The atmosphere in the press room at the Allianz Arena was electric as local journalists passionately cheered on Bayern Munich during the penalty shootout against Manchester City at the Etihad. The belief among Bayern fans that their team had a better chance against Real Madrid in the semi-finals than they would have had against Manchester City highlighted the latter’s strength in the football world. City’s unexpected exit from the competition was seen as a minor setback, and the absence of any English clubs in the last four of the Champions League was noted as a minor embarrassment, especially with the final scheduled to take place at Wembley. This outcome prompted reflection on the quality of Premier League football and the lessons to be learned from the lack of English involvement in the semi-finals.

It was emphasized that the performances of Newcastle United and Manchester United in the group stages of the Champions League indicated that the overall quality of Premier League football might not be as high as perceived. Despite claims of the Premier League’s superior strength in depth, the reality was seen as more balanced. The text also highlighted the need for English clubs to counter the financial dominance of the Premier League through shrewd recruitment and training ground efforts, recognizing the strategic advancements made by teams in other European leagues. Concerns were raised about the support provided by the Premier League, FA, and EFL to English teams in European competitions.

It was suggested that they could have performed better in the Champions League this season, especially given the extensive fixture schedule that English teams faced compared to their European counterparts. Ultimately, the text underlined the need for introspection and improvement in English football and acknowledged the amusement that the lack of English involvement in the Champions League semi-finals brought to the rest of Europe.