This year's UEFA Champions League has so far witnessed the domination of English Premiership clubs over their Italian counterparts in particular. Last week's last 16 round second-legs saw the elimination of Inter Milan, AS Roma, Juventus at the hands of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea respectively. Not so long ago, Italian outfits considered the Champions League to be their playground. Even when a club like Sampdoria won a sole Serie A title in 1991, they made the final of the consecutive Champions League. When Manchester United won the title in 1999, it was the first English Champions League title since 1984. The same 15-year period where Italian clubs reached the competition's final 9 times. Since the turn of the millennium, the Premiership has started gaining more popularity over Serie A, but that never affected the Italians' record over English clubs. So what really changed over the last few years? Capello's Justification England's Italian coach Fabio Capello believes that the Premiership players' physical toughness has given them the edge over their Italian opponents. "English teams are used to a more physical game, Our Italian teams in this respect are lacking compared to the English," says Capello, The former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss is also convinced that the games' pace in the Premiership is way faster than in Serie A. "There is another problem, there are so many interruptions in the Italian league and very often tricks like throwing yourself to the floor … get rewarded. "The referees in this sense should let the game flow more. That's a problem compared to British football where the rhythm is quicker and more fluid," added Capello. Capello considers that the poor infrastructure in Italy is also hindering the league's progress.
Roma were ousted by Arsenal "The stadiums are very old and not very comfortable. There is the chance to improve but there needs to be a real will to do it." Money or Psychology Current Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has a different perspective than Capello's. The ex-Chelsea tactician says that the financial gap between the two countries as the main and only key behind the English advantage. "I wouldn't say we have an inferiority complex towards English teams. If there's any inferiority complex at all, then it is about having less money, which is a circumstance rather than a complex." Nearly all Serie A clubs are not making profits. Actually most of them end each financial year with big losses, as the game itself has been marred by corruption in recent years. Capello's assistant Franco Baldini agrees with Ranieri that English clubs' wealth play a major factor. However, he also believes there is a psychological part in the process. "English clubs are aware of their value and their strength. In all-or-nothing games like these that can be an extra help," said the former Livorno coach. Italian Comeback Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was delighted to see his side beat Roma, but the Frenchman said that the English superiority will not last forever. "England can be very proud to have four teams in the quarter-finals for the second year, but we have not to be fooled," Wenger said. "The games with the three Italian teams, Juventus, Inter and Roma, were very close and it looks like Italy is coming back."
