Arsenal were humbled but not disgraced. To be beaten 5-1 is one thing; to be on the wrong end of that score when it is inflicted by a superb team at the peak of their powers is quite another.
Bayern Munich were a joy to watch. Pep Guardiola has rebuilt his Barcelona — yes, the two-time European champions of style — in Bavaria.
Just as Arsene Wenger once tore up the tradition of Arsenal, substituting victory through beauty for the obverse as laid down by Herbert Chapman and followed by Bertie Mee and George Graham, the ways Guardiola experienced under Johan Cruyff have been imposed on Teutonic territory.
There will have been plenty of supporters of Premier League clubs, Arsenal no doubt included, drooling over this performance and fantasising that Guardiola is to be their next manager, so he can build his Catalan Jerusalem in their part of England’s green and pleasant land.
Player Ratings: Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
According to Sir Alex Ferguson’s oddly limp account, he tried on Manchester United’s behalf but was never called back. Manchester City, with the former Barcelona executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, are considered favourites, while Roman Abramovich is said to have offered Guardiola the Chelsea job before re-engaging Jose Mourinho.
Speaking of whom…everyone who wishes the Special One well was delighted to hear the support he received at Stamford Bridge before and after Willian struck the winner against Dynamo Kiev. But both the team display — decent, no more — and press conference suggested the crisis may not be quite over. He spoke of “my moment…a moment where you [the media] are asking for my ‘end’…the fans read newspapers, they watch TV…listen to pundits, commentators, opinions…today they tried to say ‘let him work, we want him’.”
All true, especially from Mourinho’s perspective. But it is a key element of good management — and Ferguson excelled at it — to be ego-driven without betraying this weakness to the dressing room. Mourinho, who has everything else, lacks it.
