Di Matteo the genius - but a problem...Roman has already lined up a new boss

FOOTBALL

THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE EVER

BY AN ENGLISH TEAM IN

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

I THOUGHT that I’d seen it all when Man United beat Bayern Munich with those two wonderful late, late goals in the Champions League final in Barcelona in 1999. Then Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at half-time in the 2005 final to beat AC Milan on penalties after it ended 3-3.

But on Tuesday night even those two magnificent efforts by English clubs were eclipsed by Chelsea. Their 2-2 draw on the night (which led to a 3-2 aggregate win) was simply the best performance EVER by an English club in the Champions League – given the brilliance of the best footballing team in the world they were up against, the massive odds stacked against them (made even greater when Terry foolishly got himself dismissed) and the fact that they had already lost one of their centre-backs (Gary Cahill) to injury early on.

And the match itself was one arguably THE BEST EVER Champions League game. It had everything – a sending-off, a penalty miss (who would have thought that the world’s best player Lionel Messi would fluff that chance?), a goal of genius (from Ramires), a goal (!) from Torres and a raft of tantalising sub-scripts (including the clear antagonism between Lampard and Fabregas) to back up the main draft of the David v Goliath battle.

I didn’t give the Blues much hope when they were down to 10-men and 2-0 down on the night. Who, in their right minds, would? They also had to overcome the Nou Camp crowd – yet they did it. Of course, the wonderful chipped goal from Ramires was the turning point, but the defensive campaign Chelsea mounted was simply magnificent.

It was also good to see Barcelona brought down to size. In recent years they have crushed opponents like a bully and been universally praised for their football. OK, they do have superb technique and are a joy to watch – but they also do a nice number in the dark arts, which people tend to overlook, I thought there was a certain irony in them having a go at Drogba after the first leg for diving when the great Messi himself is not averse to such tactics. Also, wasn’t it great to see Sergio Busquets brought down a peg or two – I despise this player more than any other in top-level world football. He is a cheat and a whinger – a man who will fall over at the slightest touch – yet is the first to complain that he is being hard done by when he (often) takes a slice of someone else’s legs. I was sick when he scored but felt divine justice was done when he haplessly chased back after Torres and fell down on his back dejected when the big striker put the ball in the back of the net. Busquets, public enemy No 1 in the Champions League, had certainly got his just desserts for once.

There were plenty of other talking points in the game, Yes, Terry deserved to be sent off – one day I hope he reveals just what Sanchez did to rile him. Terry is usually the most disciplined of men, so we must assume it was something verbal or a running battle.

Now Terry misses the final – along with Ramires, Meireles and Ivanovic. He is a big loss in terms of leadership, but the central defensive area seemed more fluid and speedier with him out, so that may not be the end of the world. Certainly, if David Luiz and Gary Cahill can recover in time that would be a fair pairing – although I would be very reluctant to use both from the start as they have both suffered hamstring injuries, which are notorious for flaring back up as soon as players return to action. The last thing Chelsea need is two subs on for those two within the first few minutes; subs could be the key to victory in Munich, you just don’t want to use two of the three you are allowed so early on.

Similarly, Ivanovic is a loss, like Terry, in terms of his physical strength but Boswinga could slot into the right-back role if Cahill and Luiz do make it.

Also, you have a like for like swop with Michael Essien stepping in for Raul Meireles. The Portuguese is probably the least critical of the ban losses – he did tend to give away the ball too cheaply in Barcelona. And it is surely time that Essien stepped up to the plate once again and showed us the talents that made him one of the best, aggressive midfielders in the world not that long ago.

The biggest loss is the Brazilian Ramires. He was the man of the match in Barcelona. Apart from his superb goal, he has the best engine of anyone in the English game since Roy Keane. A different type of player to Keane, he nevertheless does the work of two men, as Roy did, and works brilliantly between all three areas of the pitch – defence, midfield and attack.

He will be sorely missed. I would replace him with Daniel Sturridge, but make it clear to the youngster that he MUST do his share of defensive tracking back.

Also on the subject of those banned for the final, I had been surprised by how chirpy Ivanovic had been after the win. Sure, the team had reached Munich but he would not be there because of his booking. Then it became clear just why the Serbian was so upbeat – he hadn’t been aware his booking would cost him his place in the final. He was made aware of the fact by Sky’s post-match interviewere Geoff Meades – Branislav bravely tried to hide his gut disappointment when Meades revealed the bad news but his face was crumbling. I felt so sorry for the big defender – what a terrible way to learn such news, in front of millions of viewers as your team-mates celebrated good fortune.

On the same point, shouldn’t Chelsea’s managerial team have made him – and presumably the others on a yellow card – aware that an indiscretion could cost them so dearly? I’m not saying that they should have been told to play half-heartedly, but certainly it would have meant they knew that any silly booking – such as backchat to the ref or timewasting – should be avoided at all costs.

Which brings us to the manager himself. Yes, step forward Roberto Di Matteo and bask in your well-earned moment in the limelight. The Italian has done everything asked of him as an interim manager – and more. This man is no Avram Grant, he is tactically astute and a fine man-manager – as he proved by moving Ramires to right-back and pinning Ivanovic and Boswinga at the heart of the defence after Terry’s sending-off.

He deserves to be made up to full-time boss. My sources at the Bridge tell me there is a particular reason why he has not been – Roman has already made contact and set up a deal with the man he wants to take over in the summer. If that man is either Mourinho or Guardiola (and I am led to believe it could be Jose) then that is fair enough – you can’t argue with the appointment of one of the top three managers in the world (the other being Ferguson).

But if it is someone of the ilk of Laurent Blanc or Didier Deschamps, then Roman should have a quiet word with them, tell them the deal is off and give them a few quid on the condition that they keep their mouths shut.

It is the least the owner owes to the man who has saved Chelsea’s season.

FRANK WORRALL

FRANKIE’S FLUTTER

ONE football match looms large above all others this next week – Man City v Man Utd in a clash at the Etihad that will have a real outcome on the title race. If City win they are in the driving seat to take the title – but if they lose or draw United are almost home.

I am going for a City win, by 2-1, with Balotelli coming on to score the winner!

(For more information on Frank and his bestselling sports books, see www.frankworrall.com)

Weekly Sport readers can buy Frank’s insightful book on Sir Alex Ferguson for the special price of only £2.74 on Kindle (retail price £17.99 for the hardback)…go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Fergie-Wonderland-Biography-ebook/dp/B00603XJB8/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326291046&sr=1-7

FRANKIE'S FLUTTERS

GOT one right last week – as Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup semi final at Wembley, just as I predicted.

Looking at next week’s return semis in the Champions League, I’m going to shy away from predicting the Chelsea result in Barca, as I don’t want to put the curse on John Terry and Co!
But I do believe that Bayern Munich will now complete the job they started last week when they beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Munich. I can see Bayern scoring at least once as Real go all out for the goals that will take them to the Final. Madrid’s problem is a very un-Jose Mourinho-like problem…their defence stinks.
Yes, OK, they are brilliant as an attacking force – with the likes of Ronaldo and Higuain and Benzema – but defensively are extremely suspect. Ramos is no central defender; his positioning was all over the place in Munich and the rest of the backline is similarly unreliable…with a yellow or red card simply waiting to happen when they come up against a top attacking force – which Bayern certainly are with the wondrous, if hard-to-like, Robben and Ribery. So it’s Bayern for me in a 2-2 draw on the night and through on away goals.

…AND THE FA ARE SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT HODGSON AS ENGLAND BOSS

I ALSO hear that the Football Association may play hard-ball over Harry Redknapp as they head towards finally appointing the man who will become the new England manager.

Apparently some of the behind-the-scenes power-brokers do not like the idea of having to slug it out with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy for ‘Arry’s signature and do not want to pay massive sums of compensation or to pay ‘Arry anywhere near the salary Fabio Capello received.

Levy is a notoriously tough negotiator – as Man United learned to their cost when they had to fork out premium money for Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov – and ‘Arry’s stock has fallen somewhat recently as Spurs have suffered a slump in form.

It is being suggested that if Levy does kick up to much of a fuss, or ‘Arry wants too much money, Roy Hodgson will be rapidly installed as a cheaper, less controversial alternative.

Which, in my humble opinion, would not be the end of the world. Apart from his Liverpool setback – when he wasn’t really given a proper chance – Hodgson has done well. He is also a man who would suit the demands of international management – he is diplomatically competent and arguably more aware tactically fluent (which is of the essence in the international game) than ‘Arry.

He would be a steady caretaker-style boss in the mode of Ron Greenwood, who brought dignity and stability to England after a jittery ride under Don Revie. Much as is needed now for our national side after the incompetence of Steve McClaren and the turbulence of the Capello years…

FRANK WORRALL

DOES FERGIE WANT BALOTELLI TO BE HIS NEW CANTONA?

WHISPER it quietly for now, but my sources at Manchester United suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson would be keen to snap up Mario Balotelli should the Italian finally run out of chances at Manchester City. My information is that the man who could claim to be the greatest manager ever sees the firebrand Italian striker as a man-boy who could present him with his greatest final player challenge as a man-manager – a man-boy whom he could tame and turn into one of the three greatest players in the world.

Of course, there are many imponderables before such a deal could ever be signed off. Not least, that Balotelli will NEVER leave City voluntarily as long as his surrogate father – and the man HE considers to be the greatest manager ever – stays in charge. Yes, Super Mario remains loyal to Roberto Mancini – the only manager he truly respects.

Balotelli was previously managed by Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan – but that was destined never to work out, with two of the biggest (and most fragile) egos at work. The Portuguese said Mario was ‘unmanageable’ and was swiftly dropped him from his plans.

It was only when Mancini came in for him at City that Mario started to show some of the wonderful talent and natural technique that does mark him out as a potential great…if only he can control the demons that so often beguile him. Of course, those very same demons are part of the make-up that also propels him to possible greatness – so it needs a very fine line, and a very fine mentor, to guide him forwards.

Mancini, in my opinion, has all the attributes to do just that. But what if City’s owners suddenly decide they no longer want Roberto in charge – and Mourinho arrives? That would signal the end for Balotelli and that, it has been suggested to me, would be the time for Fergie to make his move.

I am told he sees a lot of Eric Cantona in the boy. And remember the impact Cantona had on United? Certainly United fans will never forget – the Frenchman arrived at the end of 1992 and led the club forward to its first top-flight championship in 26 years the following summer, and a period of non-stop glory.

And Cantona came with much more baggage than Balotelli. He had experienced numerous run-ins with the French FA and several bans and damaging altercations. He had, in Mourinho’s terms, become so ‘unmanageable’ that he had to seek a new start abroad. Hence his arrival in England, initially with Leeds United and then Manchester United...when Ferguson stole in for his signature unexpectedly and the two of them embarked on a partnership that was one of the most profitable in United’s history.

In comparison to Cantona, Balotelli’s misdemeanours are those of a novice, but he continues to be roundly criticised and lambasted – often unfairly in my eyes. So I can see why Ferguson would be interested in turning him into the finished article if Roberto did bite the dust at City…whatever people may say, Balotelli DOES have the potential to be one of the greatest players ever.

Remember where you read it first…

FRANK WORRALL