UEFA Champions League 2013/14: Expectations aplenty

New managers will hope to leave a mark

For United’s new manager, David Moyes, Europe represents the pinnacle of footballing challenge thus far. The closest the Scot managed in getting to Europe’s premier competition was when Everton qualified for a Champions League spot in 2005/06. But the dream ended before it began as Everton lost 4-2 in the qualifying rounds against Villarreal, due to an incorrect decision by the linesman.

At Chelsea, Jose Mourinho will be looking to prove to the world that his stint at Madrid, which can be described as a roller-coaster ride at best, has taken nothing away from the “Special One”- or is it the “Happy One”, nowadays? Never mind. Pep Guardiola will be looking forward to adding to an already glittering C.V. with Bayern Munich, having inherited a treble-winning squad from former manager Jupp Heynckes.

And for Carlo Ancelotti, the challenge will be to get Madrid back to the pinnacle in Europe, after a barren run of 12 years, having last won it in the 2001/02 season. Though, the Italian tactician will appreciate that it is not going to be a walk in the park, with what the other behemoths of Europe not expected to roll over for Los Blancos.

The challenge awaiting Barcelona boss Tata Martino is a different one altogether. The little-known Argentinian takes over from Tito Vilanova, after the latter was forced to quit football over health issues, and he will have to inspire the Blaugrana after their poor showing last season. Many of the Barça players will remember the mauling at the hands of eventual Champions Bayern Munich all too well.

Though not one of the favourites, Rafael Benitez’s Napoli will certainly look to upset the status quo of the European elite this season; and they certainly have the required players for it. The canny Spaniard has added well to the squad following the expected departure of Edinson Cavani to big-spending Paris Saint-Germain, with Gonzalo Higuaín, Dries Mertens, José Callejón, Pepe Reina and Raúl Albiol moving to the Stadio San Paolo. The traditional “big boys” of Europe would do well to look out for the Partenopei.

But managers apart, quite a few players will be looking to make their mark too this season. The usual suspects Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi apart, one expects that Robin van Persie would be chomping at the bit this season. Last time around, van Persie’s excellent league form did not translate to the European stage, and that is something the Dutchman would be looking to address.

Robert Lewandowski will be looking to make this his year again, in what seems to be his final year at the Westfalenstadion. The Polish hitman will be looking to make his Dortmund exit in style, and what better way to do it than winning Europe’s biggest prize?

A contender for the “dark horse” tag will be Stefan Kießling. The German striker, playing for Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, was the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season, and he’ll be hoping that he can make his mark on Europe too. Players such as Wayne Rooney, Mesut Özil and Gonzalo Higuaín will look to prove themselves this season; Rooney for United under Moyes, Özil and Higuaín at their new clubs.

So, to end it off, what does this season offer? All we can do is but hope; hope that this season too will wow and enthrall us as only the Champions League is capable of doing.

Here’s to hoping for another spectacular season!