Last season F.C. Barcelona ran rampant through Europe winning all three major competitions and doing something no Spanish club had ever done by lifting all three trophies, La Liga (League), the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) and the UEFA Champions League. Known as the treble, this triple accolade has only been won by four other European sides in history and would seem near impossible to do again. But as history would dictate, the possibility exists of a repeat and there is not a Manchester United, Real Madrid or Chelsea fan out there who would deny that.
Sure, splashing around a cool 250 million euros ($368 million) is a good way to over compensate for a humiliating season if you’re Real Madrid. And Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso are all quality players, but the amount of time it will take these guys to gel is what will likely take Los Merengues out of the running again.
Manchester United and Liverpool, while always formidable, have pillaged their ranks to pull them out of debt. Sending their stars to other English sides, Italy and sunny Spain for exorbitant fees sure are great ways to invest in the future. But they shouldn’t expect anything this season but a proper trouncing from Spanish and maybe Italian opposition.
And speaking of Italian opposition, I will say it is good to see four Italian sides back in the Champions League, and AC Milan, Juventus and Roma can put up good fights and defend well. No other side in Europe right now worries me more than Internazionale Milano. They’ve got depth, great coaching in José Mourinho and the most lethal striker in the world, Bar