Another round of Champions League matches and another set of disappointing results for the English Premier League clubs. Between them, they have 5 wins from 16 matches this season. The results for Arsenal, throwing away a three goal lead, and Manchester City, folding to a home loss and down to nine men, were most alarming. On current form, only Chelsea, who top their group, look likely to proceed to the latter stages.
This pattern has been similar over the last few seasons. Since Chelsea won the 2012 trophy, they have been the only one English side to reach the semi finals. In 2013 no team made beyond round 16. In the years 2005 to 2012, English clubs were in the final 7 seasons out of 8. This may be a temporary blip, but there is a sense that despite their wealth, English clubs have fallen a way behind the Spanish giants, Bayern and even Italian clubs like Juventus.
Manchester City have retained a perverse Cityitis in Europe, where they conspire to make a hash of matches, seem lacklustre and strangely disinterested. The argument goes that they are just adjusting to continental style, but their team is made up of the cosmopolitan Euro elite. The mindset most likely is that European glory still seems like a luxury to enjoy, rather than a burning ambition. When the other Manchester club returned to the Champions League in 1993, they sought to rekindle the glory days of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly the 1968 triumph. Reviving this legacy eventually led them to winning in their sixth season back. City doesn’t have a historic European Cup legacy to draw on and they may well improve by their sixth season, but the club hasn’t invested enough. The Champions League for many players, managers and clubs elsewhere is an obsession, but City don’t seem remotely obsessed.
For Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, it has been an obsession. Such that, he neglected the club’s domestic cup aspirations for many years. The closest he came, was most likely in 2004, when the Invincible team, seemed Invincible in Europe as well. The 5-1 win in the San Siro in November 2003, was probably Arsenal’s best ever European performance. But with matches building up, it was one trophy too much and they lost in the quarter finals to Chelsea. Arsenal did reach the 2006 final and could have won, but a self inflicted defeat, set the template for the second half of Wenger’s Arsenal career. Since the break up of the 2006 team, Arsenal have only in patched made any impact in Europe. The 2009 season ended in a semi final defeat and a fairly comprehensive one.
Chelsea look most comfortable and undefeated. The experience of their squad should take them to at least the semi finals. Mourinho has won two European cups, both in his second seasons, as he is now at Chelsea. John Terry has played in 2 finals and played in 7 semi finals. They may be slowly progressing through their group, but will most likely be one of the favourites once the quarter finals arrive.
Liverpool will feel the most underwhelmed by their current campaign. Mostly due to expectations. When they had their previous Champions League run from 2002 to 2009, they had some incredible wins including Istanbul 2005. The squad at that time was not much better than it is now, but Rafael Benitez showed a great European knowledge. With only one win out of four, albeit two matches against Real, this has been a flat campaign. Poor domestic form has been carried into Europe. Perhaps if Suarez was still there, it could be different, but with a manager without European pedigree and a low confidence squad, the results have been poor.
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