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UEFA Champions League knockout matches began with impressive battles and new records. The incredible magic of FC Barcelona, the determination of Arsenal, and the unbelievable clash between Real Madrid and Manchester United overshadowed one interesting fact - for the first time in 16 years, no English clubs will play in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Does this mean that the Premier League, which is considered the strongest in the world, is weakening? Or perhaps the English clubs are focusing more on local battles? The question is difficult and may be left unanswered.
In the round of 16 we saw only two Premier League teams - Manchester United and Arsenal from London. Last year's champion Chelsea exited in the group stage and achieved a new "feat" - becoming the first champion who failed to advance past the group stage the following season.
Although the same Manchester United securely sits at the top of the league table in England and is not willing to give up the champion title, thus they could put all their efforts into the Champions League.
But are the failures of the English clubs due to other countries? In Spain, only Real Madrid and Barcelona fight for the champion title, in Germany it's Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and in Italy, Juventus dominates.
Meanwhile, the English teams are not only concerned about the champion title, but also about competing for the top four spots, which guarantee a place in the next year's Champions League. While in other countries the top teams are usually clear before the season starts, in England at least 6-8 teams vie for the top four spots. Let's not forget that English clubs also have two cup competitions.
However, the trend of the past two years (last year only Chelsea reached the quarterfinals) shows that the strength of Premier League clubs in the Champions League quarterfinals is decreasing. Last year, it was only Chelsea, although in the 2008-2009 and 2007-2008 seasons four English teams reached the quarterfinals.
If this trend continues next year, the English will have to seriously worry. On the other hand, the money from the Champions League, given for advancing to the next stage or winning the title, does not concern the English very much. The guaranteed revenue from TV broadcasting rights in the Premier League is the highest in the world, while other countries are still far from that.
But doesn't the glory and honor of winning the prestigious European club tournament diminish?
This year, for the first time in the history of the competition, Spanish Malaga made it to the quarterfinals, and Istanbul's Galatasaray returned for the first time since the 2000-2001 season. Paris Saint Germain last played here only in the 1994-1995 season when only national champions participated.
Quarterfinals statistics:
Looking at the teams in this year's Champions League quarterfinals, we can see that only teams from five countries will compete at this stage. Last year, a record was set - teams from seven different countries competed.
This was the first time since the 1996-1997 season when so many different countries' teams reached the quarterfinals. Let's remember that at the start of the Champions League, only the winners of national championships competed, and in the 1997-1998 season, for the first time, there were more than one team from each country participating.
The greatest diversity of countries in the quarterfinals was last year when representatives from seven countries participated. The least was in the seasons 2000-2003 and 2008-2009 when there were only four teams from different countries in the quarterfinals.
The last time there were no representatives from Spain in the Champions League quarterfinals was in 2004-2005, from Italy in 2008-2009, and from Germany in 2005-2006.
The teams that have played the most times in the Champions League quarterfinals since the 1997-1998 season:
Manchester United and Bayern Munich with 11 times each; Barcelona and Real Madrid with 10 times each; Chelsea with 8 times; Juventus with 6 times; Liverpool and Arsenal with 5 times each.
