Champions League shows changing face of English game

Manchester United claimed a Champions League-led treble in 1999 and Arsenal went unbeaten in the Premier League last season.Yet it is Chelsea and Liverpool who carry English hopes into the Champions League last eight, not the two clubs who have won the league title for the past nine seasons, writes Mark Meadows

The balance of power has shifted perceptibly this season with Arsenal unable to impose their free-flowing game on Europe and United failing to recapture their former glories as they rebuild.

Chelsea, with the League Cup under their belt and eight points clear in the Premier League, have shown money can buy success. They are the new kings of English soccer.

United were undone by Milan over two legs to whimper out 2-0 on aggregate on Tuesday as Chelsea were wowing Europe with a breathless victory after a 5-4 aggregate duel with Barcelona.

Liverpool sauntered past Bayer Leverkusen 6-2 on aggregate while Arsenal again failed to work out the Champions League puzzle and bowed out 3-2 to Bayern Munich.

Chelsea always looked most likely to achieve Champions League success under new coach Jose Mourinho, who took Porto to the trophy in Gelsenkirchen last May.

The London side were well set to reach last season's final before some bizarre substitutions by former manager Claudio Ranieri in the semi-final with Monaco.

Buoyed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's spending, Chelsea had already dispatched city rivals Arsenal in the quarters, the furthest Arsene Wenger's side have progressed in the Champions League.

The key to Arsenal's superb run of 49 league games unbeaten was an unflinching backline of keeper Jens Lehmann and defenders Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, Ashley Cole and Lauren.

However, injury to England centre-back Campbell has rocked the team and his absence led to Toure making uncharacteristic mistakes in the 3-1 first leg defeat in Munich.

The midfield has also been disrupted badly by injury but too many of Arsenal's players have gone off the boil and they rely too heavily on striker Thierry Henry for goals and inspiration.

Goalkeeping dilemmas

Wenger's decision to rotate Lehmann and Spaniard Manuel Almunia has added to the spluttering and goalkeeping dilemmas have also been central to United's struggles this term.

Alex Ferguson stuck by Roy Carroll after a number of blunders but lost patience when he gifted Milan's on-loan Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo the only goal in the first leg.

"It was always going to be a difficult game, that goal at Old Trafford was a killer for us," Ferguson said after the second match in Milan.

United's semi-final defeat to Leverkusen in 2002 is their best return for their Champions League exertions since winning the trophy six years ago.

Ferguson said before the San Siro clash that his current crop was better than 1999's treble winners but until Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo contribute regularly on the big European occasions, United may continue to struggle.

"I think the difference between us was the greater experience of Milan," Ferguson conceded.

Chelsea by contrast bought proven class rather than potential when they recruited striker Didier Drogba, and winger Arjen Robben from under United's nose at PSV Eindhoven.

They are now poised for their first title in 50 years.

Liverpool are far adrift in the Premier League and a one-man show from Steven Gerrard against Olympiakos in the group stage put Rafael Benitez's side into the last 16 before they easily overcame an average Leverkusen side.

The four-times European champions' progress this season in the Champions League has been achieved without cup-tied former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes and injured midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Benitez's blend of Spanish guile with English heart is still at the mixing stage and against better opponents they may be found wanting.

However, unlike United and Arsenal, they are through.