2010-11 English Premier League Preview

Another Premier League season begins tomorrow, and those looking for variety might want to look elsewhere. With few significant changes since May, the table figures to shakeout in a manner similar to last season. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal will battle for the title and a pack of teams a notch below will fight for a coveted Champions League spot.

A League and FA Cup double got Carlo Ancelotti's tenure at Stamford Bridge off to a memorable start last season, and his veteran Chelsea squad fully expects to maintain the title this year. The core of this team feels like they've played together forever- Lampard, Terry, Drogba, Cech- all back in blue for another go at the European crown that has alluded them. With the transfer deal for Brazilian midfielder Ramires now complete, Chelsea add an exciting young playmaker to their roster of seasoned pros.

Speaking of seasoned, Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United have been unusually quiet since the end of the last campaign, unlike the carnival surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer a year prior. The addition of Mexican Javier Hernandez is the only change of note. Wayne Rooney had the look of a beaten man in the World Cup. If and when he returns to form will dictate whether or not the Red Devils reclaim the title.

Arsenal hung around the fringes of the title chase much of last season and if not for a few letdown matches could have nabbed the top slot. The fact that Cesc Fabregas hasn't landed at Nou Camp with Barcelona yet is surprising, but for now the World Cup winner remains the focal point of Arsene Wenger's side. Another World Cup finalist, Robin van Persie, will also be key in the Gunners bid for their first title since the "Invincibles" team of 2004.

Beyond the those three, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and, to a lesser extent, Aston Villa and Everton, will set their sights on a top four finish. Manchester City were big offseason spenders for a second-straight season, this year looking to strengthen a shaky defensive unit. The additions of Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng should help in that regard. David Silva and Yaya Toure have also been added as City aim for a Champions League berth.

Tottenham broke into fourth last year, and savvy manger Harry Redknapp is eyeing some additions to keep his side there again. Assuming they can move past Swiss side Young Boys (and what a terrible name that is for a team) in the last round of Champions League qualifying, Spurs will face the tricky balance of league aspirations on the weekend and matches against Europe's elite midweek. With that schedule, top scoring threat Jermain Defoe will need help.

Joe Cole and Roy Hodgson bring a fresh excitement to Liverpool, but a lack of depth has burned the Reds in recent seasons. When Steven Gerrard and/or Fernando Torres get hurt, which tends to happen a lot, Liverpool have few reliable options.

The surprising resignation of Martin O'Neill less than a week before kick off has put a dent in Aston Villa's already long shot hopes of reaching the top four. O'Neill's left because of a lack of transfer funds, which should tell you all you need to know on how much Villa spent improving the squad. Similarly, Everton have the ability to win against any opponent, but lack the depth to make a full-season push.

I'll predict a Chelsea repeat for 2011, followed by Arsenal, ManU, Man City and Liverpool.

The Latest Fashion from Milan

In a post I wrote last year on the top five jerseys in European football, I noted the contrast between tradition-rich home kits and the carnival of absurd designs that make up the away jerseys. The batch of offerings for 2010-11 are out and if you'd like to update your wardrobe with something flashy, there's no shortage of options.

You can dress like a carved Halloween pumpkin (Chelsea), have Italian lightning bolts running down your chest (Juventus) or pass yourself off as a bottle of mouthwash (Barcelona).

But the owners of gaudiest road kits for 2010-11 have to be Inter Milan. As if inspired by one of Marco Materazzi's tattoos, the reigning European champs have a dragon/serpent running down the side of their white shirts. Perhaps a good look for a night at a techno club, but not what I'd expect to see on the pitch. Then again, who am I to criticize Italian fashion?

LFC-Chelsea: Ready to Rumble

With ManU dropping points today against Sunderland, the table sets up nicely for the winner (if there is one) of the Liverpool Chelsea clash Sunday at Stamford Bridge. As part of my blogging for the Liverpool FC Supporters Club of Chicago, I examine the Liverpool-Chelsea rivalry, from an extremely pro-Liverpool perspective, of course.

England: 2009-10 Premier League Preview

I was getting ready to draft my Premier League preview when I stumbled across the news of ESPN's agreement to air games in the U.S. this season. Talk about a great way to start the season. Now that I've calmed a little from that excitement, it's time to talk Premier League!

If there is a silver lining to the global economic crisis, it might be this: With wild spending down, we are looking at potentially the most competitive season in the history of the Premier League. Only Manchester City flashed serious cash this summer, while the big four migrated back to the pack. A second tier of contenders might have a shot at the title.

But let's not get carried away. The leading candidates are still the big names we're accustomed to seeing, led by Manchester United and Chelsea. Last Sunday's entertaining Community Shield clash could foreshadow a see-saw battle between the winners of the last five EPL titles. While ManU will clearly miss Cristiano Ronaldo and, to a lesser extent, Carlos Tevez, the Red Devils will still contend for a record fourth-straight crown. ManU has gotten off to slow starts but recovered to win the league the last two seasons. To avoid another sluggish opening, they'll need goaltender Ben Foster to show he's capable of replacing the injured Edwin van der Sar on a permanent basis.

The biggest off-season addition among the big four wasn't a player, but rather new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. The former AC Milan skipper is the fifth man to hold the top post at Stamford Bridge since 2007, but it would be surprising if he doesn't bring stability to the position. Chelsea return a loaded roster, but you have to wonder if their primary focus is the Premier League the Champions League. Europe's biggest prize is the only one Roman Abramovich's men are missing. After crushing defeats against Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona the last three seasons, the quest remains the same. Ancelotti actually won more Champions League trophies (two) than Serie A titles (one) in his time at the San Siro. If that trend is any indicator, the Blues could be celebrating in Madrid in May, while someone else takes the EPL.

Could that someone else be Liverpool? In Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the Reds have a leading duo as good as any in the world. But in order to capture their first Premier League title, Rafa Benitez's team will need to overcome the maddening inconsistency that sunk their 2009 title bid. Liverpool took 14 points from six matches against ManU, Chelsea and Arsenal, highlighted by a 4-1 romp at Old Trafford. But a series of baffling draws against lesser opponents left the Reds in second, despite only two losses. If they can convert those draws into wins, a long-awaited title will be coming to Anfield.

Arsenal aren't going plummet, but Arsene Wenger's team has suffered too many losses to mount a serious challenge. Waiting to take their place in the leading quartet are Manchester City. Backed by big bucks from their UAE-based ownership, the Blues roster now features Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, along with last year’s key addition, Robinho. But many superstar-laden teams have looked unbeatable on paper. How this group gels under manager Mark Hughes remains to be seen, and questions abound regarding the ManCity defense.

If the race remains tight, Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham could sneak into the mix, but realistically those sides are hoping for a Champions League slot at best. Look for last year's top three to pull away again in 2010. While my heart pulls for Liverpool, by head says Chelsea. God I hope I'm wrong.

If you want EPL previews from more knowledgeable outlets, here are some options:
The Times of London
The Independent
Sky Sports
ESPN Soccernet

The Top Five Jerseys in European Club Football

I received my latest Eurosport catalog earlier this week, one of the highlights of my mail for nearly two decades. How smart are the Eurosport folks? They locked down the URL soccer.com before anyone else. Flipping through the catalog and looking at the jerseys, I was inspired to post my take on the top five jerseys in European club football.

A note before I start the list: all the jerseys listed below are the team's home kits. For reasons I don't understand, European home jerseys are rich with tradition, but for the road versions, anything goes. Squads change looks on an annual basis, and some traveling selections leave you questioning the tastes of team management.

#5: Valencia: The shirts themselves are fairly standard- white with orange trim, the latter no doubt inspired by the local fruit export. What puts these jerseys among the best is the crest. How many other teams have something as cool as a bat perched on their kits? Not many. Inspired by the city's coat of arms, the presence of the bat gives "Los Che" an intimidating look.

#4: Liverpool and Chelsea: Separately neither of these two jerseys are standouts. But when they come together, as they have so often in recent Champions League matches, the contrast is perfect. Liverpool in all red; Chelsea in all blue. Nothing looks better on a European night.




#3: Barcelona: The FC Barcelona crest squeezes a lot of symbolism into a stylish design. According to the team web site, the crest "honours the sporting dimension of the club as well as its connection to its city and country." With the crest set on bold blue and burgundy shirts, the reigning European Champs have an umistakable look. Barca also deserve credit for forgoing corporate sponsors on their shirts and instead promoting UNICEF across the front.

#2: Inter Milan: My love of Inter Milan's kits dates back to an Absolut vodka ad that cleverly pitted Inter and AC Milan on a foosball table. (I was a fan of the ad campaign long before I could legally drink the vodka.) The black and blue in the Nerazzurri's jerseys represent the night and the sky. These colors work so well together, I'm surprised more teams don't go this route.

#1: Celtic: The best jerseys in sports are simple yet distinct; they're immediately recognizable like the New York Yankees pinstripes, the red, white and blue of the Montreal Canadiens, or the Los Angeles Lakers' regal purple and gold combo. Glasgow Celtic, with their classic green and white hoop shirts join that list. The Bhoys' shirts stand out around the world. Little has changed with Celtic's kits since their 1967 European Cup triumph, but the addition of the team crest with a four-leaf clover fits perfectly. As long as there's a Celtic Football Club, these jerseys will top my list.

Premier League Schedule Released

The Premier League released its 2009-10 schedule today. You can get a team-by-team schedule here and the week-by-week schedule here. The Premier League Web site also has a rundown of key matches for the upcoming season, including the "Big Four" meetings between Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Champions League: Chelsea Dagger

The last thing you want to read in the lead of any post-match recap is the name of the referee. The more prominent his name, the more controversial his performance. Such was the case with last night's Barcelona-Chelsea Champions League semifinal. While it should be remembered for two phenomenal strikes from Michael Essien and Andres Iniesta, the efforts of hack Norwegian official Tom Henning Ovrebo will forever be linked with this match.

There were plenty of bad calls to go around. Chelsea were obviously vocal in defeat (technically a draw), but had Barcelona fallen short, they would have had plenty to gripe about as well. The 66th minute red card to Barca's Eric Abidal was a highly questionable one, but no call (or lack there of) was more egregious than the missed hand ball against Barcelona's Gerard Pique. Pique's post-match comments were essentially, "Yeah, my bad. Oh well."

Barcelona's scenes of stoppage time joy were quickly overshadowed by Chelsea's post-match ugliness. You don't want to say Chelsea have only themselves to blame- they had every reason to dispute the poor officiating- but they could have settled the matter far earlier by converting any of numerous scoring chances after they lead 1-0, or by showing more offensive effort in the first leg at the Nou Camp. I don't put much stock in Chelsea's cries of a UEFA conspiracy to avoid another All-English Final, but there has to be some explanation as as to why such a poor official oversaw such a high profile game.


Nearly every game story included one of several frightening photos of Didier Drogba's post game fit. Rumors have long surrounded a possible Drogba departure from Stamford Bridge, but such negotiations will be trickier with Drogba likely facing a lengthy UEFA ban.

The end game did provide for comical fodder on YouTube, with Michael Ballack's hysterics set to the tune of the always enjoyable "Yakety Sax." If you can't lose with dignity, at least leave us laughing.

Chelsea Steps Into The Future

Chelsea unveiled their new 2009/10 kits this week, and it looks like the Blues will be gunning for the Rollerball championship rather than the Premier League title next season. I'll admit I take shots at Chelsea any chance I get, but seriously, what's going on with the shoulder area and the neck? That looks like a zipper at the top. In a word: bad. And Frank Lampard needs to take some lessons from Derek Zoolander. His tough guy pose looks more confused than intimidating.

Champions League: Pick Your Pair

With the Champions League semifinals beginning this afternoon, the four remaining sides offer four potential Final match-ups with compelling story lines. Which of the following will we see in Rome May 27?

The 2006 Re-match: Arsenal vs. Barcelona: Arsenal rode the goaltending of Jens Lehmann to the 2006 Final with 10 consecutive clean sheets. Despite Lehmann's red card, 10-man Arsenal fought bravely against Barcelona, even taking the lead, before two goals in the final 15 minutes denied the Gunners. While Lehmann is gone and Thierry Henry has switched kits, there are plenty of Arsenal players and supporters who would love another crack at the Spaniards.

The 2008 Re-match: Manchester United vs. Chelsea: A Final settled on penalty kicks is never satisfying (just ask John Terry), so Chelsea would gladly take another fixture against their neighbors to the north. With Manchester United out of the FA Cup, the end of their bid for the quadruple takes some of the sizzle out of this match-up. But the showdown would be a historic first; two teams have never met in the European Final in consecutive seasons.

The All-London Final: Arsenal vs. Chelsea: No London side has ever captured the European Cup, but a showdown between the North London Gunners and the West London Blues would send the capital city into a frenzy.

The Dream Final: Manchester United vs. Barcelona: Ten years ago, Manchester United met Bayern Munich in a classic final in Barcelona. That match marked the last time that two teams that won their domestic leagues faced off for Europe's top honors in the same season. With both Barcelona and ManU in comfortable position atop their leagues, we could see that scenario repeat itself. These two sides have been Europe's best all year; a match-up of the two giants would be a fitting end to the season.

Prediction: ManU's form has slipped of late, while the fortunes of Arsenal have improved along with the team's health. Look for Arsenal to pull the upset and earn another date with Barcelona in the Final. 

The New York Times and Chicago Tribune have their takes on the semifinals as well.

England: EPL Race Takes Shape

The English Premier League season is roughly one-quarter done, and the results of the last four days have brought some separation at the top. The leaders are Liverpool, and if a September home win over Manchester United didn't establish the Reds as leading contenders, Sunday's shock win away to Chelsea certainly did. In his previous four seasons at Anfield, Rafa Benitez has made his name through Liverpool's Champions League success. But the message from fans this season has been clear: win the league, something Liverpool has not done since the dawn of the Premier League. Liverpool are pulling out come-from-behind wins and late victories this season in the types of games that ended in draws or losses last year. That form has resulted in a three-point cushion atop the table.

So which team's will mount the biggest challenge? Chelsea, despite the end of their 84-match home unbeaten streak, have used superior firepower to overcome early injuries and should still be considered the favorites. Unlike Liverpool, Chelsea have buried weaker competition and are building a sizable goal differential advantage (currently nine goals better than Liverpool) that could be critical in a tight race. And after last season's slow start/fast finish, no one will discount Manchester United, especially now that the Cristiano Ronaldo saga has simmered considerably.

The member of the Big Four most likely to fade from contention is Arsenal. Wednesday's home draw to Tottenham put the Gunners six points off the pace, but the psychological impact of the match may prove more damaging than the loss of two points. Hosting their bottom-of-the-table arch rivals, Arsenal allowed two goals in the final two minutes of the match for 4-4 draw. Arsenal's November slate includes ManU, Chelsea and Aston Villa, so Arsene Wenger should know by the December if his men have the mettle to stay in the race.

England: Chelsea Invades America

Here's an interesting piece from the New York Times' soccer blog from last Friday on Chelsea's efforts to develop partnerships with U.S. youth teams. I'm no Chelsea fan, but I like what they're doing here. The genesis of this program came last year when a North Carolina U16 side upset their Chelsea counterparts in a tournament at Disney's Wide World of Sports. (I'm a former DWWS PR associate; I had to give them a plug.) Hopefully Chelsea can find some American youngsters who won't slip and fall when taking the biggest PK in team history.

Let the Transfers Begin

With the focus shifting back to club sides, July will be a busy month in the transfer market. It's always a challenge separating truth from rumor, but here's a look at some of the names and possible moves to watch in the coming weeks.

• Deco to Chelsea: Done deal as of today, as the Portuguese midfielder follows Big Phil Scolari to Stamford Bridge


• Frank Lampard to Inter Milan?: Will Frank take all the pies with him as he re-unites with The Special One?


• Didier Drogba to AC Milan?: The Chelsea makeover continues. Drogba could end up with either San Siro squad, but his Champions League Final red card was most likely his final act for the Blues.


• Emmanuel Adebayor leaving Arsenal?: Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan have all been mentioned as possible destinations.


• Ronaldinhio to Manchester City?: Manchester's number two team has some cash to throw around, and although the Brazilian seems past his prime, this would elevate the squad's profile immediately.


• Samuel Eto'o leaving Barcelona?: With Deco gone, the likelihood that either Eto'o or Ronaldinhio stay put seems greater.


• Gareth Barry to Liverpool?: This one's been in the works for awhile. Let's get it done, please.


• Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?: How will the soap opera play out? If ManU stick to their word, Ronaldo will be back in red this year.

England: 2008-09 Premier League Schedule Released

Mark your calendars- the 2008-09 Premier League schedule is out!

Manchester United begin defense of their title August 16th at Old Trafford against Newcastle and their early schedule will be tricky- the Red Devils visit Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all before mid-November. If they get through that stretch in first, they'll be tough to catch. The schedule of "big four" matches includes:

Sept. 13: Manchester United @ Liverpool
Sept. 20: Manchester United @ Chelsea
Oct. 25: Liverpool @ Chelsea
Nov. 8: Manchester United @ Arsenal
Nov. 29th: Arsenal @ Chelsea
Dec. 20th: Liverpool @ Arsenal
Jan. 10th: Chelsea @ Manchester United
Jan. 31st: Chelsea @ Liverpool
March 14th: Liverpool @ Manchester United
April 18th: Arsenal @ Liverpool
May 9th: Chelsea @ Arsenal
May 16th: Arsenal @ Manchester United

England: Nice Timing, Chelsea

You have to laugh at the circumstances surrounding Chelsea's announcement today of Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager. Hey, it's not like Big Phil's Portugal side were playing in a major tournament or anything. The statement the Premier League and Champions League runners-up released today was highly comical.

"Out of respect for his current role and to ensure minimum disruption to this work there will be no further comment from Chelsea nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences."

Well, sure, that should keep the questions around the Portugal camp to a minimum. Fortunately for the squad, the results of today's games leaves Portugal's final Group A match meaningless, so most of the Scolari-to-Chelsea talk will have died down by the time Portugal play their quarterfinal match next Thursday.

Despite their timing, Chelsea have made an excellent hire. There was little doubt the Blues would land a top manager, but the hiring of Scolari should squelch the rush of players looking to join Jose Mourinho in Milan- justification for Chelsea making the announcement before the conclusion of Euro 08. With Drogba, Lampard and Carvalho all rumored to have a foot out the door, Scolari gives them an attractive reason to stick around.

And with Portugal's star player still under Scolari's watch, you have to wonder how much he'll encourage Cristiano Ronaldo to pursue a ticket to Real Madrid. After all, that would deprive Scolari's new rival, Manchester United, of their top player.

Italy: Mourinho Doesn't Disappoint

Jose Mourinho no longer wants to be known as "The Special One," but he won't mind you calling him "The Intelligent One." At his introductory press conference today, the new Inter Milan boss displayed the hilarious lack of humility that has made him a media darling. The Independent has the story of Mourinho's first day in Milan.

A flabbergasted reporter from La Repubblica wanted to know how he could speak Italian so well. Never one for false modesty, Mourinho replied "because I'm very intelligent", bringing the first laugh of the morning.

Earlier in the press conference, when asked if he still deserved the self-proclaimed "Special One" tag, the former Chelsea boss responded. "I am Mourinho - period." This should be fun.

Back at his old stomping grounds, the search goes on for the next Chelsea boss. Carlo Ancelotti's denial of any interest in a job outside of AC Milan takes him out of the running. That narrows the apparent field to Portugal's Luiz Felipe Scolari, former Inter boss Roberto Mancini,  and Blackburn's Mark Hughes. Hughes may be headed to Manchester City to fill that opening before Chelsea make up their minds.

England: Chelsea's Search Continues

Another day, another rumor as the search for the new Chelsea coach continues. The latest name to emerge is AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti. The endless parade of candidates is the apparent result of differing wishes inside Stamford Bride; Ancellotti is the reported choice of owner Roman Abramovich, while chief executive Peter Kenyon has his eyes set on Blackburn's Mark Hughes among others.

A move to London makes sense for Ancelotti. During his seven seasons at the San Siro, he's captured all the major titles, including two Champions League crowns, and could be looking for a new challenge. Coming off a fifth-place Serie A finish, a jump to a squad that will be playing in the Champions League next year makes the timing logical.

Italy: Mancini Out at Inter

The agent for Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini confirmed today what has seeemed like a foregone conlcusion for months- that the coach of the three-time defending Serie A champs is out at San Siro. He also confirmed the not-so-suprising second part of that equation; the new boss will be Jose Mourinho.

Mancini has emerged as the favorite for the Chelsea vacancy, where the short list includes Blackburn's Mark Hughes, Portugal's Felipe Scolari and former Juventus manager/Chelsea player Didier Deschamps. Mancini no doubt grew tired of the constant talk of Mourinho inheriting his job this past season. One wonders if constant comparisons to the Special One, something that dogged Avram Grant, won't be a deterrant to him moving in at Stamford Bridge.

England: Grant Gets the Boot

In a move that came a surprise to no one, Chelsea sacked manager Avram Grant today, three days after the Blues shootout loss to Manchester United in the Champions League Final. Grant's tenure can be viewed from a glass-half-empty/glass-half-full perspective. While he took Chelsea to their first ever Champions League Final and a second-place finish in the Premier League, the squad failed to capture a trophy for the first time since 2004. According to The Times, Grant won't be out of work for long, rumored to be headed to Manchester City as the replacement for Sven-Goran Eriksson.

There are some big names on Chelsea's short list, including former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard and Russia National Team head coach Guus Hiddink.  One ironic scenario may see Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini taking the Chelsea job with former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho taking Mancini's post with the Serie A champs. Mourinho wasn't shy about sharing his feelings on Grant, dubbing him a "loser."

Champions League Final Recap

Manchester United have won the European Cup for the third time in their history. Extra time winners in '68 and victors in a last-second thriller in '99, the Red Devils never take the easy road. Today's Champions League Final was no exception, as ManU won a penalty kick shootout 6-5 over Chelsea following a nervy 1-1 draw.

I feel terrible for Chelsea captain John Terry. With Didier Drogba sent off for a foolish red card in extra time, Terry bravely stepped forward to take Chelsea's fifth penalty kick with a chance to clinch the Cup. Slipping on the rain-soaked grass, Terry's effort sailed wide right. Two rounds later, Nicolas Anelka was stopped by Edwin van der Sar, and Manchester had won the title. Instead of lifting the trophy, a disconsolate Terry was left to accept his second-place medal.

The match was a highly entertaining back-and-forth affair. Manchester United controlled play in the first half and could have easily put the match away early if not for some great saves by Petr Chech. When Frank Lampard drew Chelsea level just before the break, the Blues took control of the game.

Tied at 1-1, Chelsea had narrow misses in the second half and extra time. Drogba hit the left bar late in regulation and Lampard drilled the bottom of the crossbar in extra time. PKs seemed inevitable by the time Drogba was red carded for his silly slap to the face on Nemanja Vidic, so ManU saw little benefit from the man advantage. But who knows what might have been if it was he and not Terry taking the fifth PK for Chelsea.

While Manchester United's biggest stars didn't exactly shine tonight- Wayne Rooney was a non-factor, Carlos Tevez struggled mightily, and Cristinao Ronaldo was nearly the goat in the shootout- the quality of veteran players like Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Edwin van Der Sar and Ryan Giggs carried the team through. It was a classic ending to a memorable season in Europe; a night when Manchester United painted Moscow red.

Champions League Preview Central

With less than 24 hours to go until kickoff in Moscow, there's no shortage of storylines. I'll leave the analysis to the experts, but here's a look at the headlines for tomorrow's Champions League Final.



Chelsea
With Drogba and Terry already banged up, the last thing Chelsea needed was another injury. It looks like Ashley Cole will be okay, but The Telegraph has all the images from Cole's practice collision with teammate Claude Makelele

Could this be Avaram Grant's last game as Chelsea head coach? The BBC has the story of a man who has accomplished much but apparently still has much to prove.

This could also be the Chelsea farewell for Frank Lampard, who's been linked with a move to Inter Milan. As you'd expect, Lampard downplayed the rumors , but didn't dismiss them completely.

The Independent has a look at the enigma that is Didier Drogba.

Will John Terry be hoisting the trophy tomorrow night? Sky Sports shares the story of what fuels Chelsea's captain.

Manchester United
The Times reports that Wayne Rooney is ready to erase some bad memories of Moscow.

Sir Alex Ferguson will take your foolish wagers on Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford next year. In today's Guardian, the ManU boss says his Portugese star isn't heading anywhere.

Speaking of Ronaldo, tomorrow's game will go a long way towards validating his lofty claims of being the world's best, according to The Telegraph.

Nine years after Manchester's last appearance in a Champions League Final, Paul Scholes is finally reading to take to the pitch in Europe's biggest game.

Around Moscow
Those red shirts fit perfectly in downtown Moscow. The Independent has the story of the biggest English invasion to hit Russia since, well, ever.

UEFA Chief Michel Platini has no worries about the pitch for the big game. Of course, he hasn't seen it yet, according to The Guardian.

I'm looking forward to taking the afternoon off from work and heading to my favorite Chicago soccer bar, Fado, to watch the game. With concerns about the playing surface and the familiarity these teams have with one another, scoring will be at a premium. I think we're headed for a 1-1 draw and the cruel lottery of penalty kicks. What happens then? Your guess is as good as mine.