Scuddetto Race Blows Wide Open
Napoli have kept the Scudetto race alive after Kalidou Koulibaly’s 90th minute header ensured Napoli took all three points at the Juventus stadium in Turin. This cuts Juventus’ lead at the top to just 1 point with tough games against Top 4 chasing Inter and Roma still to come.
From minute one, Napoli took the initiative and set the tone for the game as Juventus came with a clear game plan to sit back and deal with whatever Napoli threw at them- A similar strategy Max. Allegri employed in the UCL round of 16 1st leg against Tottenham Hotspurs. The problem with this is, as much as you will be hailed when this works, you could go from ‘tactical genius’ to ‘coward’ when things don’t go as planned and that was the case one more time. With the kind of domestic dominance Juventus have shown for the best part of the last decade, coupled with the immense quality of players they have, the least expected by the Juventus faithful is to at least see their team go all out and show superiority against every single team in the Serie A. On the other hand, in such games and at this time of the season, it looks a sensible thing to do, to give your biggest opponent some respect and adopt a pragmatic approach. In his defence, they were quite comfortable for 89 minutes as for all the possession Napoli had, they did little to trouble the Juventus defence as the central defensive partnership of Howedes and Benatia dealt well with everything that came their way. However, Koulibaly nodded in Callejon’s 90th minute header to keep Napoli in the title race.
For Juventus, they find themselves in a situation they have been wanting to avoid. With four games remaining and having Napoli breathing down their necks, a slip of any sort could prove very very costly and to factor in that they face tough away trips to Inter and Rome- Two grounds they have failed to win at since 2015 and 2014 respectively- doesn’t do them much favors at all.
United
In Analysing Manchester United this season, you will have to take it from two perspectives, the cases ‘for’ and ‘against’ Jose Mourinho.
United are on hand to finish second this season and if they win their remaining games (which are In fact winnable), with the most points ,goals and wins,(currently (74), (64) and (23)) in the post Ferguson era. This is also going to be their highest league finish in 5 seasons, and the improvement is clear for everyone to see. Mourinho has come in and steadied the ship, built a much more resilient defence and has won two trophies in his first season with another final set up in his second. Results are the most important thing in football and he’s got them for United. A total point tally of 86(if they win their remaining 4 games) is the same they racked up in the title winning season of 07/08 and 5 more than Leicester City’s tally of 81 in 2015/2016 season. Maybe in a parallel universe this would have been enough to get United another premier league title but for the brilliance of a team that whizzed every opponent aside in the premier league this season.
However, the case against him is mainly concentrated on his over pragmatism at key times in the season and the ‘what could have been’ in United’s campaign. I point to that game against Liverpool in October when after a brilliant start to the season where United were brushing teams aside, they resorted to a defensive set up on their first big game of the season. The message that might have sent to the team was “you are good but not good enough to go toe to toe with a big club yet”. The effects of that was to be seen in the coming weeks as key players struggled to find form and the incredible form of rivals Man. City meant they kept losing ground in the title challenge. The game against Sevilla in the second leg of the UCL round of 16 tie is another example of the unnecessary pragmatism displayed at certain times in the season. As much as the season cannot be termed as a ‘bad’ one for Manchester United, I can’t help but think they will look back and see it as a season of some important regrets.
Verdict
Mourinho has done well in steadying the sinking ship and putting them back on track. Whether he can take them a step further to previous heights and winning the EPL and Champions League again is what is in huge doubt but on the other hand, if I was Mourinho, I would walk into the office of the owners with the facts and figures that show a clear improvement since I (Mourinho) took over and ask for investment and to some extent , a new extended contract.
Chelsea
Chelsea won the second FA Cup semi final 2-0 against Southampton on Sunday to set up a final date with Manchester United, who beat Tottenham in the first semi final on Saturday. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring with a brilliant solo goal courtesy of some luck and amazing footwork. Southampton then came into their own with foray of attacks against the Chelsea defence but it was not to be as Shane Long missed their best chance of the game as his first touch let him down one-on-one with the keeper after beating the offside trap. Then Alvaro Moratta( with his head of course) put clear daylight between the two sides after grabbing the second. It’s been a disappointing season for the champions who look certain to miss out on a top 4 finish this season but they can take solace in the fact that they are in another cup final for the second year running. The FA cup is a good opportunity to appease their fans and build on the next season.
Barcelona Win Copa Del Rey in Rampant Fashion; As Andres Iniesta Plays Last Cup Game With The Blaugrana.
Probably the most glorious moment of his eventful and monumental career, man of the match Iniesta trudged off the pitch with the Wanda Metropolitano on its feet. Everyone present upstanding, applauding and smiling over this little magician in honour the man who has played his last Copa Del Rey cup game with the Barcelona football club. The applause were truly deserved on the day as Iniesta truly reminded the world of his great abilities as a footballer and what his prescence in the Barcelona midfield does to the team. Slick, precise and joyful to watch, Sevilla were ran over by Barcelona in a Copa Del Rey final that saw Barcelona net 5 goals on the day. Three first half goals were enough to dampen the spirits of the Sevilla fans and Players alike as Barca added a double in the second half. Suarez netted twice after missing the last two finals through injury and suspension respectively as Messi also finished off a beautiful team move to kill the game in the first half. Iniesta got the perfect send off he deserves as he netted the fourth before Coutinho put gloss on the scoreline by expertly dispatching a penalty. Iniesta was sent up alone to receive the trophy as Barcelona honoured the veteran midfielder in style.
Wenger’s Farewell Began With a Victory
The World was stunned by Arsene Wenger’s announcement to step down as Manager of the Arsenal football club. The tributes kept pouring in over the weekend for a man who managed a club for 22years running and after lots of backlash from the fans, Wenger seems to have earned the love of the fans back. CEO, Ivan Gazidis in a really candid and quite emotional speech, addressing the media, described how Wenger was an irreplaceable manager and urged all fans to give the manager their full backing in these last days to give him a very good farewell with the Europa league semis to come. The players seemed to have echoed this cry and the fans responded well in the match against West Ham at the Emirates on Sunday. After West Ham holding on for more than 50mins in a really charged Emirates atmosphere, Nacho Monreal broke the deadlock, volleying home after a Xhaka corner. Arnautovic silenced the the Emirates crowd momentarily after netting an equalizer with Arsenal’s defensive problems still lingering.Arsenal then went three goals clear in a the final 10 minuites of the game as Ramsey equalized before Lacazzette bagged a late brace to make Wenger proud. Farewell well and truly kicked off.
Ghana Premier League; Hearts Drop Points, Kotoko pip Wa All Stars, Ashgold back to Winning Ways.
AshantiGold SC kept their 100% home record intact to stretch the lead at the top of the league table to three points when they beat Inter Allies FC 1-0 at the Len Clay Stadium on Saturday. Kotoko also won their match against WA All stars after a two match winless run by two goals to nil. Hearts however laboured to a 1-1 draw with Bechem after Patrick Razak’s last gasp equalizer grabbed a point for the rainbow club.
Here are the results from the matches over the weekend;
Ashanti Gold 1-0 Inter Allies
Eleven Wonders 1-0 Medeama
Accra Hearts of Oak 1-1 Bechem United
Asante Kotoko 2-0 Wa All Stars
Karela 0-0 Elmina Sharks
Ebusua Dwarfs 2-3 WAFA
Dreams vs Aduana 3:00pm Today
Berekum Chelsea vs Liberty Professionals (POSTP).
The Green Turf 