Conte in a league (almost) of his own
IT HAS been another great weekend from the wide world of sports. Congratulations to Antonio Conte and his Chelsea team for winning the Premier League title with two games to spare.
From as early as November last year, Chelsea had a grip on the trophy and despite one or two hiccups, they got the wins when it mattered most and that is the mark of champions. Winning against the odds.
Conte will join an elite group of managers who have won the title in their first season in the division. He’s the fourth, and interestingly, two of the others, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, also achieved this feat with Chelsea (Manuel Pellegrini was the other one to do so at Manchester City).
Of these managers, only Ancelotti has won a Premier League and FA Cup double, which is something that Conte could still be on track for, with his team facing the prospect of a final against Arsenal at Wembley.
Chelsea’s League Coronation will take place at Stamford Bridge, in their last game against already relegated Sunderland this Sunday.
In their last game at White hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur were on song to record a clinical win over Manchester United, who by all indications have decided to chase glory in the Europa Cup Final. A top four finish in the EPL looks a bridge too far for United.
The Europa final between United and Ajax is set for May 24. Tottenham’s win was a fitting farewell to White Hart Lane after 118 years. The game was attended by over 50 former Tottenham greats, including Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles and David Ginola.
Tottenham will play at Wembley next season and return to the rebuilt White Hart Lane in 2019.
Liverpool’s four nil win against West Ham reminded me of their early season form, when they really set the league alight with so much promise.
But, as we all know, Liverpool battled against teams from the lower half of the league and especially on their home ground of Anfield, where they were expected to win games they eventually lost. That form can only be described as a conundrum wrapped up in an enigma.
Take the game against Watford, where The Reds battled for most of the game, and had it not been for that magnificent over-head bicycle kick from Emre Can, Liverpool would have had nothing to write home about. That worldclass goal will go down as one of the goals of the season in the Premier League, as well as one of the all time best goals for Liverpool FC. A great goal indeed!
Liverpool are on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League and their destiny is now in their own hands. A win against the already relegated Middlesborough this Sunday is a must and a Champions League berth will be celebrated by Liverpool fans around the globe.
SO IT’S going to be a Real Madrid vs Juventus Uefa Champions League final in Cardiff on June 3. Both finalists were made to work hard for their respective wins against Atletico Madrid and Monaco to set up a mouthwatering final clash.
Atletico had threatened an incredible comeback, but Real kept their cool to score another and seal the fate of the game in their favour.
After international club football, I find the quality of the Uefa Champions League football, apart from the World Cup, that is, just a pleasure to watch. It is really entertaining.
ARSENE Wenger has really been dodging the bullets but at the same time has come up with a good few wins. However, it seems that the Arsenal fans still want Wenger out.
It would be rather interesting to see what happens, assuming that the Gunners win the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 27. So while the EPL and teams in leagues around the world play their last few games, there is still some great action to watch in the FA Cup final, the Europa final and the Uefa Champions League final.
THE business end of the IPL kicks in this week and by the time you read this, I will be in India to watch the one semifinal and the grand final game in Hyderabad.
I was fortunate to be at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium when India outclassed the West Indians in a 50-over game some years ago, so I am looking forward to a new experience in this T20 format, although I will be there working.
If what we see on TV is anything to go by, then I know that this is going to be a mindblowing experience, which I hope to share with you in my next article.
Until then, Happy Sporting.
Naresh Maharaj is sports editor/ presenter on