Barcelona for the double, and other predictions.

OK, someone’s got to do it. I know this will lead to all sorts of abuse but this is only an opinion! Here is my prediction list for this season.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Winners
I believe that the addition of Deco and Bosingwa to the already formidable Chelsea squad, together with the expertise of Felipe Scolari at the helm, will be just enough to see them nudge Manchester United off the top. The team is experienced, rather than elderly as Sir Alex suggested, and they will be in perfect shape to take the title.

Runners up
Manchester United might lose out to Chelsea but they won’t fall behind anyone else. Another runners-up spot for Sir Alex will mean that he will come back fighting for the following season. They will be in the running until nearly the end of the season but they will not be able to withstand the pressure put on them by Chelsea.

European Qualification
Liverpool have made some decent signings and they will force their way into third place although they will never seriously threaten the dominance of the top two. It will be a better season for them but whether it will be enough for Rafa to avoid the wrath of the two Americans remains to be seen.

Arsenal will pip Tottenham to fourth place to send one half of North London into despair and judging by the reaction to Arsenal last season, the other half into despair ass well!

LA LIGA

Winners
Pep Guardiola will manage a sharper and more focused Barcelona team this season. Once the new signings settle in and the players get used to a more disciplined and team focused way of playing, they will win the league by some distance.

Runners up
Real Madrid will hang onto second place but problems behind the scenes with relations between Ramon Calderon and Berndt Schuster reaching breaking point will mean that the season is a major disappointment for all at the Bernabeu.

European Qualification
The two remaining Champions League places will go to Real Mallorca who have had an injection of money and Sevilla who will provide a real challenge to the top two.

SERIE A

Winners
Under Jose Mourinho, Inter will win Serie A. I never believed that he was the ‘special one’ or any of the hype that surrounds him, but the fact is that he is a very good manager and he knows how to win.

Runners up
AC Milan will make it a battle of the San Siro for the title, but they will fall well short of their City rivals.

SFL

Winners
Celtic will retain the title they won last year. They only have one serious challenger and I believe that they over performed last season and won’t be able to live with Celtic this year.

Runners up
Obviously, Rangers.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Winners
Barcelona will complete the double to justify Joan Laporta’s faith in Pep Guardiola. Lionel Messi will be the tournament’s best player.

Runners up
Chelsea will fall at the final hurdle for the second season in a row. If they manage to take it to penalties I would be very surprised to see John Terry step up to the mark! The blow of a second defeat will be softened by winning their domestic league.

Semi finalists
Manchester United will miss out at the semi-final stage to complete a slightly disappointing season by their own high standards. Inter will make it to the semi-finals which will be an improvement on their recent European adventures but Mourinho will be unable to improve on his record at Chelsea.

UEFA CUP

Winners
AC Milan are a very big name to be in the tournament this year. They will be the team to beat and I don’t think anyone will be able to do it.

Runners up
CSKA Moscow are my outside bet for the final. This is based purely on the fact that Russian football seems to be on the up at the moment.

I am not suitably knowledgeable about any other leagues to make predictions about them. However, I’m prepared to stick my neck out and say that Porto might win the Portuguese league; Bayern Munich will be there or thereabouts in Germany and Lyon have half a chance in France.

I wouldn’t bet against PSV in Holland, Zenit St Petersburg in Russia, Dinamo Bucharest in Romania and FC Basel in Switzerland.

What does everyone else think? Who will win what? I wonder if I will get any right.