Chelsea Triumph In Baku

Hazard shines in half-empty stadium.

- Keir Radnedge

Four English clubs monopolising the two European club Finals was historic. The only surprise, as efficient Chelsea kicked off the Premier League party by swatting away a poor Arsenal, is that the football powers in Germany, Spain, and Italy had managed to prevent it until now.

The Premier League is the richest in the game, with its clubs generating a record £4.5billion last year. English clubs can pay the highest transfer fees and wages, thus they are able to appoint many of the best coaches and sign most of the best players.

Logic and the law of averages suggest that English clubs should have more success than any other country in European club competition. But UEFA has only itself to blame for events this past season after its own rule change back in 2016.

That was when it granted Champions League access to the Europa League holders. The change induced a shift of thinking in the Premier League, persuading clubs to view the Europa League as a serious competition, not a Thursday-night nuisance worthy only of the reserve team. Hence more money was worth spending on squad depth.

Chelsea’s Brazilian defender David Luiz explained how the evolution of the last few years has been evidenced out on the pitch. He says: “When I came here in 2011 nobody wanted me to play the ball out from the back, everybody wanted to kick it long. Now everybody understands.