No Premier League team in the Champions League semi-final! Is it a sign of the EPL’s downfall?
Steadfast supporters of UEFA competitions, and especially the Champions League, can attest to the reality that there have been EPL teams in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the previous six seasons, i.e. 2003. -2009.
In the last six seasons, regular EPL teams in the Champions League (Liverpool FC, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC) have appeared in some way in the semi-finals of the Champions League in the last six seasons, which made English and even foreigners marvel at his absence this season, in the semi-final of Europe’s elite club competition.
In 2005, Liverpool (the all red) and Chelsea (the real blues) met in an entertaining semi-final with both teams led by coaches who have managed their team for just two seasons, Liverpool won the match, after a semi-final match very close. Liverpool finally emerged triumphant in that year’s Champions League, after defeating Ac-Milan in an epic final that saw one of the biggest comebacks in football history, 3-0 to 3-3 and then the victory.
The following year, Arsenal participated in both the semifinal and final of the Champions League, to mark a change in their football history, but were not so lucky to win the trophy after qualifying for their first final match in the championship. . league. They fought with Barcelona in the final of that year, that is, the final of 2006, but were defeated by 2 goals to 1, with the expulsion of Jens Lehmann in that match.
In 2007, Liverpool and Chelsea were once again forced to fight in the semi-final of the 2006/2007 season. With the first leg to be played at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea had a chance to progress, making the most of the home factor by defeating Liverpool by a single goal after a highly contested match. At Anfield, Liverpool played cautiously and at the same time went ahead in search of the goal that would put them at the level of Chelsea, luckily for Liverpool the goal came. A low center by Steven “general” Gerard encountered an unmarked Daniel Agger, who sliced the ball through the bodies of the Chelsea players and crashed into the net early in the first half. Liverpool maintained a one-goal lead even after 90 minutes until overtime ended, then it was time for the last decider; penalties, Pepe Reina was the hero of the day, as he saved the decisive shot to send Liverpool to the final for the second time in three seasons and a repeat of the 2005 final with AC-Milan, who dispatched Manchester United in the another semifinal. -Final by 5 goals to 3 on aggregate.
The final was highly anticipated, as two of the European powers in club football clash to decide the winner of the 2007 Champions League, and finally two goals from Pippo Inzaghi, making him the league’s top scorer. of Champions. , he won the Ac Milan trophy for the seventh time in his footballing history.
The following year saw the best of English teams in the Champions League. All four English representatives reached the quarterfinals, with three (Liverpool, after toppling Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United) of the four advancing to the semi-final, Liverpool were eventually abandoned by English team Chelsea. Chelsea’s progression to the final in 2008 was the first time they had played in the Champions League final; They battled Manchester United for the coveted trophy, equaled United in strength for strength, skill for skill, technique for technique, but were unlucky enough to miss shots from the point as United won their third and second of Sir Alex Ferguson at UEFA. Champions League Trophy, which also helped Cristiano Ronaldo win the World Player of the Year award.
The year 2009 saw a different style of soccer displayed by one team. The 2009 Champions League was won by Barcelona of Spain, after showing the football world how the game should be played; Orderly defense, precise passing and clinical definition: they characterized the game of Barcelona on the way to winning the trophy for the third time in its history, after triumphs in 1992 and 2006.
2010 was very promising for the English teams, after brilliant starts from all sides in their respective groups; Liverpool won their first game against Debrecen at Anfield, by a single goal from Dirk Kuyt, which made him the club’s third top scorer in Europe with 12 goals to his name. Chelsea also won their first game against FC Porto by a single goal from Nicolas Anelka, in a boring match due to the water-soaked pitch.
Manchester United did not do badly in their first game; The same happened with Arsenal, all the English representatives representing well to the delight of the English stalwarts. Things began to shake as the competition progressed towards its crucial stage. Liverpool were eliminated very early in the competition, as they were eliminated in the group stage, even before the last match of the group stage. Fiorentina’s victory over Olympique Lyonnais in the match before the last one, meant that Liverpool were forced to go to the Europa League, where they have recently consoled themselves, making an impressive run towards the semi-final, scoring less than three. goals on aggregate in the previous one. rounds, that is to say round of 32, round of 32 and quarter-finals, which has earned them a clash with Atlético de Madrid at home in Spain.
Chelsea were next in the elimination, after a partially successful streak in the group until the round of 16. Chelsea had big scares during some of their group stage matches, Atlético de Madrid in Spain was one of those, where they had to settle for a 2 all tied after going through Didier Drogba, only to see a Sergio Diego brace. Agüero who gave Atlético the lead, but Drogba proved to be very clinical at the end when he scored his second Atlético goal. The most surprising thing about Chelsea’s group stage result came on the final day of the group. Apoel Nicosia, only making his Champions League debut, kept everyone by defeating Chelsea, with a full first-team squad, to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal had the most impressive performance in the group stage, where they scored 16 of the 18 points available in a group consisting of Olympiakos, Standard Liege and Az Alkmaar, which are low-pedigree teams with frequent Champions League due to their inability to overcome the final. preliminary.
Manchester United, I would say, had an indifferent group campaign. He got off to a great start but was flattered during the crucial intermediate matches, he needed the last match to confirm qualification but put all doubts in the thrash after a Michael Owen hat-trick disallowed Edin Dzeko’s first goal, for VFL Wolfsburg at Old Trafford.
With England’s top three teams progressing to the knockout stages, hopes and expectations were extremely high. The English teams, however, did not get the perfect draws, Chelsea was announced to face Inter-Milan, under the tutelage of José Mourinho, Manchester United attracted to fight with the 7-time European champion, Ac-Milan, and Arsenal getting a rematch. match of the 2009 group stage match against Porto Fc, 2004 winner.
The first legs saw the English teams face a true test of strength, skill and technique.
Manchester United were tested for all of the above against Ac-Milan, first at Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro and then Old Trafford, but then came out victorious in both stages, winning 7-2 on aggregate, with Wayne Rooney scoring four. of the parties. seven goals, that is, 2 goals in each section.
Arsenal had a similar situation, against Fc Porto, the Portuguese representatives gave them a good run for their money, especially in Portugal, where the first leg was held, which Fc Porto won by 2 goals to 1, in a game in which the Porto goal by Falcao was a bit controversial, appearing to be an offside goal.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal had no mercy, shooting 2 goals at Helton into Porto’s goal in quick succession, and at half time, it was Arsenal 2 Porto 1. Porto started brilliantly in the second half of the game, attacking the Arsenal from all sides of the field. As the game grew, Arsenal became more confident and started playing like the Arsenal that we are used to seeing in league matches. Samri Nasri launched Emirates into ecstasy, as he dribbled past three Porto defenders and outscored the defenseless Helton, who tried to run to avoid the goal, but all to no avail. Super substitute Emmanuel Eboue came in minutes later and sealed the victory, with a clean shot, after he outscored the Porto defenders and was set up by Andre Arshavin, with only the goalkeeper to beat, circled neatly before scoring the four from Arsenal to cap off an excellent performance from truly smoking gunners. Nicklas Bendtner, who had previously scored 2 superb goals, added a third to score his first career hat trick at Arsenal.
Nor was it a bed of roses for Chelsea, who suffered losses at the hands of Inter Milan in both games, ending their Champions League campaign. In the magnificent Giuseppe Meazza, Inter put Chelsea to the test in terms of ingenuity, pace of work and technique, as both teams played their lives to progress in the competition. Chelsea partly outplayed, but all the “ball possession” could not bring them the victory they set out to achieve. Ball possession favored Chelsea in the first leg, but these did not translate into goals or attempted goal, shot on goal, etc. Of all the teams that started the European campaign in September, it can be deduced that Liverpool is the most disappointing of all, as they were eliminated in the group stage.
Currently, there are only two English teams in European competition, Liverpool FC and Fulham FC and both have interesting encounters in the semi-final, having to face Atlético de Madrid and Hamburg respectively.
There is the possibility of an English Europa League final, a feat that has not been achieved in more than 6 seasons.
The absence of Premier League teams in the Champions League semi-final, in my own estimation, does not connote the downfall of the Premier League, rather the only reason is the reality we have faced, which is the fact that that teams from other countries have sat down and reviewed the methods of the English teams, which they have applied, and it has worked magically and very effectively too.
English teams weren’t totally outmatched, outmatched or outmatched in play, rather the element of luck was against them, and English teams have also had a good run in the past, so let other teams enjoy the same. , so that people do not say the Champions League. The league is an English competition. The English teams will rise to take what by right belongs to them, which is the prestige they have earned over the years, a prestige that, in my opinion, is in jeopardy considering the impossibility of reaching the semi-finals. of the European elite club competition.
With this I am satisfied, the absence of English teams in the semifinal of the Champions League is not at all equal to the fall of the Premier League, and besides, what other league is as unpredictable as the Premier League? A league in which any team can beat any team, home or away; name the league.