Editor
20 March 2009 - 14:13
by Nigel Brown
Bookies up and down the country put England's big four, who make up half of the Champions League quarter final draw as the favourites to win the competition alongside Josep Guardiola's Barcelona. The English Premier League has become the stomping ground for the world's best to ply their trade. No longer are we attracting the old legs of Italy, or the creaking knees of Spain. Instead, the Premier League attracts the best players from every corner of the globe, and importantly, these top players want to play in England in their prime.
Egg on our face
But, the English clubs must remember, is wasn't that long ago that we were considered inexperienced, struggling to make a collective mark on Europe's biggest stage. The big four must not flaunt a self confident swagger around Europe or I fear we could end up with egg on our face.
Manchester United and Arsenal face competition from the so called weaker sides in the quarter final draw and it would be naïve to think that recent Champions League finalists and semi – finalists are weak opposition. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger will obviously not be taking these sides lightly, but the danger will be that that the personnel of both clubs get wrapped up in the media hysteria that English clubs are infallible.
Underdogs have quality
Porto have already comfortably beaten Arsenal this season and have proved they are a match for Europe's best, and Villareal have a host of experienced players who are seasoned Champions League performers.
The Gunners, despite having a recent resurgence in form still show a collective defensive weakness, which will give the submariners the confidence that they can score home and away against the North Londoners. On too many occasions this campaign have the likes of Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Bakary Sagna and William Gallas switched off at vital moments. The next two months will be the making of this young Arsenal side, and the kids will have have to dig deep to show resolve, and the concentration needed to secure much needed silverware this season.
United will fancy their chances against the Portuguese side and they have the experience and depth in squad to cope with the business end of the season. Porto's Lisandro has netted six times in the Champions League, making him the next top marksman in the competition after Liverpool's Stephen Gerrard and Bayern Munich's Miroslav Klose who have seven. The Argentinian forward will be the danger man for Sir Alex Ferguson, and the deciding factor in the tie could be whether Sir Alex has his two defensive generals, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand fit and free of suspension for both legs.
An English showcase
The Chelsea and Liverpool draw is the stand out tie from an English perspective. The two clubs meet each other for the fifth season in a row in the Champions League, and arguably these have been the games that have showcased English football as a European force. The deciding factor in this tie could be the fact that Liverpool have to go to Stamford Bridge in the second leg. On a plethora of occasions Rafa Benitez's side have relied on the intimidating European atmosphere of Anfield to push them through to the next round. Going to West London in the second leg will be a massive test.
The key for Liverpool will be to not concede an away goal in the first leg. But with the roar of the Kop End behind Steven Gerrard's troops, on their day, the reds can destroy any side in Europe as they proved against Real Madrid. All be it a weak Madrid side. Undoubtedly the tie will make for a fascinating strategic battle between two of Europe's great tacticians.
The English Premier League is regarded as the best in the world, but just like when a band signs their first record deal, the hard work starts when you have make a quality first album. The difficulty for the English clubs will be upholding the Premier League's status as the best in world football. Until next time...