Champions League Final Preview: AC Milan v. Liverpool

All I have to say about the FA Cup is that at least United won the Prem.

Here we go folks, Liverpool vs. AC Milan part deux. This matchup is a very difficult one to call. Both of these teams are loaded with talent and both are well coached, but one team is better coached. Rafa Benitez is one of the best tactical managers in the world. I think that he will have Liverpool ready for this game. Steven Gerrard is probably the most inspirational captain since the Roy Keane glory days. He could be the deciding factor in this game.

On the Milan side of things, Kaka, enough said.

Who wins? I think that the best player in the world will carry his team to victory today, and that player is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, or simply, KAKA. I said in an earlier post that I will never pick against Milan in Europe again and I meant it, but believe me, I am rooting for Liverpool. C'MON YOU REDS!!

FA Cup Final Preview: Manchester United vs Chelsea

Well, here we go. This one's for all the marbles. One team realizes its dreams, and the other has them dashed. There can only be one winner and one loser. The... wait a minute, that's one too many sports cliches. Sorry about that...

Anyway, today marks the final showdown of the season between the two best teams from the best league in the world. On the Chelsea side of things, they are without Ballack, Shevchenko, and Carvalho for sure, and Robben and Cole are up in the air. This will make things EXTREMELY difficult for them.

On the Manchester United side of things, two players (Saha and Neville) are out for sure, but that is no surprise as the two have been injured for most of the latter part of the Premiership campaign.

Who wins this clash of the titans? Well, it goes like this:

Chelsea have a strong squad despite their injuries, and this is the only trophy left for them to claim. Drogba has been on fire this season and was a very close second to Cristiano Ronaldo for best player in England. Unfortunately for Chelsea, I think this game rests on Frank Lampard's shoulders. When he scores, Chelsea typically do well. The problem with that is, well, Frank Lampard is a choke artist. Look at the world cup for example. The guy had 21 shots on goal and none went in. At times, Lampard couldn't hit a barn door with a machine gun. I don't think that he is capable of coming up big in this game, and that is one reason why Chelsea will not win this game.

The other reason is that Manchester United are just too talented and have less injuries. Cristiano Ronaldo is unstoppable, and Rooney has caught fire towards the end of the season. Alan Smith will most likely get the nod, and he has been brilliant since his return.

This game will end with Manchester United hoisting the FA Cup and completing a domestic double. If only things had gone different in the Champions League...

THE CHAMPS!!!!!!

Truer words were never spoken, "WE GOT OUR TROPHY BACK!" For the first time since the 02-03 season, MANCHESTER UNITED ARE PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS! So ... (to the tune Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, and with a re-written by Sam verse)

Glory, glory, Man United,

Glory, glory, Man United,

Glory, glory, Man United,

As the reds go marching on, on, on.

Just like the Busby Babes in Days gone by

We'll keep the Red Flags flying high

You've got to see yourself from far and wide

You've got to hear the masses sing with pride

United! Man United!

We're the boys in Red and we're on our way to Wem-ber-ly

Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!

We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly

Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!

We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly

In Two Thousand-Seven it was Wayne Rooney

Ronaldo, Giggs, Saha, and Paul Scholes-ee

And all the masses know just who we are

Chelsea played like they were stuck in tar

United! Man United!

We're the boys in Red and we're on our way to Wem-ber-ly

Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!

We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly

Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!

We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly

Glory Glory Man United

Glory Glory Man United

Glory Glory Man United

As the Reds Go Marching On! On! On!

Normal words could not describe the feelings I have about this glorious achievement, so I had to do it with the Manchester United fight song. Now, I'm not going to say I told you so, but I did predict at the beginning of the season that Man United would win the title. (Check the old blog) The best part about this is that on Wednesday, United get to play at Stamford Bridge having already locked up the title. This is going to be fantastic. I can't wait to see the look on Jose Mourinho's face when Manches... er excuse me... Premiership Champions Manchester United walk out of that tunnel onto the pitch at the Bridge.
As for next season, look for Manchester United to definitely add Owen Hargreaves and lose Gabby Heinze to Juventus and Louis Saha to someone. Now, these next two are predictions but, Manchester United will add two more players. One will be Southampton left back Gareth Bale, who will be 18 at the beginning of the season. The other will be... a striker. I don't know who this could be, but rumors say it could be anyone from Fernando Torres to Dimitar Berbatov. Whoever it is, you can be sure that Louis Saha is going the other way. Look out Prem, Man United are going to be strong favorites for next year!

Champions League Semifinal Review (Man Utd v. AC Milan) and Final Preview

Well, congratulations Liverpool and AC Milan; you've made it to Athens. It will be a rematch of the Istanbul matchup from 2005.
My team has been eliminated, and my heart broken. So I don't have a whole lot to say about this game other than Milan wanted it more, and I will never pick against them in Europe again. Manchester United will win the FA Premier League and the FA Cup, but the treble dream has been dashed. Kaka, not Cristiano Ronaldo, is the best player in the world. He will win the Ballon D'or, and the FIFA world player of the year.
As for the final, I already said it earlier. I will never pick against Milan again in Europe. As of right now, I pick them to win the final, but I will have a more comprehensive preview closer to the May 23 date.

Champions League Semifinal Preview: Man Utd v. AC Milan 2nd Leg

"Can anyone stop me?" I don't think so.

Today is the day that the Champions League final is set. Two perennial powerhouses will lock horns today at the San Siro. Manchester United have a slight advantage with a 3-2 aggregate from the first leg, but Milan have two away goals and home field advantage.
From the Milan perspective, Maldini is out, but Gatusso is fit to play. Kaka will be on a mission, and this team has more European Pedigree than anyone other than Liverpool or Real Madrid.
From the Manchester United perspective, it seems like they should be able to wrap things up. If they get a goal, they should be okay. With Ferguson as their manager, they never lost a Champions League game after winning the first leg. They also might get Rio and Vidic back. If this is the case (even if it isn't), United will move on to the Champions Leage final, setting up an all English Manc/Scouser matchup.

Champs League Semifinal Review (Chelsea v. Liverpool)

You are looking at the best spot-kick keeper in the world. Pepe Reina (along with Steven Gerrard) singlehandedly won Liverpool the FA cup last year, and he singlehandedly took Chelsea out of Europe. Do you hear something? Oh, it's just Jose Mourinho wining about how Liverpool were only playing for the Champions League and that his side were playing for 4 trophies. Well you got one (the Carling Cup... big deal), and realistically, now YOU are only playing for one trophy (the FA cup).
This is the worst I've seen Chelsea play all season. They looked like scoring once or twice, but it was apparent that after Liverpool scored that Chelsea were content to play for PK's. Bad idea, and Pepe was up for the Challenge. Back to Jose for a minute. Now that you are only playing for the FA cup, does that give you the advantage over Manchester United. Is Sir Alex Ferguson going to wine now because he may have to play in the Champions League final 4 days after that FA cup final? The answer is no because Sir Alex Ferguson is the best manager in the world and you Mourinho are a winy little (expletive)!!!!!!!