What we've learned from football this week
Sir Alex Ferguson was as gracious in defeat as ever on Saturday.
This time the irascible Scot refused to speak to Sky's post-match interviewers on the grounds that the channel's decision to broadcast the game at midday was somehow complicit in Manchester United’s defeat.
Even if this logic actually held true - does Nemanja Vidic’s bodyclock only kick in after 3pm? - Manchester United still had the option to defer the kick-off.
They could have chosen not to take Sky’s £500k broadcast fee and play the game at a time that better suited their post-Champions League tie recovery schedule.
Then again, they could also have chosen to travel to Old Trafford last Saturday on a squadron of flying pigs.
I find it impossible to muster any sympathy whatsoever for any of the Top Four teams' managers when they start bleating about fixture congestion and exhaustion.
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If they really have their poor, overworked players’ best interests at heart, there are two very obvious ways that they could solve their scheduling problems at a stroke.
First, scrap the increasingly unnecessary and boring group stage of the Champions League.
And secondly, limit participation in the resulting knockout competition to league winners only.
Of course this would never happen.
Because when Sir Alex, Arsene, Rafa et al talk about reducing the number of games their players play, they’re actually referring to those games that don’t pull in a ton of television cash.
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