions League places!
Clubs in La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga would also be affected by the plans, with a fourth club having to go through qualifying.
This will be discussed at an ELA meeting next week.
The ELA also want to scrap historical coefficient payments, a system by which clubs in the Champions League get extra money based on past successes.
This season Chelsea will get £27.9m and Spurs £17m in payments, but the general consensus is that those revenues should be redistributed outside the participating clubs to improve competitive balance.
I guess that’s right, of course it’s right!
But the flipside is that out of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and United (who make up the traditional top six), three of them will miss out.
JOY TO WATCH: Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne. Picture: Phil Noble/Reuters.
Ok, that’s all hypothetical, the likelihood of Man Utd being in the top six is probably unrealistic as it stands .
But yeah, I’d say there’s validity in the debate, when you’re talking ‘Champions League’ should a fourth (or third place team for that matter) be deserving of a place in what should be an elite competition?
Anyway, onto the here and now and this Sunday sees the twice-a-season splitting of Cape Town, as United host Liverpool at Old Trafford!
How times have changed. Liverpool are “back” and United are floundering in the bottom half of the league.
Jurgen Klopp will be licking his lips at the prospect of such an easy fixture given recent form, but could this be the game where we see a turnaround performance from the Red Devils?
Maaan, I personally can’t see it The worry, of course, is Liverpool sticking four or five past struggling United, creating what would seal an untenable situation for Ole in the Old Trafford hotseat.
I’ve mentioned it before, as much as I enjoy the demise of United, I really feel sorry for the gaffer.
The Baby-faced Assassin always been a lovely bloke, a great sportsman and a more than decent player in the Premier League.
I’m going to call it 3-1 to Liverpool! Behave yourselves, shake hands after the game, see you all next week.