Wednesday, April 7, 2010

No english team in Champions League semifinal, english football declining moment??

The quarterfinal of Champions league is over, and everyone knows the result. Barcelona overcame arsenal 6-3 in two-legged entertaining matches. Lyon go to the semifinal, despite losing 1-0 to Bordeaux, and thanks to Hugo Lloris' saves, with 3-2 aggregate. Inter comfortably beat CSKA 2-0, with 1-0 win both home and away. and the last, Bayern Muenchen need away goals rule again - they need away goals rule to send Fiorentina out of the competition - go to next round, while having 4-4 aggregate, 2-1 in home, and losing 2-3 away.

For the first time since Champions League 2003-2004, English teams didn't feature in Champions League semifinal.

English clubs representative in the last seven season in Champions League semifinal
2003/2004: Chelsea
2004/2005: Liverpool, Chelsea
2005/2006: Arsenal
2006/2007: Chelsea, Man. Utd, Liverpool
2007/2008: Chelsea, Man. Utd, Liverpool
2008/2009: Arsenal, Chelsea, Man. Utd
2009/2010: -
It was even three seasons of semifinal domination in three season before this, although english teams only win the champions league on 2007/2008.

What actually happens to English teams today? Are they now isn't as strong as before?
There are two possible answer: money and unluckiness.

First probability, MONEY
Well, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger said that tax is the main problem in england. What is the corelation between tax and football. Well, football players are paid by the club. And football players are obligated to pay the tax. As the tax is very high in England, they should pay more for the tax, and that means they get fewer money. For example, one player is paid 5 million euros a year, they might pay more than 2 million euros only for tax. In Spain, football players get a fairly low tax rate, about 15%.. And with the same example, 5-million-pounds-wages player only pay only about 750.000 euros. Money maybe the reason why some superstars chose to leave England, as we seen last summer, the departure of Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alvaro Arbeloa. Cristiano Ronaldo said that his reason moving to Real Madrid is for a new challenge, but we don't know if he has money as his reason too.

Still about money, English clubs also has a very big debt, more than 3,5 billion pounds. Having a bid debt, they are forced to sell players with high prices, and buy cheaper players. Man.United had sold Cristiano Ronaldo with more than 80 million pounds but only buy Antonio Valencia, Mame Briam Diouf, and Michael Owen. While Liverpool sell Xabi Alonso to get injury-prone Alberto Aquilani, plus selling Alvaro Arbeloa. While Arsenal sold Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, and buy Thomas Vermaelen. Chelsea had different story, since Roman Abramovic funds them, and buying Yuri Zhirkov.

Well, maybe English club need to make some great transfer to strengthen their squad. A star player, not only a youngster. Some english club has already linked with star player. Chelsea is after Wolfsburg striker, Edin Dzeko, and also Bayern winger, Franck Ribery. Man. Utd also linked with Franck Ribery, and also Real Madrid's striker, Karim Benzema. Arsenal is said to have signed Marouane Chamakh in free transfer. Wenger has expressed desire to buy some star players.

Second probability, Unluckiness
Or maybe, the second theory, they're just unlucky. Expect Liverpool, they get strong teams in the last 16 and quarterfinal. Chelsea had to face Jose Mourinho's Internazionale, while they dominating both first and second leg, but however they failed to go through. They also should've got penalty, but the referee didnt' gave it. Man.Utd were also unlucky when Rooney injured in the first leg, and he didn't play well in the second leg. And Arsenal is the most unluckiest team in the drawing this season. They have to face defending champions "Los Fantasticos" Barcelona. First Leg, Arsenal fought bravely and got 2-2 draw result in Emirates. But on the second leg they are beaten by Lionel Messi's magic, and lost 1-4 in Camp Nou.

Whatever the true reason is, it's a slap to England's team to prepare themselves for next season.

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