Sparky says time to shine

MARK HUGHES is flying the flag for the Premier League in Europe this week with an English club hopefully ready to shatter the foreign stranglehold on ‘Old Big Ears’.

It was 2012 when Chelsea were the last English winners of the Champions League – a competition dominated since by Euro big-hitters Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

The Stoke boss sees Pep Guardiola (right) and his Manchester City side as laying the strongest claim to ending that domination after already qualifying for the knockout stages.

But Sparky is not ruling out his old club Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho a two-time winner, lifting the famous trophy with Porto and Inter Milan.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham are also in European action this week with Hughes wondering whether 2018 is the

year that English clubs bite back with just that lone triumph in the last nine years. He said: “English teams look strong this year. There was a period in recent times where the Premier League was viewed as the strongest league but actually the teams within it weren’t the strongest teams in the Champions League.

“They look a lot closer now to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona than maybe they have been in recent times. “Certainly you would have to say City – I have been very impressed with them.

“All the teams, though, look a lot closer this year which is good for English football.” Guardiola is promising to ring the changes for City’s clash with Feyenoord. The City boss said: “I will rotate for the Champions League this week. But I want to be honest. Yes, we’ve qualified already but I want to finish first in the group.”

STEVE MILLAR