The
Sun has not Yet set on the Old Empire
The UEFA Champions league and the Europa League will be
contested by four English club teams. Liverpool versus Tottenham for the
champions league match and Arsenal against Chelsea for the Europa League. An astonishing
feat for a league that has not had recent success in the Champions league. The
last English team to win it was in the 2011-12 edition when Chelsea defeated
Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout. Manchester United was the last English
club to win the Europa League fairly recent as the red devils lifted the trophy
in the 2016-17 season. Having all four teams be from one league in Europe is an
impressive accomplishment that I can remember. The most recent kind of dominance
in Europe by one league that comes to mind is during the 2013 to 2016 span when
both European competitions were won by teams from La Liga. This will guarantee that
the English premier league will secure a similar kind of dominance in Europe.
It will come to know surprise to those who share the game
watching experience with me that I am not too big on the English side as being thee best league, or top five in international
competition. However, their recent run in Russia during the 2018 World Cup was
an entertaining run and one worth acknowledging their great performance. This
adds to it as I will concede that the English have gained traction in getting
things right that past couple of years. Now for those who think I take the contrarian
route in disliking the English have it quite wrong. I do not go against them
simply because they are popular and well marketed league, hats off to them for
it. My view has always been that I did not see the same thing that the fans of
their respective teams saw in them. For example, I did go for the English
national side during their run in the world cup because I enjoy a good underdog
and redemption story like most fans. But, that is how I have always seen them.
Now that that clarification is out of the way, back to
the English being good in football. The Europa league will be contested by two
sides that really did not look so great for the majority of their domestic
campaigns. Chelsea brought in Mauricio Sarri to take the club to the next level
and potentially challenge for the title. That did not go as planned. The Sarri
ball side finished 3rd in the league but it did seem as if the team
regressed from the previous year and limped their way into third as neither of
the other teams really wanted it either.
Arsenal can be seen in a more positive and forgiving manner
as the side was managed by a new coach in Unai Emery. Arsenal were and are
currently in a rebuilding phase and at times showed the grit and resilience that
was lacking under Arsene Wenger’s last few seasons in charged. Emery has given
the Gunner’s faithful some hope for the club, if the board fully commits and
gets behind their new manager, and confidence that he is the right man to lead
the team back in the right direction.
Both teams had their issue in their domestic campaigns,
but little of that was visible during their European cup competition. Not sure
if this is as impressive of an accolade given that both clubs are much more
financially off then the rest of the teams that compete in Europe, but both
Arsenal and Chelsea are teams that began their campaigns in the actual group
stage of the tournament. Which has not been the case for the last six tournaments
where at least one has been from the Champions league tournament. Now both teams
could potentially be in the Champions league next year depending on the outcome
in Baku.
Liverpool and Tottenham will play in Madrid for the
Champions League final. Liverpool just finished the league in second pushing
Manchester City to a record run only to fall short off them by a point. Liverpool
under Klopp is not really a surprise as I think most footballing fans will be
aware on what kind of team Liverpool has become under the German manager. If
Liverpool win on June 1st they will become the third most successful
club in the competition. They will go from 5 trophies to 6 placing them on
clear of Bayern Munich who have 5 and one shy of second place AC Milan.
Tottenham will have an opportunity to win their Champions
league trophy and award Pochettino his first title with the club as well. The
Argentine manager has done a phenomenal job guiding the club to their current position
without any new signings this season. The club has transformed into a well
playing side that has challenged the top clubs in England and Europe.
Liverpool are heavy favorites, but Tottenham are not a
club to be overlooked. Chelsea may have a great side compared to Arsenal based
on player for player comparison by position, but Arsenal did not reach the
final by accident. Tottenham will be without an inform Henry Kane who will most
likely be available but will be a surprise if he starts. Liverpool at the
moment look like the side that has not faults other than the mental fatigue
that can be attributed from a hectic domestic season. Arsenal seem the weakest
of the side simply because their defense is still awful and in desperate need
of an upgrade over the summer. This season belongs to the English as their teams
have demonstrated that they can play among the very best and have gifted us
with two exciting finals that I will definitely watch.
No comments:
Post a Comment