May 03, 2014
| As a player, Shebby Singh won everything there was to win in Malaysia football, and represented the country on the international stage. |
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... so wrote Charles Dickens in his opening line for his book of the same title as the headline above.
That could not be more apt to describe what has transpired and what could transpire this week in two major cities – one in Spain, the other in England.
While there is joy in the city of Madrid after two rival clubs created history, making it the first time ever that two clubs from the same city play in the final of the UEFA Champions League, things are a little different in the north of England.
The city of Liverpool will need to unite to help Liverpool win their maiden Premier League title.
How ironic is it that Everton, their poor neighbours, now quite perhaps could end the long title drought of their arch rivals tonight.
And that is all because Liverpool's title fate was rudely ripped out of their hands when Chelsea stunned them at Anfield last Sunday, thanks to a Steven Gerrard error and the resilience of reactive football.
The pursuit of Champions League football drives Everton to want to finish fourth, and this ambition is what Liverpool will be banking upon to prevail when Goodison Park welcomes title contenders Manchester City (tonight, 12.30am, Sunday).
So, as it turns out, everything does lie in the arms of the Blue side of the river Mersey.
At best, one team could be crowned champions of England, and both teams could take part in the lucrative Champions League next season, and at worse, there is all-round disappointment with Liverpool finishing second and Everton pipped by Spurs or Manchester United for a spot in the Europa League.
One does wonder if the bitterness in the blue half of the City of Liverpool is still present after almost three decades.
This is from Everton being denied European Cup football in both 1985 and 1987, despite becoming English Division One champions those two years, because of the 1985 European Cup Final tragedy in Heysel involving Liverpool and Juventus.
All the memories among older Everton fans are sure to come flooding back, but the lack of pursuit of Europe's biggest trophy then leaves no place for revenge. I certainly would not want to be an Everton fan at the moment, the emotional burden is just too much to bear.
Lose to Manchester City and dig a hole for Liverpool to fall into, or beat Manchester City and stick a dagger into their own hearts? Good luck, Everton.
Manchester City must not slip up, surely not now. Manuel Pellegrini knows that every match is a must-win, and he has to ingrain this "do or die" mentality into his squad to bring home a second come-from-behind, and likely goal-difference, title win.
Sense and sensitivities
Getting back to the City of Madrid, a great homecoming has been planned to usher in the Kings of European Club Football.
The venue is the City of Lisbon, at the Stadium of Light. As both Real and Atletico battle for European supremacy, one club could also be domestic champions looking for a double.
Ironically, a calm and collected Italian is in charge of one side, while the other has a fiery Argentinian guiding them.
It will be seen to be more than a football match, and a battle between traditional social classes prevalent in the capital of Spain will be met on the field with the same passion.
It is most befitting for the likes of defending World Cup champions Spain to brighten the finale of European club football in this World Cup year.
It is also a great achievement for the city of Madrid to have outplayed the best of Germany and the loudest in England.
Speaking of whom, Jose Mourinho was very un-Mourinho-like at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, making rash substitution decisions that ultimately failed to offer Chelsea any threat to Diego Simeone's well-drilled Atletico Madrid side.
An equaliser conceded before half-time seemed ominous, but one expected Mourinho to be measured in his decision-making in the final 45 minutes.
A penalty given away by substitute Samuel Eto'o dug a deeper hole for the Blues to climb out of, and David Luiz had a brilliant header smashed off the post which perhaps could have changed the final outcome.
Another forward came on, but as Eden Hazard put it, Chelsea are simply not built to play football. For a manager to throw on all strikers at his disposal (these strikers have been victim to Jose's words to the press this season) with so much time remaining either means desperation or an attempt to make a point.
Either way, a Madrid derby in the final could see Real Madrid win their 10th ever European Cup, or Atletico could ruin Real's season (perhaps even a decade) by doing the league and European Cup double.
If Atletico is to have any hope at all, the would have to stop the amazing trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, that make up the heart of Real's attacking force that helped thrash the mighty Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
Sergio Ramos, too, was impeccable at the back, dominating Mario Mandzukic in the same way he dominated Robert Lewandowski last season.
His two-headed goals just rewards for a footballer so often ridiculed for a ballooned penalty and fiery passion – after all, you don't get to the Real Madrid disciplinary record books without dedication to the craft.
Bayern's Toni Kroos was ineffective, offering little when operating within his own half.
Javi Martinez' lack of a start once again was perplexing, as the Spaniard once again offered calm in the middle of the park when Bayern Munich seemed to have lost the plot.
German national and club captain Philip Lahm played commendably, and Cristiano Ronaldo broke another record on his way to a seemingly fated final in his home town of Lisbon.
Bayern Munich still are tipped to complete a domestic double, but it does seem to matter little for a season which promised unrivalled dominance in Europe once again.
Suddenly, Pep Guardiola has become a bad coach because Bayern Munich lost 5-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid. With the Bundesliga title sewn up a long time ago, and yes, it is a long time ago, it is easy to criticise a legend (both as a manager and a footballer) who remains one of the last bastions of "total" football.
Now, let us all go back to parking the bus so football will be all about winning while putting crowds around the world asleep effortlessly.
The effort and skills that are sought to keep football the spectacle that attracts the world's attention all go to nought when a few coaches or managers lack the creative juices to operate free-flowing, attractive football at the very top level.
The individual is successful, but the legacy left behind for future fans and purists leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Now let us hope that negative football does not spoil or stink up the greatest football fiesta in the world, the World Cup 2014, held ironically in the land of samba. Jogo Bonito anyone? – May 3, 2014.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
