Al-Wazir inaugurates glass factory, lays foundation stone for new appliance plant at Elaraby Group    New expansion projects, public-private partnerships to modernize, localise industry: El-Shimy    A blaze that exposed Egypt's fragile digital backbone    Al-Sisi attends high-level African summit to strengthen continental coordination, regional integration    Egypt, Mexico discuss environmental cooperation, combating desertification    Egypt launches anti-drug awareness campaign for drivers    Germany faces recruitment hurdles in push to rearm, eyes conscription    HDB expands national footprint with 'Acacia' branch in New Cairo    Lavrov warns against anti-Russia alliances in Asia during North Korea visit    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    S. Korea's c. bank holds base rate at 2.50%    Egypt's annual core CPI inflation eases to 11.4% in June: CBE    Egypt's EDA, Haleon discuss local market support    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    Egypt, Pakistan boost healthcare ties – Cabinet    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger        Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Chelsea's exit leaves England facing embarrassing failure
Published in Ahram Online on 12 - 03 - 2015

Chelsea's elimination from the Champions League after losing to Paris St Germain on the away goals rule leaves the English Premier League facing the embarrassing realisation that it is not, as it likes to think, the best league in the world.
A month after clinching a 5.1 billion pounds ($7.64 billion) TV rights deal, there is a very real possibility that for the second time in three seasons, no English club will make it into the last eight of European soccer's elite competition.
Arsenal, beaten 3-1 at home by AS Monaco in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, and Manchester City, who lost 2-1 at home to Barcelona in theirs, are both on the brink of elimination ahead of next week's second legs, while only Everton have reached the last 16 of the Europa League.
When news of the Premier League's contract with Sky and BT Sports was announced last month, their chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "If you do any international survey, things like the Premier League, the BBC and the Queen are the things that people feel good about the UK."
There were few agreeing with him about the Premier League though after the negative showing of league leaders Chelsea against a resolute PSG team forced to play for 90 minutes of the match that went to extra time with 10 men after their talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was controversially sent off after 31 minutes.
The 2-2 draw on the night and 3-3 aggregate score meant they qualified on away goals.
Jamie Carragher, who won a Champions League medal with Liverpool in 2005 was scathing in his assessment for Sky about Chelsea's performance saying that coach Jose Mourinho's negative tactics would never endear him to the wider football public.
"Chelsea are the best team in our league but we are miles away from success. Look at the TV deal that has just gone through," Carragher said.
"We've got the richest league in the world with some of the best players and we want to see the English teams do well, but we are being kidded.
"PSG completely deserved to win it, our teams are miles away. Mourinho could end up the most successful manager ever, but his teams will always be unloved because of the way they play."
Gary Neville, who picked up two Champions League medals with Manchester United, and is now working as an analyser for Sky said: "Chelsea were awful, PSG were wonderful but this result shows you where we are in Europe at the moment.
"Chelsea are out, City and Arsenal are in trouble, Liverpool and Tottenham are out (of the Europa League), we have seen tonight Chelsea, our team best equipped to go on in this competition, have been put out -- and deservedly so."
(For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/125044.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.