Who Wants It More – Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea or Manchester United?
Barcelona and Manchester United have already won the Champions League in recent years. Arsenal and Chelsea are recent losing finalists (to the opposite teams – there’s a nice symmetry there). It seems reasonable to assume that Arsenal and Chelsea are more ‘desperate’ to win the Champions League title because they’ve never won it.
Some people think it could have a say on who wins the Champions League semis at the end of April. Not me. Wanting to win has little to do with it, it’s how much you’re willing to give up to win it that counts, along with how good your players are.
Do you remember the Arsenal-Barcelona final? At the end of the game, Barcelona kept plugging away, they pushed themselves more and they got through because they tried. Arsenal were first-time finalists, I’m sure Henry ‘wanted’ to win more than anyone else. But did he do enough?
Do you remember the Chelsea-Manchester United final? Where Anelka was sulking at being subbed in so late, where Drogba couldn’t control himself in the biggest game of his career and where Terry couldn’t keep his feet on the ground, the ultimate professional and the best English midfielder in the Premier League scored, the cocky winger who everyone hates scored, a young Brazilian who had never scored for his team and had been brought on just for penalties scored and an over-the-hill keeper saved the penalty and won the game.
The first group didn’t do enough. The second group did. And that’s what counts.
Do you remember the Liverpool-Milan final in 2005? The second half was all about Liverpool doing everything in their power to win, and Milan not doing enough to stop them.
Are Arsenal or Chelsea better than their rivals? Maybe. Maybe not. But where they need to prove themselves is on the pitch, whether they can sacrifice enough to win on the day. And to make it happen, they’ll have to change and do what they haven’t done before.
Can Wenger make it so? Can Terry and co. get past the final frontier?
Topics: Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United, UEFA Champions League
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At the end of the game, Barcelona kept plugging away, they pushed themselves more and they got through because they tried. Arsenal were first-time finalists, I’m sure Henry ‘wanted’ to win more than anyone else. But did he do enough?
Errr – having 11 men against Arsenal’s 10 might have given Barcelona a bit of an edge in terms of stamina…
April 17th, 2009 @ 19:15Very poor article. I don’t have any comments about your claim in principle, it may or may not be true but the examples you used to prove your point was ridiculous.
Did you forget that in the Arsenal-Barcelona final Arsenal were playing with 10 men for the entire game? They still managed to not only score a goal but also create a lot many clear cut chances that they could not convert. Henry was playing out of his skin and was defending from the back and his reward for a perfect tackle in the beginning of the second half was a unfair yellow card that Marquez and Puyol deserved for kicking at Henry all night. Ofocurse when you are on a yellow you are more conservative, they had extra substitutions that Arsenal could afford ecause Arsenal already had used up their following the sending off. What cahnged the game was henrik larsson in the 70th minute, not one teams drive or heart to win arguably over an offside goal.
In the Chelsea Manchester final it was clear at the end of the game that which team tried to play the football and which team was happy defending. One slip of John Terry does not mean that Chelsea did not want it that bad as United.
April 17th, 2009 @ 19:58Barca didn’t in win 2006 because they tried harder; they won because Arsenal were exhausted after playing for 72 minutes with 10 men (and defending a lead for most of that time). They had to use an inexperienced Almunia in net too.
Barca were a terrific side and worthy winners but only an idiot would say they won because they simply wanted it more.
April 17th, 2009 @ 20:18Right, Chelsea wanted it more last year, it was crystal clear they did, Man Utd scored and then never threatened again, Chelsea scored then hit the woodwork twice and Tevez resorted to time wasting, which led to the riot involving Drogba’s Red card. I think you need to find out facts before publishing an article full of random opinion.
April 18th, 2009 @ 01:15* Red card
April 18th, 2009 @ 01:16regarding the Arsenal v Chelsea game – yea, one very good excuse for Arsenal not winning is the red card. And no, I didn’t say they wanted it more. I said they were willing to do more to get it. Arsenal, well, the keeper didn’t keep his head, the star striker didn’t shine when called upon, so you tell me, if Arsenal can keep Barca at bay for 72 minutes and play well while doing so, why not go all the way?
Because the big guys, they didn’t do enough.
Chelsea v Manchester United – people seem to have rewritten history very quickly here. First half was United, second half Chelsea, even at 90 minutes, extra time was fairly even, and then they blew it on the penalties.
Again, *read* people. Not about wanting it more, it’s about doing more on the pitch. Drogba could have kept his head. Anelka could have played for the team. These guys ballsed it up, maybe they wanted it more but they weren’t willing to do enough to get it.
April 18th, 2009 @ 05:51@matthew ‘I think you need to find out facts before publishing an article full of random opinion’
isn’t ahmed allowed to write an opinionated piece? is football a game where we all believe our own opinion and no one else’s? whether or not he finds out ‘facts’ or not, people are going to disagree. i’m sick of people arguing blindly (no matter what side they follow) with journalists who are merely putting one side across. give us all a break and post something constructive if you’re going to post at all.
April 18th, 2009 @ 12:53@Matthew:”Man Utd scored and then never threatened again,”
You’re the one who mentions facts so let me remind you.
I recall a raking 50 yard pass from Rooney to Ronaldo, a 1st time cross and a diving header by Tevez which Cech just kept out.
Then there was Carrick with the rebound dead straight in front of goal and an excellent one handed save by Cech.
Rooney’s early cross to Tevez who was a stud length away from converting.
Then there was Giggs’ effort in extra time where Terry just about got back to head clear from under the crossbar.
Apart from Lampard’s effort that hit the post, those were the best chances of a laregly defensive and cagey game.
Chelsea’s goal though was a classic (not).
As for suggesting that Drogba’s behaviour was all Tevez’s fault……..well….I rest my case!
April 19th, 2009 @ 03:37In my opinion to the discussions everyteam whants to win the champions league some teams fear others thats what puts them down. I am a chelsea fan and I have a fealing, actually I know chelsea will win it this year and the finalist would be a re-run of manchester united vs chelsea.
April 20th, 2009 @ 17:00