You may have heard that there's no English clubs in the quarter finals of the Champions League. Liverpool were dumped out by Basel months ago, Man City were lucky to keep Barcelona to single figures and Arsenal and Chelsea both lost out to teams from the much maligned French league.
Wenger was today asked about the lack of English interest in the latter stages of Europe's premier competition and, rather than point to the significant failings of the English game, he decided to go back to an old quibble of his. The damn away goals rule.
Two (English) teams have gone out on away goals, which I think should be questioned because it’s a rule that is outdated now and that has to be changed.
The obvious reaction to this is that Wenger is being a bit of a sore loser given that Arsenal were one of those teams dumped out on away goals but, to be fair to him, he has been saying this for quite some time.
I’ve fought for that for a long time. In a direct knockout, it’s important that you’re very efficient and a bit lucky as well. None of the teams, apart from Barcelona, look to be superior in Europe today. Two other teams, Chelsea and Arsenal, could have gone through.
Having said that, you do have to wonder if Arsenal hadn't been knocked out in the last 16 more than any other side would he be saying the same thing.
This rule has been created in the 60s to encourage the teams to attack away from home. Since that football has changed. The weight of the away goal is too big today.
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