[Red Devil]

This season there are four teams from the same country in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time ever.

While Italy, Germany, Spain and Turkey have to make do with one side each, the Premier League's big four have all made it through.

The progress of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea has shown the strength of the Premier League - and with two of them drawn together, England is guaranteed at least one semi-finalist.

Never before has one country dominated to such an extent, so why and how has it happened? And will it continue?

If so, what does it mean for other leagues around Europe, as the best players head for the Premier League in large numbers every summer?

And could the future of the Champions League be under threat if this trend continues?

 

[jd_united]

I think as far as the best players in the world go, the Premiership is the place to be at the moment. The possibility of having 3 teams in the Champions League semi-final for the second year running speaks volumes. English teams are improving all the time in Europe as they get more and more experience. Since 2005, there has been an English club in the Champions League Final and there is a strong possibility that this year will be no different than the previous three.

The Premiership does miss out on some of the elite player in Europe such as Kaka, Messi, Ronaldinho (when on form) etc. But still the Premiership is home to stars of its own such as Ronaldo, Drogba, Torres, Rooney, Ferdinand, Terry, Gerrard, Cech etc.

I think something that is crucial is that English teams are now learning that they cannot always play a fast paced game, but sometimes need to be tactically sound in European matches. Liverpool, while in the league are somewhat poor, always seem to cut it in Europe because they know how to play. But something that gives English teams a further advantage is that they can still unleash clinical fast attacking football and stun their opponents when it is the right time to do so e.g. United v Roma last season, Chelsea v Barcelona 2004/05.

There is nothing to suggest that this dominence in Europe is going to end anytime soon. No team is aging particularly rappidly and the experience of playing in anything further than the quater final will be vital to all of the players concerned.

Every English team is desperate to win the trophy. United would love sucess in Moscow this year to honour the Busby Babes in the year of the 50th anniversary of their tragic accident in Munich. Liverpool need something to salvage their season and add to their impressive 5 victories in Europe's Elitle club competition. Chelsea and Arsenal both would love to put their name on the trophy for the first time and maybe salvage their own season, if they both fail in their attempt to catch United in the Premiership.

The Premiership sides are finally beginning to show their class in Europe and challenge the likes of AC Milan, and teams who have been the corner-stone of the competition for so long. This can only be good news for English football and has been a long time coming. Serie A and La Liga have dominated the trophy for a long time and now perhaps it's the Premiership's turn.

 

[carlyluvsunited]

Phew good post Mr JD ...

Some rep points heading your way Mr ...

 

[jd_united]

Phew good post Mr JD ...

Some rep points heading your way Mr ...

Thanks for that. I knew what I wanted to say just took a while to make sure I could get it all in. Will be interesting to hear other people's thoughts on this as well.

 

[RichardsReds]

Yeah good points mate!

What are rep points?

 

[yangch0000]

i believe it would be a circle, and it is just time for english sides to dominate the champions league and i can see the Big Four continue to challenge for that trophy for quite some years to come.
Chelsea will continue to invest until they got their hands on that big trophy, and liverpool will always be a contender as long as rafa remains there, and arsenal will only become stronger with their young squad, and united's trophy cabinet will always be a special place for the trophy.
I would say english sides are currently looking very good, and may that continues

 

[sparkic]

The domination amongst Europe rotates time to time. 1st it was Spanish, then Portugese, then Italian, then English then German came along and so on and on rotating...I mean I remember when at Old Trafford it was an all Italian final? And what about Valencia vs Real Madrid final? It will not last for ever but the Englis at the moment are on top of all of Europe imo...they were behind few seasons ago but then Liverpoo's win opend the door for English clubs but it will continue to rotate

 

[akash_reds]

england always dominate but how much UCL trophies have ended up in england from 2000-2007??? only once!!! ....thats is really disappointing....last year we had 3 english team and one italian team in the semis and the italian team ended up winning it!!!! hope the english teams will perform better this time and bring the UCL to england......and hopefully that team will be man utd!!!!!!

 

[futbol]

^^ Thats Liverpool ! Sick....

 

[red_devils4life]

Too true, take a look at this article. It shows that Italy are the most successful nation, in terms of the number of clubs in their domestic league which finished as winners & runner-ups respectively. With 11 winners & 14 runner-ups in the elite European competition, they are closely followed by Spain with 11 winners & 9 runner-ups. And lemme ask ue, where's England? That's right, a miserable 3rd spot. Compared to the huge success of both Italy & Spain, they only has won it 10 times & been on the losing side of the final 4 times. Personally, I believe that's one of the main reason why none of the players from Barclays English Premier League has ever won the Fifa World Player of the Year before. That's b'coz powerful governing bodies of football such as FIFA ( Federation of International Football Association) & UEFA ( Union of European Football Association) actually holds the Champions League in a much higher esteem compared to the likes of the domestic leagues.

 

[Jazz 16]

I believe that the English teams will dominate again like they did 20 odd years ago.
The reason for this is the quality of the Premiership and the ability of the
'Top 4' to go out and get all the best young players in the world and/or
any player that they want. This has been coming for a few years now
and we will surely see an English team win the CL more often than not.

great post btw JD. you know your footie.

 

[fazman]

Phew good post Mr JD ...

Some rep points heading your way Mr ...

when u gonna give me some rep points

 

[Andreas_svan]

some nice thread there, but i would not think it will be the same dominace if you put the top 4 of England,italy,germany and spain into one league, it will have a different outcome.

 

[fazman]

some nice thread there, but i would not think it will be the same dominace if you put the top 4 of England,italy,germany and spain into one league, it will have a different outcome.

the money is in the prem so all the best talent is heading this way so of course our teams or going to improve . To be honest i hate chelsea but they gettin all that money gave man u , liverpool , arsenal the kick up the arse we needed and now were head and shoulders above most of europe if not the whole of it.