I felt sick as Reds tore into Barcelona!
WHEN I look back at my final words in last week’s column, I find myself wincing. You may remember the subject was Lionel Messi and I stated it should be on your bucket list to go to watch him.
I had the chance on Tuesday but turned it down. I was only up the road in Burnley! What was I thinking? As Liverpool tore Barcelona to shreds to start an outstanding week for English clubs in Europe, I felt sick.
Not only did I miss the opportunity to see the greatest footballer of all time, I missed one of the greatest sporting events, too. I assumed Barcelona would score an away goal and cruise into the Champions League final — but what Liverpool did to come back was sensational.
It was a privilege to play in a semi-final but what I saw was miles ahead of the night when I was involved against Chelsea in 2007. I wouldn’t say it was better than Istanbul, as that was a final, but I will stick this statement out there: Beating Barcelona was Anfield’s greatest night.
When you thought things couldn’t get better, Tottenham followed up in Amsterdam to set up an all-Premier League showdown in Madrid and then, for good measure, Chelsea and Arsenal progressed to the Europa League final in Baku.
It’s easy to say on the back of what has happened in the past few days, but I believe we are now set for a period of Premier League clubs dominating Europe in a style that has not been seen since the period from 1976 to 1985, when English teams won 11 trophies, including seven European Cups.
During the peak years of my career at Liverpool and then Tottenham, the Premier League always seemed to have a side in the Champions League final and only missed out once, in 2010, from 2005 to 2012. Our teams were brilliant back then, but what you are seeing now is on a different level.
Put it this way: if Tottenham, Chelsea or Arsenal went to play in the Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1, they would go close to winning them. Liverpool and Manchester City would run away with those championships, as they are so much better than every side in Germany, France and Italy.
You can say Paris Saint- Germain are an emerging force, but they always flatter to deceive in Europe. Bayern Munich look like they need major work to get back to the levels they hit six years ago, while the lack of competition in Italy is hindering Juventus.
The strength of our league, by contrast, is incredible. We are privileged with the money we have in our game but finance doesn’t guarantee success and I had consistently questioned whether our teams could translate what they were doing at home in Europe.
I don’t have doubts any longer. When I look at Tottenham, I see a group who are being led by an inspirational manager and writing history. When I look at Manchester City, I see the best Premier League team we have ever seen, who have eclipsed Arsenal’s Invincibles.
They have a bizarre relationship with the Champions League, one I don’t understand, but they will win that trophy soon. Force of habit sees everyone make Real Madrid or Juventus favourites to win the biggest prize every year but, soon enough, City will have that tag.
Arsenal and Chelsea fans have complained about their domestic form but look at them in the Europa League, miles ahead of their rivals. Even Manchester United, with their finances, have the power to get back. The two all-English finals are a sign of things to come. The future has never been brighter.