Mancini The Right Man for The Job.

Perhaps inevitably, given the circus around Stamford Bridge, Manchester City's Roberto Mancini has also been placed under questionable scrutiny after Chelsea's brutal dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo; something incredibly absurd given the success that he has already brought to the club.

How in any way could the team at the pinnacle of the Premier League, currently the holders of the title, be even considering firing the man who has taken all of the millions of pounds invested by City's Arabic owners and developed a squad of players capable of delivering on the world stage? They would simply be foolish to follow the model of ownership that Roman Abramovic has displayed. Why change a winning formula?

And I would also ask the same question of Mancini himself. Why play around with a side that is clearly capable of delivering fantastic results? Last season City were categorised by their power, pace and sheer determination, with a solid core of a team from goalkeeper Joe Hart, through to Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

This season they have not been quite so tantalising on the eye, yet they are still at the top of the league, showing the kind of gutsy determination that has defined their closest rivals and neighbours United for several decades. With many late goals from their 'super-sub' Edin Dzeko, they have continued to be on a par with United and Chelsea, shaping the season already as a three way fight for the title.

But I would ask, how much of this lack of spark be blamed on Mancini? Yes he has played around with the team a great deal, moving between three defenders and four and constantly changing the shape of the side, but the brutal truth is that the big players simply have not delivered. The likes of Silva and Toure simply have not provided the spark of last season, whilst Tevez and Aguero have been goal shy of late.

And it must be said that the Italian certainly has an unenviable task of keeping all of these egos happy, with the likes of Tevez and Mario Balotelli constantly causing their manager problems, damaging the harmony of the squad. As well as this, the likes of Joe Hart and Micah Richards have been outspoken when a microphone has been thrust under their noses, questioning their manager's tactics and also questioning the hunger of the squad, something that simply would not be allowed to happen under Sir Alex Ferguson at United.

But credit to Mancini, he has coped with all the pressures, and though at times he has looked like cracking up, he has managed to keep his side competitive and dangerous in the title race, despite perceived cracks in their armoury. To dismiss him would simply be ridiculous, because as long as he has the hunger to lift trophies at the Etihad, the Italian is the right man for the job. Why start all over again, with a new manager and new players? City should keep the faith and stick by their man.

First Fast Now Approach Will Leave Chelsea Behind

They say a week is a long time in football and this has been abundantly clear from the events of this week. In what kind of world can a manager who has lifted the Champions League Trophy only six months before become the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season? Obviously, only in Roman Abramovic's world, where money talks and loyalty and club status go out of the window.

Similarly to the beginning of his reign, where another of the now increasingly lengthy catalogue of managers Claudio Ranieri was sacked, despite finishing second in his first season under the Russians reign, another Italian finds himself a victim of inflated expectations. Both Italians took on sides in precarious positions, endearing themselves to the fans, with Di Matteo obviously already firmly in their hearts as a playing legend, yet none of this seems to matter in the eyes of the ruthless Russian, thus illustrating his severe lack of class.

Despite that historic night in the Allianz-Arena, where they defeated a strong Bayern Munich team on their own ground, Di Matteo was clearly never the first choice, given that they took two months to confirm his appointment on a permanent basis, which in itself is a disgraceful way to behave.

Yes Abramovic is a business man, and yes football is a results driven business, but such an approach should not be applied to football, a world where loyalty should be rewarded and where individuals should be given time to flourish. Imagine if Manchester United had dismissed Sir Alex long ago? And look at clubs like Arsenal and Everton, who, in sticking with Arsene Wenger and David Moyes, have progressed at their own individual levels. Chelsea are rapidly becoming in danger of plateauing and never materialising as a genuine threat in World Football on a consistent level.

How can a club develop continuity if they are always looking at changing the manager? Di Matteo has always had the shadow of Pep Guardiola in the background, whilst Jose Mourinho is always talking about having 'unfinished business' in England. It provides unnecessary pressure, and it is what makes Chelsea a poisoned chalice. Rafa Benitez coming in on a short term deal says to me that they are still waiting for Guardiola, and that the job is his if and when he wants it, after his sabbatical. Yet they are totally different managers, with totally different styles of play and footballing philosophies. As Arsene Wenger alluded to, why would Benitez take the job anyway?

The idea behind the appointment of Andre Villas Boas was to rebuild with a young manager at the helm, with new and exciting ideas, but in only 12 months, these ideas were dismissed and Chelsea quickly moved on, going back to the old guard of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, who both enjoyed one of their best seasons in a blue shirt.

Chelsea, under Abramovic, lack class because they are trying too hard to define themselves and craft an identity and a history. In adopting a first, first, now approach, they are in danger of being left behind both domestically and abroad. Every time they look like developing as a side, they start again as the result of a snap decision by their unscupulous owner.

In new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar, alongside Juan Mata, they possess one of the most exciting attacking trios in World Football, and if Fernando Torres can rediscover his form once more, alongside the next big money striker that will inevitably arrive very soon, they will undoubtedly be challenging come the end of the season. But with all the nonsense going on in the background, such an exciting team may fail to fulfil its potential. Why win the Champions League with one manager, strengthen the side and then simply start over with another manager, and one who is supposedly only staying until the end of the season?

Some have pointed to the fact that Chelsea have won more trophies in the Abramovic period than any other English team, but this is largely down to Jose Mourinho, a special manager who should never have been forced out at the Bridge. If the Blues had only had him as manager in this period, and not a conveyor belt of short-term appointments, I guarantee that they would have lifted more than the solitary Champions League trophy; one that they fought so hard to attain, yet its merit has simply been forgotten.

Abramovic's world is certainly a ruthless one, and one that will continue to make Chelsea look a classless mess should he continue with his ruthless interventions, as opposed to letting someone get on with developing an exciting team of players.

Van Persie: The Reaction to a Major Move in Premiership History

The sight of Robin van Persie today sitting alongside Sir Alex Ferguson signing a four year contract seems, to an avid Manchester United fan, almost as implausible as Patrick Vieira adorning the red of United in his heyday, something that was once speculated on, but was a million miles away from becoming reality. Today, however, the almost unthinkable has become a reality. United have signed the Footballer of the Year and the Premiership's leading goalscorer in a move that has sent shock-waves throughout football.

United have made a real signal of intent, with Sir Alex's eagerness to spark his front-line to life, putting Wayne Rooney on his toes, whilst also providing healthy competition for young Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez  and Danny Welbeck abundantly clear. A team who lost their league title by a signal goal in that flurry of Manchester City madness now has another dimension; another world-class goal threat.

Some may say that he is ageing and that he has a poor injury record, but those are just bitter excuses used by Arsenal fans to cushion the blow of losing the man that carried their team so admirably last season. Arsene Wenger today admitted how hurt he was at being forced into a corner and into selling his prize asset to a rival. But are the two clubs really rivals any more? Gone are the days of intense grudge matches. United have had it all their own way in recent times against the Gunners.

Where does this move leave the two sides? For United, it has provided depth and flexibility; another attacking avenue from which to threaten both at home and abroad, with similarities drawn between the current side and that of the infamous '99 treble winners. In a front four of Rooney, van Persie, Welbeck and Hernandez, United can call upon fantastic options, much akin to the quartet of Yorke, Cole, Sheringham and Solskjaer. And of course, all of this is forgetting the previous incumbent of the Premiership leading goalscorer  award, a certain Dimitar Berbatov. This move surely paves the end of his topsy-turvy career at Old Trafford.

For Arsenal, they face another season of rebuilding. After such a desperately poor start to their last league season, including that 8-2 mauling at the hands of the Red Devils, they turned their season around to finish in an incredibly credible third place. Those Arsenal fans bitter at the exit of van Persie must surely look to his carrying of the team in reaching such heights and simply accept that he has moved on in order to change the fact that 8 years in English football have only brought about one trophy.

The signings of Oliver Giroud, top scorer in the French league last season, and Lukas Podolski, another forward with goalscoring pedigree, will soften this blow, as both were signed on the pretext that the flying Dutchman was always likely to leave. And with Santi Cazorla also joining the ranks, he will also add strength and fluency in attack. However, these three signings face a huge weight of expectation, and will need time, regardless of their abilities, to gel and adapt to the English game. People tend to forget that Arsenal have been here before. For every Thierry Henry signing that Arsene Wenger makes, there is a Jose Antonio Reyes, a player who came with high expectations and an inflated price tag, yet flopped dramatically.

It is a big season for both clubs and one in which a feeling of change will preside. For United, they have snapped up a real talisman, who can give the reds the front-line options that won City the title on goal-difference last season, whilst at Arsenal, as they seemingly always have to at this time of the year, there is a need to regroup and move on. Bitterness towards van Persie is inevitable, but were they bitter to Henry when he made his dream move to Barcelona after such great service? Wrongfully, they are pointing to the flaws of the Dutchman, when deep down they are hurting.

Bring on the Backlash

No matter how well the previous season has gone, summer signings are essential to any side. Whatever foundation you have laid in the previous season, you need to take stock, evaluate what you have and try to develop it. Sometimes it takes dramatic change, sometimes it just takes tweaking, but the need for new blood is always apparent. Manchester United lost their league title in dramatic fashion, with the fate of the Premiership coming down to the final kick of the season from Sergio Aguero, a moment that left the Blue half  of Manchester jubilant and the Red half shattered. Never will a title be won more dramatically than that. Well, maybe once in a Blue Moon.

But if you're looking for fighters, for a team that thrives off of revenge and redeeming pride, it is definitely United. The events of May 13th will have hurt them and the men in Red will undoubtedly be itching to set the record straight and reaffirm themselves back to number one status, not only in the City, but in the English game. Bouncing back is an inherent trait, it is all Sir Alex and his teams of the past and present have ever known, which sets the new season up as yet another treat to behold.

And with the exciting signing of Japanese international Shinji Kagawa, ever present in pre-season, United seem to have finally unearthed a player with genuine flair and one with an ability to seamlessly interlink Midfield and Attack, with early signs of a positive relationship with Wayne Rooney developing. However, United have equally missed out on other exciting attacking prospects, with a move for Brazilian whizz-kid Lucas Moura gazumped at the last hurdle by free spending Paris St Germain, as well as Eden Hazard opting to reject both Manchester clubs in favour of the European Champions Chelsea.

However, what is abundantly clear is that Sir Alex means business this summer, with his attention to "other club business" forcing him to miss two recent friendlies. This 'other business' is rumoured to be a move for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, a player who has placed himself in the shop window after growing increasingly frustrated at carrying his team. Such a move would provide a bold statement, something that United desperately need to do in order to overhaul their noisy neighbours.

Van Persie would undoubtedly provide the strong degree of flair that United have been missing of late, with a lack of goals whilst on tour increasingly obvious. Rooney aside, United lack a genuine goalscorer, with Javier Hernandez being more of a poacher who has come off the back of a difficult second season, and Danny Welbeck a sure-fire talent, but not one to reach the 20+ goal mark of a title chasing forward.

Nonetheless, as akin to most of United's high profile pursuits, there are stumbling blocks. For starters, United   and Arsenal's valuations of the player are seemingly quite far apart at present, with United already having a £15m bid rejected, whilst Arsenal would like another £10m for their Football Writers' Player of the Year. £25m would be a significant outlay for a man with such a history of injury issues. In addition, despite United appearing to be the player's preferred destination, and with City and Juventus falling by the way side in their interest in the Dutchman, there is a reluctance on the Gunner's part to sell to a 'rival'.

This is something I take particular issue with, as United and Arsenal have not been 'rivals' for years, simply due to the fact that Arsenal have not looked like genuine title contenders for the last 7 years, whilst United have continually been fighting for the title, and have won it 4 times in this period and featured in two Champions League finals. For Arsene Wenger to use that excuse is backdated and incredibly delusional, as there has not been an intense rivalry between the two since the days of Keane vs Vieira, and that was so long ago that they now comfortably sit alongside each other in the ITV studio.

For Ferguson, signing van Persie would represent a significant coup, as unleashing him alongside Rooney would surely send shivers down most Manager's spines. Yet, deal or no deal, van Persie or not, it is clear that United need to strengthen. Any team needs to strengthen, particularly if you are already at the top, or have come so close yet so far as United did last season. What is for sure is that there is no animal more dangerous than a wounded one, and that is the reason you can be sure that United will come back fighting, even stronger than ever before.

Robin Ready to Fly the Nest

Another summer and another star player is on the brink of leaving Arsenal Football Club, following the announcement that Robin van Persie will not be extending his stay at the Emirates. The story remains the same, as van Persie, following a prolific season that propelled Arsenal's season from mediocrity to another season in the Champions League, looks set to follow in the footsteps of so many Arsenal greats in leaving for a price far higher than he came for. Petit, Overmars, Vieira, Henry, Clichy, Adebayor, Toure, Nasri, Fabregas, the list is endless. Clear evidence that Arsenal are no longer a force to be reckoned with and further proof that they have now become a selling club with a football team that has to rebuild every season that passes.

van Persie's statement was bold, clearly critiquing the virtue of success being measured by how much profit can be made on players, as opposed to silverware, something avid fans of the Gunners have now been craving for 7 long years. Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger's philosophy is clearly to build team's through young players, refusing to pay hyperinflated wages, something which is admirable, yet also flawed in the modern game; a game now dictated in this country by the two Manchester clubs, and perhaps Chelsea once more as they look to build on their Champions' League success.

But anyone bitter about van Persie's outspoken claims should sit back and understand that a player, who carried his team for much of the season, scoring 30 league goals, at 28 years of age, wants to be playing at the very highest level, challenging for the biggest trophies. After a long hard season of being firmly in the limelight, the Dutchman then had to endure a dire European Championship campaign with his Country, so it is easy to see that he has become disillusioned by a lack of success for all of his efforts. Arsenal fans should not turn on him, therefore, but instead they should turn on the powers that be that are blindly abiding by their stubborn philosophy; a philosophy that is leaving them behind.

van Persie, in seemingly making himself available for a transfer, as Arsenal would not contemplate allowing him to leave for nothing next summer, has now sparked a frenzy of interest around the world, but one that could be narrowed down to the two Manchester clubs. City have long been admirers of last season's leading scorer, yet it is hard to see, for all his qualities, where he would fit in at the Champions, with an abundance of striking talent already gracing the Etihad. If van Persie is truly as hungry as his statement has suggested, he would ignore the overtures from Mancini and opt for City's rivals United, as the challenge of overturning the neighbours and regaining a 20th title is surely a mouth-watering and fascinating battle to face. Added to the fact that, at United, he would be assured as a regular starter, alongside Wayne Rooney, as United were often toothless in attack last season, lacking the fire-power to kill off teams as they have often been famous for.

At United, van Persie would become a star, and though a midfielder or two is a priority for Sir Alex, it would be hard to turn down such a prolific marksman, should he become available at an attainable price. If van Persie is as hungry for success as he is suggesting, surely Old Trafford is the place to take his career on to the next level, rather than at the blue half of the City where he would become another star name on a conveyor belt of mercenaries. If he had any sense, he'd choose to become a red. 

How Soon is Now?

Swansea and Norwich were two of the biggest surprise packages of the Premiership last season, finishing 11th and 12th respectively after each amassing 47 points in a season that delighted both sets of supporters after their promotion from the Championship the season before.

And behind such success stories were the young British Managerial talents of Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert, who have transformed themselves from young apprentices to genuine tacticians who have learnt how to pick up points both home and away in the Premier Division, shocking teams up and down the land with their expansive and expressive styles.

However, as is typical of our beloved game, success is met with sudden elevation and lauded by melodramatic praise, as both managers, in creating such success stories, have been presented with new roles that have placed them into perhaps the biggest poisoned chalices, up alongside the Chelsea job.

Lambert, in taking the reigns at Aston Villa, and Rodgers, in replacing the Messiah-like figure of Kenny Dalglish have undoubtedly taken huge gambles in their careers in moving out of their comfort zones at clubs where they have been so highly acclaimed for taking their teams so far. Both have taken their clubs so far, and left so much unfinished business behind in pursuit of the upper echelons.

And it is hard to believe how both managers were previously struggling at lower-league clubs, with Lambert formerly the Manager of Colchester United, whilst Rodgers was dismissed as Reading boss after a string of poor results. Yet suddenly, after a season of defying the odds, both managers have been placed in charge of two clubs with tremendous histories and weights of expectation.

At Aston Villa, former boss Alex McCleish was always up against it following his tenure at local rivals Birmingham City, a club that were relegated under his management. All the while, at Anfield, Liverpool have struggled with Roy Hodgson and Dalglish failing to replicate the successes of Rafael Benitez, a manager who brought them so much silverware.

So for Lambert and Rodgers, they are each set to be subjected to the enormous task of rebuilding their respective clubs, with expectations and scrutiny perhaps too heavy to handle, a kind of pressure unprecedented in their clubs where success is merely a bonus. Only time will tell.

Kagawa to United

It is always an exciting moment for Manchester United fans up and down the land when a new signing is announced, yet today's announcement of the near completion of a move for Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa is a signing that comes out of the ordinary but one that could potentially be another Sir Alex masterstroke.

This time last year United completed the signings of Phil Jones and Ashley Young, two promising young English talents, proven at Premiership level and with years ahead of them. We all knew what United would be getting with these signings. However, there has been a dying need for the Reds to go out and find a creative midfielder, with the team crying out for a flair player to unlock defences, whilst also chipping in with a fair share of goals.

Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric and more recently Eden Hazard have all been linked with such a move, but when Hazard opted for Stamford Bridge and the lure of joining a Champions League winning side, Ferguson had to move quickly to secure an alternative. And on paper, Kagawa's statistics suggest that he could be just what United have been searching for, a player who can provide for the goal hungry Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck.

Kagawa has lit up the German Bundesliga with both assists and goals, and could easily leave Ferguson yet again as the last man laughing, especially if the astronomical figures quoted for Hazard prove to be another monumental piece of poor business for Chelsea.

Perhaps what this move demonstrates is exactly the stance that Ferguson continues to deploy in the transfer market; searching for hidden talents that can emerge as leading lights without the glamour of inflated fees and wages. And after all, this is a tactic that lead United to finish the season only seconds away from lifting a completely unexpected twentieth title, against a side oozing with multi-million pound signings from the upper echelons of World Football.

Kagawa, at 23, has years ahead of him, and with the Sneijder deal looking increasingly unlikely as every window passes, the Japanese youngster could develop and flourish to be another act of wizardry from the man who very rarely makes mistakes when it comes to signing players.

This City is Ours?

Rarely does a game induce the need for so many superlatives, but this can certainly be said of tomorrow night's ultimate clash of the season; perhaps one of the biggest in history. Rarely does a game create so much excitement, with two local rivals fighting neck and neck, toe to toe for the ultimate prize in English football: The Premiership title. Words are not fitting of illustrating this titanic clash, one that has sparked huge excitement both in Manchester and all over the land.

Manchester City v Manchester United...the bitterest of rivalries, but now one with so much more to the tale; with so many more chapters being written over the last couple of seasons, purely on the basis that City are no longer light-years apart from the men in Red, and no longer simply the "noisy neighbours" that Sir Alex Ferguson once described them as. The threat is very real and all roads point to Manchester for possibly the biggest game the Premiership has ever seen.

All of this could have been so much simpler, as United, in losing at Wigan and then surrendering a 4-2 lead at home to Everton to draw 4-4, have opened up a title race that City looked to have thrown away. For much of the season, since a 6-1 massacre of the reds at Old Trafford, it has been the blue half of Manchester singing the  loudest, dreaming of a euphoric overhaul of their dominant neighbours. But, perhaps inevitably, this fixture remains, after all of the twists and turns of the title race, a hugely significant tie and one that is sure to shape the destiny for both of these Manchester clubs.

Some would say it is now in City's hands. With a superior goal difference over United and with goals flowing freely recently, as the pressure seems to have been lifted, because the weight of expectation has been lifted by Mancini, who quite cleverly distanced himself from the title race after their defeat at Arsenal earlier this month. United, however, are the masters of such situations. Blessed with the priceless experience of Giggs, Scholes, Ferdinand, Rooney and the rest, only a fool would rule United out of getting a result at Eastlands tomorrow night.

In terms of tactics, City possess a great deal of strings to their bow, with a midfield that oozes class and a strike force that can create menace at will. However, United's strength this season has been utilising their famous affection for attacking wingers, with Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Nani causing havoc week in week out. They also have their main man up front bang in form, with 12 goals in his last 11 appearances, and who would rule out another vital goal from that man, Wayne Rooney?

The scene is well and truly set for a dramatic night in Manchester, one where the winner takes a great stride forward, and the loser an even bigger one back. A few weeks ago, nobody would have predicted that City would still be in with a shout, but they will need to muster all of their spirit and resources to take the three points that they so crave. For United, they simply must not lose, but you will certainly not see the kind of performance and tactics implemented by Chelsea in the Nou Camp this week, as they simply do not know how to be so negative.

All in all, it creates a magnificent spectre, one that will define and illuminate our Premier League and one that's excitement is reverberating and capturing the world over. For Sir Alex, a win tomorrow night and one hand on yet another title will surely be his greatest achievement, but for Mancini, he could equally further his affections with the City faithful. It is a game that neither side need lose, both for local pride and for the sake of their rivals as the two biggest sides in English football.

Sit back and enjoy a night that will surely be remembered for an eternity, regardless of the result.

The Return of El Nino

Form is temporary, class is permanent, they say. Fernando Torres, since his earth-shattering £50m move from Liverpool to Chelsea, has had both his form and his class questioned, leaving fans up and down the country wondering how someone can fall from such a height. It seemed beyond comprehension how a player who, in his time at Liverpool, tormented defences throughout the land on weekly basis, yet suddenly seemed to have 'lost it'.

Earlier in the season, 'El Nino', as he was once affectionately named at Atletico Madrid, danced round David De Gea at Old Trafford, only to blaze the ball high and wide with an open goal gaping. It was one of the moments of the season; a collector's item that will be re-lived on Comedy Football DVDs for eternity, and a moment that highlighted the Spaniard's lack of form on the field of play. Perhaps furthermore, it also demonstrated a mental fragility, a weakness of the mind. During the week, however, Torres danced round Barcelona's goalkeeper Victor Valdes and finished in cool fashion, albeit after running half the length of the field unopposed.

And today, in similar fashion, as Torres swept round Paul Robinson, there was a conviction about his finishing that had returned. His touches were coming off and he looked a reformed player, finishing with a match ball and a bottle of Champagne after a hat-trick of emphatic finishes allowed his Chelsea side to sweep past a doomed Blackburn Rovers side. That goal in the Nou Camp might just have saved him.

For all of his faults this season; his poor touches and lack of clinical shooting, his Club have stood by him. When Roman Abrahmovic shelled out such a gargantuan fee, nobody questioned Torres' ability or his standing in the upper echelons of World Football. However, as the goals failed to materialise as they so frequently did North of the border at Anfield, people started to wonder. But how fickle football is.

What this week has summarised is essential to understanding the Psychological aspect that is so vital in Sport in general: if you do not believe in yourself, you cannot achieve. You can be the most gifted centre forward in the world, but without that belief you are nothing; which is something that has been demonstrated in a number of Sports and by a number of leading characters. The goal in Barcelona was essential in Torres' re-emergence; a significant turning point in his journey back to success and one that has reflected in his rampant goalscoring mood today.

With the season drawing to a close, the Spaniard must be longing to continue. And what would be a better way to end a fascinating season for both himself and his club, than to score the winner in the Champions League final, a trophy so craved by his club's Billionaire owner? It is surely another chapter waiting to be written.

Forget Chelsea v Barca...The Big Contest Begins in Munich!

Forget the hype swirling around yet another meeting between Chelsea and Barcelona, there is no doubt in my mind that the more enticing fixture in this season's set of semi finals is the contest between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. And as the two giants of European football prepare to battle this evening in the Allianz Arena, a great deal is at stake.

Bayern Munich have been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime; the opportunity to participate in the Final of European football's greatest club competition, the UEFA Champions League, in their own ground, the venue for tonight's battle with Mourinho's men. And for Jose's La Liga leaders, it is a chance for the Portuguese to enter yet another final, after lifting the giant trophy with both Porto and Inter Milan.

For all the talk of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta gracing English turf once more, this intriguing battle between the Germans and the Spaniards has been left simmering under the surface, bubbling and ready to explode in what is bound to be far more thrilling than the rather one-sided match-up of Chelsea and Barcelona. Granted, Chelsea have suddenly sparked the imaginations of their fans, with Roberto Di Matteo rekindling the spirit of Mourinho, while Barcelona have recently been labelled as being human after all and have had weaknesses identified, something that seems absurd given they have a talisman who has now scored 63 goals already this season.

However, behind all of this hype, Barcelona have an inherent knowledge of how to win games, after countless trophies, many of which have come under the reign of current manager Pep Guardiola, who has created a seemingly unassailable powerhouse, a team with so many dimensions and a team able to control games at will. For all the luck of offside goals and goals where the ball didn't even cross the line, the rookie Di Matteo is going to need far more than luck. Against a withered Tottenham side, Chelsea had a field day, yet tomorrow night is a test of a whole different magnitude. It is a test of whether they can even keep the ball against the mercurial pass masters.

In essence, tonight's game is one that should be far more enthralling, with Bayern Munich packing tremendous power and oozing attacking ability in the shape of former Real and Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, and the likes of Franck Ribery and leading scorer Mario Gomez. This is a team that blitzed Basle 7-0 previous to this, and also finished top of a seemingly tricky group which included Manchester City, and with the incentive of a home final, they may feel that their name is on the trophy, something famously snatched from them in 1999 against Manchester United.

But with Jose Mourinho at the helm, you can never write him off, as has he galvanised arguably Europe's biggest name and even taken them above Barcelona with the La Liga title race drawing towards its dramatic conclusion. It cannot be doubted that both teams will be going all out tonight to write history for their famous clubs, which sets it up as an exciting night, something that seems to have been lost on those merely concentrating on the game tomorrow night, which Chelsea will be lucky to survive to the second leg, in my eyes.

The Incredible Story of Carlos Tevez: The Latest Chapter

Carlos Tevez dramatically re-announced himself to the Premier League yesterday with a sensational hat-trick that has seemingly left all of his past misadventures stored away in the abyss of forgetfulness. But as Manchester City fans revelled in an emphatic 6-1 victory away at Norwich, singing their former captain's name, one is left to wonder how the past can simply be forgotten.

Carlos Tevez has immersed himself in controversy from the moment he arrived at West Ham, following that shocking move alongside fellow Argentina international Javier Mascherano, which itself sparked outrage. He then moved to Manchester United where he elevated himself to being a hero of the Stretford End, with crucial goals scored aplenty, helping United to triumph in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea. However, after a couple of seasons, it was time for him to move on again, and you all know the story.

And, after his acrimonious move across Manchester to rivals City, Tevez continued to illuminate his talents, becoming a god-like hero at Eastlands, a status that lead to his role of Captaincy in 2011, before suddenly declaring that he wanted to leave due to 'family reasons'. In choosing to broadcast his distaste of Manchester life live on Argentinian television, Tevez left City reeling and United laughing. One was left to wonder whether Tevez would ever settle or be happy in England.

Then came another compelling twist, as on September 27th 2011, Tevez refused to emerge from the City bench in a Champions League game away at Bayern Munich, a decision that left manager Roberto Mancini declaring that Tevez was "finished" and that "if I have my way he will be out", strong words from a manager who had clearly had enough.

And after the continuous fines and Tevez's exile to Argentina for all these months, it makes it all the more peculiar that Tevez is suddenly back, scoring 4 goals in 2 games, keeping City apace with bitter rivals United. Mancini, after the Norwich game, even seemed to suggest that his side would have benefited from Tevez's talents over the course of the whole season.

Clearly a baffling story and how one can forget Tevez's behaviour merely illustrates the fickle nature of football. How a man can refuse to play for his club, storming off to his homeland whilst still picking up an astronomical wage, yet simply come back and be welcomed with open arms is bizarre.

Patrick Vieira, ambassador for Manchester City, described Manchester United's decision to bring back Paul Scholes from retirement as "desperate", to which Sir Alex Ferguson pointed the finger to Tevez, insisting that surely his return would be "desperate". Because, whilst Ferguson would naturally be delighted to be able to draw upon one of the world's greatest ever midfielders, and one with a professional attitude second to none, the Scotsman would never tolerate the kind of behaviour demonstrated by Tevez.

How Manchester City can  adore the Argentinian once more is beyond me, regardless of his ability. Perhaps an over-reliance on such individuals will continue to trouble the blue half of Manchester.

Momentum with Newcastle

Alan Pardew's Newcastle are a team on the up; a team who have slowly but surely crept up the Premier League table, and capitalised on the failings of both Tottenham and Chelsea. But now they are starting to be recognised as serious threats, with the mercurial front three of Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa leading their charge to Europe's top competition, something completely unpredicted at the beginning of the season.

Since the departure of Andy Carroll in that sensational £35m move to Liverpool last January, Pardew has crafted a multi-faceted team, who can both express themselves and graft for results, with a settled side that has gelled into a well-oiled unit. With the dominating figure of Fabricio Coloccini in defence, ably supported by the emergence of Tim Krul, one of the league's best goalkeepers, Newcastle have built the foundations for a team that can go on to greater things, perhaps showing themselves to be the best Geordie side since Kevin Keegan's side, who came so close yet so far to winning the title in 1996. Yohann Cabaye and Cheik Tiote have also revelled in their midfield roles, showing themselves to be of the calibre to elevate Newcastle to unprecedented levels of success.

And what a piece of business that Carroll deal is looking, with his replacement Cisse taking his goal tally to 10 from 9 games, whilst the former occupant of the famous number nine shirt has struggled to live up to his astronomical price tag, with a measly 6 goals from 40 appearances. The figures speak for themselves, as Cisse's emergence has already made Carroll a distant memory, something highlighted when Newcastle recently beat Liverpool 2-0, with both goals scored by Cisse and with Carroll booked for diving, booed off and storming off down the St James' tunnel.

And whilst their remaining fixtures, with a difficult trip to Chelsea, rivals to a Champions League place, and a home game against Manchester City look challenging on paper, the momentum is certainly with the Geordies, who since beating likely title winners Manchester United 3-0 have looked well on course to continue their relentless run.

Whatever happens come the end of the season, Newcastle will have enjoyed a fantastic season, and one that will live long in the memory of some of the most dedicated and passionate fans in the country, fans starved of success in recent years but fans who have plenty of reason to be optimistic looking into the future.

Balotelli: Why Always Him?

A week in the life of Mario Balotteli is no ordinary week. The Italian began the week littering the front pages, before finishing it on the back pages, and both for all the wrong reasons. For all the stories that have evolved throughout the season, this maverick character, signed from Inter Milan last summer for £25m, has taken his behaviour to an all-time low, leaving manager Roberto Mancini admitting that enough could finally be enough.


Balotteli began the week admitting an affair with prostitute Jennifer Thompson, formerly linked with Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney, insisting that it was better to admit than hide his debauchery. To make matters worse, the Italian, of Ghanian descent, then managed to crash his white Bentley, forcing more media coverage, something that he seems to revel in, despite his best attempts to paint a modest image of himself in a recent rare interview with music legend Noel Gallagher. 


But the stories have escalated all season, a season in which Manchester City seemed to be set to bridge the gap between their ever-successful rivals United, something that is now so far out of reach and largely down to the kind of temperament portrayed by Balotelli. From fireworks set off in bathrooms, to broken curfews to turning up at the press conference of new Inter Milan manager Andrea Stramaccioni, completely unannounced, Balotteli never seems to be far from trouble. 


On October 23rd 2011, 'Super Mario' scored two goals in an emphatic 6-1 victory for the blue half of Manchester over their bitterest rivals at Old Trafford, the home of the Champions and the likely winners of this season's title. On that particular day he revealed a slogan on his t-shirt reading 'Why Always Me?' which is something that we have all been left wondering ever since. Despite a decent record of 19 goals in 39 games at the Etihad Stadium, Balotelli has become increasingly frustrating, with his input in games largely innocuous, strongly conflicting with the grit and determination of the likes of Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, who have been integral in City's push for the title. 


Perhaps pre-season was an early indicator of this erratic psyche, whereby, when clean through on goal against La Galaxy, he opted to spin around and attempt a back-heel, to which Mancini immediately substituted him in disgust. And on Sunday evening, Balotelli showed the dirty side of his game, as he could have merited two red cards after scything into Alex Song of Arsenal, before three late tackles on Bacary Sagna culminated in two bookings, as Mancini looked on in despair, before later admitting that he may be sold in the summer.


Gary Neville recently drew comparisons with another maverick-figure, and one he himself worked with: the legendary Eric Cantona. Neville discussed, in his role of Sky Sports pundit, how Cantona was a colourful character, yet he managed to hone it in, allowing his personality to seamlessly flow with his flamboyant playing style. And his character was expressed with countless moments of magic and last gasp winning goals that made him the Manchester United idol that he still remains. Balotelli, on the other hand, is still yet to come close to demonstrating these traits, as his unpredictable and erratic temperament has gone hand in hand with City's capitulation in the title race. 


If, as predicted, the red half of Manchester are revelling in a 20th title in May, a great deal of the blame will surely be placed at his door.