FABIO CAPELLO will surely have grimaced when he saw the outcome of the Champions
League group stages.The Italian would not go on the record last
week in South Africa, but privately he will be praying none of the
English teams make the final in Madrid. But at this rate, it is one
wish which is not likely to come tr
Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti will not admit it but the Premier League teams are in pole position to dominate Europe again.
The
three of them pretended they were not bothered whether they won
their groups. But in the end, all three did it with relative ease, and
in doing so have managed to avoid the Spanish giants in next
Friday’s draw for the last 16.
Barcelona and Real Madrid pose the greatest threat to one of this country’s sides landing the Holy Grail yet again.
It means no early showdown for Manchester United with the former darling of the Stretford End, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Equally
the champions will have to wait for their revenge on Barcelona for
last season’s defeat in the fi nal in Rome. The fact that Chelsea and
Arsenal have avoided Lionel Messi and his Barca mates, and big-spending
Real can only boost their chances.
It
is not exactly what Capello wants. While he knows that Champions
League glory is important to senior players like John Terry, Frank
Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick,
he effectively wants to get his hands on them as soon as possible in
May.
So
the idea of any of them being involved in the Champions League Final on
May 22 does not exactly float his boat. Not when the Premier League
season finishes two weeks before on May 9, and then the FA Cup Final is
six days later.
If
United and Chelsea avoid Wembley’s showpiece final and the
Champions League Final, he will know which of his players are fi t by
the start of May.
Going
into the World Cup with a question mark hanging over any of his key
players, like Sven Goran Eriksson did in 2006 with Wayne Rooney, is
exactly what Capello wants to avoid, especially as England’s first game
is on June 12 against the USA. But the one thing the Italian has going
for
him is the spectre of Jose Mourinho and his Italian champions Inter Milan.
All
three English clubs could face the former Chelsea boss in the last
16. Mourinho and his team have just come through the group of death,
which included Barca and Dynamo Kiev.
Last
season, Mourinho talked about wanting to face United and paid the
price as Inter were knocked out by Fergie’s men in the first knockout
stage.
But the fact he could still return to Stamford Bridge remains a shadow on the horizon for Blues owner Roman Abramovich.
And Carlo Ancelotti could face his former paymasters, and spiritual home, AC Milan, as early as
February 16 when the Champions League starts again.
That would be an emotional pull for the Italian and a huge mental obstacle for the Chelsea manager to overcome.
But
however much the Champions League is a priority for Abramovich,
regaining the Premier League title is Terry, Lampard and the two Coles’
big goal.
For
Wenger and Arsenal, winning anything this season would be a boost,
so they will take whatever they can get, and the cup competitions look
a better bet.
That
leaves United. Consecutive finals is extraordinary, so three in a row
would be something special. But it is not beyond Fergie and his men,
especially with Michael Owen as his rather special secret weapon