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Manchester United – Wayne Rooney Ruins the Perfection of Alex Ferguson Leaving
Going against the club and especially against Alex Ferguson never earns a player too much adoration from the fans, but it was weird to hear so many boos for Wayne Rooney as he was walking over to pick up yet another Premier League winners’ medal, possibly his last with Manchester United.
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Liverpool FC – Philippe Coutinho & Daniel Sturridge Look Like They’re Having Fun
Too little, and probably late as well. If Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho would have been playing for Liverpool since the start of the season, maybe things would have ended differently. A couple of spots higher in the table and European football next season. There’s plenty of promise to a side that has looked depressed at times during the campaign, and missed out on a happier finish for it.
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Lionel Messi & Barcelona Face Impossible Expectations
How many is it now? Barcelona, without the need to play, clinched their fourth league title in five seasons. Yes, the streets in Catalonia were alive with the sound of music, but there seems to be a sense of slight disappointment, just like last year. When you’re Lionel Messi, nothing less than spectacular, every match, every season, is expected of you. Same goes for Barcelona, who always seem like they’ve disappointed someone when they don’t win all the possible titles.
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Real Madrid Are Terrible Without Cristiano Ronaldo
A futile chase that has been going on for months ended three matches before the end of the season, as Cristiano Ronaldo came on a little bit too late to give Real Madrid enough of a boost and make a comeback from deficit to victory, but proved once again that without him on the pitch, despite all the money spent on making this the most impressive squad in Europe, there isn’t that much to be impressed about.
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Manchester United – Paul Scholes Retiring And No One Cares
It’s hard to say Paul Scholes had a lot to do with his 11th Premier League title. He hasn’t started in a league match since December, but a medal is a medal. Retiring for the second time in 24 months shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows, with Manchester United having a more meaningful departure to handle. One of the greatest midfielders in England’s history is calling it quits, this time for good, but without anyone really paying attention.
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Chelsea FC – Eden Hazard Makes Frank Lampard Look Like a Legend
Standing on the shoulders of giants, or something of the sort, is always a good way to get ahead in life. Frank Lampard is often a tactical vulnerability on the pitch over the last couple of seasons, but it’s hard to take away his scoring ability which derives from his intelligence and off the ball movement. But yet again, the-now top scoring player in the history of Chelsea football club, needed someone, in this case Eden Hazard, to get him to the top.
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The Better Team Didn’t Win (Porto vs Benfica)
This is what the ‘match of the season’ should be about. All in or you’re out. Porto needed to win to reclaim the top spot in the Portuguese league, while Benfica needed a win to clinch only their third league title in 11 years. The visitors approach of playing to draw seemed to be working, until the 91st minute, when Kelvin scored the winning goal in one of his only touches during his cameo appearance.
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Kelvin Scores the Goal That Probably Decides the Championship (Porto vs Benfica)
It was destined to be; the match between Porto and Benfica, a week before the end of the season in Portugal, deciding the fate of the championship. Kelvin, a 19-year old Brazilian talent, came off the bench and 12 minutes later, a bit into injury time, scored a stunning winner that gives Porto the lead heading into the final week of the season in one of the more dramatic turn of events anyone could have imagined.
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Real Madrid & Jose Mourinho Playing a Dangerous Game
It’s all about money, ego and respect. The losers? Both Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho, who won’t budge from their stances despite not really wanting to be a part of each other anymore. Unless certain key players, like Cristiano Ronaldo being the prime example, actually present the board with some sort of ultimatum, this might be going on for much longer than anyone expected.
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Chelsea FC – John Obi Mikel Waiting For a Midfield Partner
Next season, things will be different at Chelsea. Another new (possibly a returning one) manager, and more change, including to the midfield unit, which has seen too many names play next to John Obi Mikel, who has been the defensive rock in the middle of the pitch, forced to make up for the weaknesses and holes both Ramires and Frank Lampard manage to create time after time.