Not a single Premier League team won their Champions League round-of-16 first leg last week, putting the spotlight on the so-called best division in world football
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MARCH 11: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal looks dejected after conceding his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Arsenal FC at BayArena on March 11, 2026 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
The Premier League's strength is under scrutiny(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
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It should not be a surprise that English clubs are still flying the flag in European competition. But last week should serve as a much-needed wake-up call for the Premier League ahead of the return legs.
Arsenal and Newcastle were the only teams to salvage something from their Champions League ties with Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona respectively as they both shared 1-1 draws. Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea all lost and Aston Villa were the only English team to win in Europe last week, winning their Europa League tie at Lille.
But the reason why English clubs are ahead of Spain and Germany in the co-efficient rankings at this point is because they have six teams in the Champions League (more than anyone else) and you get two points for a win, a point for a draw and bonus points through the knock-outs.
Even if the Premier League has a disaster and they all go out - statistically unlikely - they are still well placed to grab an extra fifth Champions League spot. But the bigger point here is why English clubs failed last week. And surely it is so obvious: they are absolutely knackered.
You can make stats show anything you like from sprints, intensity and power but sometimes you also have to use your own eyes. Arsenal were poor against Leverkusen and got away with one. Liverpool were so sloppy against Galatasaray and it could have been worse.
Nearly every year, the French league give their clubs a weekend off to prepare for big European games. Can you imagine that here? Of course not. The winter break was a good idea but that soon faded. The two domestic cup competitions. The intensity of the Premier League is so demanding. That has taken a huge toll on the players.
And it shows. Ahead of every major tournament, English players are cooked. The Chelsea players have had a non-stop calendar after the Club World Cup. Maybe the only way we will really listen is if the worse happens and all six go out.
That would be a nightmare scenario. It would kill the argument that the Premier League is the best in the world. I think English football is the most exciting, intense and dramatic. Is it the best? This week should tell us a lot more.
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 10: Archie Gray of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected after Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid (obscured) scores his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on March 10, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
It was a bad week for English clubs last time out(Image: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Nearly every year, the French league give their clubs a weekend off to prepare for big European games. Can you imagine that here? Of course not. The winter break was a good idea but that soon faded. The two domestic cup competitions. The intensity of the Premier League is so demanding. That has taken a huge toll on the players.
And it shows. Ahead of every major tournament, English players are cooked. The Chelsea players have had a non-stop calendar after the Club World Cup. Maybe the only way we will really listen is if the worse happens and all six go out.
That would be a nightmare scenario. It would kill the argument that the Premier League is the best in the world. I think English football is the most exciting, intense and dramatic. Is it the best? This week should tell us a lot more.
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