Sportingly, one would almost be happy: the two richest teams in Europe, owned by the sheiks-cousins al-Thani (French side) and Mansour (English side), built not to win but to win big and to which one day yes and the other is also attributed the arrival of the champion of the moment enticed by petrodollars, are in difficulty. Both in their respective leagues. And both, which is why we cannot rejoice from the boot, are coached by two Italians.
Roberto Mancini's Manchester City, after their elimination in the Champions League at the hands of Napoli and the premature end of the race in the English cups, it seems about to have to abandon even the Premier League dream: after a championship almost always led, despite the not always convincing management of mister jesino and the constant controversies on the Tevez and Balotelli cases, the Blues score 1 point in the last two games (defeat in Swansea and a home draw with Sunderland with a daring 3-3) leaving the field open to the cousins of Manchester United, who in the postponement of Monday evening in Blackburn can extend to +5 in the standings.
Mancio's season, after a pharaonic acquisition campaign - perhaps even too much - risks ending with "zero titles", as Mourinho would say. Which would be shocking, having players in the team of the caliber of Silva, Tourè, Dzeko and Aguero, and without counting the fact that Mancini has often played with fire with Carlitos and SuperMario, allowing himself the luxury of putting them "grounded" for respectively shorter or longer periods and depriving the team, often for more personal than disciplinary reasons, of two ( overpaid) spearheads. Result: Tevez out for 6 months, Balotelli cross and delight on and off the field, locker room divided but united against the Italian coach and his choices, sometimes considered excessively harsh, sometimes too permissive as in some of the infinite Balotelli cases.
But while City certainly finds a worthy opponent in the hated United, a solid and rich club, even if indebted and orphaned by the great champions of recent years, the same cannot be said of Carlo Ancelotti. Who, it is true, took Paris Saint Germain in the running, with a squad that was competitive but not at the level of the Manchester dream team, but after the first two months of unbeaten run he is starting to lose pace, giving ground to the Cinderella Montpellier, who is certainly not Sir Alex Ferguson's seasoned United.
After some disappointing and daring draws (such as the 4-4 comeback in Lyon), which had sounded an alarm bell, Carletto's first defeat came on Saturday, which was more than ever in the air: 2-1 on the field of the irresistible Nancy. The polite feet of Menez, Pastore and Thiago Motta are evidently not enough for Ancelotti: in the country of the guillotine, where flaunting power and wealth is almost a taboo, his PSG is a billionaire and even a little presumptuous (like Leonardo who defined " very low” the level of Ligue 1), does not like it, does not convince, and fails to win big. Much more appreciated by the public and the press is the tale of little Montpellier, currently level on points (but first on goal difference) and with one game left.
