The Return of English Clubs

The arrival of world-class players and managers of the Premier League may have been due to the amount of money thrown into the league from television deals and lucrative sponsorships handed to the competing clubs. But this talent from the football world has given the clubs in England the potential power to compete in Europe for the Champions League once again. We haven't had an English club in a Chamipons League Final since 2012 and even that was as huge underdogs, although Chelsea did go on to win on penalties. The dominance of Spain has been clear for the last three years, with a Spanish club winning the Champions League and the Europa League for the last three seasons, Barcelona sandwiched between two Real Madrid triumphs in the Champions League, while Sevilla have won three successive Europa League titles. This provided cause for alarm from English clubs and with the arrival of Pep, Conte, Klopp and a returning Mourinho, the managerial status is rising. Then with Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Sane, Mkhitaryan, batshuayi coming from Europe, the English clubs powerhouse of growing large again.

The coming season

This season may be a season where it starts but it probably won't change much, Manchester United have made the biggest changes and they only see Europa League football this coming campaign. Chelsea also will be on the rise after a disappointing season but they don't see any European football. The likes of Spurs and Leicester will be competing in the elite competition and neither have as much power financially as the other clubs. With that Arsenal are also a club that haven't made too many changes, it's only Granit Xhaka likely to be in the starting eleven. This could be a good thing for the three clubs, particularly Spurs and the Foxes, as they have found a winning and successful way of playing, so changes didn't need to be made as much as their competitors. We are likely going to see Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Manchester City occupy the top six come the end of the season, but in which order in yet to be seen. This competition will make it harder to make the top four and if all six clubs progress into top sides, the threat they make in the Champions League will also grow.

The future

The next season will possibly see three or four English clubs making the Champions League Quarter Finals for the first time in a while, and hopefully go on to win. This is due to the amount of money propelled into the teams in the Premier League. The top six may even be under threat. With West Ham having their new stadium they are now more attractive to go and play for. But also in the top six there is an increase. Tottenham also have a new stadium on the way, Liverpool have expanded their stadium, Chelsea are doing the same, Manchester City increased their capacity last season. The money is flowing in and the English clubs are becoming as attractive as Spanish clubs now. Manchester City have already made around 8 signings, signing some players for the future who can grow into superstars such as John Stones, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane, Moreno and also last season they signed Raheem Sterling, things look bright for them. The world record transfer of Paul Pogba to Manchester United will evolve the club, they have some bright youngsters and they can build the team around the Frenchman for around 10 years. Tottenham have a really young side who are very talented, the like of Harry Kane, 23, Dele Alli, 20, Eric Dier, 22, Christan Eriksen, 24, Erik Lamela, 24, the future looks bright for them, especially with the new stadium and how good of a manager Pochettino is. Arsenal need to spend a bit of money but they have some exciting young players coming through as well, Alex Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide, Zelalem, all have bright futures, and Chuba Akpom had a good pre-season. Chelsea recruited well over the summer but they need to use some of their youngsters because they've excelled in the youth cups and youth European cups over the last few years. Bertrand Traore, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Dom Solanke and Izzy Brown Spring to mind, they need chances. So the future certainly looks bright and hopefully we will see good English players come through playing alongside global superstars like Paul Pogba. The money will keep on flowing in and one day, perhaps in the next five years, we will see another all English Champions League final.