Right, we are now down to the business end of the event. Only eight teams left out of thirty two hopefuls. Fifty percent of those teams are from a country that has not even qualified for the Euro 2008. How ironic can it get? Four out of the eight teams are English. Needless to say who they are. But just in case you are wondering, they are Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and a couple of minutes back, Liverpool. Now they are joined by Roma, Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Porto. Familiar names like nine times champions Real Madrid and seven time winners AC Milan are not around. So are Bayern Munich, who were never in the competition this season. This has so far been a season where records have been created, most important of them all being, AC Milan's first defeat at San Siro to an English club and Fenerbahce's maiden European QF appearance. If the draws are favourable we also have the potential to see four English clubs make it to the Semi Finals. That would be fantastic! But that would also be boring. I mean who wants to see four English clubs play out the Semi Finals of Europe's premier club competition? Personally, I wouldn't. My club has always been Man United. Right now coming back to business.
Of these eight clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Roma and Fenerbahce are yet to win the cup. Porto have won it twice, the first time in 1986-87 and more recently in 2003-04. Liverpool have won it five times in 1976-77,1977-78, 1980-81, 1983-84 and 2004-05. Barcelona lifted the trophy in 1991-92 and 2005-06. Manchester United of course won it in 1968-69 and excatly thirty years later in 1998-99, their famous treble season.
After tonight's game against Inter Milan, Liverpool along with Arsenal look like strong contenders to claim top honours in Moscow, in a little over two months' time. At the moment my main priority is the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals draw that takes place on Friday. Who lands who, we shall see in three days' time.
Of these eight clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Roma and Fenerbahce are yet to win the cup. Porto have won it twice, the first time in 1986-87 and more recently in 2003-04. Liverpool have won it five times in 1976-77,1977-78, 1980-81, 1983-84 and 2004-05. Barcelona lifted the trophy in 1991-92 and 2005-06. Manchester United of course won it in 1968-69 and excatly thirty years later in 1998-99, their famous treble season.
After tonight's game against Inter Milan, Liverpool along with Arsenal look like strong contenders to claim top honours in Moscow, in a little over two months' time. At the moment my main priority is the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals draw that takes place on Friday. Who lands who, we shall see in three days' time.
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