Champions League: The end of English Dominance
By Mani Honigstein
13 Comments
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Last night marked a milestone in European football. The English dominance has come to an end. After years  in which the English clubs dominated the Champions League, last night marked the beginning of the end.

In the previous two competitions all four English teams had qualified for the Quarter Finals. With Liverpool being kicked out in the Groups Stage and Chelsea loosing last night, this time it will be only two teams.

But it is not only the statistical fact that drives my conclusion it is also the way in which Chelsea was eliminated. It looked like the team has gotten too old, too predictable and that Inter had finally caught up with the bug guys in Europe.

This is all a result of the financial crisis in the Premier League. Liverpool has been bankrupt for a while and had to let go some of its key players during this summer. Chelsea was not only banned to transfer players, but the billionaire and owner Abramovich has not heavily invested in the team for the last two years. What remains is Manchester and Arsenal. Well Arsenal has been playing the same football for the last 10 years or so. Sometimes brilliant, sometimes horrible. But all in all it was not enough to reach a domestic or international title.

What is left is Manchester United. Manchester plays unbelievably well, taking into consideration the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo left in the summer. The team is mediocre and its main source of brilliance comes from Wayne Rooney who plays an unbelievable season. But Manchester is in huge debt and the years ahead do not look too rosy.  Even Ferguson will not be able to build a team that can compete for the European crown without any financial backing.

The European landmark will look different after this Champions League season and is yet to change even more.

Maybe the fact that the Premier League is in a crisis is a good sign for the English team for the upcoming World Cup. Italy won in Germany in 2006, emerging out of the biggest scandal and crisis of Italian football. Â

And deep inside I still believe and even more hope that Bayern can surprise this year in Europe.
13  Comments
17.03.2010 11:30
its a bigger blow for Spain. Good thing they have Barca
18.03.2010 00:05
It's a good and even CL this year, no one league dominating it. The French contingent look very sturdy, Barca are pure trouble, CSKA have the advantage of taking teams to Moscow and having a big go, that Honda looked good too. Utd can be neutralised if you stop Rooney, Arsenal always look nervy against a team that is of a high enough level and they don't have a proven match winner, Inter showed they are strong and mentally applied although missing Lucio in the first leg may be key. As for your Bayern, I admit Robben and Ribery are magic cards, but the central midfield and defence can be pierced.
18.03.2010 12:27
untd vs barca once again
18.03.2010 12:31
The bookies rarely get it wrong. According to them Barcelona or Man Utd will win it. I think Bayern are third favourites and that sounds about right to me. However, I think you need to avoid Arsenal and Inter as well as Barca and United if you're to make it to the final.
18.03.2010 13:25
@360 - you're wrong about Bayern being third favorites, they are fifth favorites at 13.0, after Barca 2.87, United 4.5, Inter 5.0, Arsenal 7.5. So you can see how much of a surprise they think it will be if Bayern are to win it.
19.03.2010 12:24
Machester united - Bayern Munchen i think it's the end of Germans visit to this years Champions League :DDD i guess it's bye bye Bayern :))
19.03.2010 13:41
odds have changed after the draw...still the same order but different numbers........Barca 3.0, United 4.0, Inter 4.5, Arsenal 12.0, Bayern 13.0.........see how Arsenals odds have dropped from 7.5 to 12, now that they are playing Barca next
19.03.2010 14:46
the draw is crap,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i'm seriously upset,
By  Mani18
19.03.2010 18:51
I am positive about the games against Machester. I think we will win at home 1:0 or 2:0 and draw at United.
20.03.2010 08:59
@ mani hope is one thing.............reality is diff..........d only prob united is dey ve to play against chelsea just after bayern game............but 2nd leg is at old trafford and it is an added advantage to united.................another motivation for both d team ll be d team in semifinal..............i think its united vs barcelona again...........but i hope and pray arsenal win against barcelona.......................
20.03.2010 12:10
@raj: you're wrong...man u - bayern winner will play either lyon or bordeux...one way you would meet barcelona is in finals...but hope man u will never get there :))
22.03.2010 06:10
Deciding factor would Bayern's defence..Bayern attack is definitely better than Man U...Robben and Ribery can score goals and also take players with them to create space for others..Man U attack can definitely be contained if LvG finds a way to keep Rooney from playing..But if Bayern defence doesn't tighten up ...they will be punished...Tough game..Hopefully 2000-2001 would repeat...
27.03.2010 10:49
@karolis: man utd ll play chelsea in premier league after the first leg against bayern if i m not wrong...........and yes man utd ll ve an added motivation coz d team in semifinal ll be either lyon or bordeux.............but again hope is one thing.........man utd goin again into d finals may be to face barca again.................
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