Fans return to a changed landscape
When football returned following its slumber owing to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, one of the beautiful game's key elements eluded it. Fans, whose presence had been taken for granted for decades, were suddenly forced to stay away and watch the teams they love from home for an entire season.
The recently-concluded Euro 2020, which had been deferred by a year to the summer of 2021, marked the return of the fans to arenas all over Europe, bringing life back to the pitch. Following one of the more entertaining international football tournaments in recent memory, the focus now shifts to domestic leagues and fans being once again able to experience football from the stands.
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Ecstasy already peaked in Paris, where fans flocked to the airport upon hearing news that a certain Lionel Messi was on his way to sign for Paris Saint Germain after spending 21 years at his childhood club, Barcelona.
As the Argentine looks forward to taking on a new challenge with a new team, his new coach, Mauricio Pochettino, is faced with the mammoth task of managing a star-studded locker room that has in one summer added not just Messi, but also Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, Gianluigi Donnarumma from AC Milan, Georginio Wijnaldaldum from Liverpool. All four arrived as free agents, joining superstars like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel di Maria, Marquinhos and Marco Verratti.
Although PSG had stumbled in Ligue 1 last season, losing their title to Lille, the additions to the roster have heightened demands that the Parisiens win not only the domestic titles, but finally lift the biggest prize in European football.
Pochettino possesses a squad that many coaches can only dream of, but creating a collective approach environment in the team in the presence of all the big individual stars will be a daunting task.
As Messi himself opined in his first press conference for PSG, one may not achieve the highest success even with the best of teams and if things go south at the Parc de Princes, the first fingers will be raised towards Pochettino.
Although the Argentine coach has had success in the past with Tottenham, taking them the Champions League final with limited resources, Pochettino's managerial credibility will be tested to the limits this season.
While those in Paris are certainly enjoying the high life, Messi's previous club has no choice but to start afresh in La Liga. For years, Barcelona could rely on the Argentine's heroics whenever they were in dire situations. Now, coach Ronald Koeman's biggest responsibility now is to fill the void. The Dutch has options in the form of new signings like Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay and old options like Antoine Griezmann.
A new day is also dawning at Real Madrid, where Carlo Ancelotti begins his second reign this season after Zinedine Zidane's departure from the managerial hotseat. The mastermind behind La Decima -- Real Madrid's 10th European cup in 2014 -- has to now manage a squad that finished trophyless last season and has seen their captain, Ramos, leave for greener pastures.
The addition of David Alaba may add some value to defence, but Madrid's long search for attackers may prove to be fruitless as signing either Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland looks very unlikely.
Defending La Liga champions Atletico Madrid will also be in no mood to relinquish their crown. Having waited seven years for a second league title following his initial attempt to break the wheel in 2012, Diego Simeone will hope that his side need not endure another stretch as long, especially as they have held on to all their major players.
The level of competition in the Premier League is perhaps the highest, with defending champions Manchester City, Champions League winners Chelsea and a fully-fit Liverpool side the top contenders for the prize.
Pep Guardiola's City have won the league three times in the past five seasons and the inclusion of Jack Grealish plus the possible signing of English striker Harry Kane will add even more depth to City's already formidable squad.
The German coaches, Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, have opted not to tinker too much with their squads, although the addition of Romelu Lukaku means that the former have covered one of their biggest weaknesses from the past season. Manchester United have also made significant strides, adding Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, but a lack of depth means a title challenge could still be a way off.
In Serie A, Massimiliano Allegri returned as Juventus manager with the aim of banishing the memories from a disappointing season under Andrea Pirlo. His job has certainly been made easier by Inter Milan having to sell off the key cogs of last season's title-winning team due to their owner's financial situation and no other club quite at the level of the Old Lady, although Atalanta and AC Milan will harbor some hope.
Similar to Ligue 1, Bundesliga may also be a one-horse race. There seems to be little opposition to Bayern Munich, who will fight for their tenth consecutive league title. The Bavarians have recruited Julian Nagelsmann, a young, energetic coach who has created huge hype around Europe in his short managerial career.
Nagelsmann takes over a squad that won every title available to them just two years ago and the biggest task for the 34-year-old will be to earn the trust and respect of his players as soon as possible, including captain Manuel Neuer, who happens to be a year older than his new manager.
As a new season dawns against the backdrop of big changes at major clubs, it will be quite interesting to see what unfolds. But the return of fans to the stands, chanting, screaming and cheering their hearts out for their club, the outburst of joy with every goal scored and every tear shed for every defeat, with banners, flares and fireworks, football will get back its lifeblood, the fans.
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