On the one hand, there are people complaining that the English game is starting to look like Scotland’s, where Rangers and Celtic dominate. Similarly, Manchester United and Chelsea have presided over a two-horse race in England’s domestic league and cup competitions this season, culminating in an EPL title-decider on May 9, the FA Cup final on May 19, and, possibly, the UEFA Champions League final four days after that.
On the other hand, you have those like Alan Hansen of the Telegraph, who’s excited about the prospect of a real title race, as well as an FA Cup final between England’s best teams to commemorate the reopening of Wembley Stadium. As Hansen says, credit to Mark Hughes and Blackburn for the way they played in Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal, but “Chelsea versus Manchester United is a game that will sell around the world in a way that, however brave Mark Hughes’ team were at Old Trafford yesterday, Blackburn versus Manchester United would not have done.”
Chelsea, through the spending power of owner Roman Abramovich, has raised the standard of the Premiership, Hansen says, bringing unprecedented investment to the English game. “They have driven the Premiership towards excellence,” he says, “and they are the reason why there are three English teams in the semi-finals of the European Cup because you need to be exceptional to beat them.” So in a way, we have Russian oil money to thank for this year’s “dream” FA Cup final.