'%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)
So as the group stages of both the Europa League and Champions League have ended, what then can be drawn from it?
All six English sides involved qualified and will compete in the initial two-legged knockout rounds.
However, was it all plain sailing? Was it all a matter of them smashing all before them, or can lessons be learnt and applied in further rounds?
No English side has won the Champions League since Chelsea in 2012, though since then Liverpool was the noted runners-up to Real Madrid last season. Before the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo, and thus the correlated dominance of Barcelona/Real Madrid in winning it in later years, English teams had done very well in the competition.
From 2005 to 2012, there was at least an English team in the quarter-finals of the competition, with many English finalists and winners in this period. Can it change this season, with an English team winning it again? Who knows?
All four English teams felt confident of progress at the outset, and this is what was attained, albeit with some scares and bumps along the way. If a repeat of Chelsea's triumph in 2012 is to be repeated, English teams will certainly feature again.
As for the Europa League, Arsenal and Chelsea comfortably progressed in their groups. Little else was expected in honesty, but then serial winner Unai Emery will be looking for a fourth career Europa League title this year at Arsenal, to add to the three he won at Sevilla. Chelsea boss Mauricio Sarri has never won a major trophy, and he'll be looking to break his duck and also help the Blues win another Europa League - they triumphed in 2013, in the season following their Champions League win. Arsenal, in Arsene Wenger's last season as manager, lost the semi-final to eventual winners Atletico Madrid. New head coach Unai Emery will certainly be looking to better this, and go one step further in winning the competition.
So how did the pride of England, and the top six of the Premier League, fare here?
Manchester City
Manchester City, with their manager Pep Guardiola looking for a first Champions League win since 2011, was expected to qualify comfortably. And bar a scare vs. Hoffenheim away, and even at home to some extent, they did as such.
The Premier League record winning side, with their star-studded talent and manager, is favourites in some UK bookies' eyes to triumph. And whilst their record in recent years is not as good as the Spanish or Italian teams, with their money, managerial prowess, and player quality, they will be primed to be amongst the top sides vying for it.
They certainly may be England's best hope, given their overall shape and quality.
Man for man, Manchester City have players to equate with Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, or Juventus. In some respects though, a Champions League may be more important than domestic success, for various reasons. The club's owners, the fans, the players, the media, and Guardiola himself would all see Champions League success as primary, and the natural step from a record-winning Premier League season.
GRADE - 8/10
Manchester United
Much has plagued the Old Trafford club this season. From fights between manager Jose Mourinho and his players, fan discontent, bad results, "hard-to-watch" football, and a perception that the owners care more for money than they do in success, little is benefitting United currently.
The Champions League though is a saving grace. Especially, the win over an old boy and club legend Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. Ronaldo and company missed an array of chances, but United via Mata and a Chiellini own-goal pulled off a shock win.
However, United was beaten well at home to the "Grand Old Lady" of Italy, with Ronaldo and Dybala shining, and on that form will face a stern test should they meet a better side in the latter stages.
Though they are through, and to be second to Juventus/Ronaldo is no disgrace for any team.
The mission has been done - and I believe if Mourinho, the players, and the fans were being honest, second place would have been the realistically attainable option.
GRADE - 7/10
Tottenham Hotspur
Of the four English sides, Tottenham Hotspur along with Manchester City arguably hold the least pedigree in the top European competition. They have featured in it before, but bar a semi-final appearance in the early 1960s, they have seldom challenged much in it. Of course, Manchester United and Liverpool have won it on multiple occasions.
However, Spurs have done well to qualify, especially after their bad start.
After looking comfortable vs. Inter, they conceded two late goals to lose 2-1. They also didn't get off the ground at PSV and were shown a footballing lesson at home vs. Messi and his Barcelona company.
Wins against PSV and Inter at home turned things around, and this culminated in a creditable draw vs. Barca in the Nou Camp.
Few would tip Spurs to win the competition, but it would be a strong experience for their top stars like Kane and co. to pit their wits against other world-class talents in the knockout stages.
GRADE - 9/10
Liverpool
Liverpool, five times winners of this competition, faced a Group of Death, by means of PSG, Napoli, themselves, and Red Star Belgrade. PSG's renown, with World Cup winner Mbappe and world record signing Neymar, speaks for itself. Napoli, whilst not a small club and a club Maradona excelled at in the past, has been arguably the biggest challenger to Juventus's recent Serie A dominance. Red Star Belgrade, whilst once European Champions themselves, were the weaker side, but the phrase "there are no easy games" didn't become a footballing cliche for nothing.
Liverpool actually lost to Red Star and thus attained qualification via defeating Napoli in the last game at Anfield. They did beat PSG at home, and to finish second to Mbappe/Neymar at all is not disheartening. This was mixed with defeat in Paris to PSG, who ultimately topped the group.
Liverpool is currently, before the 15th Dec weekend, top of the Premier League. And of course, were Champions League runners-up in 17/18. They will be looking to better this, and with their star forward Mo Salah back in form, and with a vastly enhanced defence and midfield vis a vis recent years, they can attain this reality once more. Their last Champions League was in 2005, and bar Gerrard, Alonso, Riise, and Dudek, they man for man have better players than that side.
GRADE - 7/10
Chelsea
Chelsea fielded a number of their squad players and was seldom troubled in the group stage. Vidi, BATE Borisov, and PAOK Salonika were the other teams here, and they were fairly comfortable throughout. Even without consistent big guns like Hazard, Willian, Kante, Jorginho, and Azpilicueta, Chelsea needed a major catastrophe to not qualify, but then naturally this never happened.
Striker and French World Cup winner Olivier Giroud managed to score goals, and it seems that with the competitive top four shake-ups, manager Mauricio Sarri will look to utilise this as an excellent opportunity to gain Champions League football and win a trophy.
Youngsters like Ampadu also shone, though established first teamers like Morata didn't get the opportunity to prove his detractors wrong. All the same, many UK bookmakers cite Chelsea favourites to win the title this year, and they certainly would be a threat to the other sides in the competition.
GRADE - 8/10
Arsenal
Head coach Unai Emery has attained unique success in this competition before - he won the Europa League three years on the bounce with Sevilla, and will eagerly be looking for a fourth trophy in his career with Arsenal.
His side in this group stage was a mix of the "big guns", like Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil, and Cech, amongst youngsters such as Maitland-Niles, Nketiah, Smith-Rowe, Saka, and Willock.
Overall, this blend functioned adequately, and Arsenal topped their group (with Sporting Lisbon, FC Qarabag, and Vorskla Poltava) with ease.
The boons of qualification and blooding youngsters were welcome but mixed with a major negative in Danny Welbeck's terrible injury at home to Sporting. It is hoped, naturally, that he recovers soon, and can contribute to Arsenal triumphing in the spring of 2019.
Arsenal is currently in the hunt for a top-four place in the Premier League - though winning the Europa League is another route available back into the Champions League. The FC Qarabag manager certainly believes the club is fully worthy of it.
GRADE - 8/10
