Jose Mourinho: Not the Right Fit for Manchester United

This morning, Jose Mourinho was hired as manager of Manchester United. It was a job he spoke about continually after departing Chelsea in 2007, as he hoped to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson upon his retirement. Ferguson chose David Moyes instead, and Mourinho went back to Chelsea, where he had one good year, one great year, and half of last year which ended in a complete disaster. Meanwhile, Manchester United have been far below their historical standards, finishing seventh, fourth and fifth in the past three seasons.

As a Chelsea supporter, I don’t blame Mourinho at all, or hate him, for joining Manchester United. His players revolted on him at Chelsea and Roman Abramovich had no choice but to fire him. The Premier League is one of the most emotional sporting competitions in the world, and clearly the locker room at Chelsea was not behind him. I expressed my disdain for the chief antagonists in that development in my last post and I hope they’re shipped out of London this summer. Anyway, Mourinho isn’t exactly an endearing coach. It’s his way or the highway, and when things are going well, he is the first to bask in the glory. When things aren’t going so well, it quickly falls apart for him. The United board was already hesitant to hire him so I don’t expect him to be on a long leash. He hasn’t exactly had the best relations with boards of directors at his previous clubs.

There are a number of issues in play here. I believe many United fans misunderstood the purpose of Louis Van Gaal’s tenure. Not particularly endearing himself, Van Gaal rarely displayed the type of vigor many United fans wanted to see (but his flop on the touchline was pretty epic). It was his job to transition the team from the disaster that Moyes gave him to a title challenger in three years. The team finished lower in the table this year, and some of his purchases were certainly questionable, but he helped develop many of United’s best players. Marcus Rashford made a splash when Van Gaal put him in the lineup (he scored a goal on his debut for England today), and Van Gaal helped develop Memphis Depay and Daley Blind with United and previously with the Dutch national team. Anthony Martial is arguably the best position player on the team. Van Gaal has a strong record of developing youth and did relatively well with a young team. Jesse Lingard scored the winner for him in the FA Cup final, his final game. Was winning the title ever a realistic goal with the squad he had? Absolutely not. Tactically, United were very boring, and I think that’s why he was ultimately fired. Also, missing out on the Champions League because of the loss at West Ham was a killer.

As for Mourinho… First things first, if Mourinho is allowed to spend at will, United will be a contender, regardless of his antics. Mourinho has a way of getting the best out of players with somewhat obscure personalities – his great relationship with transfer target Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a perfect example, as is the 2014-15 performance of Diego Costa. United finished fifteen points behind Cinderella-side Leicester, their closest finish to the top since Sir Alex left, so it’s not like Mourinho needs to pull some sort of miracle to take them towards the upper echelon. He also has the best goalie in the league in David De Gea. He will need to buy, especially for midfielders and a striker, and if he is allowed to do so, it’s hard to see United struggling again.

However… there are a number of ways Mourinho just doesn’t fit the club:

1. He doesn’t trust youth. Van Gaal has spent the last two years developing players, many through the academy, a United staple. Their golden generations have come through the academy and shined for years as homegrown players. Young players like Marcus Rashford, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Adnan Januzaj are not going to play under Mourinho. He simply doesn’t do it. He will buy more experienced players to replace them. They’ll get a few starts in cup games, but it’s more likely you’ll see them shipped out on loan. Also, the existing side is old. With Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger are all well past their prime, Mourinho will have to spend heavily to get a starting XI that he’s comfortable with.

2. His style is usually boring. United was not exactly an exciting team to watch last year; they finished 10th in scoring, with just one more goal than nearly-relegated Sunderland. David Moyes played a long-ball style which was terrible, and while Van Gaal emphasized possession more, his players were often unable to do much with it. Mourinho plays on the counter. He can have his players play directly and I would expect more goals, but it’s not exactly a Pep Guardiola-esque free-flowing attack. His style was one of the major reasons United hesitated to hire him to begin with. One of his strengths is his tactical genius, but his style will not always, or maybe ever, please supporters.

3. He is overbearing. United has already given Mourinho the final say on all transfers, which definitely will help relations, as they have already accepted this to begin with. It’s not just transfers with him, it’s preparations, warm-ups, even team doctors that he feels he needs to control. As a club, United just don’t have that kind of personality, and when he used this approach at Real Madrid they eventually threw him out.

Mourinho has a lot to prove at United. He has to prove that he hasn’t lost his tactical acumen and that he can manage a big club without annoying everyone within it. I thought a move to a national side would have been more logical for him (he would’ve made a great coach for Portugal), but he has always wanted the United job, so he had to take the opportunity. The squad needs major improvements, and Mourinho will be successful if he is allowed to bring in a number of superstars. He won’t trust youth, and if he is not immediately successful, he will start alienating people at the club. Club legend Ryan Giggs is already on his way out after Mourinho’s appointment. I don’t have a prediction for Manchester United’s season, mostly because summer transfers will shape their potential success. With Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all contending for the title next year, Mourinho has a very difficult job on his hands. I understand why United hired him – he is definitely the best coach available at this point in time. But at first glance, he doesn’t look like the right man for the job.

The Story Behind the Fall of Chelsea FC

As a Chelsea fan, I love Jose Mourinho. I still do. His return to the club was supposed to set up a period of stability for a club that, although successful, has experienced turbulence and a great amount of turnover in personnel.

Well.. not so much. Mourinho’s departure paves the way for yet another interim manager, Guus Hiddink, and yet another period of uncertainty for the club. This time, the interim manager has a legitimate hole to dig out of, as opposed to other managers, whom were simply the next man up when owner Roman Abramovich became impatient.

Chelsea are in 15th place. They are just three points above the relegation zone. The team probably overachieved last year when it won the Premier League, but this is a disgrace. I feel for Mourinho because he tried everything. Perhaps it was the success from last year, the issues with the team doctors, or the poor early results – but what transpired was a swooning spiral into 15th place.

I place a large amount of blame on Cesc Fabregas. It is clear that Fabregas has a problem with Mourinho, and although he was typically matter-of-fact with the press, and publically paid tribute to the manager after his departure, I don’t believe him. He’s lying.

When Mourinho was at Real Madrid, he benched Iker Casillas, the famed Spanish goalkeeper and poster boy of Real Madrid. He benched Casillas because he wasn’t the best goalkeeper on the team. It did not go well. Casillas was visibly upset, and Mourinho eventually left the club. Casillas did as well, because Mourinho was right – Casillas no longer should be starting for a club that is aspiring to win all trophies like Real Madrid. As a club legend, Casillas felt he was owed something, something that was not given to him when Mourinho put him on the bench.

Fabregas was taken off at halftime after a poor showing against West Ham, and subsequently benched against Liverpool. Chelsea lost both games. He was taken off, and benched, because he was playing pathetically and with little effort. If there is one thing Mourinho will not put up with, it's a lack of effort on the defensive side. Rumors started to surface of locker room tensions, and many were tied to Fabregas. He denied them, and although his words were direct, the tone was not. At this point, things at Chelsea started to take a real turn for the worse. More recently, rumors spread that Chelsea team information was leaked before their crucial tie against FC Porto. Guess who was sitting on the bench – Fabregas. Hmm..

It really seems like Fabregas, and the other Spanish players in the squad, decided they’d had enough of Mourinho. Spain won three international tournaments in a row – they did so by playing possession football and playing through the midfield. Mourinho’s style of play could not be more opposite – he demands you cover as a winger, and the general style is counterattacking, not possession. What you have here is a classic case of the players believing they are better than the manager.

Fabregas has been terrible all year. His typically smooth passing has been non-existent, which has rendered him a liability in midfield because he’s never been a good defender. Diego Costa came into training overweight, by his own admission, and has spent more time this season trying to instigate opposing defenders than actually getting around them. Yeah, it was funny when he got Gabriel to bite against Arsenal, but it’s not funny when you’re losing more than half of the games you play because the striker isn’t in the right position. His spoiled demeanor was evident when, although being the last member of the squad to be dropped, he threw his warmup bib at Mourinho after not being played against Tottenham. Costa has scored three goals this season – I don’t think anyone can see the crying as justified.

The two other Spanish members of the squad are different stories. Pedro came over from Barcelona over the summer and he just hasn’t been very good. I don’t question his effort, but his overall play has been poor. I thought he was a good bargain but it just hasn't worked out. It happens. Azpilicueta, on the other hand, has been horrible. The goal he gave up to Riyad Mahrez last Monday was laughable. Yeah, it was a nice move by Mahrez, but if you basically get out of the way of an in-form striker when he shoots from six yards out, what do you think will happen? I’ve always thought Azpilicueta was a hard worker, and that makes his recent lack of effort that much more noticeable. He isn’t trying, and neither are Fabregas and Costa. When three members of an eleven-man team, with one in each line of the formation, aren’t giving their full effort, what you get is a 15th placed team.

It isn’t only on the Spanish players. Eden Hazard has yet to score in the Premier League after legitimate comparisons were made between him and Cristiano Ronaldo last year. I think he just got sick of Mourinho telling him to track back, and when Fabregas started the trouble, he joined in. Hazard’s hip injury exit from Monday’s game in Leicester was dubious – you could tell by Mourinho’s tone that he didn’t really believe him. I doubt he’s really injured. When Mourinho said he was “betrayed” – look no further.

Mourinho is not without blame. Clearly, his style is to be authoritative, and he has a “my way or the highway” personality. In a lot of ways, this is a good characteristic for a football manager, because the squad must believe in the game plan or it will fail. He’s arrogant. He berates officials, managers, players, everyone he can. But who doesn’t? He’s always been in the spotlight because of his straight-shooting philosophy and his great successes. Mourinho is a top manager whether the Chelsea players see it that way or not.  

It’s hard to believe, but this Chelsea squad has too many primadonnas – more than Real Madrid – to succeed under Mourinho. The Spanish players are too arrogant from all of their international successes. Hazard does not want to defend like a winger, only attack. No matter how talented, a disjointed team cannot win a tough league like the Premier League. They can’t even beat a dreadful team like AFC Bournemouth. Although neither could Manchester United..

What should Chelsea do? It’s going to be difficult to attract a top manager before the end of the year, but Guus Hiddink isn’t a bad option for an interim coach. In January, they need to sign a striker who is a poacher – someone who is going to run into the six-yard box and finish from close. They will not get relegated, but a top-four finish is nearly impossible, so the season is lost. If they can somehow gather form by February, PSG awaits in the Champions League. It’s unlikely they will win that matchup – so it’s time to rebuild.

Step 1 – Remove Fabregas, Costa and Azpilicueta from the team. Sell Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.

Step 2 – Find a coach with an established pedigree at a top club, but also one that fits English football. While I would not be upset if Chelsea wound up with Pep Guardiola next year, I don’t think his style really fits the Premier League. Diego Simeone would be a great coach for the team. They need a motivator.

Step 3 – Give the youth players time to play. Once Chelsea are in a safer position in the table, bench all of the above players and play some of the promising youth players, such as Bertrand Traore and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Show the players that they are not bigger than the club, and allow the talented youth to shine on the big stage. 

Jose Mourinho does not have a reputation to rebuild. These players do. Clearly, they will play better after his departure because they decided they were sick of him. In football, it’s much easier to fire one coach versus eleven players. Cesc Fabregas is impossible to root for as a Chelsea fan. He needs to go immediately. The rest of the players – their pride (in Mou’s words) is on the line for the rest of the year – to prove they are the world class players they pretended to be last year. Until some change occurs, the Chelsea players are right where they belong – 15th place.

Weekly Ranks 10/19 - PSG/Real Madrid, Manchester Derby on Deck

Rankings

1. Bayern Munich
2. Barcelona
3. Real Madrid
4. Paris Saint-Germain
5. Manchester City
6. Atletico Madrid
7. Borussia Dortmund
8. Juventus
9. Chelsea
10. Arsenal
11. AS Roma
12. Manchester United
13. Zenit St. Petersburg
14. FC Porto
15. Benfica
16. Vfl Wolfsburg
17. Celta Vigo
18. Napoli
19. Fiorentina
20. CSKA Moscow

Out: Villarreal

In: Napoli

News:

Bayern Munich made it nine-for-nine in the Bundesliga to maintain a seven-point lead over Dortmund. Bayern has a ridiculous +25 goal differential.. Barcelona got back on track with a 5-2 win over Rayo. Neymar isn't quite Robert Lewandowski, but did manage four goals on Sunday. He's doing his best to replace Messi, and I don't think Barca will fall off too much without the world's best player.. Celta Vigo maintained their surge, now second in La Liga after picking up a win at previous leaders Villarreal.  They are now joint top with Real Madrid and Barcelona. I'm not a believer quite yet. Real might not be as flashy of a team this year, but defensively, Rafa has the team in top form. They've conceded just two goals over eight games in a league that averaged 2.66 per game last year, second highest in the top-five leagues.. All four English teams in the rankings recorded wins last weekend, with Manchester United most impressive in a dominating win at Everton. The other three sides played very weak opposition, and each won easily. The Premier League is shaping up to be a bit more lopsided than usual this year.. Napoli joins the rankings after defeating Serie A leaders Fiorentina 2-1, cutting the gap between the two sides to three points. That's four wins out of five in the league for Napoli, who have recorded two additional wins the Europa League over that span.. Juventus looked better against Inter but could not defeat their rivals, drawing 0-0. I'm still waiting for Juve to turn it around, and there's still plenty of time. Maybe success in Europe will get the team going.. The Portuguese league was off this week.

Games to Watch:

Tuesday: Champions League action features Arsenal hosting Bayern Munich and Dynamo Kiev welcoming Chelsea. Arsenal dropped their first two contests and now face the unenviable task of defeating the German side to try and kick-start their European campaign. Bayern haven't lost since the Super Cup against Wolfsburg in August. They've also won their last two trips to the Emirates, 2-0 and 3-1, during first-leg matches in the Champions League. It's hard to see Arsenal breathing life into their hopes of progressing. Chelsea hardly proved they were back on Saturday despite a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, and face a long trip to Ukraine to face current Group G leaders Dynamo. Dynamo were just beaten 3-0 against arch-rivals Shakhtar, who jumped them into first in the Ukrainian Premier League. It's hard to predict what Chelsea team will show up in Kiev, and a loss would be very damaging for their chances of progression. With Eden Hazard likely returning to the side, I expect a strong performance from the Blues in Ukraine. 

Wednesday: A true titanic matchup in Group A takes place, with PSG hosting Real Madrid, and Real one goal ahead of their hosts through two games. Real have been superb defensively and will be a stern test for PSG, who have been rolling through Ligue 1. This is a statement game for the French side – they are not tested in the league very often and have spent the money to be among Europe's elite. Despite the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic being on display, I expect a tight, low-scoring game in Paris, with a slight edge to the home side. CSKA Moscow take on Manchester United with all four teams in Group B recording a win and loss in their first two games. All four are even in goal difference as well. Moscow is the site of United's 2008 Champions League triumph, and they won their last visit in 2009, defeating CSKA 1-0. It should be a good contest with a lot of goals – CSKA are leading the Russian Premier League and can keep up with United's pace. A win for United would put them in pole position to progress.

Saturday: League action is highlighted by Celta Vigo – Real Madrid. After defeating Barcelona 4-1 earlier this season, Celta could make a serious statement to the rest of the league by getting a positive result against Real. Real's goal differential is a bit inflated after a two-game stretch where they recorded 11 goals, but Ronaldo is still maintaining a healthy scoring pace. Celta would deserve a place in the top fifteen with a victory, while Real could close what has been a growing gap between Bayern Munich and the rest of the continent. It's hard to trust Celta with so few games played, but I expect them to give Real some issues.

Sunday: The top two sides in the Premier League clash in Manchester - United get the first shot at City at Old Trafford.  United halted a three-game home losing streak against City with a resounding 4-2 win last season. City have won four of six overall against United and lead them by two points. The Manchester derbies have been must-watch games over the last few seasons, and with both sides near the top of the league again, it should be another classic matchup. Wilfried Bony did a good job last week replacing Sergio Aguero, and City's title challenge this season could depend on his ability to produce until he returns. City are the better team overall, but you never know in these sort of games. Complete toss-up.

Weekly Ranks 10/5 - Bayern Jumps Barcelona, English Sides Struggle

Rankings

1. Bayern Munich
2. Barcelona
3. Real Madrid
4. Paris Saint-Germain
5. Manchester City
6. Juventus
7. Atletico Madrid
8. Borussia Dortmund
9. Zenit St. Petersburg
10. Chelsea
11. Arsenal
12. AS Roma
13. Manchester United
14. FC Porto
15. Benfica
16. Fiorentina
17. Vfl Wolfsburg
18. Villarreal
19. Celta Vigo
20. CSKA Moscow

Out: Bayer Leverkusen

In: CSKA Moscow

News:

Bayern Munich tops the rankings after their 5-1 drubbing of Dortmund. Bayern were ruthless on Sunday, scoring their five goals within a forty-minute time period. It seems to come in fives for the German sides now-a-days. Both Bayern and PSG will run away with their respective leagues – the question is, will the lack of legitimate competition derail performance in the Champions League, or will it allow star players some much needed rest? Bayern were beaten easily by Barcelona in last year’s semifinal after winning a weak Bundesliga, a year after they were crushed by Real Madrid at the same stage. Bayern's transfer policy, which has substantially weakened their opponents, seems to be backfiring in Europe.. Fiorentina is sitting on top of Serie A, and has scored thirteen goals to just one against in their last four matches, all wins. They’ve built up a ten-point lead over struggling Juventus, and must be considered legitimate contenders. Juve picked up two wins this week, and will surely begin to close the gap sooner rather than later.. Manchester City were the only English side to pick up two wins this week, slipping by Borussia Monchengladbach before destroying Newcastle. City can go as far as Sergio Aguero will take them.. It was another week of disaster for Chelsea, as two listless performances against Porto and Southampton has Jose Mourinho talking about his job prospects. I don’t believe Chelsea will fire Mourinho, but something needs to change, fast. The performances are getting worse and the defense is routinely out of position, giving away easy goals. A loss to Aston Villa after the break could spell big trouble for the Blues.. Arsenal and Manchester United had mixed weeks. Arsenal suffered a devastating loss against Greek champions Olympiakos, which practically ends their Champions League hopes, but bounced back with a 3-0 win over United. The Reds picked up a solid win over Wolfsburg on Wednesday before collapsing in the aforementioned defeat. It’s simply more of the same; United have yet to establish any consistency, while Arsenal are just the same old Arsenal. These sides wouldn’t be considered contenders if Chelsea weren’t in miserable form. It’s Manchester City’s title to lose.. I want to give some love to Andre Villas-Boas and Zenit. The club has navigated around AVB’s six-game domestic suspension to go top of Group H. Their domestic form is improving, but CSKA lead the pack with nine wins and two losses in eleven matches. AVB will be leaving Zenit at the end of the season, and while his tenure in Russia has had some curious moments, he has certainly earned himself another chance at a big club.. It was a good week for the Portuguese sides, as Porto and Benfica produced three wins from three. Benfica’s win in Madrid over Atletico was most impressive, albeit Atletico were preparing for a Madrid derby on the weekend. Porto’s win over Chelsea was analyzed particularly for Chelsea’s poor form, but Porto deserves a ton of credit. They attacked Chelsea with pace and were able to win the ball back quickly in midfield. Executing that type of football could take Porto a long way this season; they seem due for a run, don’t they?

Games to Watch:

Thursday: Euro 2016 qualifying matches will be taking place and there are just two matches left for many teams. Two interesting affairs, which happen to be in the same group, are Ireland – Germany and Scotland – Poland. The current standings in Group D are Germany with 19 points, Poland with 17, Ireland with 15 and Scotland with 11. However, Scotland’s last game is against Gibraltar, so barring what would perhaps be the biggest upset in qualifying history, Scotland will gain an additional three points, giving them 14. Despite playing the current world champions, the pressure is squarely on Ireland, as a loss would make their trip to Poland on Monday a must-win, unless the Poles can help them out by defeating Scotland. These four sides are all pretty good (obviously the Germans are world class) and usually light up the scoreboard, so the magnitude of these matches make them all the more compelling.

Keep an eye on Albania – Serbia as well. The first fixture was abandoned in Serbia after a pro-Albanian flag was attached to a drone and flown above the field during the match. The flag was eventually pulled down by a Serbian player, sparking a melee. The game was awarded as a 3-0 win to Albania, and Serbia were deducted a further three points due to the incident, which was yet another chapter is a series of worrying race and discrimination issues with Serbian fans. Albania have already qualified for the playoffs, and could secure an automatic place in Euro 2016 with wins over Serbia and Armenia, while Serbia are dead last and eliminated. It’s quite sad with Serbia, as there a number of household names on the team, but their fans continue to commit various hooligan crimes, both abroad and at home. It has undoubtedly affected the performance of the team, which has failed to build on their 2010 World Cup qualification.

Friday: 2018 World Cup qualifiers? Already? Qualifying begins in CONMEBOL, the football federation of South America, and Chile – Brazil is the highlighted matchup. Chile won the Copa America on home turf, sealing their first ever title. There isn’t much new with Brazil – they have begun to wash away last summer’s disaster, but their Copa America quarterfinal loss to a mediocre Paraguay side wasn’t nearly enough. I expect Chile to keep on rolling here.

Saturday: More European qualifiers, as Czech Republic – Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina – Wales highlight the slate. The Czechs, along with Iceland, have already qualified from Group A, while Turkey leads the Netherlands by two points for third. Four points from the two remaining games will send Turkey to the playoffs, which would mark a shocking collapse for the heralded Dutch side. Both sides play Iceland and the Netherlands face off against Kazakhstan on Saturday. It’s all on the line for Bosnia, as they must defeat group leaders Wales to have any chance of qualifying. They currently trail Israel by two points for third place. After qualifying for the World Cup for the first time as an independent nation, Bosnia has struggled badly in Group B, losing matches to Israel and Cyprus. Like the Dutch, they would be noticeable absentees if they don’t qualify for the final tournament.

Sunday: Thursday’s matches will determine the ultimate significance of Poland – Ireland but it will have meaning regardless of the results. If the Poles and Irish are able to secure their places with wins on Thursday, the match will determine which side goes through automatically versus through the playoffs. If Scotland defeats Poland on Thursday, the match will be for survival. These are two good sides so it should be an entertaining affair, especially with the form that Robert Lewandowski has been displaying for Bayern.

Monday: It could be a testy affair between Russia and Montenegro for each team’s final qualifying match. The Russians are currently in second place with Montenegro fourth. Sweden is in third, one point ahead of Montenegro, but face minnows Liechtenstein and Moldova in their final two matches. Montenegro could easily be eliminated by kickoff, and even if they remain three points behind Russia, they will need to win by four goals to go through. I’m highlighting the match because like Serbia and Albania, the first match was abandoned due to crowd trouble, and Russia was awarded a 3-0 win. The pressure will be cranked up further if the Swedes or Russians trip up on Friday, but things have to break perfectly for the Montenegrins.

Weekly Ranks 9/28 - Barcelona On Top, Bayern Close Behind

Rankings

1. Barcelona
2. Bayern Munich
3. Real Madrid
4. Paris Saint-Germain
5. Manchester City
6. Juventus
7. Chelsea
8. Borussia Dortmund
9. Atletico Madrid
10. AS Roma
11. Vfl Wolfsburg
12. Arsenal
13. Zenit St. Petersburg
14. Manchester United
15. FC Porto
16. Bayer Leverkusen
17. Villarreal
18. Benfica
19. Fiorentina
20. Celta Vigo

News:

Barcelona tops the rankings, despite a shocking 4-1 loss at Celta Vigo and the loss of Lionel Messi against Las Palmas. Both should serve as more of a wake-up call than a warning sign. The Catalan side still has the most potent attack in the world, despite just eleven goals in six games. Rivals Real Madrid have conceded just once thus far this season. Expect lower-scoring Classicos this year.. Robert Lewandowski’s five-goal tally in nine minutes against Wolfsburg was incredible. Bayern must be happy they went through all of that trouble to get him. Atop the league, Guardiola’s men will face few challenges domestically this season.. Meanwhile, Dortmund have gotten off to a hot start in the Bundesliga, with new coach Thomas Tuchel off to a bright beginning after replacing Jurgen Klopp. Tuchel didn’t change much tactically or within the squad, but did add some extra pace by acquiring Adnan Januzaj on loan. Dortmund’s sixth place finish last season is still baffling.. Manchester City has cooled off after a hot start, and Chelsea can’t seem to get going this season. The Sky Blues are the favorites to win the league, but they still have many of the same issues as prior years. With Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala out, City were all over the place defensively in a 4-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.. Chelsea is just playing too slowly. They have been unable to break on the counter and use the pace of their forwards. Their poor defensive record stands out, but it has been a myriad of mistakes rather than sustained poor play that has cost them goals. Expect things to improve, but not greatly until Thibaut Courtois returns.. This should be PSG’s year to shine. Off to a hot start in Ligue 1, expectations are high for the Parisians in Europe. This could finally be their year.. Manchester United are top of the Premier League, but the odds of a season-long run at the title are still long. Anthony Martial is off to a firing start, and things are certainly coming together for the Reds, but I would not consider them to be contenders until next term. Performances are still too uneven, but this team is capable of beating anyone. The consistency will come.. Villarreal and Celta Vigo are off to good starts in La Liga, with Villarreal top of the league after six matches. While neither side can be expected to sustain a run at the top three, the clubs notched victories over Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. La Liga is the best league in the world right now, and if some balance finally begins to occur in the table, it will make the league even better.. Juventus, like Chelsea, has lost three of its first six games after losing just three last year. They sit 15th in the table, ten points behind Fiorentina after the Viola notched an impressive 4-1 win over Inter in Milan. Juventus’s dominance of Serie A gives them an easier chance at a fight back than the Blues have in the Premier League, but their 1-1 home draw against newcomers Frosinone was particularly poor. Injuries have played a part but Juve need to press their foot on the gas soon.. FC Porto took the early edge in the Portuguese Liga by defeating Benfica 1-0 last weekend. Benfica has won the league each of the past two seasons, and this season figures to be another tight race between the two archrivals.

Games to Watch:

Tuesday: Eight Champions League matches take place, but keep an eye on FC Porto – Chelsea and Arsenal – Olympiacos. Jose Mourinho visits the club where he won his first Champions League title, and Porto should provide a stiff test for a Chelsea side still trying to find their form. I’m expecting a draw, as Mourinho is typically conservative in road European matches and a draw would be just fine for the Blues as Porto drew their first match. However, Diego Costa will be ready to go – his three-game ban is only for domestic matches. Arsenal and Olympiacos each lost their first match, but in contrasting circumstances. The Greeks lost a relatively tight match to Bayern 3-0, and although the score line is not favorable, two of Bayern’s goals came in the final minutes. However, Olympiacos created little going forward and will need to push the tempo in London, as Arsenal have defended well when they have eleven players on the field. In Zagreb, that was not the case, as Olivier Giroud was needlessly sent off in the first half, and Arsenal fell to an embarrassing defeat in Croatia. This is certainly a must-win for the Gunners. The home side has won each of the last six matches between the two sides, and I expect that trend to continue.

Wednesday: Eight more Champions League matches, and there are two more that stand out: Juventus – Sevilla and Manchester United – Wolfsburg. Although, I wouldn’t mind watching Atletico take on Benfica in an Iberian battle, either. Both Juve and Sevilla won their first match, but are struggling badly in their domestic leagues. It is most surprising to see Juventus struggling, as they have dominated Serie A and kept hold of their most prized asset, Paul Pogba, this summer. Sevilla finally won their first match of the season on Saturday and picked up a solid 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Matchday 1. I expect Juve to win this game, but it should be an entertaining affair for the neutrals. Manchester United are top of the league but coming off a surprising 2-1 defeat in Eindhoven against PSV. Wolfsburg, my pick to win the group, defeated CSKA in their first match. German teams usually travel well, and Wolfsburg has a number of talented players, including German internationals Andre Schurrle and Julian Draxler. United should take this game, as it is essentially a must-win, but it should be very exciting with a number of goals.

Thursday: 24 Europa League games are on the slate – most interesting are Monaco – Tottenham and Celtic – Fenerbahce. Monaco and Spurs are two of the best teams in the competition, and while we likely won’t see their best sides on the field, it should still be an entertaining affair. Celtic and Fenerbahce faceoff at what is an always electric scene, Celtic Park. Celtic’s glory days are well behind them, but there is always a spirit about the Bhoys at home, and the crowd always creates an impressive atmosphere on European nights. Fener are finally past the match-fixing scandal that has plagued the club since 2011, and after missing European football the past two seasons, the Turkish side are looking to improve after a surprising 3-1 loss to Molde. Group A is probably the best group in this year’s Europa League – the fourth team is Ajax, another team with a proud history.  

Saturday: I will be watching Chelsea take on Southampton, but the only matchup between top sides is Sevilla – Barcelona. As mentioned, Sevilla have struggled in the league but they should be up for the challenge of playing the Catalan side. Expect the fireworks to be going off in Seville, although the absence of Lionel Messi will dampen the hype.

Sunday: The slate is nothing short of incredible – if you’re not an NFL fan (or a fan of say, the Saints, or the Bears) there’s an entire day’s worth of matches. Everton – Liverpool, Arsenal – Manchester United, Atletico Madrid – Real Madrid, Bayern Munich – Borussia Dortmund, PSG – Marseille, and AC Milan – Napoli highlight a jam-packed schedule. The Merseyside derby is always a testy affair, and the pressure has been building for Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool. An improving Everton side could be exactly what gets them going – or the final nail in the coffin for Rodgers. The Madrid derby has been very tight over the last few seasons, and Diego Simeone’s side will be looking to inflict a first defeat of the season on Real. Unsurprisingly, Real have been much more efficient at the back but far less potent going forward under Rafa Benitez. Expect physical play to persist throughout the game. Bayern sit four points ahead of Dortmund entering the match, with the former already twenty goals to the good with seven wins from seven. Bayern are far ahead of their rivals nowadays, but Dortmund always gives them a good game. The tension between the two clubs regarding transfer policy has made these matches a must-watch.  

UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Preview, Predictions

Group A

Atletico showed in the Spanish Super Cup that despite losing a number of players over the summer transfer window, they were going to continue to play at an elite level. Mario Mandzukic was a huge signing, and one that flew completely under the radar in a summer where James Rodriguez, Angel Di Maria and Falcao dominated headlines. Mandzukic is a great player and fits well into Diego Simeone’s team with both power and pace. The signing of Antoine Griezmann was also critical – he really shined at Real Sociedad and they only had to pay around 30 million Euros for the 23-year old. Atletico is the strongest team in this group, and I expect them to build upon the success they had last year.

Juventus is a bit of a mystery to me. They were terrible last year in a group that they should have progressed from, losing out to Galatasaray 1-0 on the final match day. Keeping Arturo Vidal was essential for the team, and on paper, this team is one of the best in Europe. I’m only skeptical because of how weak the Italian league has become over the last five years, along with their poor performance last year. Coach Antonio Conte has also moved on to coach the Italian national team. Juventus shouldn’t have to sweat this group out like last year, but they must prove themselves at this stage if they want to set up a long run.

Olympiakos and Malmo round out the group of four domestic champions – Olympiakos easily captured another Greek title, while Malmo captured their first championship since 2010, beating AIK by five points. Olympiakos have consistently mixed in around second and third place in the group stage and this year should be no different. I don’t think they will make it through because of how good Atletico and Juventus are, and the sale of Kostas Manolas to Roma leaves a huge whole in the center of the Greeks’ defense. They will compete, surely, but going through will be difficult. Malmo are making their maiden appearance in the Champions League and are the first Swedish team to qualify since AIK in 1999. I don’t give Malmo any type of minnows’ chance here – they do have former Werder Bremen star Markus Rosenberg leading their ranks – but anything more than a point or two would be surprising for the Swedes.

  

      1)      Atletico Madrid

      2)      Juventus

      3)      Olympiakos

      4)      Malmo FF

Group B

The holders of the trophy are recreating history. Unfortunately, it’s the part of their history that was coupled with internal tension and a lack of success. After Jose Mourinho built a team in Madrid, and Carlo Ancelotti pushed the right tactical buttons, Real Madrid won the Champions League in a thrilling final against city rivals Atletico. Instead of continuing this route of success, Real have gone back to their galacticos days, selling Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria, two of the most important pieces of last year’s team, while buying James Rodriguez for an exorbitant fee, even though he doesn’t fit in tactically. Real isn’t just a footballing club, it’s a worldwide showpiece; James was surely bought not only for his ability, but for his attraction in the World Cup, allowing Madrid to increase their shirt sales and brand exposure. I get that move, but I don’t get the sale of Alonso. Toni Kroos was brought in to presumably play the same position, but why sell one of the players who has been at the center of the club’s success? Real should win this group and will navigate through sides who are not up to this level, but I think they will have trouble against Liverpool and the better teams later in the competition, when the side staring across from them knows how to play as a team. They are a mess right now and Ancelotti has very little time to right the ship.

Liverpool have completed their recovery and are finally back in the Champions League. Luis Suarez’s sale to Barcelona leaves a hole in the front that Mario Balotelli could fill, but only time will tell. I don’t like the purchase of Balotelli. He was cheap, and he is a gamble, but Liverpool have a sense of pride and club unity that Balotelli will never have in his career. He could be a great success for the Reds, and his talent is right there with the top strikers in the world. Mario has never proven he can showcase that ability on a consistent basis, or without the occasional moment of madness. Liverpool has a good team but a shaky defense, and until that defense improves, they will be a step below the top. They should find their way through but it will be tight.

Basel defeated Chelsea home and away last season, and will look for similar success this year in a group where they will have to face two huge clubs. Basel has defeated Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich in recent years, and it would be no shock to me if they are able to beat Real or Liverpool at least once. They are just a little below the grade in this group, and while I could see them advancing, I think they will come up just a bit short. Ludogorets join Malmo in making their first appearance in the Champions League group stage, and the Bulgarians will have trouble competing. The three other sides in this group move the ball at a very quick pace, something Ludogorets will have trouble adjusting to. The long trip could pose a problem, but they will have a difficult time scraping together any points in this group. 

     1)      Real Madrid

     2)      Liverpool

     3)      FC Basel

     4)      Ludogorets Razgrad

Group C

Group C is for Group Crapshoot. All four teams in this group are at around the same level – surprising given the way groups are drawn but also because not one of these teams really stands out. It would have been all the more interesting if either Falcao or James Rodriguez had stayed at Monaco, who now clearly look the weakest of this group. It has been a real struggle in Europe for French sides in recent years. France gets two teams automatically into the group stage, while the third placed team goes into the third qualifying round; the third qualifier was knocked out last year and this year, while teams not named PSG have compiled just one win in eighteen group games during the past two tournaments (Lille defeated BATE Borisov in a virtually meaningless game). Marseille laid down the old six-losses-from-six goose egg last year. Yikes. Needless to say, my hopes are not high for Monaco and it looks like there will be more pain for French sides in Europe. 

As for the rest of the group, it’s anyone’s guess. Benfica are mainstays in this competition but have failed to make a deep run, or truly showcase themselves as a major power. They deserve respect and look to be the best team in the group, but they are a level below many of the other Pot 1 sides. Bayer Leverkusen have started strongly this year, but I’m skeptical of any German side other than the top two teams, Bayern and Dortmund. Bayer won at Dortmund to start the Bundesliga season, so maybe they will establish themselves, but I would like to see a sustained string of results. The addition of Swiss forward Josip Drmic could allow Bayer to compete with the top two German sides. Andre Villas Boas’s Zenit are off to a perfect start in the Russian Premier League, winning all six of their games. They were much better against Standard Liege in the playoff round than against AEL in the prior round, so the Russian side could be a surprise candidate to win the group. I think the side will boom or bust, and given their erratic performances in the Champions League, I’m going to go against them here. Hulk’s absence until October will lose them a bit of attacking edge in their opening games, which could cost them crucial points. In general, Benfica, Bayer and Zenit could finish in any order and it wouldn’t surprise me. 

     1)      Benfica

     2)      Bayer Leverkusen

     3)      Zenit St. Petersburg

     4)      AS Monaco

Group D

Dortmund topped Group F last year, finishing above Arsenal and Napoli, with all three clubs tied on twelve points. The two sides split their meetings last year, with each side winning away from home. Despite having two of their best players vultured by Bayern, Dortmund have a very strong lineup and a number of dynamic attacking players. Marco Reus has attracted plenty of interest across Europe, but he will be out for a month following his injury in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Scotland. This injury gives Arsenal a slight edge over the Germans in Group D. Arsenal have attacking problems of their own with main striker Olivier Giroud out for three months, and backup Yaya Sanogo unable to find the net. However, the Gunners picked up Danny Welbeck on deadline day, and although I don’t think Welbeck can lead Arsenal back to the ranks of the elite, he is a much needed purchase to compliment Alexis Sanchez. I liked Arsenal’s purchases for the most part, despite some of them being more of the best-player-available versus the player-we-need variety. Dortmund was able to edge the Londoners to top spot last year, forcing them to play Bayern Munich while their counterparts took on Zenit. Look for Arsenal to flip roles with Dortmund, with both going through. 

Galatasaray edged through last year’s group stage with a matchday 6 win over Juventus, but never really challenged Chelsea in the last sixteen. They have struggled away from home, losing three out of four matches last season. The departure of Didier Drogba doesn’t affect the team too much, but as Gala is matched up against two superior sides like Arsenal and Dortmund, they could have used the extra experience. It’s never easy travelling to Istanbul – Arsenal was lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw against Besiktas in the playoff round – but Gala face long odds to advance from this group. Anderlecht’s are far longer. The club has frequently entered the competition but rarely made any sort of impact. They came in last in their group during the past two competitions, and it’s hard to see that result not repeating itself. Anderlecht has developed a number of stars, including Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, but have few top-quality players in their squad. Anything above last place would be surprising. 

     1)      Arsenal

     2)      Borussia Dortmund

     3)      Galatasaray

     4)      Anderlecht

Group E

Similar to Group C, except on a much higher level, Group E features three sides who will competing for the top two spots to advance, while the third should wind up in the Europa League. Bayern Munich are facing some questions after their disappointing end to last season, as well as injuries to top players Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez. The German club brought in Xabi Alonso and Mehdi Benatia as cover, and the signing of Robert Lewandowski provides a different dynamic than former lead man Mario Mandzukic. It is a different Bayern team – I don’t know if it’s better. It’s certainly one of the best teams in the world, but Pep Guardiola will need to mold this team into the dominant one that started last season, or face pressure from Bayern’s rogue board. 

As I mentioned in Group A, the Italian league has suffered over the last few years, especially since losing its fourth Champions League spot to Germany. Roma had some down years but are back in Europe after finishing second in Serie A. They could be a dark horse in this group – Rudi Garcia’s men are an interesting mix of youth and experience. I don’t expect them to make it through on their first trip back, but things should be very tight between the Giallorossi and Manchester City. City are undoubtedly a European powerhouse, making their first trip to the knockout stage last year, where they were defeated by Barcelona. This team has had its issues in Europe, but they scored eleven goals in four games against Bayern and CSKA last year, winning three of the four. It’s defensive problems that have plagued City throughout their recent years, and this group is no short of attacking play. I like City to make it over Roma on their greater European experience, but none of these games will be easy. 

Well, CSKA fans must have joked about this draw and been absolutely horrified when it came out. CSKA allowed thirteen goals in their four matches against City and Bayern last season, losing every one. This is by no means a bad team – they have a number of very capable players, such as Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa and Ivory Coast’s Seydou Doumbia. Their draw is far too mighty for them, so CSKA’s chances are dim at best. 

     1)      Bayern Munich

     2)      Manchester City

     3)      AS Roma

     4)      CSKA Moscow

Group F

Two of the world’s heavyweights collide in Group F, and the group could go either way. PSG and Barcelona met two years ago in the knockout round and Barcelona clawed through on away goals. PSG faltered at the quarterfinal stage last year against a Chelsea team that they were better than, and they will look upon that experience this year to push them further. This could be one of the last times Zlatan Ibrahimovic gets to try and capture that elusive Champions League title to couple all of his domestic wins. PSG didn’t do themselves any favors in the transfer window, spending way too much money on the erratic David Luiz and not bolstering either of their wing back positions. However, I think they win the group because they have a stronger midfield than Barcelona. The Catalans will score tons of goals, especially when Luis Suarez enters the fray, and Lionel Messi looks revitalized after he looked somewhat bored at the end of last season. Rumors about Messi saving himself for the World Cup were true, as he was stellar in Brazil and is off to a good start in La Liga. They will be devastating up top, but I want to see how their midfield performs.

Ajax always seem to get an impossible draw and this year is no different. They have a much better team than their performances in Europe would suggest, but what really matters is the results. It will be very difficult for Ajax to go through, though they have had success against Barcelona. APOEL is one of my favorite minnows, having reached the quarterfinals two years ago after winning their group. They are probably the strongest team to advance from the “Champions” channel of the playoff round and have considerable European experience. However, this challenge is greater than what they would have envisioned, and while I expect APOEL to keep things tight in the back, points will be hard to come by. The deadline day purchase of former Liverpool and AS Roma left-back John Arne Riise gives them an unexpected boost in class and makes the side more intriguing from an upset standpoint. A last place finish seems the most likely, but I hardly expect any embarrassments from the Cypriots. 

     1)      Paris Saint-Germain

     2)      Barcelona

     3)      Ajax

     4)      APOEL

Group G

Group G is for Group Gift - this group was a gift for Chelsea. There are few scenarios, if any, where it could have turned out better, as they drew one of the weakest teams from each pot and also don’t have to travel very far. Chelsea destroyed Schalke last season, winning 3-0 home and away, en route to winning Group E. The Blues have a better team than last year and if Diego Costa can stay healthy, they will make a long run in this competition. The addition of Loic Remy gives him a solid cover, while the unloading of Fernando Torres allowed the forward position to start anew in the side. Costa and Remy have put up eight goals in Chelsea's first four Premier League games and in a weak group, Chelsea could score a lot of goals. It would be a major surprise to see Chelsea not top this group, as would fewer than four wins. 

Schalke are very average for me. I’ve talked before about my feelings towards Bayern Munich and the way they have eaten up the competition in the Bundesliga, and Schalke is not even close to the level they were on a few years ago. They have plenty of good players, but finished a distant third in the Bundesliga last year, and were demolished by Chelsea in the group stage and 9-2 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the knockout round. Ugh. Players like Julian Draxler and Benedikt Howedes return with World Cup Winners’ medals, and maybe that could help spark this team back to a higher level. For now, I see them going through, but just barely. 

Sporting broke the 1-2 dominance Porto and Benfica enjoyed in the Portuguese Liga, finishing second behind their Lisbon rivals last season. My last memory of them in the competition was a record 12-1 aggregate spanking that Bayern Munich handed them in the knockout stage. Sporting are an unknown at this point and could surprise, especially with how vulnerable Schalke and Maribor are. I gave the edge to Schalke based on experience, but Sporting should be right there with them. Teams that are as young as Sporting do not often get very far, but they should keep things interesting. Maribor won the Slovenian league and make their second appearance in the group stage. Maribor is a proud club with a successful history in Slovenia, but it hasn’t translated to Europe. I see them stealing a point or two off of Sporting or Schalke, but it’s difficult to see them posing any major threat to the other three sides in this group. 

     1)      Chelsea

     2)      Schalke

     3)      Sporting CP

     4)      Maribor

Group H

Athletic defeated Napoli in a playoff to reach the group stage, and it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise. Spain and Italy have been on a straight path in opposite directions over the past few years, with Spanish teams performing exceptionally in Europe while Italian teams have repeatedly faltered. Athletic bring a free-flowing passing game to the competition, and while I’m wary of their lack of European experience, they look like the best team in this group. They don’t resemble Real Sociedad’s side from last year that crashed out in the group. 

Porto really struggled last year. They scored just four goals in six games in a very weak group, finishing level on points with Austria Vienna. That was certainly not what they had in mind, and reinforcements were brought in this summer to strengthen the attacking play. Adrian Lopez should have a positive effect following his move from Atletico, and Porto will be hoping Yacine Brahimi can continue playing at the level he displayed during the World Cup. I think they will improve greatly and should find their way into the next round. 

BATE have reached the group stage for the third time in five years, sweeping aside Slovan Bratislava in the playoff round. They defeated Bayern and Lille in their last campaign, finishing third and garnering some good reviews. Many of BATE’s players have played for the club for years and are also members of the Belorussian national team, so there is a chemistry about the side. They are lacking in flair, but BATE could cause problems for teams in this group. I’m picking Shakhtar last in this group because I don’t know how they will play while their home arena is being shelled by military forces. They have struggled at this stage before, and their title success was less dominant than years past. They also came in third in a very weak group last year. They have the talent to go through from this group, but it’s going to be hard with the political situation hanging over their heads. 

     1)      Athletic Bilbao

     2)      FC Porto

     3)      BATE Borisov

     4)      Shakhtar Donetsk