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Richard Sutcliffe: Choker for Platini as cream rises to top once again
MICHEL PLATINI might be choking on his croissant at the Champions League semi-finals featuring three English clubs for a third successive year.
But there really cannot be any doubt that Europe's premier competition is once again set to provide the sort of entertainment that fans crave when Manchester United take on Arsenal and Chelsea battle with Barcelona in the last four.
Platini, who since becoming UEFA president in 2006, has been a vehement critic of the way foreign players and owners have poured into English football, might not like it, but the cream has risen to the top again.
Such is the quality of the four clubs who have reached the last four that they all have a very persuasive argument as to why their name might just be on the famous old trophy this year.
Barcelona, for instance, have the competition's top scorer in Lionel Messi, a player who can win a game in the blink of an eye. The Catalans' passing has been a joy to watch in recent years but, perhaps most importantly, Pep Guardiola has brought discipline and steel to a potent attacking team that has scored an incredible 87 goals in 30 La Liga games.
Chelsea, their opponents in the Nou Camp on April 28, will counter this by pointing out how Guus Hiddink's arrival has reinvigorated a talented squad. Ten wins and one defeat in 13 games might not be enough to bring Premier League glory but it suggests that the season may not necessarily end without another trophy residing in SW6.
There will, of course, have to be no repeat of the defensive frailty that has allowed Bolton and Liverpool to score seven goals in the past week at Stamford Bridge. But those who feel the loss of Ashley Cole through suspension for the first leg in Barcelona is too big a handicap to overcome clearly have not been watching the England full-back much this season.
Plus, with Messi often cutting inside from the flank, maybe a right-footed player filling in at left-back will stand a better chance of containing the Argentinian genius.
As for the other two semi-finalists, had United been paired with Arsenal a couple of months ago then the Old Trafford hordes could already have booked their trip to Rome for the final.
The north London club seemed to be in disarray with Aston Villa threatening to force their way into the top four at the expense of a Gunners outfit that lacked experience, steel and guile due to Arsene Wenger having put too much emphasis on youth.
Since then, however, they have been transformed with the return of Cesc Fabregas together with the blossoming of the young talent at the Emirates meaning Arsenal suddenly look like they could end a four-year wait for silverware.
Standing in their way in the Champions League are the European and world champions, a side who have been the standout performers of the season at home and abroad.
Certainly, United's 1-0 win in Porto this week was a display of worthy champions and if Rio Ferdinand can remain fit then Sir Alex Ferguson's side have every chance of retaining their crown.
Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid the last four teams in the competition is that picking a winner in the semi-finals is almost impossible, never mind who will lift the trophy come May 27. That is testament to the high quality of English football right now, no matter what Monsieur Platini might think.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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