These words will ring true to teams like Real Madrid and Liverpool, who will be clinging to dear life to stay in the hunt for the Champion’s League Trophy, as the next round match ups, in this almost unequalled tournament, has just been released.

We are down to the final 16 teams in Europe and surely all the big boys are here. To my knowledge the only master squad missing from this tournament is the German speed freaks of Werder Bremen. They unfortunately were dispatched on the last day in a group that touted Chelsea and Barcelona.

So, if you want to see how the big boys come out and play with ice in their veins and blood on the field, tune into the knock-out phase. Yes, the stage where every team emerged from was a group stage, where two out of the four teams rise to the next level.

This stage though, has two teams playing a home and away leg to see who can score more. It will definitely be a feeling of stomp on your opponents today because there probably won’t be a tomorrow.

Just ask the French newcomers Lille, who have drawn Manchester United. Their best story after their second game will be, “At least I kicked Saha twice, before Ole Gunner Solskier finished the goal.” Sorry those faint of heart, but at this level even that is cherished because it doesn’t get much bigger.

A good Karma match up for the round will be Chelsea Coach Jose Mourinho going up against his old team in F.C. Porto. The shock team he took all the way to win the big dance in 2004.

Some might hate me for saying this, but I think it is time for Jose to win another Champions League. His only stumbling block is that he has not coordinated his dynamic playing group into the performing stage. They are still struggling to find their team’s personality. This stumbling, frothing one that has emerged, I fear will have to be taken out back and be given the Old Yeller treatment.

One move will bring harmony back to the Blues of two and last year: sell Ballack to Wigan! As a player coming into a new side, he has done nothing, a lot less then Shevchenko, who can use an Arian Robin starting and providing quick attacks unlike the slow off-balanced 10 yard link passes that Ballack provides. Heck, Makallele can and does that already. You mean to tell me you need two guys making 10 yard simple passes in the midfield. I’ll choose Makallele’s defense over Ballack’s shooting, How about you?

Well, with the dismissal of Ballack, the Blues should see a new trophy in their case. It is difficult to say who will be their opponents on the final day, because after each round they have a new draw. If I was pushed though to give a hint, I would have to say Inter Milan in the finals, only because Barca got knocked out in the Semis by Chelsea. Samuel Eto’o could not regain his form in time.

Let us know what you think about who will be the winners of the Champions League.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 15th, 2006 at 11:00 pm and is filed under Soccer World, Champions League. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.