Three European
biggest clubs with changes in the managerial seats of the these elite clubs prepare
to capture the European scene tomorrow night as Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti
and Jose Mourinho set off on new Champions League journeys with plenty to prove
and reputations to polish.
Each
with two Champions League triumphs on their managerial CVs, two of them are
attempting to work their European magic in new surroundings while the third has
returned to the club at which the continent`s biggest club prize proved elusive.After
a year-long sabbatical, having twice taken Barcelona to European glory in a
glittering reign, Guardiola has arrived at Bayern Munich tasked with retaining
the trophy won in such style by Jupp Heynckes in May.
Ancelotti, after his brief stay at Paris St
Germain, will be expected to deliver Real Madrid`s 10th European Cup without
delay, having twice led Milan to the summit.
Mourinho, who Ancelotti has replaced in the
Spanish capital, will seek to steer Chelsea all the way to the final in Lisbon
having returned to London determined to win club football`s biggest prize with
a third club.
Guardiola`s Bayern open the defence of their
crown at home to CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid will unleash Cristiano Ronaldo and
Gareth Bale in Turkey against Galatasaray while Chelsea face Swiss side FC
Basel at Stamford Bridge.
Rafa Benitez, another manager with a proven
Champions League pedigree, will have to hit the ground running as his Napoli
side host last season`s runners-up Borussia Dortmund in what looks like being a
devilishly difficult Group F.
With so many Champions League masterminds among
the 32 coaches setting off this week, Manchester United`s David Moyes and
Barcelona`s new coach Gerardo Martino look like rookies in comparison as they
prepare for their first ventures in the groups stages of the tournament.
Moyes will need all his steely calm and self
belief as he plots United`s first Champions League campaign in the post-Alex
Fergsuon era.
The Scot will have a tough baptism with
Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen first up on Tuesday in a group that also
contains Real Sociedad and Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
A good start in Europe will go a long way to
helping Moyes establish himself but the Champions League, as even Fergsuon
would testify to, can be an unforgiving place.
"(Ferguson) said he thinks this is one of
the hardest draws United have had in the Champions League," Moyes, whose
only flirtation with the competition was a final qualifying round defeat while
in charge at Everton, said.
"If that`s coming from him it must be
tough."
Martino has started life confidently at the Nou
Camp and with Lionel Messi already having scored six league goals and with
Brazilian Neymar about to make his Champions League bow, Barca will again start
as one of the favourites.
The Catalans are in Group H - the only section
comprised of all former winners - with Celtic, Milan and Ajax Amsterdam who
they begin against on Wednesday in one of the ties of the week.
While Moyes may be a novice at this level,
albeit with a team containing the likes of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney,
rivals Manchester City have recruited a vastly-experienced European coach in
Manuel Pellegrini.
City`s away tie against Group D minnows Viktoria
Plzen on Tuesday will be the Chilean`s 45th in the Champions League and the
club`s owners will be expecting a vast improvement on the previous two seasons
in which they have managed only three wins in 12 group games.
Bayern are also in City`s group, but Pellegrini,
who steered Malaga to the quarter-finals last season, has warned against taking
Czech side Plzen or CSKA Moscow lightly.
"If we think we are going to qualify for the
last 16 because the other teams are weak we will be making a mistake," he
said.
Mourinho, who announced himself as a coaching
heavyweight by taking Porto all the way and repeated the feat with Inter Milan,
will be taking charge of his 108th Champions League game when Chelsea host
Basel on Tuesday.
The Portuguese`s last Champions League game in
charge of Chelsea was a 1-1 draw against Rosenborg in 2007 - a result that
signalled the end of his first spell in charge of the club.
Chelsea bowed out of the Champions League at the
group stage last season when they were the holders, but with Mourinho back at
the helm and a kind group which also includes Steaua Bucharest and Schalke a
strong run is expected.
Ancelotti, who like Mourinho suffered Champions
League disappointment while at Chelsea, has a mouthwatering array of talent at
his disposal but finding the best system to incorporate the likes of Ronaldo,
Bale, Luka Modric and Isco will be key to his chances of succeeding where
others failed.
An away match at Galatasaray will offer some
early clues.
The Italian clubs are not being touted as
potential champions this year but Napoli, Juventus and Milan will all bring
plenty to the party in the coming months.
Paris St Germain, one of only two French clubs
in the group phase, begin away to Olympiakos on Tuesday while Marseille host
English regulars Arsenal on Wednesday.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2013
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