Strong fans of UEFA competitions and more especially the Champions League can attest that there have been EPL teams in the Champions League semi-finals for the previous six seasons, ie 2003-2009.
In the last six seasons, the regular EPL teams in the Champions League (Liverpool FC, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC) have appeared in some capacity in the Champions League semi-final in the last six seasons, which made the English and even foreigners marvel at their absence this season, in the semi-final of Europe’s elite club competition.

In 2005, Liverpool (the all red) and Chelsea (the true blues) met in an entertaining semi-final with both teams managed by managers who have managed their team for just two seasons, Liverpool won the match, after a game of Hard-fought semifinals. Liverpool finally emerged victorious in that year’s Champions League, after defeating Ac-Milan in an epic final that saw one of the greatest comebacks in football history, 3-0 to 3-3 and then victory. .

The following year, Arsenal took part in both the semi-final and final of the Champions League, to mark a change in their footballing history, but were not so lucky to win the trophy after qualifying for their first Champions League final match. League. league. They fought Barcelona in the final that year, ie the 2006 final, but were beaten 2 goals to 1, with Jens Lehmann sent off in that match.

In 2007, Liverpool and Chelsea met again in the semi-final of the 2006/2007 season. With the first leg drawn to be played at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea had a chance to progress and made the most of home advantage by beating Liverpool by a single goal after a closely contested game. At Anfield, Liverpool played cautiously and also rushed forward in search of the goal that would equal them with Chelsea, luckily for Liverpool the goal came. A low cross from Steven ‘general’ Gerard found an unmarked Daniel Agger, who sliced ​​the ball through the bodies of Chelsea players and hit the net early in the first half. Liverpool retained a one-goal lead even after 90 minutes until extra time ended, then it was time for the final decision; penalty, Pepe Reina was the hero of the day by saving the decisive penalty to send Liverpool to the final for the second time in three seasons and a repeat of the 2005 final with AC-Milan, which dispatched Manchester United in the other semifinal. – Final clash by 5 goals to 3 on aggregate.

The final was highly anticipated as two of Europe’s club football powerhouses went head to head to decide the winner of the 2007 Champions League, ultimately two goals from Pippo Inzaghi, which made him the top scorer in the Champions League. , Ac Milan won the trophy for the seventh time in its football history.

The following year saw the best of English teams in the Champions League. All four English representatives reached the quarter-finals, with three (Liverpool, after ousting Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United) of the four advancing to the semi-final, Liverpool ultimately being eliminated by Chelsea. Chelsea’s progression to the final in 2008 marked the first time they had played in the Champions League final; they battled with Manchester United for the coveted trophy, matched United strength for strength, skill for skill, technique for technique, but were unlucky enough to miss out on penalties as United won their third and Sir Alex’s second UEFA Ferguson. Champions League Trophy, which also helped Cristiano Ronaldo win the World Player of the Year award.

The year 2009 saw a different style of football displayed by one team. The 2009 Champions League was won by Barcelona of Spain, after showing the soccer world how the game should be played; Impeccable defending, precise passing and clinical finishing: they characterized Barcelona’s game on their way to winning the trophy for the third time in their history, after triumphs in 1992 and 2006.

2010 came with a lot of promise for the English teams, after a brilliant start for all the teams in their respective groups; Liverpool won their first match against Debrecen at Anfield, with a solitary goal scored by Dirk Kuyt, making him the club’s third-highest goalscorer in Europe with 12 goals under his belt. Chelsea also won their first game against FC Porto by a single goal from Nicolás Anelka, in a game that was boring due to the water-soaked pitch.

Manchester United did not do badly in their first game; The same thing happened with Arsenal, all the English representatives represented well to the delight of the English stalwarts. Things started to get shaky as the competition moved into its crucial stage. Liverpool were eliminated very early in the competition as they were eliminated in the group stage, even before the last group stage game. Fiorentina’s victory over Olympique Lyonnais in the game before the last meant that Liverpool were forced to play in the Europa League where they recently consoled themselves, making an impressive run to the semi-final, having scored less than three goals in total in previous. days, that is, round of 32, round of 16 and quarter-finals, which has earned him a clash against Atlético de Madrid at home in Spain.

Chelsea were the next to be eliminated, after a partially successful run through the group to the round of 16. Chelsea had big scares during some of their group stage games, Atletico Madrid in Spain was one of those, where they had to settle for a 2 all tied after going through Didier Drogba, only to see a brace from Sergio Diego Aguero which gave Athletico the lead, but Drogba proved very clinical in finishing when he scored his second goal beyond Athletico. Chelsea’s most surprising result of the group stage came on the last day of the group. Apoel Nicosia, fresh from their Champions League debut, led all of Chelsea’s conquerors, with a full first team, to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal had the most impressive performance in the group stage as they collected 16 of the 18 points available in a group that consisted of Olympiakos, Standard Liege and Az Alkmaar, who are frequently low-pedigree teams in the Champions League. due to the inability to pass the final. preliminary.

Manchester United, I would say, had an indifferent group campaign. Got off to a great start but flattered during the crucial half games, needed the last game to confirm qualification, but cast any doubts after a Michael Owen hat-trick disallowed Edin Dzeko’s opening goal, for VFL Wolfsburg. at Old Trafford.

With the top three teams in England progressing to the Round of 16, hopes and expectations were extremely high. The English teams, however, did not achieve the perfect draws, Chelsea faced Inter-Milan, under the tutelage of José Mourinho, Manchester United faced the 7-time European champions, Ac-Milan and Arsenal obtained a renovation. 2009 group stage match against 2004 winners Porto Fc.

The first legs saw the English teams face off against a true test of strength, skill and technique.

Manchester United put all of the above to the test against Ac-Milan, first at the Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro and then Old Trafford, but then emerged victorious in both games, winning 7-2 on aggregate, with Wayne Rooney scoring. four of the seven goals, that is, 2 goals in each match.

Arsenal had a similar situation, against Fc Porto, the Portuguese representatives gave them a good run, especially in Portugal, where the first leg was played, which Fc Porto won by 2 goals to 1, in a match that was Porto’s second. Falcao’s goal, was a bit controversial, looking like a goal offside.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal showed no mercy, firing 2 goals over Helton into Porto’s goal in quick succession, and at half time, it was Arsenal 2 Porto 1. Porto started brilliantly in the second half of the game, attacking the Arsenal from all angles. from the pitch As the game grew, Arsenal became more confident and began to play like the Arsenal we are used to seeing in league games. Samri Nasri brought the Emirates to ecstasy, as he dribbled past three Porto defenders and past a defenseless Helton, who tried to run to avoid the goal, but all to no avail. Super substitute Emmanuel Eboue came on minutes later and sealed the victory, with a clean shot, after he had blasted past Porto’s defenders and was assisted by Andre Arshavin, with only the goalkeeper to beat, he rounded it off cleanly before scoring the goals. four from Arsenal. culminates an excellent performance of truly smoking gunners. Nicklas Bendtner, who had previously scored two superb goals, added a third to score the first hat-trick of his Arsenal career.

Nor was it a bed of roses for Chelsea, who had to suffer defeats at the hands of Inter Milan in both games, ending their Champions League campaign. In the magnificent Giuseppe Meazza, Inter tested Chelsea’s ingenuity, work-rate and technique as both teams played their lives to progress through the competition. Chelsea partially overcame, but all the “possession of the ball” could not bring them the victory they set out to achieve. Ball possession favored Chelsea in the first leg, but these did not translate into goals nor did they translate into goal attempts, shots on goal, etc. Of all the teams that started the European campaign in September, Liverpool are arguably the most disappointing of them all, having been eliminated in the group stage.

There are currently only two English teams in European competition, Liverpool FC and Fulham FC, and both have interesting games in the semi-finals, having to face Atlético Madrid and Hamburg respectively.

There is the possibility of an English Europa League final, a feat that has not been achieved for more than 6 seasons.
The absence of teams from the Premier League in the semi-final of the Champions League, in my opinion, does not connote the fall of the Premier League, but the only reason is the reality that we have faced, which is the fact that teams from other countries have sat down and gone over the methods of the English teams, which they have applied, and it has worked magically and very effectively too.

The English teams weren’t totally outplayed, outplayed or outplayed, but the element of luck was against them, and also the English teams have had a good run in the past, so let other teams enjoy what same, so that people do not say the same thing. The Champions League is an English competition. The English teams will rise up to take what is rightfully theirs, which is the prestige they have earned over the years, a prestige that, in my opinion, is in jeopardy considering the impossibility of reaching the semi-final of the Europe’s elite club competition.

With this I will settle, the absence of English teams in the semi-final of the champions league is in no way equal to the fall of the main league, and besides, what other league is as unpredictable as the main league? A league in which any team can beat any team, home or away; league name.