In theory, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United should be crowned Premier League Champions for the tenth time come the end of the season.
When you have experienced the success that Fergie has over the past two decades, it's not easy to criticize because something is obviously working. That said, who in their right mind leaves out the world's current best player, Cristiano Ronaldo, with the defining match of a nine-month season on the line? It is without a doubt the biggest gamble SAF has ever taken.
Can you imagine Bill Belichick telling Tom Brady to "take a breather today" with the Super Bowl up for grabs? Or Phil Jackson asking Kobe Bryant to sit out game six of the NBA Finals as game seven is a day away? It's never going to happen — but it did on Saturday, for some inexplicable reason.
Before I delve into possible reasons for this 'brain fart', let's first give credit where credit is due. Chelsea fully deserved their victory and Avram Grant can finally breathe easy for a day or two.
The Blues were better in every department, even though Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba seemed ready to roll around the Bridge pitch, scratching each other's eyes out. The reaction of Michael Essien as the two of them played kindergarten, each snatching the ball from the other at a free kick late in the second half, was priceless.
Just think, we had almost written them off after that horrible 1-1 draw with Wigan. Now that's all forgotten and in a rich ironic twist, United have to go to the JJB on the final day of the season and, in all likelihood, win.
If the Blues do happen to snatch the title, it will surely be one of the most unlikely victories in the history of England's top flight.
But back to Sir Alex and why he sat Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, who have scored a combined 56 goals, on the bench.
The obvious reason is that they are being saved for Tuesday night and the return leg against Barcelona in the Champions League. But it can't be that simple, can it?
I can't help but feel that Sir Alex is being too clever for his own good (just look at the trouble Rafa Benitez has given himself by messing around with his team). If Ferguson is truly concerned that they are tired, I would also be very surprised. These kids are 23 and 24 respectively — they don't get tired and I can't imagine that they were happy sitting on the bench for the biggest domestic game of the campaign either.
Football is a confidence game and, most of the time, Ronaldo and Tevez possess that quality in spades. However, the Nou Camp experience may have dented that slightly. What you need in such a situation is another game, not an opportunity to sit and stew.
Ferguson must know that victories cannot be guaranteed in the Premiership and with the points dropped at Middlesbrough and Blackburn now looming large, West Ham cannot be taken for granted as they have owned the Red Devils recently.
Sir Alex famously tagged this time of the season 'squeaky bum time'. And if anyone has a 'squeaky bum' right now, it has to be the Old Trafford boss. United have been the favorites for both big trophies for months and the pressure just maybe beginning to tell — decisions like Saturday's prove exactly that.
At the end of the day, I still fully expect United to do the double. But as we have seen, football can be a cruel game. Arsenal has been the best team of the year and will win nothing. United has been the most consistent side and could yet win nothing. And Chelsea has been dogged, unattractive and stubborn yet they could end up winning everything.
I hope Sir Alex hasn't spent the weekend second-guessing himself but that is the curse of the man who likes to gamble.
Until then, I'll see you at the far post ...
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