MANCHESTER United's defence of the European Cup begins next Wednesday at home to Villareal. Narrowly, United are second favourites behind Chelsea to retain the trophy, a notoriously difficult exercise proved by the fact that no club has done it since AC Milan in 1990.

That degree of difficulty is one of the principal attractions of the competition. The major clubs of various nations may dominate participation but one of them cannot as yet monopolise the trophy Claude Makelele described as "the cup with the big ears".

Maybe that is why the Champions League is routinely described as the home of the best football played anywhere and at any level, including international finals. As ever, some of the evidence supports that, some does not.

Last season's final in Moscow supported the argument, as did a lot of the football in the semi-finals. Is it coincidence that John Arne Riise, scorer of that unforgettable own goal in injury-time at Anfield in the first leg of the semis against Chelsea, is no longer part of Rafael Benitez's set-up?

United, meanwhile, were shaded an engrossing clash with Barcelona. Paul Scholes's spectacular winner has gone down in Old Trafford lore.

Barcelona will be figures again and Real Madrid should surely get beyond the knock-out stage this time. But there is no AC Milan and it is left to the other side of the city to fill the void. Given that Jose Mourinho is back in the competition where he thrives, that will not be considered a problem. The Special One would definitely like to get Big Ears back to his place.