THE ULTIMATE CHAMPION

 

Image Credit- Sky Sports.

In a previous post we have already discussed about the title win of Bayer Leverkusen. However, at the end we posed a question that whether they will end up as invincible or not. After a month we did get the answer. The Leverkusen Side are the new Invincibles now. Defying all odds they went on to win the league without suffering a single defeat. Furthermore, they also completed a double as they were successful in lifting the DFB-Pokal as well. Unfortunately, they failed to win the Europa League Final against Atlanta or else it would have been a perfect invincible season. 

But, despite their defeat in the Europa League Final one can easily say that this was one of the greatest seasons of Bayer Leverkusen. What they have achieved in a year is a dream for every club. Xabi Alonso has indeed come a long way now. 

TAKE A BOW COVENTRY

 

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It was the semi-final of the prestigious FA Cup wherein a strong Manchester United were facing a not so strong club Coventry F.C. It appeared that it is just a matter of time, and the Red Devils will blow away their opponents. A repeat of the 2023 FA Cup final was well on the cards. Furthermore, at one stage the men in red were also leading the tie 3-0. It looked all over for Coventry. 

But this is when we witnessed an iconic comeback from the underdogs. The men in blue scored 3 quick goals and levelled the tie 3-3. It could have been 4-3, but the VAR spoiled their party. The match eventually went into the penalty shootout wherein the men in red held their nerves and came out as the winners. 

Even though Manchester United were the winners of the game, but it was Coventry who won the heart of every football fan. Take a bow Coventry F.C. You have made everyone proud.  

LEICESTER IS BACK

 

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The 2015-16 Season was one of the most iconic seasons in the history of Premier League. Leicester City defying all odds became the Champions of England. Furthermore, in the very next season, they managed to reach the Quarter-Finals Stage of the UEFA Champions League. However, post that we had some low years, but in 2021 they beat the favorites Chelsea in the Final of the FA Cup and lifted the prestigious trophy. 

Unfortunately, they did not do well in the 2022-23 season and were relegated to the EFL Championship. Everyone felt that this is the end of the club, and their star players will leave. However, this is when Captain Vardy led from the front and took his team back to the place where they belong. 

The Foxes have won the EFL Championship and are back in the Premier League. Captain Vardy have become a symbol of character and loyalty for football fans all over the world. The next season is definitely going to be an interesting one. Afterall our favorites are back in the Premier League. 

JURGEN AND EUROPEAN NIGHTS

 

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On Thursday Atlanta knocked out Liverpool from the Europa League Quarterfinals. Despite winning the second leg, Liverpool failed to get past the Italian Side on aggregate.  As a result, this game marked the last European Game Liverpool played under Jurgen Klopp. It is because Jurgen has decided to step down as the Liverpool Manger after the end of this season. 

Anfield and European Nights have always had a special relationship, and this relationship became even more better under the charismatic Jurgen Klopp. Not only their record improved, but they also won the coveted Champions League Trophy. Apart from winning the UCL Title in 2019, they were also the runners up in the 2018 and 2022 Editions wherein they lost to Real Madrid on both occasions. Furthermore, the kind of football which Liverpool played under him was a treat to eyes.  Next Season the men in red will be playing in the Champions League. However, there will be no Jurgen on the touchline. We will be seeing a new Liverpool Manager after a decade. Everyone will surely miss Klopp. Afterall no one can replace him. 

BAYER LEVERKUSEN ARE THE GERMAN CHAMPIONS

 

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Bayer Leverkusen have finally won their first Bundesliga title. In October 2022 when Xabi Alonso joined Leverkusen they were not in their best of form. They were struggling at the 17th position in an 18-team league.  But today the scene is different. 

They are no longer Neverkusen as they have eventually taken home the trophy after a chic and entertaining hammering of every German Team.  It is fascinating to see that Leverkusen won their 25th game of the season, in just their 29th game overall. They are currently champions for precisely that reason. With their incredible season-long play, Alonso's team has finally put an end to Bayern Munich's hegemony. 

When the final whistle was blown the entire stadium erupted in joy and happiness. The fans ran over the pitch and the ground was immersed in the colors of Leverkusen. There were tears all. Afterall the impossible has happened. FC Bayern Munich have been beaten for the first time in 11 years. After facing heartbreaks for so many time, Bayer Leverkusen are eventually the champions of Germany.  

It is interesting to note that this was the first full season of Xabi as a Manager, and he pulled out one of the greatest wins in sporting history. However, the job is not done yet as they have 3 more challenges coming in the next one month. The German Champions have a chance of ending this season as invincible. Furthermore, they also have a chance to complete a treble. How much will they win in this historic football season. The answer lies in the womb of time. But, for the time being it's all gold for Xabi and his men. 

HOW THE CHAMPIONS HAVE FALLEN

 

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On April 2, 2022, I wrote a piece on this website when my club lifted the League Winners Shield. It was truly an incredible season as defying all odds we won the League Winners Shield. There was joy and happiness all around. Afterall it was our first silverware. The fans were excited as our own club was in the race of Asian Football. We started dreaming about international stars coming to Jamshedpur for the AFC Champions League.  

However, two years down the line everything is gloomy. For the last couple of seasons, we have been finishing in the bottom half of the table. Forget about winning a trophy, finishing top 4 has become a dream for us. Alas. How the Champions have fallen. 

THE BEST OF LILLE

 

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With their first Ligue 1 championship in ten years in 2021, Lille put an end to Paris Saint-Germain's hegemony in the top division of France.  The team led by Christophe Galtier, who placed fourth in the shortened 2019–20 season, has had an amazing season. However, the team has won Ligue 1 title number four thanks to a superb roster full of energetic, young attackers, led by veteran campaigner Burak Yilmaz. Their victory was guaranteed on the last day of the season when they defeated Angers 2-1. Eden Hazard was one of the performers that helped Lille win its final championship in 2011. Les Douges had earlier won in 1946 and 1954.

Since Monaco's victory in the 2016–17 season, which was motivated by Kylian Mbappe, PSG has won three straight seasons. In fact, this marks just the second occasion since 2012–13 that the capital club has failed to win the championship. Les Dogues kept an incredible 21 clean sheets in 38 games while conceding just 23 goals under Christophe Galtier's guidance. From the first day of the season, their defensive skills put them on the route to win the league title, and strategically, they have been one of Europe's most interesting teams.

The fact that Lille's tactics are so adaptable throughout the entire game gives its players more freedom to read situations and not always play in a rigid manner that might not be appropriate for the situation. The opposition finds it difficult to counter Lille's adaptability, as they have one of the greatest offensive and defensive records in Ligue 1. The fact that they emerged as winners is a noteworthy accomplishment for a team in a league that is frequently referred to as a one-team show.