Alex Ferguson would love nothing more than to topple Barcelona as they have frustrated his Manchester United team repeatedly in European competition over the last few years with last season’s final in particular proving quite embarrassing for the Premier League Champions. But what has changed since that woeful night at Wembley? The Red Devils have strengthened their squad but also had one extremely high profile loss in Paul Scholes who as yet it would seem has not been replaced.
The arrival of Ashley Young will give Barca something to think about if they are to face United as counter attacking footall has to be one of their major weaknesses and Young’s pace poses a real threat. Whether replacing a retired Van Der Sar with a hot young prospect in David De Gea will make any substantial difference remains to be seen.
Chelsea are another team that have felt the wrath of Barcelona in the Champions League and with their fresh faced new manager Villas Boas they could be rejuvenated but who is to say which way his reign will go? He may even have felt Abramovich’s axe before the Champions League starts if he doesn’t fly out of the blocks in the Premiership.
Perhaps the most tantalizing prospect comes in the shape of Manchester City, although it is their first time in Europe’s premier club competition they have spent hundreds of millions of pounds scooping up superstar after superstar from around the globe for the past three seasons since they were bought out by Arabian billionaires. They will already be the envy of Barca and Madrid after snaring their latest asset Sergio Aguero, a player that has been tormenting them for the past few seasons. Still it remains to be seen whether the dream team will gel, probably more of a prospect for the seasons to come and not quite ready to set Europe alight just yet.
Arsenal I guess can still just about stake a claim but the miserable pattern of failure continues. The closest the Gooners ever got to European glory was 2005-06 and who beat them in the final? Who else but Barca. Funnily enough though that season and this seem to have a similar feel about them for Arsenal fans, before that season Arsenal were all but written off before a ball was even kicked and this is shaping up the same so, never say never.
Who can you see beating Barcelona to European glory this season?
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nothing has changed, the former madreal coach was even better than mourihno because he was able to withstand the pressure of elclassico but mourihno was defeated with 5-0, this is not the first time real claims they are ready to challenge barca, the arrival of sanchez to pair with villa, pedro, thiago and the possible arrival of fabregas will have no equivalent after xavi, iniesta and messi has no rrival in the madreal starting x1. BARCA is the best.
Barca is still the best and we’re going to defend our trophy.
Barca will always dominate in every Season…
wil they dominate again??? more than likely!!
who else ??