Champions League Semi Final - Chelsea v Liverpool
01/05/08 13:11 | Personal
The recent Champions League Semi Final between Chelsea and Liverpool has identified many issues with modern football. As a Chelsea fan, I am obviously delighted at finally putting the jinx of Liverpool in Europe to rest.
I was watching the match on Sky Sports which, in conjunction with other UK media, appear to have a general dislike for Chelsea, and an unnatural and inappropriate love for everything to do with Liverpool. Let me start with my team - Chelsea - I have supported them through thick and thin. The recent successes have been amazing, when you consider that only 20 years ago or so, Chelsea were struggling to stay in the then first division, with wet and windy evening matches against the likes of Rotherham.
I would have been heart broken if Chelsea had been pushed into liquidation as was reported just prior to Roman Abramovitch's take-over of the club. Mismanagement by Ken Bates, and his desire to buy success without the resources have caused similar problems at Leeds United (not all Bates' doing though).
It appears that Abramovitch's money has grown the resentment of Chelsea Football Club, with supporters of Arsenal in particular, claiming that you cannot buy a title. This is true - under Ranieri, Chelsea could not win the Premiership title. It took the 'genius' of Mourinho to weld a Premiership winning team from these highly priced, and highly paid sportsmen. Liverpool's so called 'money take over' by the American millionaires has not really delivered success - the last trophy was won before their intervention. But Chelsea were despised before this, and there is no rational reason why.
I freely admit that I was one of the 'glory boys' who started supporting the club after the FA and European Cup Winners Cup successes of the early 1970's. At that time, Liverpool were a second division side, and remember that on the road to FA Cup success, Chelsea beat Liverpool's quarter final conquerers, Watford!
Coming on to Liverpool. The media love Liverpool - they are unable to do anything wrong. It was afterall Liverpool fans who were involved in the Hilsborough disaster - both as victims and as perpetrators. Likewise in Heysel in the European Cup Final. The Liverpool supporters, fuelled by the media, believe that they have a 'right' to win the Premiership, and their trophy - the European Cup or Champions League. 'Champion's League' - please note the first word - Liverpool have not finished above 4th in many years! They are certainly not Champions!
Back to the Semi Final - Sky Sports were waxing lyrical about the history, player qualities and 'fantastic' supporters of Liverpool, almost dismissing the great achievements at Stamford Bridge. When they did laud the club, it was in a back handed way, criticising the supporters for not backing Avram Grant. I ended up watching most of the match on German satellite TV, where the interest was on Ballack, but the commentary was far more balanced.
I am not a great fan of Manchester United, and hope we can repeat the score from the last Premiership meeting and beat them in Moscow on the 21st of May, but I would like to say that despite their success over the years, they do not believe that it is their right to win a trophy or a match - they believe in the ability of their team and their management. They have been proven to be the world's biggest club, and the attitude of their fans leaves the attitude of fans of Liverpool and Arsenal in their shadow. Chelsea fans are still in a state of bewilderment with the recent success - competing with the Arsenal fans who think that they SHOULD be the best in London - they have failed in this for a great many years now, and do not have the right to expect this.
Arsenal and Liverpool fans - prove it on the park, there are no rights in football, and money can only buy short-term success, if that.
I would have been heart broken if Chelsea had been pushed into liquidation as was reported just prior to Roman Abramovitch's take-over of the club. Mismanagement by Ken Bates, and his desire to buy success without the resources have caused similar problems at Leeds United (not all Bates' doing though).
It appears that Abramovitch's money has grown the resentment of Chelsea Football Club, with supporters of Arsenal in particular, claiming that you cannot buy a title. This is true - under Ranieri, Chelsea could not win the Premiership title. It took the 'genius' of Mourinho to weld a Premiership winning team from these highly priced, and highly paid sportsmen. Liverpool's so called 'money take over' by the American millionaires has not really delivered success - the last trophy was won before their intervention. But Chelsea were despised before this, and there is no rational reason why.
I freely admit that I was one of the 'glory boys' who started supporting the club after the FA and European Cup Winners Cup successes of the early 1970's. At that time, Liverpool were a second division side, and remember that on the road to FA Cup success, Chelsea beat Liverpool's quarter final conquerers, Watford!
Arsenal and Liverpool fans - prove it on the park, there are no rights in football, and money can only buy short-term success, if that.
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