Frank talking on the English game
Amid all the Anglophile euphoria over the fact that the Champions League final will be an all-England affair, only a fool or Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea fan would ignore the wise words of Frank Rijkaard.
The Barcelona coach was speaking after his side's semi-final defeat to United. "English clubs are very organised and all get behind the ball," said Rijkaard.
"The type of football they play is only in the Premier League. They defend as though their lives depend on it. And they are very successful.
"But I do feel English teams have a lot more to give. I just feel it is a great pity that it is not the most beautiful kind of football to watch."
Well said, Frank. While the pundits, marketing people and junketeers fall over themselves on the gravy train to the final in Moscow, many a true football fan will be shuddering at the memory of the 2007 FA Cup final.
The 'big two' - Manchester United and Chelsea - produced one of the most tedious, least expansive finals of football history, dominated by defensive tactics and the fear of losing.
We can only hope that England's finest put on a Moscow show that will confound those critics across the Channel who are puzzled by the fact that while England is dominating European club football, not a single British international side will be playing in Austria and Switzerland this summer.
Is Rijkaard right? Do English clubs play boring football that kills creativity? Or was it just sour grapes from a bad loser? Have your say via the boxes below.
Great play is being made of the fact that 2 "English" teams willl be playing in the Champions League Final. Don't make me laugh. There is barely an Englishman in sight and the reason the Premier Division is seen as "great" is because 75% of the players are foreign. CApello has said he can't understand why the National team does so badly but the Italian National team coach hit the nail on the head. Capello just doesn't have enough players who are good enough to play at that level
Posted by: Brian Wylie | 30 April 2008 at 19:10
Rijkaard's spot-on. Give me the Blue Square Prem any day. The only reason English clubs are doing well in Europe is because their fans are daft enough to pay inflated ticket prices which fund crazy over-priced transfers. And how many English players are in Serie A or La Liga?
Posted by: Joe | 30 April 2008 at 16:04
Rijkaard is a sad loser who will be out of a job at the end of the season. Premiership football is the best in the world at the moment. Well done to United and roll on the final!.
Posted by: Ian | 30 April 2008 at 15:27
Rijkaard's talking rubbish. I've been going to Old Trafford for years and this United side's a throwback to the days of Best, Law and Charlton. It's down at the bottom of the Prem Lge that the real dross is played. And Liverpool aren't much better sometimes when they're playing away from Anfield.
Posted by: William, Sale | 30 April 2008 at 14:53