The Moscow shootout

There was something deeply comical about two ‘English’ football clubs, both owned and managed by foreigners and fielding only a handful of indigenous players, scrabbling in the torrential Moscovite rain until Manchester United eventually won on penalties. Interesting also that the two clubs labour under a combined debt of £1.5 billion. The most impressive thing, though, was to see the magnificent indifference of the Chelsea manager to the soaking of his expensive suit. Fergie, in contrast, wore a white waterproof jacket over his shiny mohair job. Waste not, want not. (Ancient Scottish saying.)