Disheartened. This is the word that best describes the feeling of Massimo Cellino, Leeds United's president, at this moment.
And this is the feeling he transmitted to me with his few words in the last days:
“They have to respect me, I demand it. I have worked hard and saved Leeds United from the brink!" and then he added: “If they want the club and think they can do better than me, the club is available to them. That's all."
LEEDS PERSECUTION
The Italian owner of Leeds United is committed. It's something, he says, not to have been understood by some supporters: he is waging a battle against the Football League to safeguard Leeds, victims of incredible oppression.
But why does he think so? Why is he sure that the club he owns is under attack by the authorities that should, indeed, protect each club member of the League?
The answer I can give you is simple and, in a certain way, astonishing: the Football League never has accepted the fact that the Italian tycoon worked out a way to take ownership of this glorious club, because they had in mind to give the control of it to someone they liked.
And Cellino upset their plans. So he's sure that the Football League is trying to do everything they can to push him into giving up - all the while he says he wants to take Leeds back to the level they deserve. This would mean back to the Premier League.
BREATHING SPACE FOR MOURINHO
Important win for José Mourinho and his Chelsea in Champions League, 2-1 at home against Dynamo Kiev, a score that could give some breathing space to the Special One. He can now start thinking about reaching the next round of the most important competition in Europe. A good result even for Manchester United, 1-0 against CSKA Moscow.
ARSENAL DON'T NEED A STRIKER?
The most incredible scoreline of the last day of Champions League matches was, without any doubt, the flood that overwhelmed Arsenal: 5-1 in Munich against Pep Guardiola (ready to sign for Manchester City, as one says, or to sign a new contract with the Bavarians, someone else will insist) and his Bayern.
So Arsenal didn't need a striker? Even a good defender could be useful.