Fascinating subplots in new campaign
WHO CAN MAKE TRUE HISTORY?
All of a sudden, there’s a lot more at stake for the big clubs beyond even the biggest prize. Most obviously, another victory for Bayern Munich would not just see a team retain the trophy for the first time in 24 years. It would also mean Pep Guardiola finally matching Bob Paisley’s record of three wins, while also becoming just the fifth coach to lift it with two different teams. Two of that number, however, are also chasing the former Liverpool man’s landmark. Jose Mourinho can match it at Chelsea, while becoming the first coach to win it with three clubs, and Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping to claim his third and Real Madrid’s historic 10th. With Rafa Benitez the only other coach in this season’s competition to win it, all other 28 will be hoping for their maiden trophy.
THEME OF THE SEASON
It’s quite ironic that, of all the teams actually competing to win the trophy, it is only really those considered the freshest last season that have avoided a huge change in the summer. Because, while Borussia Dortmund and Juventus have kept their coaches, all of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City and — most of all — Manchester United are adjusting to new eras. That amount of change could well accentuate the nuances of a knockout competition, and open it up even more. Certainly, none of those sides have looked anyway complete in the early stages of this season. After the signing of Mesut Ozil, that other old stalwart Arsene Wenger might well see it as the opportunity to finally win that first European trophy.
FIXTURE OF THE GROUP STAGE
For all the glamour of matches featuring former winners like Real Madrid v Juventus and Barcelona v Milan, the problem is that the difference between such sides is already too large or their groups too lopsided. That is not the case with Arsenal v Napoli, which may go a long way to deciding the tightest pool in the tournament. Added to that, as well as the complications provided by Borussia Dortmund and Marseille, there is the backstory: the previous rivalry between Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez, and Napoli’s late capture of Gonzalo Higuain. The forward could be key in more ways than one.
LIKELIEST SHOCK EXIT
This time, Manchester City have finally enjoyed a moderate draw, but the same cannot be said of their neighbours or Arsenal — let alone AC Milan. While Manchester United are not up against a truly elite side such as Borussia Dortmund, all three teams in their group present very awkward challenges. David Moyes could perhaps have done with one minnow in order to ease his acclimatisation to the competition. Milan, meanwhile, could perhaps have done without the challenge of another vibrant Dutch young team. In the qualifiers, they came close to being eliminated by PSV Eindhoven, and a superior Ajax are well capable of finishing the job.
LIKELIEST SURPRISE PACKAGE
As overwhelming as the cabal of super-clubs are becoming, there’s always one side that undercuts a fair few of them and causes ructions until at least the quarter-finals. This season, Galatasaray have the wealth and structure to put it up to Juventus and Real Madrid, just as they did with the latter last year. Real Sociedad, similarly, may take advantage of the tight balance in Manchester United’s group. Most of all, though, a favourable draw could facilitate Porto’s passage to an easier last-eight draw before their vibrancy causes superior sides problems. One man may have a significant say in that...
MANAGER TO WATCH
Porto, it must be said, have as successful a record in producing managers as they do players. And the latest, Paolo Fonseca, has already matched the feats of both Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas in achieving unprecedented success with lesser clubs. In 2009-10, he led second division CD Pinhalnovense to the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, before last season guiding Pacos de Ferreria to a Champions League place and their highest ever finish. His personality and dynamic approach has already impressed at Porto, with a 100% record so far.
PLAYER TO WATCH
The expectation was that Siem De Jong would leave Ajax for a big club this summer, but he could yet trouble a few of them this season. An attacker who can play pretty much anywhere across the front line and fully reflects the Dutch club’s philosophy, he has developed a knack for influencing the biggest games. He is well capable of running the fixtures against Milan and Celtic.
