'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UEFA Champions League has been the holy grail for almost all the top European clubs. It is one of the most prestigious club competitions in the world not only due to the financial benefits that the championship brings but a rise in the profile and stature of the club. For some clubs and their supporters, it is a matter of pride to be in Champions League.So we decided to have a look at the five such teams who can possibly make a return to Champions League or even make their debut in the Europe’s elite club competition.
#5 Borussia Mnchengladbach
The erstwhile German giants have shook the order of German football as they are one of the three unbeaten sides in Bundesliga alongside Bayern and Mainz. Gladbach have been the revelation of this season as they’ve stunned everyone with their scintillating start to the season as they sit second in Bundesliga just four points behind champions Bayern Munich.
Lucien Favre has a young team which is hungry to shine at the club and bring the club back to its glory days, which they used to enjoy in 70’s. They have prodigal talents like Max Kruse, Christoph Kramer and Chelsea’s brightest prospect in Thorgan Hazard. With such firepower and an astute manager in Favre, Die Borussen can surely make the return to Champions League with a bang!
#4 Valencia CF
Los Che have been given a lease of life by their new billionaire owner Peter Lim. They have been playing an exciting brand of football and also have financial backing to compete for a top four finish in La Liga this season.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s boys have made a superb start to the season as they sit third on the league table above defending champions Atletico Madrid. With players like Alvaro Negredo and Paco Alcacer in the attack we can hope to sneak into the Champions League next season.
#3 Southampton FC
They are the Cinderella story of this season as within 90 days they have gone from being relegation favourites to Champions League hopefuls. A bumper summer sale saw them lose five of their key players and their manager, all of this within less than 60 days. But the Saints’ board and Ronald Koeman have turned things around on their head.
The St. Mary’s outfit sits third in the Premier League and have defied all odds this season. Signings of Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic have been instrumental in rejuvinating Southampon along with defensive solidity provided by loanees Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld which has transformed them to a force who has to be reckoned with. Plus, we all know what Ronald Koeman also known as ‘Master of Rebuiding’ is capable of.
#2 AC Milan
Even as a neutral fan, it is hard to believe the lows that a European super power like AC Milan have hit in recent times. They had a miserable season last year which ultimately resulted in a mid-table finish and exit from the competition that they have won seven times.
Club legend Clarence Seedorf was brought in to replace Massimiliano Allegri and save the club from shatters. But the former Ajax midfielder failed to impress the board officials with the insufficient time he was given. His former Red and Black team mate Fillipo ‘Pippo’ Inzaghi took over the managerial duties from him at the San Siro.
Pippo, so far, hasn’t disappointed as the Rossoneri’s have made a decent start to this year’s campaign. They have only lost one game this season, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Juventus. A brand of fearless and attacking football propagated by Inzaghi can see 7-time European champions back in familiar surroundings next season.
#1 Manchester United
The Red Devils have built their reputation as one of the giants in Europe’s elite club competition since 1996. But a change of guard in the managerial dugout led to chaos as the Old Trafford outfit missed out on the European football altogether. Now, after going through a summer of rebuilding under Dutch genius Louis van Gaal, who has the Red Devils legend Ryan Giggs as his assistant, it would be utterly foolish to discount them this season.
The likes of Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney make them an attacking force who are more than capable of winning the Premier League. So we can expect them back where they belong next season and rejoin the European elite.
