Sir Alex Ferguson: EPL is top dog
(Soccer365.com) Sir Alex Ferguson claims that the Premier League is "the best in Europe" after all four sides reached the Champions League quarterfinals.
England has become the first country to have four teams in the last eight of the Champions League after Liverpool defeated Inter Milan in Italy to join Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in Friday's draw.
Ferguson told MUTV: "The Premier League is the strongest in Europe.
"For a spell it was the Spanish league - I remember about seven or eight years ago they had three teams in the semi-finals.
"Spanish football was really strong but I think the English game has now reached that level.
"We now have a 40% chance of being drawn against an English team, which is a measure of the quality of this division."
United have never experienced an all-English tie in the Champions League but the manager is relaxed about that possible scenario.
He said: "Once the format changed and three or four teams from each country were allowed into the competition, it was inevitable that they would face each other at some point.
"So I am always geared to playing against an English team. It doesn't matter who we get in the quarter-finals.
"Knowing who you'll get in the semi-finals as well is an incentive, but we'll take what we get."
Comments
Paging soccerdrnyc. You've been posting here forever saying English league lacked quality compared to Spain and Italy. Did all these EPL teams get lucky to advance to the CL quarters, or might you agree with Alex Ferguson on this one?
Posted by: yoyo | March 12, 2008 03:37 PM
well said, hes been cracking on the epl ever since europsort made this. not trying to gang up on you but its true.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 12, 2008 10:05 PM
Italy and Spain are the most successful nations in champions league.
There are always upsets in tournaments, and the remaining teams aren't always the best. (obviously AC Milan is better than Fenerbahce)
FORZA MILAN!
Posted by: giorgio | March 14, 2008 06:52 PM
Fergie's opinion means nothing. Of course he's gonna say EPL is the best because he coaches Man U!!!
Posted by: Julio | March 19, 2008 06:45 PM