Dubai: For years now, the English Premier League has been blowing its trumpet as being ‘the best league in the world’.
Yet come almost every May, the English clubs would be watching from home as sides from ‘inferior’ leagues (usually Spain, Germany and Italy — yeah, rubbish, I know) fought out the final match to lift Europe’s most coveted trophy and win the Champions League.
Since the turn of the century, the Premier League has had only three winners in the tournament compared to Spain’s nine.
However, this time around, these guys look like the real deal. Between them, Manchester City and Liverpool bagged nine goals away from home to kill off the hopes of Basel and Porto, respectively, before the second leg even begins.
City will be considered one of the favourites for the title now, but the clinical finishing from Jurgen Klopp’s men and the return to form of Saido Mane will be unsettling for any potential quarter-final opponents.
Perhaps more remarkable was the way Tottenham Hotspur fought back against the might of Juventus in Turin, having lost two early goals to salvage a 2-2 draw and take the upperhand when the teams meet at Wembley Stadium on March 7.
So we already have two English teams in the quarters, barring a collapse of AC-Milan-in-Istanbul proportions. And Spurs could and should make it three next month.
On paper, Manchester United and Jose Mourinho realistically should dispense with Sevilla over two legs, starting with the trip to Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday.
That would mean the Prem would be representing half the teams in the final eight. Then there is Chelsea. Probably the toughest challenge facing any of the English teams is that of Antonio Conte’s side as they are drawn against Barcelona, undefeated in all competitions since the start of the season.
While Chelsea have struggled domestically, putting pressure on Conte’s position as manager, Barca have had a wobble of their own in La Liga with a couple of draws against lesser opposition.
With the London club seeming to hit a bit of overdue form, the timing might just be perfect for an upset against the Catalans.
Five in the last eight? That would have got a laugh out of even the dour Mourinho a few years back.
Right now, the Premier League has a credible claim to be the ‘best league in the world’ and should have one, if not two, sides represented in the Champions League in Kiev come May 26.
That’s a lot better than watching from home in London, Manchester and on Merseyside.
