The cabin crew and the pilot have just finished their welcome and introduction to our flight to Milan. I guess I should extend their welcome by inviting you on board my new space on the web, where I will be commenting on sports.
Valletta
Upon take-off, notice the various buildings which adorn Valletta. Following this week’s results, these buildings will provide the background for celebrations crowning Valletta as Premier League champions. The results of the past weekend have put Valletta in a very favourable position to win their league, after a rather long break. Birkirkara lost against Sliema, despite dominating most of the match. We still have to wait for the arithmetic confirmation of the championship but it seems that the CITY is virtually there.
Too close to call
The English Premier League is far from decided, however. Manchester United dropped two important points, in their match against Blackburn. Manchester United had to wait until the 88th minute to neutralise the Santa Cruz’s goal which put Blackburn in front at the 21st minute. Chelsea has a golden opportunity to next Saturday, when they will host Manchester United in the main match of the weekend. I believe that both Grant and Ferguson would have loved to prepare this match without the crucial UEFA Champion’s League match in between. Manchester Utd meet Barcelona while Chelsea will meet Liverpool, in what has become one of the fixed fixtures of the competition today. Anfield will see Liverpool playing Chelsea. Chelsea will have the disadvantage of playing against ‘12 men’. No, I am not referring to the referee. The Kop tends to intimidate teams who play against the Reds. Liverpool have won 76% of their European Champions League matches on the home ground.
La Vecchia Signora
In Italy, Roma lost Totti, and two crucial points at the Armando Picchi Stadium in Livorno. Inter, on the other hand managed to extend their lead to six points, following their victory at the expense of relegation haunted Torino. Last weekend saw the almost arithmetic confirmation of the return of Juventus, to the Champions’ League. It has been two years, since the Calciopoli scandal struck off the Turin side from the European Champions League. Good administration and a determination to change have brought this success. Few believed that this result would have been attainable, tour’s truly among them. Having a good name and a glorious history is not necessarily a reason to succeed. When AC Milan, back in the 1980s were dumped in Serie B (for another scandal), their return to Serie A lasted a season. Their purgatory only came to an end when Silvio Berlusconi took over the club in 1986. Since then, the history annuals speak for themselves.
Will he come, or will he not?
In the week prior to the general election in Italy there was constant talk of Ronaldinho moving to AC Milan. I’ll believe it when I see it One should not underestimate the importance of this story for Berlusconi’s political ends – he was able to make the front pages of all sport dailies. Now we read that Inter are stepping up their efforts, with Nike (his and the team’s sponsors) promising to invest in the deal to secure the services of the 2005 World Player of the Year. Galliani (Milan’s vice president) said that Barcelona’s request was too expensive. We’ll have to wait and see.
Who’s to stay, who’s going where...
Ronaldinho is only one of many players who are expected to dominate the football headlines this summer. Speculation is rife on who is going to try his luck elsewhere. Lampard, Shevchenko and Drogba seem to be leaving Stamford Bridge. Deco is no longer a first choice at the Camp Nou. Gilardino’s fate at AC Milan is not secured; same can be said on Gattuso. Amauri seems set to leave Palermo to join Juventus. Alex Silva (Sao Paolo), Hatem Ben Arfa and Karim Benzema (Lyon), Dany Alves (Sevilla) and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) are some of the stars who will be moving elsewhere. We have to wait and see what will actually happen. However, most European stars will be trying their best to show their value, this summer during the Euro 2008.
Talk to you later.