TOP TWO OF ELITE SQUADS
I DON’T think it makes me a rocket scientist, but I was predicting an all-English final of the Champions League (again) right at the start of this season’s competition.
And I see no reason to change my mind on that at this stage. Again, it doesn’t make me Sherlock Holmes, but I’ve maintained for a long time that Liverpool and Manchester City have two of the greatest squads in football history.
So it’s no surprise that a favourable draw could pitch them against each other in the final. They are head and shoulders above the rest.
Real Madrid are not the team they were. Yes, they produced a few moments of magic against Chelsea to get to the semifinal, but I think most people can see that the English team should have won that tie.
Real are a threat to City, especially because they don’t have the programme in Spain that the top two in the Premier League must endure because of their success.
The same applies to Villarreal, who are a far better team than most people realise.
But, even with Liverpool playing what seems like a titanic game every two days, they should have too much for Unai Emery’s side.
And you know what, I don’t see that changing much for the foreseeable future.
City and Liverpool have such incredible squads – and such brilliant, intelligent recruitment – that they are not going to suddenly disappear next season.
That’s what sets them apart. How many mistakes do they make in the transfer market? When was the last time they made a big signing and it didn’t work?
They do their due diligence, which helps.
But they both have defined philosophies, clear identities and they both have ruthless criteria in the transfer market.
Neither club will be spaffing £30million+ a year on a 37-year-old.
Manchester United could take note. Everton too, and so many other clubs.
I think that is the greatest achievement of these two clubs: they have two of the greatest managers in history, two of the greatest squads, and probably two of the greatest teams. And they have that because they have the structure and identity to deliver those things.