Dalle M. Ali
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On Chelsea and deservedness
By Max Grieve
Munich rocked; the Allianz Arena shaking in anticipation of the final whistle. It would come, as it always does, but brought with it a fresh burden. Drogba rose to meet the corner; Drogba fell back to earth, and sent millions into raptures. Thousands watched on in the city centre as the boom broke, and the Bayern support were plunged into a silence.
Deeper still into the match, Chelsea must have sensed that their remarkable run of fortune had come to an end. Beyond Robben’s missed penalty, Bayern found themselves 3-1 up in the shoot-out. Then, the tired clichés of Germany and spot-kicks collapsed. Ivica Olic was denied, and Bastian Schweinsteiger smacked his shot against the post. John Terry was safely confined to the stands, and Dider Drogba, rather than slip at the crucial time, sent Neuer the wrong way with cold perfection.
To a point, the result seems wrong. Chelsea won; their name was being engraved on the trophy as Drogba’s penalty settled in the back of the net, but it was always in Bayern’s control. Said Jens Lehmann following the loss to Dortmund last week; “I can’t see them making this many mistakes again. They’ll play with anger and even more determination. I’m rather optimistic about their chances.”
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The aftermath of losing…
There’s losing, and then there’s losing when you’re winning. The Champions League final in Munich was a game of inches, and both sides should be able to reflect upon it with their head held high. Bayern, most likely, will choose not to. Chelsea soaked up pressure, as they had hoped to, but Bayern failed to capitalise on their supremacy. In the end, tens of thousands inside the Allianz Arena, and millions watching across the world, had every right to be in an strangely dignified state of despair. Bayern had dominated the match, but were uncharacteristically wasteful. Petr Cech and Dider Drogba played the heroes, as they have often done, and in the wake of this victory, Chelsea supporters may well be calling for their statues outside Stamford Bridge. As with the loss in 1999, the unthinkable pain that accompanies this missed opportunity will likely stay with Bayern for years. [posted by MG]
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A history of perfectionism meeting innovation: uncovering the new adidas Predator Lethal Zones
AFR, alongside a selection of top bloggers, participated in the exclusive launch of the boots on the 1st of May in Manchester. Dominic Vieira enjoyed the privilege testing the Predator Lethal Zones displaying Portuguese flair which certainly impressed the beloved Kickette, alongside meeting the brains behind the project and watching Nani, Cleverley and Dzeko #unleash their skills. Perhaps the most interesting part of the event was speaking with Aubrey Dolan, adidas’s tireless designer in charge of the entire Lethal Zones project.
They fit like a glove. I could dribble like Nani, I curled Xavi-esque passes like my midfield idol and fired sweet shots with Van Persie ferocity. After taking my first strike, I knew my feet were blessed with a special pair of boots and it was matter of seconds before I blasted another ball. Unfortunately, Alex Ferguson was not present to find that missing midfield sensation he’s desperately looking to sign.
I was wearing Predators once again; it had been a while and they were no longer crowned with that trademark red tongue. Adidas’s innovation was on show once more, as they designed a shoe containing five distinctive ‘Lethal Zones’ which deliver the ultimate control, touch, accuracy, power and skill.
Their bright blue and infra-red colour captured my eye the moment I unzipped the bag, the new face of Predator will become an iconic pair. The transition in colour, which developed from last year’s AdiPower, demonstrates innovation and responsiveness to the modern football culture. Once more the Predators, which have become a strong reference in football since their inception in 1994, had evolved.
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Chelsea fans singing at the Camp Nou an hour after the match ended.
There wasn’t a Barcelona fan in sight. Whether you think the Londoners “parked the bus” or Di Matteo’s tactics worked brilliantly, Chelsea are through the Champions League final in Munich. 95,000 Catalans left the Camp Nou dejected, but an hour after the match ended the traveling Blues were still standing in the stadium’s upper tier and singing for their heroes. It was a stunning, almost eerie moment to see these fans filled with ecstasy above the infamous Més Que Un Club motto.
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The Premier League or nothing: Sir Alex is in his element
The 2011/12 Premier League is now Manchester United’s to win or lose. Alex Ferguson is sitting in a position which he’s overly familiar with, which is not only a throne of comfort but one where he freely shares his wise words to antagonize local rivals Manchester City as he bluntly indicated “A season lasts for a bit longer than three months.”
Sir Alex has made a valid point. In December, Manchester City were crystal clear favourites to lift England’s most prestigious crown and led the race until March. But their drop in form was exploited by the Red Devils who have accumulated 28 points from their previous 10 encounters. Surely the 1996 ghost of Kevin Keegan is haunting Roberto Mancini or is this typical Manchester United?
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The potential rise and return of “El Niño”
He’s sharp, lighting fast and killer inside the box; those words could have easily been used to describe Fernando Torres throughout his Atletico Madrid days, under Benitez at Anfield, or whilst representing Spain at Euro 2008. But since knee surgery in mid April 2010, amongst other issues, Torres’ progression as a world class striker has stalled and regressed.
Having seen the Spaniard play in Lisbon last week against Benfica, I saw a determined and energetic Torres who tormented from start to finish. In addition, he’s sporting his glorious blonde hair once more which reminded me of the electrifying Torres who played against Benfica 2 years ago. The striker was close to scoring a trademark goal in the first half after zig-zagging through the defence. Torres was a constant threat as Chelsea played with a rapid counter-attacking approach and in the second half he powered down the left flank to assist Kalou with a goal which has given his side a vital advantage in the quarter-final.
His confidence is growing and it was evident once again against Aston Villa this weekend, Di Matteo has also noticed a transformation and told the press: “He’s enjoying his playing, he’s got a smile on his face.” The 28 year old assisted Ivanovic in the 83rd and finished the match off by scoring a typical goal. Torres appears to be returning to his notorious form at an important stage in the season. I hope he is, but consistency is necessary. Or how else will he ensure a place in this summer’s Euro 2012?
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Nadal vs Ronaldo!
Two of the world’s top athletes go head to head in an energetic battle of explosive speed and precision.
Nike are notorious advertisers and their latest campaign promoting the ‘Mercurial’ boots involving Rafael Nadal and Cristiano Ronaldo certainly entertains fans with a vivacious tennis/football encounter. [posted by Dominic Vieira]
![afootballreport:
The aftermath of losing…
There’s losing, and then there’s losing when you’re winning. The Champions League final in Munich was a game of inches, and both sides should be able to reflect upon it with their head held high. Bayern, most likely, will choose not to. Chelsea soaked up pressure, as they had hoped to, but Bayern failed to capitalise on their supremacy. In the end, tens of thousands inside the Allianz Arena, and millions watching across the world, had every right to be in an strangely dignified state of despair. Bayern had dominated the match, but were uncharacteristically wasteful. Petr Cech and Dider Drogba played the heroes, as they have often done, and in the wake of this victory, Chelsea supporters may well be calling for their statues outside Stamford Bridge. As with the loss in 1999, the unthinkable pain that accompanies this missed opportunity will likely stay with Bayern for years. [posted by MG]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4bm8tIeXg1qaznnlo1_1280.jpg)
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The Essence of the Number 10: A Beginner's Guide
By Sam Blakeley, writing from London
To the uninitiated, the ‘number 10’ in football is that archetypal player who links midfield with attack, floating between the two and becoming the playmaker of the side. He must be blessed with vision, composure, awareness, and an incredible range of passing, culminating in an almost extra-sensory ability to control the game and be within and without everything that happens going forward for the team. Historically these players have also been ground-breaking skill players, popularising and even inventing their own incredible pieces of flair, from the
