NEY LEAVING EUROPE

 AUTHOR- ANUPAM GAURAV 

Image Credit- FC Barcelona.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Couple of days ago , we were hit by a shocking decision made by Neymar Jr aka Juninho that has reverberated throughout the world of football and beyond: his departure from Europe. Neymar, a name synonymous with skill, flair, and a remarkable talent for the beautiful game, has bid farewell to the European football stage.

His journey on the European fields has been nothing short of extraordinary. From his early days at Barcelona, where he formed an iconic trio with Messi and Suarez, to his time at Paris Saint-Germain, where he showcased his prowess and entertained fans with his remarkable skills. Neymar's presence has been felt not just on the pitch, but also in the hearts of countless football enthusiasts around the world.

As he embarks on a new chapter, we are reminded of the impact he has made during his European sojourn. His artistry with the ball, his ability to create magic out of thin air, and his dedication to his craft have left an indelible mark on the sport. Neymar's departure marks the end of an era, but it also signals the start of a new adventure for him, a chance to explore new challenges and continue to captivate audiences on a different stage.

As we bid farewell to Neymar's European journey, let us celebrate the moments of joy, wonder and inspiration he has provided us over the years. Neymar's legacy is firmly etched in the annals of football history, and his departure is not an end, but rather a new beginning.

Thank you, Neymar, for the memories, the magic, and the moments that will forever be cherished. Your impact on the sport will continue to resonate, and your name will echo in the stadiums and hearts of football fans worldwide.

Thank you.

THE NEW BEGINNINGS

 

Image Credit- Premier League.

Today Chelsea F.C. will start their Premier League Campaign against mighty Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. The last season was a season which no Chelsea fan would like to remember.  It was even worse than the 2015-16 season. The club failed to win any silverware. Furthermore, we finished 12th in the league because of which there will be no European Football in West London this season. At one stage it even looked that we might get relegated, but somehow, we survived. It is noteworthy that previous season was so bad that winning a game became a distant dream for the men in blue. Even a draw gave us joy. 

However, in the last couple of months there has been signings and releases. Most of the players from the 2020-22 seasons have been released and we have a young squad in hand. Furthermore, we also have a new coach and a captain who will be wanting to win as many trophies as possible. 

Will Chelsea FC win anything this year or will we get relegated. The answer lies in the womb of time. But, for the time being we can only hope for the best. 

THE WOES CONTINUE

 

Image Credit- Bavarian Football Works.

A couple of days ago, Harry Kane left his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspurs for German Giant Bayern Munich. One of the reasons why he left Spurs was his inability to win a trophy. The English Striker is 30 years old and has scored innumerable number of goals for both his club and country. Unfortunately, he has not won a single silverware for any of the teams he has played. As a result, he made a move to Bayern Munich. 

Unfortunately, the woes continued as the Bundesliga Champion was thrashed 3-0 by RB Leipzig in the DFL Super Cup. Harry Kane was on the cusp of winning his first trophy in the first game itself. But alas he couldn't. Furthermore, it is also an alarming sign for Bayern Munich who are not playing the best of football since their former manager's sacking. 

It was only because of Borussia Dortmund's inconsistency that they won the league last year. But will the same happen again. We don't know. However, for the time being it looks all bleak for the German Giants and their Star Striker Harry Kane. 

NORMAL SERVICES RESUMED

 

Image Credit- The Guardian.

The Premier League 2023-24 season has begun. On Matchday 1, Champions Manchester City were facing Burnley at the Turf Moor. A few days earlier the men in blue failed to win the Community Shield match against Arsenal. City as well as their start striker Erling Haaland's performance was below par. So questions were coming in whether City is losing its spark. But, what happened yesterday silenced every critic. 

Manchester City just blew away Burnley at their home. It was indeed a dominant performance by the European Champions. Erling Haaland was back in the scoresheet as he scored the first as well as second goal of this Premier League Season. At the end of half-time City were 2-0 up and were looking more blood. In the next 45 minutes they managed to score one more goal. This time it was Rodri who got his name into the scoresheet.

At the end of 90 minutes the scorecard read Manchester City 3-0 Burnley. It was indeed a dominating performance.  The Champions are up and running and are coming for their 4th consecutive Premier League Trophy.  

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER

 

Image Credit- CNN

The year 2008-2012 were golden years for Spanish Football. They lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012. However post their defeat in the 2013 Confederation Cup final, there have been a constant downfall for the Spanish National Side. In the 2014 World Cup they were knocked out in the group stage itself. In Euro 2016 and 2018 FIFA WC, they ended up in round of 16. Though they put a fightback in the 2021 European Championship wherein they finished as semi-finalist and were also the finalists of the 2021 Nations League Tournament, but their performance in the 2022 World Cup was below satisfactory.

However 6 months later they made a comeback which no one expected. Beating all odds they went on to win the 2023 UEFA Nations League Tournament. The 3rd edition of the UEFA Nations League final took place in Netherlands. The 4 teams who made it into the semi-final stage were Netherlands, Croatia, Spain and Italy. In a close encounter Croatia beat Netherlands and Spain beat Italy to reach the finals of the tournament. Both the semi-final games were equally entertaining as the winner was decided in the final minutes of the game.

The final was equally exciting like the semi-final as both teams gave their best. The strikers of both the teams were continuously trying to break the defense of their opponent, but the defense of both the team stood strong. 

At the end of 120 minutes, the match went into penalties wherein Spain won the game 5-4. It was another heartbreak for the Croatians who in the past few years have been consistently performing well in the prestigious tournaments, but failing to win a silverware. However as soon as Spain won, the celebrations begun in entire Spain as they were successful in lifting an international trophy after 11 long years. Their wait was finally over. 

THE UPSET

 

Image Credit- The Guardian.

Premier League and F.A. Cup Champions Manchester City were facing Arsenal in the Community Shield Game at Wembley. Everyone expected this to be a one-sided affair as Manchester City blew every opponent whom they faced last season. Even the Gunners were demolished by the men in blue at both home and away. However football is a game of uncertainty. Anyone can beat anyone on their day and that is what happened yesterday. 

Gunners succeeded in winning the Community Shield game by the barest of margins. Why I am saying so- Because the men in blue were leading till the 100th minute of the game, but in the nick of time the Gunners got an equalizer by a deflection.  Due to this the match went into penalty shoot out in which Arsenal emerged as winners. 

The impossible had happened. City has finally been defeated. Manchester City lost the Community Shield last year as well and after that they made a historic comeback. Will they make a comeback again? The answer lies in the womb of time. However for the time being the march of the Invincibles have been stopped by the Original Invincibles. 

THE RISE OF SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

 

Image Credit- Goal.

In January 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Saudi Arabian Club Al Nassr. It was a surprise move as no superstar of the game have ever gone to Saudi Arabia. Mostly it's the MLS where the aging footballers usually used to go. Xavi and Iniesta made an exception and went to Qatar and Japan respectively, but Saudi Arabia, no one. As a result, when Ronaldo made a move to the Middle East, a lot of players slammed him, and fans ridiculed him.

However, 6 months later the tables have completely turned. It is because Ronaldo's move has paved a way to the Middle East. In 6 months' time we have seen big names like Benzema, Kante, Gerrad, Mane and many more moving towards Asia. It is expected that in coming years many more players will join this league. 

It cannot be denied that the move towards the Middle East is driven by money and not by the quality of football, but these players can certainly raise the bar of Asian football. How long will the Saudi League go, It's hard to answer it right now, but one thing is certain and that is Saudi Pro League is on a rise. 

THANK YOU DAVE

 

Image Credit- Daily Sabah 

On July 6, 2023, Chelsea Skipper Cesar Azpilicueta, aka 'Dave' left Chelsea after a spell of 11 long years. It was an emotional moment for both players and the fans to let their favorite go away from them. In these 11 years he literally became a part of our Club. Our Captain Our Hero. Not only he was a wonderful player, but also a marvelous leader. It was under him that against all odds Blues went on to win their second Champions League title in Portugal. Furthermore, his leadership again came into action when Chelsea's future was in uncertainty amidst the Russia-Ukraine War. Like a true leader he always led from the front in the time of crisis. 

Furthermore, as a player he helped us win innumerable trophies -League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Europa Cup. The list goes long and so are the memories. Today he is no longer a Chelsea Player. To be honest his absence will always be felt in the Stamford Bridge. 

Wishing you all the best Dave for your future spell at Madrid. Goodbye Dave. You will be missed. 

THE BEAUTY OF LEAGUE FOOTBALL

 

Image Credit- Reuters.

On May 27, 2023, Bayern Munich won their 10th consecutive Bundesliga title. However, this time both the Champions and the Runners Up had same number of points, but Bayern edged out Dortmund on the basis of goal difference. At the end of Match Day 33, Borussia Dortmund were 2 points ahead of Bayern Munich. Furthermore, if they would have won the final match, they would have won the league. But, alas on the final day they choked in their own backyard. The men in yellow drew their last game, whereas the Bavarians won their final game. Both the team ended up with same number of points, but the men in red had a better goal difference. So, the trophy remained in Bavaria. 

In case of England, Arsenal remained on the top of the table for nearly 8 months. However, in the final month Manchester City just blew them away and went on to win their third consecutive title. It will not be wrong to say that yes Manchester City did play well, but even Arsenal lost their form at the most crucial stage of the league. 

Furthermore, this is something not new. Few years ago, in La Liga Real Madrid faced the same thing. Their inconsistency in the 2014-15 season cost them the La Liga title. In simple words if you want to win the league you need to be consistent throughout the season or else someone else will win the league. This is the beauty of league football. It's not one or two games which decides fate, but the entire season of 38 or 34 games is crucial for winning this elusive trophy.