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Juan Mata, The Most Consistent Player in the Premier League
Writers’ opinions are more respected than footballers, especially when their votes aren’t cast midway through the season. Juan Mata didn’t make headlines this season like Robin van Persie, Gareth Bale or even Luis Suarez (for good and bad), but the Chelsea player deserves the award for footballer of the year just as much as the rest of them, and possibly even more.
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Copa Del Rey Final – Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Predictions
For the fifth time in history, a Madrid derby will be in the Copa Del Rey Final. It’s hard to believe that Atletico Madrid have the edge in those encounters, winning three out of four finals against Real Madrid, including the last one in 1992. Real Madrid come to the final with the confidence of 14 years of success in the Derbi madrileño, and the hunger to finish the season with at least one minor title to brag about.
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Real Madrid – Copa Del Rey a Chance for Cristiano Ronaldo & Jose Mourinho to Say the Season was a Success
When a team like Real Madrid sets its goals before every season, the definition of success isn’t counting on winning the Copa Del Rey, even if the final is set to be against their big local rivals, Atletico Madrid. After another season of relative failure, Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo have a chance to add a meaningless trophy, not for the first time, in order to say that it wasn’t as bad as the “pro-Barcelona” media is trying to present it.
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FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Put His Health, Body on the Line for a Championship
Would’ve Barcelona won the La Liga trophy this season without Lionel Messi playing in the last few matches? Probably, but it would have taken a little longer to secure it, possibly. It would have given Real Madrid a little bit of encouragement and belief that it is possible to do the impossible. But Messi, who hasn’t been 100% for quite some time, wasn’t going to let something minor (or maybe it was a little bit worse than that) slow him down, and prevent him from winning another league championship.
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Alexandre Pato & Juan Riquelme: A Special Miss, A Special Goal
This is why Juan Roman Riquelme came back – to score special goals for Boca Juniors, trying to guide them to more Copa Libertadores glory. Alexandre Pato, on the other hand, failing to bring Corinthians through into the quarterfinals, showed why his career has fizzled with an astonishing miss that was partly to blame for his side getting knocked out of the competition.
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Manchester United – David Moyes & The Changes He Needs to Make
There’s more than just Wayne Rooney to worry about for David Moyes as he enters the biggest challenge of his career; trying to fill the huge shoes Alex Ferguson leaves at Manchester United. There’s sorting out an again defense, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic no longer reliable as before, while trying to upgrade a sub-par midfield when it comes to Champions League standards, and finding a way to sort out the attack and its hierarchy.
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Transfer Rumors 2013 – Liverpool Interested in Tiago Ilori
It’s not a surprise that Liverpool are constantly looking for defenders. The next name on the long list of young defensive talents is Tiago Llori, a 20 year old centre back playing for Sporting Clube de Portugal, mostly for their B side, and for the younger Portugal national teams, hoping that he can be one of those that will fill the shoes of the departing Jamie Carragher.
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Arsene Wenger & Arsenal Won Their Last Trophy 8 Years Ago; He’s the Only Thing That Hasn’t Changed in English Football Since
Some numbers can be taken in two different ways – either praise for Arsenal for being so patient and stable, holding on to their manager while everything around him, including David Moyes and Alex Ferguson has changed jobs, or find a way to criticize Arsene Wenger once again for turning all the great work he’s done with the gunners during the first half of his reign into one big failure during the last eight seasons.
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SL Benfica – The Biggest Losers in Europe
If the feeling after losing in the 91st minute against Porto was mostly shock and refusing to actually accept that they’ve lost the league title, probably, Benfica faced true despair, depression and every other negative sentiment you can think about as they conceded once again in injury time to see the Europa League title slip […]
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Chelsea FC – Fernando Torres, the Man Who Has Almost Everything
While Frank Lampard and John Terry continue to annoy everyone with their urgency to rush over to lift that trophy like they own more than anyone else, there are others who deserve more praise for yet another successful finish to a Chelsea season, this time with a Europa League title. Fernando Torres, who has now won everything but a league championship; Juan Mata, who is in the same boat as Torres, only with less criticism about his ability; and Rafa Benitez, who is leaving with a smile, and as a winner.