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Immediately after the Champions League qualifying rounds concluded this season, the atmosphere on English football commentary programs was filled with praise for the strength of the Premier League.
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With six representatives in the knockout round, a squad of expensive players, and enormous financial resources, many quickly concluded that English football was dominating Europe.
But "dominance" is a word with immense significance. And in reality, that concept seems to be used far too easily and superficially.
The truth always carries weight.
In the last two Champions League seasons, no English team has reached the final. Even during that period, the Premier League only had one representative in the semi-finals. If we're talking about sustained dominance, Spanish football truly deserves that title.
Since the Premier League was founded in 1992, English clubs have only won the Champions League seven times. During the same period, Spanish clubs have won 13 titles. The difference is also significant in the Europa League and UEFA Cup: England have five titles, while Spain have 12.
Those numbers are not trivial details. They represent the long-term picture of European football power.
The excitement surrounding the Premier League often stems from its financial power. No other league in the world has such massive television and commercial revenue. This allows many English clubs to spend lavishly in the transfer market and possess very deep squads.
This is precisely why Premier League teams often go quite far in European competitions. But going deep doesn't mean dominance. When entering the most intense knockout rounds, traditional powerhouses like Real Madrid, Barcelona , Bayern Munich, or even Paris Saint-Germain still prove they are on a different level.
A clear example of this came in the past week of competition. Six English clubs reached the Champions League round of 16 but failed to win a single match. Four of those defeats were heavy losses.
That's not the image of a league that's dominating the rest of Europe.
The Premier League should take a good look at itself.
Many people also believe that the Premier League has the best players in the world. The reality is much more complex. Many of the top stars are playing in other leagues.
The best striker in the world right now could be Harry Kane or Kylian Mbappe. One is shining in Germany, the other is on his way to conquering La Liga. If you were to build a dream team of European football today, you could absolutely do it without needing too many names from the Premier League.
The Premier League still holds immense appeal. It is the richest league and has one of the most physically demanding schedules. Players who have played in many countries acknowledge that it is the most physically demanding environment in Europe.
But that very intensity sometimes raises the question: is that physical pace the best preparation for the tactical battles in the Champions League?
In the knockout rounds, where Europe's top teams control the game with experience and composure, the Premier League doesn't always have the upper hand.
Of course, nothing is settled yet this season. Arsenal still have a chance to overtake Bayer Leverkusen, while Liverpool could completely turn the tables against Galatasaray at Anfield.
If English football had two representatives in the Champions League quarter-finals, that would be a positive outcome. But it would also serve as a reminder of an important underlying issue.
The Premier League is exciting, wealthy, and competitive. But to say it's dominating Europe is perhaps still too hasty.
Source: https://znews.vn/premier-league-co-that-su-thong-tri-chau-au-post1634410.html
