It was almost written in the stars. British clubs this week were tormented by familiar foes with two eliminated from the Europa and two hanging by a thread in the Champions League.
First there was Suarez against Manchester City, followed by Berbatov against Arsenal and ending with Demba Ba against Liverpool.
On Tuesday night Suarez took a huge bite out of City's Champions league dream, with only an Aguero goal and a missed Penalty from Messi to give them any kind of hope. Having been pipped to the league title by Pellegrini's men the previous season, perhaps Suarez was secretly wearing red under his bright green Barcelona shirt and seeked revenge for his former club.
On Wednesday it was the turn of former Tottenham favourite Dimitar Berbatov to gun down old enemy Arsenal. Maybe he too was wearing white under his Monaco shirt as the French side eased past a hapless gunners to the point of near utter embarrassment. Former Monaco boss Arsene Wenger will have to motivate his team ferociously if he hopes to get any kind of result on his return to the Stade Louis II.
Liverpool were knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday night in frustrating fashion against former Chelsea Striker Demba Ba's Besiktas. The man that Steven Gerrard had hoped he'd never see again after THAT slip help boot out Brendan Rodgers' team and completely end all European dreams for the Kop. One must also see the irony in the fact that Besiktas are managed by former Everton defender Slaven Bilic. It would probably rub salt in the woulds even more to remind Liverpool fans that it is ten years since they won that classic Champions League final against AC Milan with that dramatic, Steven Gerrard inspired comeback, on penalties, in Istanbul. I'll stop now.
There was also misery for Spurs who were kicked out of the same competition away to Fiorentina, with one of the two goals coming from Mohamed Salad, formerly of Chelsea, who Spurs play in the league cup final this weekend. That can't be an omen, surely.
The only team to really come out of the week with smiles on their faces are Everton who have bulldozed their way past Swiss side Young Boys into the next round of the Europa. Much of this down to forward Romelu Lukaku, who scored five goals over the two legs, leaving Toffees fans scratching their heads as to why the big Belgian hasn't replicated that form in the League this season. Perhaps they won't be too miserable if they win a European trophy and consolidate another season in the Premier League. When was the last time Blues fans could gloat they'd got through the first European knockout stage whereas their red neighbours hadn't.
Celtic, in almost identical fashion to Liverpool (You'll never walk alone rings truer than ever in this case) went out of the Champions League in the group stages and crashed out of the Europa League on the same night as the Reds, away to the Blue side of Milan. Almost too coincidental, isn't it?
But where does this leave British clubs overall? With such a poor showing from the majority of clubs what does it say about how good our teams really are. With Liverpool and Man City alone spending so much money to gain success only to fall (somewhat predictably) short, does it show that money isn't the answer.
Perhaps Tottenham were pinning too much hope on wonder kid Harry Kane. Spurs have looked more of a treat this year under Mauricio Pochettino but again have fallen short where it really mattered.
Celtic haven't really looked much of a threat this year at all in Europe and that 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League must seem like a life-time ago.
Chelsea have spent but spent well and appear to be our main hope in bringing European silverware back the England just as they did in 2012.
Though this week has highlighted many progressions and faults within the English game, the irony in which the results have come is almost comical.
Source: DSG
