The History Boys

There are some things in football that money can’t buy – for everything else there is Roman Abramovich. However, Chelsea will this week take on a team which owns something that all the millions at Stamford Bridge cannot purchase ... a genuine world-class pedigree.

It is like the nouveau riche meeting old money. Juventus have more domestic honours than their London rivals could dream of. They have won every major international trophy there is – most of them more than once. And they were a world brand before the term was even thought of. Dozens of the world’s greatest players have come through their doors.

In contrast, the Blues are a modern upstart who have only become a consistent European force since they started a lavish spending spree. It has brought them domestic trophies but not, so far, that elusive Champions League crown. Several Coaches have been sacrificed due to that failure.

It makes for an intriguing culture clash when the two teams meet. In the one corner you have the old establishment and in the other you have the new boys who want to take their crown. It should create two cracking ties.

However, both sides have not been without their troubles in recent times. Juve have gone through the grinder of Calciopoli and are still something of a work in progress. Chelsea, for their part, seem to have seen the purse strings tightened of late and are still in search of a style of play under their latest new Coach, Guus Hiddink.

If I was Claudio Ranieri, I would take my players – particularly the younger ones – on a tour of the Bianconeri history vaults before this game. A reminder of the importance of the club they are about to represent would do no harm whatsoever. Juventus already are what Chelsea aspire to be. If both clubs live up to their historic reputation – there can only be one winner.