The staunch supporters of UEFA competitions and especially the Champions League can attest that there have been EPL teams in the Champions League semi-finals during the previous six seasons i.e. 2003- 2009.
In the last six seasons, the regular EPL teams in the Champions League (Liverpool FC, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC) have somehow appeared in the Champions League Semi-Final in the last six seasons, which made Englishmen 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 true blues) met in an entertaining semi-final with both teams led by managers who have led their team for just two seasons, Liverpool won the match, after a game of highly contested semifinals. Liverpool finally emerged triumphant in that year’s Champions League, after defeating Ac-Milan in an epic final that saw one of the greatest comebacks in football history, 3-0 to 3-3 and then victory. .
The following year, Arsenal participated in both the semi-final and final of the Champions League, to mark a turning point in their footballing history, but were not so lucky to win the trophy after qualifying for their first Champions League final match. League. league. They fought with Barcelona in the final of that year, that is, the final of 2006, but they were defeated by 2 goals to 1, with Jens Lehmann sent off in that match.
In 2007, Liverpool and Chelsea met again in the semifinal of the 2006/2007 season. With the first leg drawn to be played at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea had a chance to progress and made the most of the home factor by beating Liverpool by a lone goal after a closely contested game. At Anfield, Liverpool played cautiously and also rushed forward in search of the goal that would level them with Chelsea, luckily for Liverpool the goal came. A low cross from Steven “General” Gerard found an unmarked Daniel Agger, who sliced the ball through the bodies of the Chelsea players and hit the net early in the first half. Liverpool retained a one-goal lead even after 90 minutes until extra time ended, then it was time for the final decision; penalty, Pepe Reina was the hero of the day as he saved the decisive penalty 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 other semifinal. – Final clash by 5 goals to 3 on aggregate.
The final was highly anticipated as two of the European powerhouses in club football go head-to-head to decide the winner of the 2007 Champions League, ultimately two goals from Pippo Inzaghi, making him the top scorer in the Champions League. , Ac Milan won the trophy for the seventh time in its football history.
The following year saw the best of the English teams in the Champions League. All four of England’s representatives reached the quarter-finals, with three (Liverpool, after ousting Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United) of the four advancing to the semi-final, Liverpool ultimately being knocked out by Chelsea. Chelsea’s progression to the final in 2008 was the first time they had played in the Champions League final; they battled with Manchester United for the coveted trophy, matching United strength for strength, skill for skill, technique for technique, but were unlucky enough to miss out on penalties as United won their third and Sir Alex Ferguson’s second 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 football deployed by one team. The 2009 Champions League was won by Barcelona of Spain, after showing the soccer world how the game should be played; Impeccable defence, precise passing and clinical finishing: they characterized Barcelona’s game on their way to winning the trophy for the third time in their history, after triumphs in 1992 and 2006.
2010 came with much promise for the English teams, after a brilliant start from all the teams in their respective groups; Liverpool won their first game against Debrecen at Anfield, with a lone goal scored by Dirk Kuyt, making him the club’s third-highest goalscorer in Europe with 12 goals to his credit. Chelsea also won their first match against FC Porto to a lone goal from Nicolás Anelka, in a dull game 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 represented well to the delight of the English stalwarts. Things started to get shaky as the competition moved into its crucial stage. Liverpool were knocked out very early in the competition as they were knocked out in the group stage, even before the last group game. Fiorentina’s win over Olympique Lyonnais in the game before the last meant Liverpool were forced into the Europa League where they recently consoled themselves, putting on an impressive run to the semi-final, having scored fewer than three goals in total in the former. days, that is, the round of 16, round of 16 and quarterfinals, which has earned them a clash against Atlético de Madrid at home in Spain.
Chelsea were next to be knocked out, after a partly successful run in the group to the round of 16. Chelsea had big scares during some of their group stage games, Atlético Madrid in Spain being one of those, where they had to settle for a 2 all level after going through Didier Drogba, only to see a brace from Sergio Diego Agüero that gave Athletico the lead, but Drogba proved very clinical in finishing when he scored his second goal past Athletico. Chelsea’s most surprising group stage result came on the final group day. Apoel Nicosia, who have just made their Champions League debut, led all the conquerors of Chelsea, with a complete first team, to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal had the most impressive performance in the group stage in which they picked up 16 of the 18 available points in a group that consisted of Olympiakos, Standard Liege and Az Alkmaar, who are often low-pedigree teams in the Champions League. due to the inability to pass the final. preliminary.
Manchester United, I would say, had an indifferent group campaign. Got off to a great start but flattered through the crucial half of the games, needed the last game to confirm qualification but cast any doubt after a Michael Owen hat-trick disallowed Edin Dzeko’s first goal, for VFL Wolfsburg at Old Trafford.
With the top three teams in England progressing to the round of 16, hopes and expectations were extremely high. The English teams, however, did not achieve the perfect draws, Chelsea faced Inter-Milan, under the tutelage of José Mourinho, Manchester United faced the 7-time European champions, Ac-Milan and Arsenal obtained a relay. 2009 group stage match against Porto Fc, 2004 winners.
The first legs saw the English teams face off against a true test of strength, skill and technique.
Manchester United put all of the above to the test against Ac-Milan, first at the Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro and then at Old Trafford, but then emerged victorious in both games, winning 7-2 on aggregate, with Wayne Rooney scoring. four of the seven goals, that is, 2 goals in each game.
Arsenal had a similar situation, against Fc Porto, the Portuguese representatives gave them a good run, especially in Portugal, where the first leg was played, which Fc Porto won by 2 goals to 1, in a match that was Porto’s second. Falcao’s goal was a bit controversial, looking like an offside goal.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal showed no mercy, firing 2 goals over Helton into the Porto goal in quick succession, and at half time, it was Arsenal 2 Porto 1. Porto started brightly in the second half of the game, attacking the Arsenal from every angle. from the pitch As the game grew, Arsenal became more confident and began to play like the Arsenal we are used to seeing in league games. Samri Nasri sent the Emirates to ecstasy as he dribbled past three Porto defenders and past the helpless Helton, who tried to run out to avoid the goal, but to no avail. Super substitute Emmanuel Eboue came on minutes later and sealed the win, with a neat finish, after he had plowed past Porto’s defenders and was assisted by Andre Arshavin, with only the goalkeeper to beat, he rounded it off neatly before scoring the goals. four from Arsenal. caps off an excellent performance from truly steamy gunners. Nicklas Bendtner, who had previously scored two magnificent goals, added a third to mark the first hat-trick of his Arsenal career.
Nor was it a bed of roses for Chelsea, who had to suffer defeats at the hands of Inter Milan in both games, ending their Champions League campaign. In the magnificent Giuseppe Meazza, Inter tested Chelsea’s wit, work rate and technique as both teams gambled their lives to progress through the competition. Chelsea partly overcame, but all the “possession of the ball” could not bring them the victory they set out to achieve. Possession of the ball favored Chelsea in the first leg, but these did not translate into goals nor did they translate into attempted goals, shots on goal, etc. Of all the teams that started the European campaign in September, it can be deduced that Liverpool are the most disappointing of all, having been knocked out in the group stage.
Currently, there are only two English teams in European competition, Liverpool FC and Fulham FC, and both have interesting matches in the semi-finals, having to face Atlético Madrid and Hamburg, respectively.
There is the possibility of an English Europa League final, a feat that has not been achieved for more than 6 seasons.
The absence of Premier League teams in the Champions League semi-final, in my opinion, does not connote the fall of the Premier League, but the only reason is the reality we have faced, which is the fact that teams from other countries have sat down and gone over the methods of the English teams, which they have applied, and it has worked magically and very effectively too.
The English teams weren’t totally outplayed, outpowered or outplayed, but the element of luck was against them, and also the English teams have had a good run in the past, so let other teams enjoy it. same, so that people do not say the same. The Champions League is an English competition. The English teams will rise up to take what is rightfully theirs, which is the prestige they have earned over the years, a prestige which, in my opinion, is in jeopardy considering the impossibility of reaching the semi-final of the Europe’s elite club competition.
With this I am satisfied, the absence of English teams in the Champions League semi-final is by no means the same as the failure of the main league, and besides, what other league is as unpredictable as the main league? A league where any team can beat any team, home or away; league name.