Harry’s leading English charge
THE LAST time all English clubs emerged unbeaten from the first round of matches in the Champions League group stages was the last time a Premier League side lifted the trophy.
It is only the early stages but are the results of this week proof that, slowly but surely, the wheel is turning? Will English clubs again reign supreme on the Continent?
With an extra participant, thanks to Manchester United’s entry as Europa League winners, the five Premier League clubs rattled in 18 goals on Tuesday and Wednesday, with only three scored against them in reply. Liverpool were the only ones not to claim maximum points.
But the combined avoidance defeat means it is the first time the opening round has passed without mishap to Premier League clubs since Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United scrambled to a win and three draws at the start of the 2011-12 campaign. That was the year Chelsea went on to win the competition.
In doing so, they became the eighth Premier League finalists in eight years of English dominance, which reached its height in 2008 when all four representatives made the quarter-finals and Manchester United beat Chelsea in the final. Since then, the well has dried up almost completely, with only two teams, Chelsea and Manchester City, reaching even the last four over
the of past five seasons. In fairness, United, City and Chelsea were all expected to emerge from their opening games unscathed this week.
But moments after trudging off the field following an impressive win against Dortmund – until this week ranked higher by UEFA than any team in the Premier League – Tottenham’s two-goal hero Harry Kane was flying the flag.
“It’s great for the English clubs to do well in the Champions League,” he said. “There has been a lot of talk over recent years about us not doing so well – and everyone has got off to a good start.
“Pundits have their own opinions – I try not to take too much notice. I thought we played fantastically well and we are all delighted. We have to continue that and put out a good statement going further into the group.”
With a Group H double-header against Real Madrid hoving into view, there could yet be a reality check for Tottenham and indeed some of the other English clubs. In Chelsea’s group, Atletico Madrid and Roma are no Qarabag, for instance.
But even before this week another Tottenham legend, BT pundit Gary Lineker, was predicting a shift in the balance of power.
“It is with Spain at the moment but with the amount of power and money in our league I would be surprised if our time doesn’t come again,” he said.
“Remember, we have a lot of the world’s great coaches here, so it is only a matter of time before a lot of the great players follow and our teams become stronger.”
The draining competition of the Premier League is yet to kick in properly but Kane added: “Everyone knows Dortmund are one of the best teams in Europe and when they see a 3-1 against them, which probably could have been 4-1 or 5-1, it’s a statement and that’s what we wanted to do.
“It’s a tough group but nights like the one against Dortmund will only help us.”
We have a lot of the world’s best coaches