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It will be stuff of dreams for Conte’s Chelsea
for United and Real himself, Owen has no problem with Ronaldo sometimes being seen as selfish and arrogant on the pitch. And he reckons the Real star has stayed at the top of his game for so long because of the fear factor. Owen added: “I find goalkeepers and scorers are pretty unique in the way they think. And, unfortunately, you have to be an arrogant so-and-so to be a centreforward who constantly scores goals.
Edge
“You must think and behave in a certain way and have that much self-belief and selfishness – it’s a unique thing to have. People criticise him if he doesn’t score, doesn’t look happy or isn’t playing well. But if he wasn’t like that and you take away that mentality then he won’t score all the time.
“You are living on the edge all the time as a striker. We are a selfish breed and there’s no doubt about it, he has those attributes that make him constantly want to score goals.
“The problem with being at the top, and I’ve spoken to many sportsmen about this, is that it’s not necessarily a pleasure and he probably doesn’t think what he does every week is great even when he’s scoring... and he enjoys scoring.
“But there’s a fear when you are the best, a fear of someone else coming along and scoring more than you, better than you or breaking records. It’s more a fear than anything else.
“It’s great being the best, but after that you are petrified of someone taking your mantle. And that’s why his rivalry with Messi feeds off all of that.
“And in that battle he comes out on top for me simply because there are less question marks about him. He is pure perfection.” * OWEN will be joining Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, David James and Phil Neville in pulling the England shirt back on at Star Sixes, a new six-a-side World Cup for legends being staged at the O2, London, between July 13 and 16. Tickets are on sale at
www.starsixes.com
Tickets for the inaugural Star Sixes tournament are on sale at www.starsixes.com MICHAEL OWEN is predicting English clubs will take the Champions League by storm next season.
Five years have elapsed since Chelsea became the last Premier League team to reach a final – beating Bayern Munich in a penalty shoot-out in their own back yard at the Allianz Arena.
But Owen reckons that’s about to change with the Premier League fielding five teams in the competition next season if Liverpool come through the qualifying stages.
And he confidently expects Antonio Conte’s Chelsea of 2017-18 vintage to make a massive impression.
The former England striker said: “We’ve not made an impact for a while but I think that is about to change next season, absolutely. Especially with Chelsea.
“They will take on anyone toe to toe in terms of quality and I can’t imagine anyone stuffing them.
“With all due respect, the last group of teams we had, you could pick holes in them all.
“Leicester were playing at that level for the first time and they did remarkably well and only lost to Atletico Madrid. Spurs were playing games at Wembley, and in a different stadium it’s never easy – as they discovered.
“Arsenal had a tough season and got a stinking draw, then Manchester City and Pep Guardiola were trying to introduce a new way of playing. So no-one did that well.
“Next season, hopefully Spurs will be getting used to it at Wembley and put in good performances.
“Manchester United will be massively strong, so will City.
“And who goes to Anfield and has it easy with Liverpool?
“I would be a bit distraught if we don’t get at least one club to the final. I think it will be a our strongest representation in years and I will be amazed if we don’t have two semi-finalists.”
Owen believes Juventus could spring a shock against Real Madrid in Cardiff.
He said: “People see Italian teams as dogged and determined, but Juventus attack cleverly.
“I like Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain is a born finisher.
“Gianluigi Buffon is still an absolutely top keeper and defensively they are brilliant.”