Maybe it's time the Premiership's top managers took a few tips from India's cricket bosses. No, it's not as strange as it sounds: Indian cricketers have long coped with the fallout of playing too much cricket, even managing to win a tournament with a side crippled by injury (Okay, so it was only against the West Indies, but even then.). England's top teams and, indeed, its national side haven't coped so well. A listless England team, needing to win, just about managed a draw against Poland last week. Within seven days, Manchester United displayed the same lethargy against European opposition.More than 40 years ago, when the European Cup competition was first staged, the English football bosses `advised' Chelsea, the league champions, against taking part. Reason? It would clog the domestic fixtures schedule. The next year, Manchester United ignored the `advice' and began their long love-affair with the tournament. Reason? It would give the traditionally insular English clubs a shot at internationalcompetition. Well, the second point has held for all these years, allowing English teams - notably Liverpool to establish themselves on par with the best in the world.That success most recently and emphatically secured by Man United in May when they won the tournament is seriously under threat. England's qualification for the European Championships in Belgium and Netherlands next summer hinges now on whether Sweden already through and with little to play for can beat Poland next month. Shearer and Co. may as well go ahead and plan their summer holidays. Man United and Arsenal have enough opportunities to redeem themselves in the next few months, but the signs of stress are visible, and are worrying.Manchester began their defence of the European Cup against Croatia Zagreb, a match they would have won with ease last year. In the end, Alex Ferguson, fielding virtually a second-string side, was almost relieved it ended in a draw.It's a staggering schedule that has already tested even themuch-envied depth of Ferguson's squad. You wouldn't think it, though, looking at the Premiership table or watching them play Liverpool last weekend. In the bull-pen of Anfield Stadium, the two bitter Lancashire rivals met, Liverpool at near-full strength, United sorely depleted. But the Reds playing in blue raised their game several notches and outplayed the Reds playing in red, much to the chagrin of the Kop (Liverpool supporters).United are currently six points clear at the top, but Chelsea, who (amazing, but true) played their first-ever European Cup match this week and did so with panache are looking good. Arsenal, with a dazzling forward line, have disappointed, Liverpool have shown off their inconsistent best and Leeds have their traditional doggedness.JAYADITYA GUPTA, who prefers European football to sleep and weekend getaways, can be reached at joygupta@express2.indexp.co.in
