The quintessential coming of age of English teams in Europe has as much to do with the deterioration of the elite as it is with the dawning of a new era. English clubs in Europe have once again, cascading into a third season, shown that they are the dominant force in the Champions League.

One might argue that it is to soon to be making such statements, but let me remind you that an English club has not been knocked out by a team on the continent since Manchester United were defeated by eventual champions AC Milan, in the Semi Finals of the 2006/2007 season. Since then we have seen English teams knocking each other out of the competition: Liverpool defeating Chelsea, Liverpool defeating Arsenal, Chelsea defeating Liverpool and last years final where Manchester United won a classic against Chelsea on penalties. 

This new found deliverance from our clubs has in part been attributed to the calibre of player in the Premiership: managers that have the highest European pedigree and a resilience amongst the elite players in the English game that see it as their time to conquer all those that cross their path.

There is a growing belief amidst a backdrop of successful European campaigns that it is indeed our turn to conquer the greatest football prize outside of the World Cup. With finalists in each of the last four years, including an all English final last year, it is a wonderful time to be a supporter of a club in the Premier league or indeed any tier of English football right now.

However, one must put the sudden rise to supremacy amongst our sides into context. The standard of clubs participating in the Champions League is potentially weaker than any year we’ve seen. This, to be fair, is mostly contrived by the demise of some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. This year, Ajax, who face Aston Villa tonight, AC Milan who play Heerenveen and Benfica who play Hertha Berlin, all previous winners of the competition, are all in the UEFA Cup. It is a sorry state of affairs when you look at the Eredivise league and see Ajax and Feyenoord in its lower echelons. While some of the great names synonymous with the European Cup are no where to be seen, Deportivio, Galatasaray and Olympiacos all plying their trade in other cups.

One might argue that their demise has nothing to do with the new found recent success of our teams. One will also say that you can only beat the teams that are put in front of you; this is resoundingly true. However, you cannot say that Basle, Anorthesis Famagusta, CFR Clug, Bate Borisov and Aab Aalborg who are participating in this seasons Champions league are gracing us with the standard of football that we once embraced in our formidable and traditional of continental neighbours.

Yes, they have earned the right to be in the competition and have held their own, CFR Clug drawing against Chelsea, on occasions and who could argue that this cycle of new clubs winning their leagues do not have the right to strut their stuff at the highest level in club football. The question still remains – is the Champions League any better for it?

There are still many great teams involved in this year’s tournament, but how many of those do you see as serious threats to the so called big four of the English game? Maybe Mourinho’s Inter Milan and an on song Barcelona side. You could even argue that Real Madrid on their day are more than capable of beating England’s best – any others? Bayern Munich, Juventus, Lyon and Villarreal are dangerous opponents with a fine European pedigree but how many of these sides have defeated a Chelsea, Arsenal or United in recent years?

Liverpool went to Athletico Madrid, who finished in the same position in their league as Liverpool did in theirs, last night and more than held their own. If Liverpool had taken their chances they probably would have won. Chelsea defeated a Roma side that finished second in the Italian league last year but came to Chelsea with no intention of going for the win; instead they parked a bus in front of goal, an Italian team, let us not forget, that came within twenty minutes of winning the Italian title last year. Arsenal have destroyed the best that Portugal and Turkey have to offer by thrashing FC Porto and Fenerbache while Manchester United face the only real genuine threat in a few weeks time when they play away to Villarreal.

Do not get me wrong, the English teams of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are amongst the best in world football and on their day are frightening to play against regardless of their opponents. If they played the teams that won the Champions League from the last ten years or so it would be interesting to see how our teams would fare.

There is food for thought that this new found success that our clubs find themselves in, on the European stage, has coincided with the demise of an elite group of European powerhouses. A look at the league tables abroad will show no Barca or Real, no Bayern or AC, no PSV or Lyon at the top of their respective leagues, where a quick glance at our Premiership sees Hull City as the only club standing in the way of the so called 'big fours' continuous dominance of the English game.

Let us hope that this new, very English, wave has the same style of fashion that the seventies and eighties brought our English culture and football; it’s either that or a mullet!