Something odd with this article

[Tosh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7319552.stm

 

Marcel Desailly has warned England's top clubs against believing they are on the verge of European domination.

 

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have ensured one country has four teams in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

 

But former Chelsea and France captain Desailly told BBC Sport: "It's very good that England have achieved four teams in the quarter-finals.

 

"But keep your feet on the ground because nothing is guaranteed."

 

Desailly, who lifted the Champions League with Marseille in 1993 and captained AC Milan to the title a year later when they thrashed Barcelona 4-0, believes the Premier League's so-called 'big four' have much to learn from their major European rivals.

 

While Spain and Italy boast only one representative apiece in the last eight of this season's competition (Barcelona and Roma), Real Madrid have won Europe's premier club competition a record nine times and AC Milan seven.

 

 

Teams from England have won the European Cup 10 times to Spain and Italy's 11 each but since it rebranded as the Champions League in 1993 that ratio reads two-four-four and, in terms of finalists, four-seven-10.

 

Although England is the only country to have had at least one representative in the last 10 Champions League quarter-finals, Desailly insists the likes of Madrid and AC Milan continue to set the bar.

 

"The English teams have to follow how Real Madrid and AC Milan have managed to stay at that level over the past 15 years," he said.

 

"They have been there all the time and it's not just about money.

 

"Manchester United have that rhythm - every year they are there challenging for the league and Champions League.

 

"The secret is respect among the players, very hard work and a good attitude from the club towards the players.

 

"All the small details make the difference and allow you to become a major team in Europe."

 

Another of Desailly's former clubs, Chelsea, have failed to capitalise on three Champions League semi-finals in spite of the staggering investment provided by owner Roman Abramovich since 2003.

 

Chief executive, Peter Kenyon, envisages Chelsea being "internationally recognised as the world's number one football club by 2014" and Desailly suggests this is only possible if they make their mark on the Champions League this season.

 

"I feel there is a big gap between the image that Chelsea have generated and the facts of what Chelsea have," stated Desailly.

 

"They have to really concentrate to win at least the Champions League this year, so they have that trophy in their record."

[Billy Dane]

It doesn't mention Arsenal's track record in the competition?

[fyds]

Real Madrid won the bulk of their titles when there wwere hardly any other buggers taking part. Oh and by the way Marcel, Liverpool have won it 5 times - more recently then Madrid to and have been in two of the last three finals yer big ****.

[Rich Gobey]

One, solitary mention of Liverpool despite having appeared in two of the last 3 finals, yet gushes about how the Mancs have the 'rhythm'?

[pipnasty]

I'd swap our Quarter Final place for Arsenals Quarter Final place in a heartbeat

[Coyler]

One, solitary mention of Liverpool despite having appeared in two of the last 3 finals, yet gushes about how the Mancs have the 'rhythm'?

They've 'challenged' for the Champions League more often than Liverpool over the last ten years so of course they have done much better than us in the competition ...

 

Damn you Pipnasty

Edited March 31, 2008 by Coyler

[Kahnee]

I'd swap our Quarter Final place for Arsenals Quarter Final place in a heartbeat

[Rich Gobey]

I'd swap our Quarter Final place for Arsenals Quarter Final place in a heartbeat

 

 

I'd swap a role in heartbeat for a place in Arsenal's final quarter.

[Sion]

Talking of odd articles, Alan Nixon's groundshare article in the mirror pretty much wins hands down.

 

Alan Nixon: Why Everton and Liverpool should set up home together

31/03/2008

 

It's an old cliche about how families are split down the middle on Merseyside and this is the 'friendly' derby...now it's about time somebody acted on that truth.

 

While Liverpool and Everton battled for fourth place - the new first in these parts - the thought dawned that really they should be sharing a stadium.

 

on Being relative also-rans is bad enough in the new elite of the Premier League but the fact is the financial cost of building two new grounds could yet finish these two off from even that 'glory'.

 

Look at the strife caused by Liverpool looking for foreign money to shift the Kop a mile down the road.

 

In the wrong hands maybe, but how else are they going to get the size of ground they want?

 

The price of flitting from Anfield to Stanley Park is going to put the Reds further into the red and open to any property speculator around the globe.

 

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And the word is that Everton's planned and unpopular move to Kirkby is heading for major problems and a huge bill that will bite into David Moyes's spending for years.

 

Goodison needs a facelift but that will not happen.

 

The future has to be a bigger stadium, but surely the solution is for them both to live together at the same king-sized venue.

 

It is a sore point for both.

 

'The City's all ours, f*** off to Kirkby' and 'You're not Scousers any more' were the hard-butfair cries from Liverpool yesterday.

 

Blues chairman Bill Kenwright must have cringed.

 

The only answer from the away end was a banner that wittily proclaimed: 'Everton fans welcome all Liverpool fans to Merseyside'.

 

Only the numbskulls and extremists will argue the best way of housing two major clubs is by halving the costs and giving them each a better chance to compete - maybe even survive.

 

Everton have got used to living on crumbs and being the poor relations.

 

Only pride stops them from starting a conversation that has not dared speak its name.

 

Liverpool would actually suffer more, with the need to be in the Champions League every season part of their financial planning.

 

Imagine trying to finish in the top four for the next few years when so much of the money will be needed for a new super ground.

 

Moving in together does not mean they have to get married, but co-habiting has always been a good way of cutting costs.

 

If it can work in Milan and Rome, why should Liverpool be any different?

 

The rivalry can remain just as intense and the stick dished out just the same

[pipnasty]

 

What a ridiculous article

[Billy Dane]

articles like that always make me wonder why similar articles have never appeared about Arsenal and Spurs etc ground sharing? Surely the same principles apply......

[growler]

and what about man city and man united? bristol and sheffield clubs? charlton, west ham? fulham, chelsea?

 

don't know why they focus on merseyside for this.

[Zoob]

articles like that always make me wonder why similar articles have never appeared about Arsenal and Spurs etc ground sharing? Surely the same principles apply......

 

Articles like that always make me wonder how Nixon continues to make a living transcribing his bowel movements