All eyes will be on Bolton in Lancashire on Saturday. That’s when Chelsea’s 50-year championship drought is scheduled to come to an emphatic end.
Sam Allardyce’s Wanderers will do all they can to poop the party but let’s be frank— Frank Lampard for that matter — even defeat at Bolton isn’t going to stop the Jose Mourinho express.
This is all going to plan, of course.
Under Claudio Ranieri last season, Chelsea finished second. The title is a natural progression for a side that cost upwards of £200-million to assemble, for a squad so well-paid, with such depth of quality, you’ve got Joe Cole competing with Damien Duff and Arjen Robben for a place in the first team.
Injuries and suspensions pale into insignificance when you’ve got a boss like Roman Abramovich and his chequebook.
That said, Mourinho continues to impress. About half-a-dozen luminaries this week hailed him as the best manager in the world. Two of his players, John Terry (winner of the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award last Sunday, as exclusively revealed in the Mail & Guardian) and Lampard beat the magnificent but injured Premiership top-scorer Thierry Henry in to third place in the vote among their peers.
Petr Cech is now generally regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world (ahead of his understudy Carlo Cudicini, especially after the antics of Southampton’s Anti Niemi last weekend), Joe Cole is buzzing and the departure of players like Hernan Crespo, Celestine Babayaro, Adrian Mutu, Jesper Gronkjaer, Mario Melchiot, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Carlton Cole and others left behind by Ranieri has hardly been noticed.
Mourinho capped it all last week when he said before Arsenal’s Monday night clash with rival Spurs: ”I love Tottenham, they’ve always been one of my favourite clubs, but I hope they lose. I don’t want to be celebrating the championship until Bolton next weekend.”
Mind you, anyone who saw his celebrations after Lampard’s goal in the 3-1 win against Fulham last week knows that’s all kidology. He wants that title in the bag as fast as anybody.
What we love about Mourinho is his exuberance, his will to win. We’ve had two apparently dodgy meetings with rival players (Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand), two allegations of referee bending (Manchester United and Barcelona), one instance of crowd shushing (during the League Cup final win over Liverpool) and plenty of other shenanigans.
And though the British press have hounded him, he has been perhaps the brightest arrival the Premiership has ever seen. When a Porto fan spat on him before Chelsea’s meeting with his old club in the Champions League earlier in the season, Mourinho simply shrugged it off.
In Portugal, the nation stops when he is interviewed. Here he has introduced new fashions, like cashmere coats and suits without ties, stubble and stylish trouble.
Before Wednesday’s all-English Champions League semifinal against Liverpool, we had Mourinho telling us: ”When I first arrived at Chelsea I had just won the Champions League with Porto. I said I was something special because I had become the European Champion two days before. So I arrived here with a big ego. Now it is even bigger.”
Cue huge guffaws all round. It may look like the tabloids dislike him but the truth is, he’s been a welcome breath of fresh air, honest about his intentions, his arrogance, his determination and his iron will to win.
He’s led Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson a merry dance, and whatever happens in the Champions League, whatever happens in Bolton on Saturday, this has been the Year of Jose. We salute the former interpreter, failed footballer who says: ”There is no pressure on me. I am a lucky guy. I enjoy it all very much.”
Here then, the full run-down of the weekend action.
Brum vs Blackburn
Rovers did the relegation candidates a bit of a favour by coming back to draw 1-1 with West Brom on Tuesday night but in truth both of these sides, despite significant spending, may find themselves scuffling about in the basement next season. Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes were great Manchester United stalwarts, but I’m not sure either of them has proved much of a manager. Former Birmingham midfielder Robbie Savage — now with Blackburn — will be the story here, if he’s available.
Verdict: Birmingham 1 Blackburn 0
Bolton vs Chelsea
All eyes will be on the Reebok stadium as Chelsea attempt to pick up the win they need to secure their first title since 1955, when players travelled to games on trains and smoked in a communal bath after victory. Chelsea gathered 53 points to gain that title. They’re in a slightly better position this time around. They should have what it takes, though Euro-bound Bolton won’t make it easy.
Verdict: Bolton 1 Chelsea 2
Fulham vs Everton
One win should see Fulham safe — but Everton are in the desperate fight for fourth place and a Champions League spot. Latest reports suggest they’ll get the nod over archrivals Liverpool if they maintain their surprise fourth placing, but Duncan Ferguson apart, they’ve been showing signs of weariness in recents weeks. Keep an eye on former Arsenal striker Luis Boa Morte here, the Portuguese player has been in fine form for Fulham of late.
Verdict: Fulham 2 Everton 0
Liverpool vs Boro
Sandwiched between the European semifinals, Liverpool may just slip up here and concede fourth place to Everton. Their Premiership form remains inexplicably poor. Middlesbrough? Ditto. Did well enough in the Uefa Cup but have under-performed domestically. Need Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at his eye-popping best.
Verdict: Liverpool 2 Boro 1
Man City vs Pompey
Alain Perrin has done enough to keep Portsmouth safe for another season — poor old Southampton were awful last week, though. Stuart Pearce remains under scrutiny as caretaker manager at the City of Manchester stadium and a solid win here should help. With Shaun Wright-Phillips, my young player of the year even over the winner, Wayne Rooney, back in action, that’s what it should be.
Verdict: City 4 Portsmouth 0
Newcastle vs Palace
It took just three weeks for Newcastle’s season to explode. The Lee Bowyer/Kieron Dyer row was followed by semifinal defeats in the Uefa and FA Cups, both heavy, morale-sapping knock-outs. Palace, with Andy Johnson head and shoulders better than any other English striker in the Premiership, have never been so desperate. After the AJ-inspired win over Liverpool, who can stop Iain Dowie’s men? Not Graeme Souness and his tired bunch.
Verdict: Newcastle 2 Palace 4
Saints vs Norwich
Harry Redknapp’s magic appears to have deserted him. Has a relegation-threatened side ever played so badly in a local derby? Portsmouth won on cruise control. Norwich, on the other hand, are showing real signs of the grit and determination required for a Great Escape. Redknapp says his side are too quiet. I’d suggest it was the injury to Peter Crouch’s hamstring during the warm-up that cost them. Crouch is their only hope.
Verdict: Southampton 1 Norwich 1
Charlton vs Man United
Two very weary-looking sides here. United have the FA Cup to perk things up as the end of season approaches. Charlton have nothing. Just another disappointing finish to a season that promised so much. Wayne Rooney’s wonder-goal (and that flukey first-ever Premiership goal from the back of Wes Brown’s head) saved United against Newcastle last week. No doubt somebody will produce something against Charlton too — but it’s not been a great year for Ferguson, FA Cup or not.
Verdict: Charlton 2 ManUnited 2
Tottenham vs Villa
Spurs didn’t really deserve a point in the North London derby at Highbury on Monday, but they did enough to suggest that they will start next season under Martin Jol as top-six candidates. Villa should be about the same, though David O’Leary has a bit of shopping to do. Spurs have a young side that is full of potential. I’m not sure about Villa, they’re too up and down.
Verdict: Spurs 2 Villa 0
West Brom vs Arsenal
Tough one for Arsenal this. All those fancy-pants foreigners like Robin van Persie and Jose Sebastian Reyes count for nothing when you’re playing a Baggies side fired up to escape relegation by Bryan Robson. This will be a night when Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira have to dominate and keep their cool. I think the Baggies may snatch a point, but relegation remains the likely option.
Verdict: West Brom 0 Arsenal 0