‘There’s only one custom onesie!’ – bespoke all-in-ones for the Champions League
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Posted on: 12/02/2014
It’s that time of year again. We’re more than halfway through the Premier League, and meanwhile the treacherous Champions League group stages have been negotiated by 16 successful teams – paving the way for eight titanic clashes in February. This is where the competition starts to become serious, and fans across the country and Europe-wide will be looking to show their support as their favourite players take to the pitch once more. Replica shirts and body paints will no doubt be out in force, but we have a better idea to wear your team’s colours – bespoke football onesies for the Champions League last 16!
Manchester City vs. Barcelona
In one of the most exciting ties of the first knockout round, last 16 debutants Manchester City have drawn four-time Champions League winners Barcelona. While no team particularly relishes facing the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi et al in the Champions League knockout stages, cash-rich City will fancy their chances of imposing their physical style of play on the diminutive Catalans. With City buoyed by victory over holders Bayern Munich in the group stages and Barcelona going through something of a rough patch – by their lofty standards, at least – this promises to be a close and exciting tie for all concerned.
For our custom Man City onesie, we could hardly choose anything other than sky blue for the colour scheme, could we? We decided to style our all-in-one in velvet touch aqua fleece to most accurately mirror City’s 2013/14 home kit, and left the trim in white for a little extra authenticity. As the man most likely to make a difference against Barcelona, our custom Man City onesie is styled on in-form striker Sergio Agüero. We’ve added non-slip feet (for better ball control, naturally) in the signature pink polkadots Kun wore in last year’s FA Cup. We’ve finished off our design with ‘Agüero 16’ on the back – likely to be the last thing the Barcelona defenders see as Sergio races through on goal! Order your own bespoke Man City onesies to show your support in the stadium or to chill out in at home in front of the telly.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Early season Premier League pacesetters Arsenal were punished for failing to finish top of a difficult Champions League group containing Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Marseille. The last 16 draw has not been kind to Arsenal in recent years, and a two-legged tie against Champions League holders Bayern Munich promises to be a severe test of any team’s credentials. Manager Arsène Wenger will hope that his own German contingent including Per Mertesacker, ex-Bayern forward Lukas Podolski, youngster Serge Gnabry and record signing Mesut Özil help to undo the Bavarians in their own backyard, but it’s unlikely to be an easy task. Nevertheless, fans will be relishing the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with one of the finest teams in world football today.
For our Arsenal Champions League football onesie, we’ve decided to replicate the Gunners’ away kit in honour of their 2-0 win in Munich at this stage of the competition last year. Any Arsenal-mad mums and dads out there will love our kids Arsenal Onesie, resplendent in bright yellow with blue trim. Although you’re free to put whatever you want on the back, from your child’s name to the name of your favourite player, we’ve decided to opt for none other than King of the Assist Mesut Özil. With our snuggly mittens and boots in royal blue your Arsenal-mad tot will keep warm on even the chilliest stadium terrace, and hopefully Özil’s number 11 on the back will bring the Gunners luck against the mighty Bayern Munich!
Manchester United vs Olympiacos
New Manchester United Manager David Moyes may be experiencing his share of woes in the Premier League this season, but a convincing performance in the Champions League group stage meant that United topped their group and were rewarded with a relatively straightforward draw against Olympiacos. The Greeks are no mugs but Moyes would have been inwardly smiling to have avoided some of the more difficult teams in the last 16. Two good performances will see Manchester United safely through to the quarter final stage once more, so there’s every chance that Red Devils fans will be in celebratory mood when their first fixture kicks off away from home on the 25th of February. Will you be sat on the sofa with a few mates and a couple of beers, dressed in your bespoke United onesie when Moyes’ boys take on the Greeks this February?
There’s only one colour we could choose for a Manchester United onesie, and that’s Red. Although the Red Devils’ home form hasn’t quite been up to their usual terrifying standard this season, the iconic Red strip of Manchester United can still inspire fear in the hearts of teams across Europe and here in the UK too. We’ve added black Polar Fleece trim to reflect United’s 2013/14 home kit, and have even included the orange Nike boots of ‘Mr Man United’ Wayne Rooney. We’ve added the English goal scorer’s name and kit number to the back of our bespoke football onesie, too, but you’re free to write whatever you wish on the back of your unique design.
Chelsea vs Galatasaray
Chelsea also won their Champions League group, and were rewarded with the most romantic of all possible ties – a two-legged fixture against Turkish champions Galatasaray. Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea will feel as though they can beat the Turks over two legs, but it won’t be easy to overcome a physical and direct team that qualified from a difficult group containing both Juventus and Real Madrid. As an added frisson to the tie, former Chelsea legend Didier Drogba – who won the Champions League for the London club with a penalty kick in 2012 – will be reunited with the Stamford Bridge crowd and the manager who signed him from Marseille in 2004. Chelsea fans, players and manager Jose Mourinho are likely to welcome Drogba – who currently plays for Galatasaray – back to Stamford Bridge with open arms, but they will also be wary of the goal threat he carries even at 35.
As Chelsea’s greatest triumph came in enemy territory against Bayern Munich during the Champions League final in 2012, we thought it would be suitable to commemorate the victory with a onesie based on the squad’s away kit. We’ve opted for an all-white motif with navy blue trim, just like the Chelsea away kit for 2013/14. We’ve added an I-Poc-It in a star motif to celebrate Chelsea’s recent European victories in the Champion’s League and Europa League, and thought it would also be appropriate to doff our caps to Didier Drogba after the forward’s years of service to the London club. It’s his name and number we’ve decided to include on the back, as well as the signature red boots he used to wear in his Chelsea days.
