Every hero needs a villain, for without it there would be no story. Not quite as dramatic when it comes to football but within that context, a competition can only be seen as exciting and engaging when there’s two worthy opponents fighting tooth and nail to better each other.
The growth of the English Premier League sat on the back of the intense rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal for almost a decade between 1997 and 2005 before the new-found riches of Chelsea and Manchester City came into the picture. The Sir Alex Ferguson v Arsene Wenger and Roy Keane v Patrick Vieira battles were keenly anticipated every season.