It’s slightly ironic that we sit here a day after round five of the Champions League games and the only English side to have qualified for the knockout stages are Arsenal.
The Gunners have qualified despite having such a turbulent start to their season.
Surprised
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted that he was surprised by Arsenal being the first English team to go through. He told Sky Sports: “ I am surprised (that we are the first English team to qualify),”
“Manchester United could have qualified and of course everyone expects Man City to qualify. We were in a difficult group and I am very happy to see where we have come from.
“When we drew Udinese in the qualifier, you couldn’t bet exactly that we would go through like we have done so overall I am happy. We came through a very difficult period because we were united and we worked hard together.”
Tricky
I wouldn’t have said that Arsenal’s group was difficult, more tricky. The Gunners wasn’t in the best of form at the start of the campaign and that’s why it looked like a difficult group. Dortmund also had a slow start to their season and Marseille currently sit 10th in Ligue One.
Congratulations to the Gunners for being the first English team through. What of the other English teams though?
Home
Premier League Champions Manchester United have uncharacteristically floundered at home in this seasons Champions League. Portuguese side Benfica were always going to be the big threat to Manchester United in group C.
They were never likely to be pushovers and probably deserved their point at Old Trafford. The bigger surprise was the fact that Swiss side Basel managed to draw 3-3 in Manchester. And that United had to score a late equaliser through Ashley Young.
Now the English Champions have to travel to Switzerland and get a result. United will be expected to go to Basel and dominate but the home side won’t make it easy for United. With United needing just a draw though I would be really surprised if they were beaten.
Tough
Manchester City were handed the toughest Champions League debut they could have been given. Their group consisting of Bayern, Napoli and Villarreal. Bayern have already won the group but have vowed not to take the foot off the peddle when they visit the Etihad Stadium on match day six.
City’s competitors for second place in the group Napoli head to Villarreal in their last game of the group. The Spaniards have been the whipping boys of this group. The Yellow Submarine has had terrible injury problems this season and they currently sit bottom of the group with no points.
Napoli should beat the Spaniards but the Italian side has struggled for results in recent weeks after a brilliant start to their Serie A campaign. In the likes of Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik they have top quality attacking players and I fully expect them to get a result in Spain.
This season has been a learning experience for Manchester City in their debut season in the Champions League. Even if they do go out at the group stage I’m sure they will learn from it and come back stronger next season.
Slump
Chelsea have been in a bit of a slump recently. Losing to German side Bayer Leverkusen last night was a surprise to a lot of people. Any German side carries a threat and Leverkusen have looked dangerous in the last few Bundesliga seasons.
The win for the German side means that they has now qualified for the last 16 of the competition. Its in Chelsea’s hands whether they go through or not. They face Spanish side Valencia at home and need just a goalless draw to go through.
Valencia are a good attacking team with the likes of Roberto Soldado and Tino Costa in their team. However I don’t think they will have enough to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. I think Chelsea will be up for the occasion.
Two
I think that two out of the three English sides will qualify with Arsenal for the knockout stages of the Champions League. I’ll leave you decide which teams they will be. To put it in Meat Loaf’s words ‘Two Out Three Ain’t bad’.
Will all four English sides qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League?
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