I’m Telling You For the Last Time

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Column Like I See 'Em

I’m Telling You For the Last Time

This piece represents the opinion of the author:

May 1, 2009

This past Tuesday afternoon, Josep Guardiola paced back and forth in his office, contemplating the impending match that would take place later that evening. Only a few days prior, Guus Hiddink and his team stepped off of their plane and into Guardiola territory, the miracle worker himself contemplating Tuesday night's clash.

On Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson popped a Chiclet or two into his mouth and naturally began to chew away violently at the hard-shelled gum, contemplating the impending match at his stadium that evening. And finally, in the opposing club's locker room, Arsene Wenger stood expectedly stoic in front of his team, a three-hour train ride from home, contemplating, too, a match that might define his squad's unusual season.

For most of you, these names will mean nothing...yet. But they are perhaps the four most scrutinized men in sports today, each of whom are managers for the last four club football teams still standing in Europe's prestigious Champions League.

I know what you're thinking: "Another soccer article? Are you kidding me? Get over it, Chris." And, if that is your reaction, I do apologize, but I am still not over it and hope I never am. But please keep reading and hear me out: I promise you, I am doing this for your own good.

On Tuesday evening, Guardiola put forth his prolific Barcelona club in front of a jubilant home crowd of over 95,000 at the Nou Camp in the coastal, northeastern Spanish metropolis. Guardiola, in just his first season as manager, had his side atop La Liga—Spain's premier division—four points ahead of rivals Real Madrid, and was now poised to resume his quest for European glory in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Hiddink, the Dutchman and interim manager of Chelsea, countered with his Blues squad, who, like Barça, was making their second consecutive appearance in the semis, fresh off their epic 7-5 aggregate quarterfinal win over English foes Liverpool.

Barcelona boasted the usual suspects of the elusive Samuel Eto'o, the graceful Thierry Henry, and the exceptional Lionel Messi, the inexhaustible trio having produced 65 goals this year. Chelsea answered with the destructive Didier Drogba, the troublous Michael Ballack, and the crafty Frank Lampard. And soon, the match finally commenced, as Hiddink's gameplan to thwart and prevent came to fruition, Chelsea frustrating an overwhelmingly powerful and tactical Barcelona team that, despite generating several opportunities (four of which might have been goals had it not been for keeper Petr Cech), was held scoreless at Camp Nou for the first time this season. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with the second leg set to take place Wednesday in London at Stamford Bridge.

In northern England on Wednesday, Ferguson brought out his big guns of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and current FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United to face Wenger's youthful Arsenal, represented by the exuberance of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, and Emmanuel Adebayor, to name a few. And like the other side of the bracket in Barcelona, the draw ultimately took off, the reigning champions at home against the visiting Babies of Europe. For the majority of the game, Arsenal looked severely outmatched, with United creating numerous scoring chances, including one on an unlucky flick by Mikael Silvestre that landed at the right foot of defender John O'Shea who slammed it into the top of the net, giving Ferguson's boys an early 1-0 lead. But Gunner keeper Manuel Almunia was brilliant all night, making save after impossible save, rescuing Arsenal from even more demise as the offensively-challenged club that generated hardly any opportunities escaped Old Trafford with a 1-0 deficit going into the second leg back home.

Now you know the summaries: going into the second legs (of a home-and-home, if you will), the scores are 1-0 Manchester United over Arsenal, and 0-0 between Barcelona and Chelsea. That is precisely how both final matches of the semifinals will begin next Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, each of the four clubs vying for a trip to Rome for the Championship game on May 27.

Yesterday, a friend of mine asked me why I wasn't writing about hockey or basketball this week. I told him that this was more important. On Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. on ESPN2, we will all have the privilege to watch one of the most historic soccer games ever (Manchester United and Arsenal have never met in the Champions League), the best player in the world in Ronaldo, and a potential upset at the Emirates Stadium in London—a place where United has yet to win. Then, on Wednesday at the same time and network as Tuesday's match, we have Barcelona visiting Chelsea—not far from the Emirates—in what should prove to be one of the most unpredictable, exciting, and decisive games in history that has extra time written all over it. And the best part is that we are at an ideal spot in the semester in terms of watching these games, as the final exam storm has yet to hit and many of our classes will come to a close the afternoon of the first game. Also, I should mention that I am indeed an ardent fan of both the NHL/NBA playoffs, as I hear one of those leagues is where amazing happens, but why would I wait until nighttime to see amazing when it will be on in the mid-afternoon on Tuesday and Wednesday?

This is my proposal. My wish, in fact.Watch these two games. Sit down, relax, and watch them. Even if you don't like soccer, watch both games. Just watch the games. I promise you won't regret it. It will be new and exciting and wonderful all wrapped into one tortilla of awesomeness, and will take only half as long as an NHL/NBA playoff game (90 minutes is all I ask—what are you going to do instead, homework?). If you watch the games, you won't be disappointed. And if you do so—which I hope you do—and talk to me about your positive or negative (I don't care) reactions toward both of them afterwards, to put my money where my mouth is, I will never write about the sport that somehow always manages to take a backseat in our great country in this column again. All I care about is you watching. Just this once. Do it for yourself. This is a golden opportunity, and one not to be missed. London will be rocking, and I sure hope that Bowdoin is, too. So go ahead. Watch and enjoy the show. I dare you.

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