Why men and football teams can't multi-task

European Leagues / Dan Fitch / 23 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch looks at the difficulties of juggling European and domestic success

Women often accuse men of not being able to multi-task. This is of course a fallacy. Why, even as I type these words, I'm simultaneously eating peanuts and scratching a patch of troublesome dry skin. Yet still, our sex remains stuck with this reputation and I think the blame can be laid at the door of the professional footballer.

Footballers can always be relied upon to reinforce a stereotype and when it comes to only being able to do one thing at a time, they really excel. Most for example, seem unable to think whilst speaking, leading to the babble of clichés and non-sequiturs that predominate in footballing talk. Nor from the look of most of them, can they dress themselves, whilst also managing to turn on their bedroom light. I could go on with further examples, despite the fact that I'm now not just eating peanuts, but drinking heavily too.

Footballers really make a case for the non ability to multi-task, when trying to pull off the combination of winning both the Champions League and their domestic title. Over the last ten seasons, only four teams have managed a league and European double, whilst Manchester United's 1999 victory over Bayern Munich is the only instance of the Champions League final being contested by two domestic winners. Just being involved in a title race seems to hamper European progress, with only two teams having reached the Champions League final, as well as finishing as league runners up.

So who is the best equipped to compete on two fronts this season? At home, a Premier League challenge is inevitable for Manchester United, but European glory has proved evasive during Fergie's reign. Ferguson has often opted for a cautious 4-5-1 formation in Europe, which is at odds with the swashbuckling attack, employed domestically. Rooney always looks about as comfortable leading the line, as he would holding a conversation with Noam Chomsky and faith should be shown in he, Ronaldo and Tevez, to terrorise defences. A price of 9 for Champions League glory might then resemble good value, but steer clear if you see the names of Carrick, Hargreaves and Fletcher in the same midfield.

In Italy Inter are once again proving dominant in Serie A and are available at just 1.5, over second placed Juventus at 9.8, whose past cheating ensures that they don't face the distraction of midweek European games. Inter have yet to reach a Champions League final and indeed, are only just getting used to being any good in the league. Inter are priced at 11 for the Champions League and unlike United, seem ideally suited to grinding out 1-0 wins. Yet despite their hugely talented squad, I just can't see them not being knocked out by some daft side that they really should beat.

Barcelona have not hit the heights they are capable of as yet and sit in 4th place in La Liga. Thierry Henry has struggled to recapture his Arsenal form and if I were a tabloid headline writer, I'd suggest that there was 'Vroom, Vroom Vroom for improvement'. Though they are the last team to achieve this double, Barca seem a definite lay at 5.1. They have a fight on to recapture their domestic title and this will take its toll.

The poster boy of the European capitulation after League success, is undoubtedly Lyon. Every year they stroll their league, yet their perennial dark horse status never bares fruit. Whilst beating ropey French teams comes easily too them, when they reach the knock out stages, the jump in quality is always too much. Their best players have been continually cherry picked by teams in richer leagues and a price of 90, reflects that this is a side past their best. So, perhaps when dabbling in the Champions League market, it's safer to go with a team that will quickly balls up in the title race, with Chelsea (11.5), AC Milan (12.5) and Seville (23) all seeming intent on proving women right.