2 months ago
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Kings of the league phase, England's six Champions League sides were made to look similar paupers successful the archetypal legs of the past 16 arsenic they failed to muster a triumph betwixt them.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham person seemingly insurmountable mountains to climb, adjacent with location vantage this week, arsenic they way by 3 goals against Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid respectively.
Liverpool and Arsenal volition expect to inactive get past Galatasaray and Bayer Leverkusen, portion Newcastle are dreaming of shocking Barcelona successful the Camp Nou aft outplaying the Spanish champions successful a 1-1 gully astatine St. James' Park.
But aft unprecedented domination of the aboriginal stages of the competition, AFP Sport looks astatine the reasons down a world cheque for the Premier League's best.
'Lions successful winter, lambs successful spring'
The Premier League's fiscal vantage implicit Europe's different large leagues, acknowledgment to acold much lucrative tv rights deals, has not been reflected successful the second stages of the Champions League for immoderate time.
Only 3 of the past 13 Champions League winners person travel from England.
Arsenal were the lone Premier League nine to scope the past 4 past play and nary reached the semi-finals successful the 2023/24 campaign.
Fatigue aft a gruelling wintertime docket is often cited arsenic the main origin for the diminution of English sides arsenic the lone large league without a wintertime interruption and 2 home cupful competitions.
French large and erstwhile UEFA president Michel Platini erstwhile referred to English sides arsenic "lions successful winter, lambs successful spring".
"In general, I deliberation it is not adjuvant for English clubs not to person a wintertime break," said Liverpool brag Arne Slot.
Of the six English sides progressive successful the Champions League, 4 of them besides made the League Cup semi-finals and 5 were progressive successful FA Cup enactment successful the days earlier their European disappointment past week.
Up against the best
Despite the Premier League's corporate fiscal might, successful 3 of the six last-16 ties involving English clubs, they are facing sides with greater revenue.
Real Madrid stay the world's richest nine and defied caller mediocre signifier to stroke distant Manchester City 3-0 astatine the Santiago Bernabeu.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain besides clicked backmost into cogwheel to spot disconnected Chelsea 5-2 and Barcelona were blessed to flight Newcastle connected level presumption aft Lamine Yamal's punishment snatched a precocious draw.
Tottenham's 5-2 decision by Atletico was besides small astonishment fixed Spurs' atrocious home signifier which has near them warring for their endurance successful the Premier League.
"Before the Premier League is the champion successful the world, right?," said City brag Pep Guardiola.
"The contention (Champions League) is pugnacious and everyone is truthful good prepared."
Clash of styles
The Premier League has go adjacent much attritional this season, with games littered with agelong throw-ins and carnal battles astatine set-pieces.
"It's truthful relentless, physically. There's not overmuch control; it's a moving game. It's astir duels," said Newcastle's Anthony Gordon earlier successful the season.
Slot commented earlier this period that the English crippled is nary longer a "joy to watch" owed to the accent connected dormant balls.
"Here, you tin astir deed a goalkeeper successful his look and the referee inactive says 'just spell on'," added the Dutchman.
By contrast, Slot was angered by Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano's reluctance to let immoderate carnal interaction from corners arsenic the Reds had an equaliser ruled retired successful their 1-0 decision successful Istanbul.
Guardiola has responded to the manner for a much carnal Premier League by beefing up his City side.
But they deficiency the power and poise to predominate the shot they utilized to person and were chopped unfastened by Federico Valverde's first-half hat-trick successful Madrid.
