Are EPL sides on the fade?

Usually the Champions League is seen a bastion of English footballing strength.

The seeding system means that the Premier League almost always has four representatives in the group stages of the competition and in recent seasons have often provided three of the four semi-finalists.

This year, both Manchester City and Manchester United were expected to challenge for the trophy, while Arsenal and Chelsea were also forecast to make something of an impact. Those looking at the best Champions League betting odds will have known this.

However, a poor string of results saw both Manchester clubs knocked out in the group stages, dropping down to the Europa League.

For Premier League fans, the fact that the two sides which are dominating things domestically have failed to make it through to the knockout stages of Europe’s top tournament will no doubt come as something of a shock, but is it a sign of a decline in English football as a whole?

It certainly doesn’t bode well. The two clubs look a cut above the rest in the title race, and although the EPL is often touted as the best league in the world, it seems to be lagging behind a number of other competition, despite big spending by many English teams.

Manchester City are likely to be the least worried about things, it was their first season in the Champions League and they will be looking to learn from the experience.

Their city rivals though seem on less firm ground. With all their experience they would have expected to get out of their group with ease and although they undoubtedly have some quality players, they seem to be lacking a strong enough side to challenge at the highest level.

It remains to be seen if this will be the start of a more general decline in English football, but right now things don’t look great.