FazThe Premier League and its dominant crusade through Europe
April 17th 2009 08:11
In the last couple of years, there has been a tendency for English teams to dominate the latter stages of the Uefa Champions League. The 2009 semi-finals will once again feature three Premier League sides, alongside a Barcelona unit desperate to capture Europe’s greatest club trophy.
England has always been a potent force in Europe. Its league features four of the most dominant club forces in the world, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal constantly in the running for the famed Champions League trophy.
It is no coincidence then to see Chelsea, United and Arsenal in the final four of the Champions League. The only reason Liverpool were knocked out early was because they lost to Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
Indeed these performances speak volumes about the current standing of the Premier league as the best league in the world.
The football in the premier league is played at a superior rhythm not apparent in fellow heavyweight European leagues such as the Serie A and the Spanish La Liga.
The Premier League is also slowly transforming into the competition that counts with the majority of maximum figures in world football – something that was competently held by the Serie A and the Spanish Primera.
One now has to go back as far as 2002-03 to witness a Champions League semifinal draw that had no English teams among its competitors.
Since then however, the Premier League has had a terrific representation in the latter stages of Europe’s premier club competition.
Chelsea made the semi-finals in 2004 while Liverpool went on to win the title the following year. In 2005-06, Arsenal made the final but lost to Barcelona.
Now, the English invasion throughout the Champions League is in full force, with three Premier League teams making semi-final appearances or better in the last two seasons.
Indeed last years Champions League final in Moscow was contested by United and Chelsea – a signature that currently shows the dominance of the premier league on the European stage.
La Liga outfit Barcelona is probably the only team outside of England that can truly match the speed of play that is deriving in the Premier League.
With players such as Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Xavi Hernandez, Andre Iniesta and Thierry Henry, it is no surprise to see Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals for the second year running.
But once again, they find themselves as the only team from Spain that is flying the La Liga flag in a cup that is being dominated by English teams.
Out of the three Premier League sides currently remaining, United once again looks like the team most capable of lifting this years Champions League trophy.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have established their stance as the best club side on the planet. They are the reigning Premier League, Champions League and current World Club champions, and they are also well in the running to defend two of those titles.
Not to mention they are also in the semifinals of the FA Cup.
With a roster that contains World Player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, and other stars such as Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Carlos Tevez, Dmitriv Berbatov and Paul Scholes, it is little wonder why they are on the verge of repeating last season’s triumphs.
It is already assured that one Premier League team will fly to Rome to contest the Champions League final in May this season. Do not be surprised if we see two once again.
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