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Why English clubs might have more Champions League success than you think

The Glory Days

When Craig Bellamy unleashed his now infamous ‘golf swing’ celebration in the Camp Nou as Liverpool knocked defending champions Barcelona out of the 2006/07 Champions League, the tabloids had a field day speculating over a bust-up with John-Arne Riise. But something even bigger was happening on the pitch that night, even if at the time it was taken for granted.

 

That year, the Reds reached their second final in three years under Rafael Benitez. Circumstance meant dispatching Frank Rijkaard’s men in the last 16 was expected; the Catalans were not even half way through a disastrous two-year spell which would see an urgent internal rebuild and the subsequent birth of arguably the greatest club side ever. They had problems, but on paper, a team including Bellamy, Riise and Dirk Kuyt should never have been expected to beat a side with Ronaldinho, Xavi, Deco and a young Lionel Messi at their disposal.

Such a victory was part of a greater pattern, though. At the semi final stage, Liverpool met and beat Chelsea to set up a clash with AC Milan, just as they had done in 2005. The Rossoneri, who got revenge for their historic capitulation in Istanbul two years earlier, had beaten Manchester United. A year later, the Red Devils beat Chelsea in Moscow to lift the trophy; in 2009, the Blues were denied a rematch in the harshest circumstances as Barcelona progressed. At this particular stage, it seemed like England ruled; a Premier League side didn’t always win the trophy, but at least three were in the hunt until a very late stage every year.

An end to Spanish dominance?

Looking back, it seems almost impossible to see that happening again. Liverpool, Chelsea, who did eventually taste glory in 2012, Manchester United and Arsenal have all failed to qualify at times since those days, and neither Manchester City nor Tottenham Hotspur have carried the torch too well. Real Madrid and Barcelona have won it five times since 2011, with Bayern Munich being crowned on the other occasion. The Monopoly has shifted, and no amounts of money, signings or strategies have re-established the English status quo.

Cracks are beginning to emerge for the three super clubs, and there is real light for the five from England in the hunt this year. Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool qualified through the traditional route and Manchester United won the Europa League. Mathematical probability is onside, but more encouraging is that Barcelona and Bayern, in particular, are not looking as untouchable as they have in recent years.

Neymar’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain typified the arrogance that has engulfed Barcelona in recent years and finally that could see the end of their decade of dominance. Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta are, astonishingly, just months away from becoming free agents in effect, with new contracts not yet signed. An ageing squad has looked human on more than once in the last two years and the situation is arguably worse than the day Bellamy stunned 98,000 Catalans into silence.

 

The Other Candidates

Bayern, too, have not been above the negative press. Robert Lewandowski, scorer of 80 Bundesliga goals in just 99 games, could leave after their CEO voiced his displeasure at some comments against the club. Two league defeats already this season, including at the weekend to Hoffenheim, is hardly the best preparation for another European campaign. Carlo Ancelotti’s men also have to face PSG in the group stage; with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe up front, the Ligue 1 outfit seem best placed to take advantage of any weakness in the traditional favourites. Yet, defensive issues and squad depth provide quite a problem for Unai Emery to solve. Right now, his side seems a little too top heavy for immediate success.

Even Real Madrid, who became the first team to retain the Champions League title last season, are soul searching to a degree. Cristiano Ronaldo is going to be 33 this year, and with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema’s performances dropping, Zinedine Zidane is tweaking his formula. Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos are talented players, but unproven at this level.

 

English Champions League Optimism

This season will bring new challenges for both Chelsea and Liverpool, who achieved all they did last term able to focus solely on domestic requirements. Jurgen Klopp has Champions League pedigree having taken Borussia Dortmund to the final in 2013, but defensively the Reds are suspect. It is the same story at the Etihad Stadium, where Pep Guardiola will be hoping to improve on his worst ever performance in the competition last year, heading out in the last 16 to AS Monaco.

Guardiola was the mastermind behind that Barcelona team, winning two European crowns with his boyhood club. Across Manchester, United boss Jose Mourinho is also looking for his third crown. The pair have spent over £350million combined this summer, and whether it is Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Paul Pogba or Romelu Lukaku, both have players of the class to achieve their dream.

 

Facing up to another year at Wembley, supposedly the biggest factor in their struggles last season, Tottenham face both Dortmund and Real Madrid in the group stage. It will be tough for them to progress but crucially, tough for the others too.

Every year it seems as though the levels of quality in the Champions League grow. The numbers suggest an English winner is possible, with five teams vying for success. A throwback to the dominance of the mid-2000s is unlikely, but it might just be that there is a more even spread of opportunity to be crowned Kings of Europe this season.

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