Crystal Palace offered the last resistance to the Roman army as they marched on to regain the title they lost five years ago to the Mancunians. Even as Pardew, Bolasie, Zaha, Puncheon and the others did all they could, there was no stopping the Blue army from taking the title as all oracles had predicted all through the season.
That this Chelsea has been the best team by a mile is without question. To dominate the Premiership they way they have, from day two to the end of the season say a lot about this generation of winners and in Jose Mourinho, they have a winner to thank for their Premiership medals.
Call him the Special One or the Happy One, Jose Mourinho is a serial winner, and is back to winning ways in England where he left off eight years ago, from the same seat he vacated for the others to keep until his return. It’s almost as if he relishes the challenges and obstacles that he is faced with, and he turns every stone thrown at him into a stepping stone; Jose always rides through the difficult gates:
In 2000, after just nine games at Benfica, Jose turned his back on the top club in Portugal and the one that guaranteed him many trophies, just to prove a point and he left to manage Union Leira, a very small club. Two years later, after phenomenal work at Leira, Porto came begging and we know what he did to Portugal and Europe with Porto.
2004 he rode into Stamford Bridge during a period of dominance by Arsenal and United, declaring himself ‘the special one’ and leaving himself open to a barrage of bullets if he failed to win anything. He brought the title back to the Bridge after 50 years, winning back to back Premiership titles.
Inter Milan was next in 2008, inheriting a team of has-beens and old war horses, declared washed up and of no use but he promised Massimo Moratti the champions league. He won the treble in his second season, the Scudetto, Cup and the Champions league (Inter’s first after 45 years)
Then came his biggest managerial challenge; to assemble a team that would break up Barcelona’s hegemony over Spanish and European football. A team that had won the champions league three times (3) in five years (5), the best team of its generation with the best player of its generatio and one who had won four (4) of the previous six (6) La Liga titles. Mourinho somehow managed to break-up that dominance and took the league off them. In Mourinho’s second season he showed Spain and Europe how to beat Barcelona and Messi, and suddenly the Barca dominance became a fairy tale, and Guardiola left.
Now he is back at Chelsea. The football we have seen from Chelsea this season is phenomenal, adaptable to the top Premiership teams, Europe, Cup games and all. All Mourinho has to do is raise the level and get ‘a second Hazard’ ‘another striker’ and ‘one more talisman in the middle’ then this Chelsea team would be ready to conquer Europe and dominate English football.
Congratulations to a team that has worked hard (Trust me it is hard work on the training ground that brings such telepathy in a team) and dominated the state of play for the whole season. Others lost form, dropped standards and dropped form, but Chelsea never dropped points like the others and that is why they are Champions.
WHAT SHOULD THE OTHERS DO?
I think Arsenal can go on to challenge next season if they can match Chelsea for quality in key areas of the pitch, as we have seen a lot of consistency in them during this run-in. I think Sanchez has raised the bar at the Emirates and he is the ‘Matic-Costa-Lewadonski influence’ for Arsenal. How I wish he had come to the Blues army.
If City get the services of ‘a Mourinho’ they can do a job of winning the Premiership. I still think tactically, City were short home and away and even in Europe. I kind of get the feeling at times that Pellegrini picks his team to please his squad (many of them) And for them to be successful he has to get rid of some of the ‘floating players’ reduce the wage bill and decide what direction he wants to go. As for Bony transfer, I still don’t know why they signed him to play 3rd fiddle. Well who am I to jump to conclusions?
Van Gaal needs to sort out a few personnel at the back and keep DeGea from going to Madrid, then United can challenge on all fronts. Once again I think as soon as Jose showed everybody how to play United, they have struggled to win games. Louis has to come up with plan B and C now that his team has been sourced out and he does need a ‘goal scorer’
For Liverpool, I am not sure that Gerrard’s influence is easily replaceable in the dressing room. There are too many young players who have not won anything in that dressing room, but then if Rogers can pick up lesson notes from Mourinho’s school, maybe, just maybe he’ll be up there challenging as well
MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO
If you truly follow boxing and-or especially these two guys you’ll understand that this fight couldn’t have been any different, EXCEPT Mayweather was going to be knocked out by Pacquiao. Remember Sugar Ray and Marvin Hagler?
Most people only watched this because of the hype but I watched this because I am a student of success and failure.
There is a reason why “most” predicted a Mayweather win, and those who truly follow the game with true knowledge of the fighters knew this was going to go this way – what some are now calling a dull fight- if Mayweather boxed his own way and controlled the fight, which he did.
Both fighters tried to box to their strengths, and the neutrals thought Money would have no defence for Pacquiao s left offense, which meant a fireworks night, but Money is bigger and is the best defensive boxer of his generation, he adapted to Manny Pacquiao’s style and became even more mobile in the ring.
What he gave was his traditional tactical fighting style against the rugged and aggressive Pacquiao.
The crowd wanted fireworks so they backed Pacquiao but to beat Money, you must have answers to his jab and punch style, which he didn’t.
Pacquiao couldn’t take Mayweather out of his comfort zone, because to do that you’ll have to pressure him, but it’s very difficult to pressure Mayweather when you have no Plan B or C, as he’ll sting you all the way with his jab and punch or even knock you out if you come too close.
Pacquiao needed to work from the inside, but he couldn’t take the risk, so Mayweather simply controlled him with his jab and longer reach, danced around the ring, picked him when convenient and massed up the points round after round. Manny threw punches, but only few landed. Round after round, Mayweather controlled him and as he fight progressed, my respect for Mayweather increased.
He is a true champion.
He nullified Pacquiao by moving around and jabbing him as he went forward. It was obvious that Manny’s only chance to win would have been by a knockout but there was no way he would produce one with how Mayweather was boxing.
This was a masterclass in tactical boxing. It was a UNANIMOUS DECISION. Well done Floyd Mayweather.