Matthew Hall
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The Power Of Four
Champions League success is all about an exclusive English club.
This is a very simple equation.
How did three Premier League teams qualify for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals?
It's all about strength in numbers and, as it turns out, the way things have panned out should have been easier to predict at the start of the season.
Let's look at the three English teams that qualified for the semi-finals next month: Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Let's also make note of Arsenal who were a silly shirt tug away from qualifying at Liverpool's expense.
Then let's look at which four English teams were in last year's competition. What's that? Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal? (The competition was eventually won by Milan who beat Liverpool in the final).
And in 2005-2006? Manchester, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal (Eventually won by Barcelona against Arsenal).
And in 2004-2005? This is getting a bit tedious but Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal (Eventually won by, yes, Liverpool, in that final).
In 2003-2004? Oh, look, a break in the formula!
Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal all made the group stage but Liverpool didn't qualify for the competition.
Interestingly, Newcastle United qualified that season but were knocked out by Partizan Belgrade of Serbia in the preliminary rounds. This was the season Jose Mourinho steered Portuguese side Porto to the title.
(Newcastle's failure that year had as much to do with their own lack of experience as it did the team's ability. A visit to Belgrade, and playing an unfamiliar Serbian team, is a very different away day than a trip to Bolton.)
So, what we've actually seen in recent years is the Big Four English clubs continually gain more experience every season and flip that into success.
Add the massive financial rewards that come from playing in the Champions League, both from UEFA and TV deals, which in turn allows clubs to buy better players and the pattern continues.
Success breeds success breeds success.
Meanwhile, this exclusive club becomes more difficult to break into for other English clubs.
Sure, a team like Newcastle United might break into the Top Four briefly but you could safely bet your house, children, and pet dog on the top three teams each season being either Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Liverpool.
(Although they've been very successful in Europe, Liverpool actually winning the Premier League is another bet - and story - altogether.)
In contrast, over the same period of time, eight different clubs have represented Spain; seven different teams have come from Italy and France; Germany has served up six different entrants.
England, it appears, is a closed shop. That's great for Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool but for the rest of the league?
The unimpressive performance of Premier League teams in the second-tier UEFA Cup suggests that between the rest of the league and the now vastly experienced Top Four, there's daylight.
England's Top Four are, without doubt, among the strongest clubs in Europe but the argument that this makes the Premier League "the best" still needs to be made.
And while Barcelona remains in the competition, there's still plenty of opportunity for English heartbreak.
COMMENTS
go chelsea!!!!!
- by bevan on April 13, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Well done for stating the bleeding obvious mate!! And here's another obvious question for you to ponder next week... how is it that 3 "English" clubs can make the Champions League semis yet England can't qualify for Euro 2008 or make the semis of a major tournament since 1996?? (Hint: Check the nationalities of 85% of the players in the Big 4 squads)
- by Gareth on April 13, 2008 at 12:53 PM
you're stretching it a bit, the same teams from every country get in every year, Barca, Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, PSV, AJAX, Lyon
- by Sam on April 13, 2008 at 01:30 PM
A well reasoned, intelligent summary of the situation and history. Do you think papua new guinea will ever get an a-league team??? Matt???
- by Tim J on April 13, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Heres a fact about arsenal - one englishman in their squad. who starts on the bench. scum of north london and taking away from the quality reputation this area holds with Spurs.
- by Zac on April 13, 2008 at 09:52 PM
The champions league is crap. Winning the premier league is the real acheivement. To win the CL, you only have to be successful over 13 games, 39 games for the EPL.
Look at the scousers, their league title bid is usually over by the time the Xmas tree comes down so they can then concentrate on the odd CL game after that. In 2005, they won the CL but finished 37 points off the top of the EPL. They were closer to relegation then to the top of the EPL !
Only the domestic champions deserve to be in the CL, not a team that comes 4th, or 5th in Liverpool's case in 2006.
It's just a big wank for cash perpetuating the same rich clubs.
- by Bring Back Rex Mossop on April 14, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Let's be honest the Premier League lives up to its' name. It is the best and it would not suprise me that sides like Everton and Spurs do far better in the EUFA Cup next year as they did do well away and only just lost. Spain is the second best league and there is a fair bit of class distance from Italy and the rest. The Italian League still has a long way to go in terms of entertainment and that is what makes the bling. The day the Italian;s stop cheating whether by fixing or diving might help that league get an audience as I will be honest I refuse to watch it or support it as it is crap.
- by joshy on April 14, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Well done in bringing this up as it has been on my mind all week. England have 4 fantastic teams, but past them there is a lack of depth.
Whilst Barcelona and Madrid usually dominate in Spain, all the other teams rise and fall every few years and even those 2 teams are challenged by lowly ranked teams week-in-week-out.
England should be proud of how competitive these 4 teams are, but maybe also look to levelling the playing field before claiming they have the best league in the world.
- by barça fan on April 14, 2008 at 11:01 AM
thanks you
- by sohbet on April 14, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Unimpressive performances by English teams in the UEFA Cup?
Everton and Bolton (yes, Bolton, with a second-string side....Bolton's SECOND STRING side) were both close to Quarter-Final - and probably Semi-Final - appearances.
And it's not like the Germans and Italians have set the competition alight with their "lesser" sides. Fiorentina and Bayern - both in the semis - are in the top 4 of their respective leagues.
- by Chris Para on April 14, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Joshy, you sound like you still have a chip on your shoulder about Italian football in the way we lost to Italy. Face the facts mate, We were very lucky to play for 50 or so minutes with an extra man because the Italian who got sent off should NEVER have been sent off. We played terrible football with the extra man. Get over it pal, we were not up to Italy's standard so stop being a sore loser and a whinger and take the defeat on the chit. Your a disgrace to all Australians and its probably you who are giving us a bad name around the world as being a country of sore losers.
Hey Matt, i heard in the British press that Juventus are closing in on Harry Kewell. I remember first reading the story from you.. Maybe MR X might know some inside information if Harry kewell has been spotted in Turin looking for property ???
- by Robbo on April 15, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Joshy, Im an Australian and now call London home. The reason i left Australia is because its so far from where the action is and is so isolated that not only do you have to fly at least eight hours to get to anywhere remotely interesting, the isolation also seems to have nurtured this horribly annoying, self-aggrandising attitude amongst its inhabitants like yourself. It was most embarrassing to read all those sore losers' comments after Australia lost to Italy. Seriously, these idiots should be grateful that the Socceroos, being really a third rate team, even made it to the play-offs. Did they seriously expect them to win? Apparently some did. I even saw a couple in Paris wearing matching T-shirts that said "We got cheated of the World Cup". I never felt more embarrassed about being Australian. Joshy, the reason why you dont like Italian soccer is because your a sore loser and still having a whinge about the socceroos. Noone likes a whinger like you pal. Your pathetic mate.
- by Michael on April 15, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Yes Joshy, get over it you idiot.
I was living in London for the past 2 years and its idiots like you that Australians are getting a reputation as being sore losers and cry like babies and look for excuses when we lose. I was asked by many English, French, Irish as to why we are such sore losers. Idiots like you are the reason !!
- by Matt on April 15, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Mathew, your a dead-set champion.
i read in one of your articles back in January that Juventus will be making a trip to Australia. It was just confirmed in the news today. Im in Sydney and have already told my boss ill be away on the weekend of May 30 as ill be hoping on a plane to see the "old lady" play. One thing thats confusing me is that Juventus have promised to bring a near full strength team and the game is only a week before the Euro's. I strongly doubt it if Buffon, Del Piero, Trezeguet, Nedved will make the trip as they will be on international duty for their repective countries. I dont care though as its Juventus !! Along with Beckham coming to Australia, this would have to be the biggest team thats making the trip down under and as a lover of football i cant wait to see a club like Juventus come to Australia. You gave us the news 4 months ago and hopefully you keep our mouths watered between now and May 30. Player profiles on Juventus would be nice. Would be nice to see Jess Van Strattan play and i think thats a good chance if Buffon doesnt make it.
MH.. Your a champion !!!
- by Phil on April 19, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Typical, chip-on-the-shoulder moaning Aussie. Can't deal with the English being successful in whatever context and needs to rubbish it. Absolutely pathetic. Hurry up and become a republic and grow up.
- by Lee Foster on April 20, 2008 at 12:49 AM
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Parrot are you mates with Craig Foster?
It's even worse in Italy. Inter, AC, Roma, Juve...every year. As for Germany Bayern Munich and Bremen followed by daylight. France...Lyon have won the league for the past 7 seasons.
Barcelona or Real Madrid this year? Either or...
At least England have 4 teams competing putting it above predicatable leagues such as Italy, Gemany, France and Scotland.
Case closed.
By the way Newcastle won't be qualifying for a CL anytime soon. Spurs, everton perhaps but not the maggies.
Discuss.