Clubs welcome return to elite competition

As any veteran of London Transport's daily struggle against insuperable odds knows to their misery, the Olympics are unlikely to flourish by the Thames, but never mind, tonight the nearest modern sporting equivalent returns to the capital.

The Champions' League, being built on greed and centred on exclusivity, may seem to have little in common with the five-ringed circus but it has become the only other major sports event where it really is all about taking part.

Certainly, Arsenal, who host Ajax at Highbury tonight, Newcastle, who play on the banks of the Rhine, Manchester United, who return to the fray tomorrow, and the other 13 remaining competitors want to win it. But, as events from Barcelona to Milan and Leeds to Leverkusen underline, they are even more desperate to qualify.

On Sunday Klaus Toppmöller, who last season steered Bayer Leverkusen to the Champions' League final, as well as the German Cup final and second place in the Bundesliga, was sacked. Earlier in the competition's mid-winter break Louis van Gaal, whose Barcelona team won all 10 matches they played in the competition, was dismissed. The coach's prime crime? Steering their clubs to positions from which they are unlikely to qualify for next year's competition.

Meanwhile, the three biggest signings made by Champions' League clubs during the transfer window were of players who are ineligible for the competition. No matter. Internazionale signed Gabriel Batistuta from Roma, Newcastle bought Jonathan Woodgate from Leeds, and Barcelona hired Juan Pablo Sorin from Lazio, not to win this competition but to ensure they reached the next. Failure to do so and, like the selling clubs, they will be spend next season slashing their wage bill.

It is a state of affairs which has club presidents constantly dreaming of a super league, but anyone intending to put words into action was yesterday warned off by Gerhard Aigner, Uefa's chief executive. "Money attracts people who don't have a sporting spirit, who talk about shareholders and profit, who know nothing of football and only think of their own interest," he said. "A few clubs, who monopolise success, are looking for a new territory and dream of a European league."

He added that any such competition would lack credibility as it would take 50 years to create a real history between sides such as Arsenal and Porto. "National competitions are essential because that's what the public is interested in," he said. "In meetings between clubs from different countries, there is no tradition."

Some rivalries are developing, as tomorrow's match between Manchester United and Juventus illustrates, but that is more between players and coaches. United fans do not work with Juventus supporters, as they do City, Liverpool or Arsenal. They do not engage in the daily banter which is the essence of rivalry.

Juventus will be without Alessandro Del Piero, one of several players injured during the winter break. Others include Fernando Hierro, whose presence will be sorely missed by a faltering Real Madrid side, the unlucky Jens Nowotny of Leverkusen, and a raft of Internazionale players including Emre Belozoglu.

Making a welcome return from injury, after 27 months out, is Fernando Redondo. In the absence of major signings, the 33-year-old Argentinian midfielder is the most significant addition to the Champions' League roster. Tomorrow he should play his first European match since the 2000 final, after which he left Real Madrid for Milan. Leonardo, the former Brazilian World Cup winner, is also recalled by Milan after a loan spell at Flamengo.

While Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United have not even added a fringe player to their squads they have made the most of the hiatus in European fixtures. When the last round of matches was played they were, respectively, second, fifth and ninth in the Premiership, now they are first, second and third.

With the notable exceptions of Barcelona, Leverkusen and Roma, most clubs have similarly prospered from being able to concentrate on domestic issues. They can thus return their attention to this season's Champions' League confident they have one foot in the next. And that, as Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, will sadly tell them, is the important thing.

CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE PERSONNEL CHANGES

GROUP A

Barcelona: In: Raddy Antic (coach). Out: Louis van Gaal (coach)

Bayer Leverkusen: In: Thomas Horster (caretaker coach), Radoslaw Kaluzny, Marques Gomes. Out: Klaus Toppmoller (coach), Jens Nowotny.

Internazionale: In: Obafemi Martins. Out: Michele Serena, Salvatore Ferraro.

Newcastle United: No changes.

GROUP B

Ajax: In: David Mendes Da Silva. Out: Nikos Machlas, Aron Winter, Jan van Halst.

Arsenal: Out: Matthew Upson.

Roma: Out: Gabriel Batistuta, Ivan Tomic, Josep Guardiola.

Valencia: In: Anthony Reveillère. Out: Diego Martin Alonso.

GROUP C

Borussia Dortmund: In: Amos Sasy, Bastien Pinske. Out: Sunday Oliseh, Jan Sorensen.

Lokomotiv Moscow: In: Platon Zakharchuk, Vladislav Khatazhenkov, Winston Parks.

Milan: In: Fernando Redondo, Leonardo, Cristian Brocchi. Out: Jose Chamot, Marco Borriello.

Real Madrid: In: Antonio Nuñez

GROUP D

Basel: No changes

Deportivo La Coruña: In: Pablo Amo Aguado.

Juventus: In: Landry Bonnefoi, Daniele Gastaldello. Out: Davide Baiocco, Emiliano Moretti, Mattia Cassani, Alessandro Grando.

Manchester United: No changes