Barca or bust for Jose!

14 April 2012

A champions league draw that should keep UEFA's disciplinary committee busy sparked a collective sigh of disbelief among the representatives of Chelsea and Barcelona here last night; the fear being that a third meeting between such bitter rivals will be every bit as acrimonious as the previous two.

While Sir Alex Ferguson prepares for a meeting with a manager he once said "could not be trusted an inch" — and Celtic's Gordon Strachan does not think much of him either — the English and Spanish champions find themselves in a particularly unpleasant group.

As well as trying to score points against each other after securing a victory apiece in hugely controversial circumstances, they will have to be mindful of the threat Werder Bremen pose. Not only did they finish second in the Bundesliga last season, but they did so with a certain Miroslav Klose scoring the goals. The World Cup's leading striker will certainly be keen to upset the odds.

History

The odds against Chelsea's two meetings with Barcelona passing without incident would appear to be slender given the history between the teams. "What has happened in the past is unhelpful," conceded Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon.

"We really need to concentrate on the football. But I have to admit there was a sigh. Three times in three years is very unusual, although it does happen."

Two clubs who have behaved like a pair of playground enemies need to listen to Kenyon. No more chasing referees up the tunnel. No more fights on the touchline. No more insults and accusations of cheating. No more red cards.

Will Jose Mourinho, accused by UEFA of being "an enemy of football", be able to help himself when presented with the opportunity to fire a few verbal broadsides in the direction of Frank Rijkaard? Kenyon assured us last night that he would.

Ronaldinho, who was here to collect yet another award — on this occasion the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year — set an example others should follow. He talked only about the football.

"Chelsea have an impressive squad and their summer signings can't fail to improve them," said the Brazilian.

"Andriy Shevchenko is an impressive forward who gave Barca some serious problems a season ago, and Michael Ballack is a midfield player who would be able to play for any team in Europe. But, evidently, the arrival of two world champions in Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta can only improve us more.

"Eidur Gudjohnsen, who has come from Chelsea, is a player I have always liked."

Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho revealed, has been nicknamed 'The Bear' at Barcelona for his 'physical presence'.

Interesting group

While Mourinho is left to wonder if he now has a stalker in Barcelona as well as Liverpool, Manchester United find themselves in a group that is every bit as interesting.

The meetings with Celtic will grab the headlines but United need to beware of Benfica grabbing the points. It was, after all, a defeat in Lisbon last December that cost Ferguson's side a place in the second round. Ferguson will be determined to make sure history does not repeat itself, even if his relationship with Strachan offers a fascinating sideshow to the main event. "We've got a real thirst for the Champions League this year," said the United boss this week. "We don't want to let people down again."

A victory against Strachan's Celtic would certainly be welcome, especially now that the former midfielder who served under Ferguson at Aberdeen and then United has finally had his say in his autobiography.

Ferguson was scathing about Strachan in his, and Strachan responded by writing: "As much as I admire Fergie for what he has achieved, I have to admit this is offset by the memories of the deterioration in our relationship.

"I needed him to treat me as an adult, not a kid. His behaviour made me think that he looked on my decision to leave Aberdeen as a personal slight.

At team meetings he would say: "Where do you think you're going? Who would want a crap player like you?"

"In November 1986 he joined me at Old Trafford. It was a great move for him and Manchester United, but not, as it turned out, a great move for me."

For Liverpool and Arsenal, it should be more straightforward. A return to Istanbul for the champions of 2005 and three new faces for Arsenal. Never in the Champions League have they met Porto, CSKA Moscow or Hamburg.

United, meanwhile, say they are no closer to signing Owen Hargreaves.

They will, however, remind Bayern Munich of any contact they may have had with Ruud van Nistelrooy earlier this summer if the German club continue to complain about United's tactics in trying to attract their England midfielder.

Another one, possibly, for the UEFA disciplinary committee.

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