How English football clubs have taken European football by storm this season!!

The upcoming midweek will be a decisive one for English football as not one, not two but four English clubs fight for outright glory in Europe. 

Manchester City and Liverpool both enter the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with spring in their steps, while West Ham United and Leicester City are also buying for European glory on their own terms as they apply their trade in Europa League (EL) and Europa Conference League (ECL) respectively.

The resurgence of English clubs dominating Europe

Currently, Chelsea still holds the tag of European champion until a new champion is crowned. The West Londoners also hold the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, underlying why English football is at the peak of its power. 

Last season was the second time in three seasons that the CL final was contested between two English clubs as Chelsea beat Manchester City in Porto. 

While Manchester United narrowly missed out on European glory on penalties in the EL final defeat to Villareal last year.

High expectations from Man City and Liverpool

The two English clubs that are expected to go all the way in the Champions League are Manchester City and Liverpool. 

Man City were unlucky in the final last season as they lost to Chelsea, while Liverpool will be anxious to add to their tally of six titles to go level with AC Milan on all-time counts for the most title. 

Both City and Liverpool have Spanish counterparts Real Madrid and Villareal to content with as they stand on the doorsteps of yet another final.

West Ham United on the brink of Europa League

Although West Ham are trailing 1-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt from the first leg, David Moyes and his team will be optimistic about their chances. 

The Hammers won 3-0 away to Lyon in the quarter-final second leg and will certainly fancy their chances again in Frankfurt. If West Ham do win the EL, they will qualify for next season’s Champions League and will add another feather to the English cap.

European glory calling Leicester City

Leicester City are unlikely to finish in the top seven of the PL, but winning the ECL gives them a glorious opportunity to qualify for the EL next season. 

The current FA Cup holders will face Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma in the second leg of the ECL semi-final on Thursday in Rome. 

A win for Leicester will see them make their first-ever European final, having already won top honours of English football in recent times, including the PL title.

As many as nine English clubs could play in Europe next season

If the current scenario is considered the PL top four will directly qualify for next season’s CL while a West Ham United triumph in EL will also see them join top the top four. 

With Chelsea and Liverpool all set to finish in the top four and will be sharing the two domestic trophies, the two European spots reserved for cup winners will be passed to teams finishing sixth and seventh. 

The team finishing fifth will directly qualify for EL along with the sixth-place team in PL, while the team finishing seventh will play ECL.

In all circumstances, if West Ham and Leicester city finish outside the top seven and win their respective European competitions, they along with the top seven will qualify for Europe as they will take the count of English clubs to nine in Europe.

Added Bonus for English clubs in Europe

If either Manchester City or Liverpool win the CL and West Ham win the EL, then next season’s UEFA Super Cup will also be contested between two English teams, which will keep the title in England for the third time in four seasons. 

So if everything goes according to plan, English teams could once again conquer Europe, while the rest of the continent watches them dominate.