If the European Super Leaguers had their way, towns like Lodz would disappear from the main thoroughfare of international club football. Certainly a team of the stature of Manchester United would be spared the chore of flying to the heart of Poland in August to assure themselves of a place in the Champions' League proper.
When the rebels talk telephone numbers about the rewards from showing their exclusive league on pay-television, utilitarian venues like this do not figure. Lodz is devoted to textiles and football and has two clubs - LKS, against whom United defend a 2-0 lead tonight in the second leg of their qualifier, and Widzew. Yet the small crowd of fans who greeted Alex Ferguson and his players at the local airport yesterday provided fresh evidence of an interest in European footballing affairs which should not be lightly cast aside in the interests of profit.
The United manager, moreover, put his finger on an important point in the argument yesterday when he was asked a familiar question about Old Trafford's priorities. Was winning the Champions' League more important than the Premiership?
"The Premier League is important to us," he said. "It's something we like winning. And for our supporters it is probably the more important trophy. Yet there is always a different atmosphere, a fresh tingle about a Wednesday night in Europe."
Quite so, and it is the danger of losing that special tingle which worries people who see UEFA being dragged towards a compromise over a European league. On the evidence of the first leg, won by goals from Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole after LKS had attempted to do little more than defend in large numbers, United's advantage should be safe tonight. Any slight doubts concern United's less than inspiring start to the season, which Ferguson believes is largely due to the short break many of his squad have had since the World Cup. Paul Scholes, for instance, made way for Dwight Yorke last Saturday because he was considered mentally weary.
Nevertheless, with Yorke ineligible tonight, Scholes is expected to return, along with Jaap Stam, who has recovered from the thigh strain he suffered against Leicester on opening day. Henning Berg was arguably United's best player at Upton Park, but Ferguson believes that the £10.75 million Dutch central defender "has the presence and experience which is very important in these games".
In the absence of the injured Gary Neville, Denis Irwin will switch to right-back with Phil Neville coming in on the left.
United will be counting on LKS taking a more positive approach, which they must do to stand any chance of turning the tie around. "We don't expect them to have 10 players back around the edge of their box this time," Ferguson remarked. "They must come out and play."
The presence among the media pack of Jan Tomaszewski, the goalkeeper whose saves at Wembley frustrated England's hopes of qualifying for a World Cup 25 years ago, offered a pertinent reminder of what can happen when Polish teams decide to buck the odds. LKS, however, do not appear to have a budding Lato, Gadocha or Domarski in their midst, let alone another Tomaszewski.
