The end nears for Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti wore the look of a beaten man on the sidelines at Stanford Bridge on Saturday. Despite Roman Abramovich blitzing the January transfer window with the €75m capture of Fernando Torres and David Luiz, Chelsea’s form has yet to pick up.
Against Everton they were flat despite taking a single goal lead in extra-time and there was an air of inevitability once Leighton Baines gracefully stroked home an equalising free-kick to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out. That was the seventh penalty shoot-out they have lost in a row and Nicolas Anelka’s “effort” has perhaps best encapsulated Chelsea’s since the start of December.
Super Hooper settles Old Firm
In a saga that will have as many parts as Harry Potter, it was Gary Hooper who provided the magic as Celtic comfortably beat Rangers 3-0 at Celtic Park yesterday. Hooper’s first goal deserves special mention for the deftest of touches that brutally exposed David Weir’s lack of pace.
His commitment and application in scoring the second was very impressive and he is the proof that for all of Neil Lennon’s bombast on the sidelines, he is developing into a fine manager for Celtic.
Bayern and Van Gaal face crucial week
The easiest part of a vital week for Bayern Munich was safely negotiated when they dispatched Mainz 3-1. Bayern face a mammoth champions league last-16 tie with Inter Milan starting with the first leg on Wednesday night. They then face leaders Broussia Dortmund at the weekend.
Lying 13 points behind Dortmund, Bayern have zero room for error. Van Gaal said after winning against Mainz that they were not focused on Dortmund but should they fail to win then any hope of retaining the championship will vanish.
One thing that will help Bayern in the coming days is the continuing fitness of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. When those two are in situ Bayern are a match for anybody. Win against Dortmund and the presumptive champions may wobble. Lose and Van Gaal could be facing some uncomfortable questions.
Inter roll on, but questions remain
There can be no doubting the impact that Leonardo has had having taking over the Inter Milan job from Rafael Benitez. The Brazilian has nine wins from 11 games to his credit and their hard-fought one nil win at home to Calgari ensured that they kept pace with city rivals AC on top of Serie A.
But Inter are still far from the all conquering force they were last season particularly defensively where pace, particularly from wide areas seriously upsets them. Wesley Sneijder was not in the squad for the Calgari game and remains a slight doubt for the first leg clash with Bayern on Wednesday. Inter need their star Dutchman playing and they need a return to the Mourinho meanness in defence if they are to harbour any aspirations to retaining their title.
It is striking just how similar Munich and Inter are before they meet both in terms of league position and form. They both rely on moody Dutchmen and are suffering after the lord mayor’s show syndrome after last years heroics. It is a season defining clash for both.
Wilshere is a star but Camp Nou is the acid test
It was of course the company in which he performed that made Jack Wilshere’s masterclass against Barcelona all the more special. Anyone who keeps the ball in the company of Sergio Busquets and passes it as ably as Xavi deserves all the praise he gets.
Spanish technique, English heart? He’ll need both in spades at the Camp Nou to confirm his burgeoning reputation.
