Last season saw a lot of upset in the UEFA Champions League as most of the big guns were sent packing by the underdogs who have evolve in their games style and are now playing beautiful football.
For the second year running, the most successful club in the competition Real Madrid failed to go beyond the round of 16 after winning the trophy in the three consecutive seasons that preceded. Last season’s defending champions Liverpool, Juventus, Manchester City and others also disappointed.
As the new season looms, we take a look at the measures taken by these teams to avoid a repetition of their respective dismal ending to the last campaign and how the newbies could continue their exploit.
PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS
CHELSEA
Chelsea were eliminated in the round of 16 of the last campaign by eventual winners Bayern Munich by a 7-1 aggregate score line. Not to take much away from the London club, they were no match for The Bavarian and endured 180 minutes of humiliation in both legs played in England and Germany.
But The Blues will be by far a different team heading into the new season as they have been the most active club in the summer transfer acquiring the like of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz who are all expected to slot into Frank Lampard’s starting XI.
It might be too early to draw a conclusion but Chelsea have done themselves a lot of good with their summer transfer activities and a lot will be expected by the fans when the new season begins.
LIVERPOOL
Last season’s defending, champions Liverpool were unfortunate when they were eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the round of 16. The Reds conceded and early goal in a 1-0 first leg loss at the Wanda Metropolitan but won the second leg by the same score line at Anfield and even went 2-0 up earlier in extra time, only to end up losing 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
So far Liverpool have only added Kostantinos Tsimikas, a backup for Andy Robertson while they are also heavily linked with Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcântara.
The Merseyside club does have what it take to go all the way in the European prestigious competition but their lack of squad dept will be called into question when fatigue and injuries set in as the season proceeds.
MANCHESTER CITY
For the fourth year of Pep Guardiola reign at City, the club failed to reach the semi final of the Champions League but this time, they will have themselves to blame for not being more clinical in their 3-1 quarter final loss to Olympique Lyonnais in Lisbon.
It is in the past now and The Citizens will have put that behind them as they have made some significant additions in the transfer window with Dutch defender Nathan Ake and Spanish winger Ferran Torres joining to bolster their squad. Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is also heavily linked with the club as they prepare to right their wrongs and set things right in the new season.
The Manchester City team is blessed with talents that are capable of winning any competition but fingers crossed as we await when they will turn up on the bigger stage and stake a claim on the prestigious prize that has eluded them since their foundation and more realistically, since Sheikh Mansour takeover in 2008.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Three times champions league winners, Manchester United played in the UEFA Europa League last term and were eliminated by eventual winners Sevilla in the semi final. Coming into the Champions League this season having finished third in the last Premier League season, United have signed Dutch midfielder Donny van De Beek from Ajax Amsterdam while they are still in the hunt for Jadon Sancho.
The acquisition of Bruno Fernandes in January was a turning point for the team last season and with a few more additions before this summer transfer window shuts, they will surely be one of the teams to watch out for in this Champions League season.
The Manchester club are currently linked with Spanish leftback Sergio Regiulon as Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to address the flaws in his defense while their never ending interest in Jadon Sancho may yet bear fruit ahead of the new season.
LALIGA TEAMS
ATLETICO MADRID
The Madrid club reached the quarter finals eliminating defending champions Liverpool in both legs of their meetings only to be knocked out in the quarter finals by RB Leipzig by a 2-1 score line in Lisbon.
Yannick Carrasco Ferreira, a former player who also spent last season on loan at the club from Chinese side Dalian Professional FC has been signed on a permanent contract while Ivo Grbic has joined from NK Locomotiva as back up for goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Diego Simeone’s men are one of the teams that can go all the way in the champions league as they have done in previous seasons but the missing piece is just a win in the final and this Atletico team is not a pushover, whether this or any other season in the competition.
FC BARCELONA
Barcelona endured a humiliating night in Lisbon against Bayern Munich in the quarter final last season when they were beaten 8-2 in the one legged tie. Their heaviest defeat in the competition. It was indeed a difficult one for The Catalan club and it’s aftermath landed harder on the coach Quique Satien, who lost his job in the process, the players and the club’s hierarchy.
Their biggest win of the current transfer window so far is retaining Lionel Messi after the Argentine threaten to leave the club in the aftermath of their dismal campaign which see them finish the season without a silverware.
Also the club have embarked on a new project under new manager Ronald Koeman, and the club have shown the exit door to a number of first team players as they work on a squad overhaul.
Trincão, Miralem Pjanic, Pedri and Matheus Fernandes have all joined the club while Philippe Coutinho has also return to the club after his loan spell with Bayern Munich. Barcelona are also linked with a number of top players in the transfer market and new faces may arrive before the window shuts.
As much as nothing can be said of the new Barcelona team under Ronald Koeman, a lot will be expected when the new season begins as fans are running out of patience to see the club return to former glory.
REAL MADRID
A second consecutive round of 16 elimination from the champions league was the outcome for Real Madrid last term but winning the league calmed nerves around the Bernabeu.
Heading into the new season, no marque signing is on the cards this summer for Los Blancos as their struggle continue in UEFA competitions post Cristiano Ronaldo era. Eden Hazard’s inability to replicate the form that made Real Madrid signed him from Chelsea last summer added more to the disappointment of the club.
Martin Ødegaard remains the only addition to the squad after been called back from his loan spell at Real Sociedad. Madrid haven’t done much to improve but given their pedigree in the competition, they are capable of the impossible and are always one of the favorites in the competition.
SERIE A TEAMS
ATALANTA
One of the biggest surprises in the competition last season. Atalanta reached the quarter final and almost make it into the semi final but conceded two late goals in the clash with PSG after leading 1-0 for most part of the match.
Keeping squad players will be vital in retaining the prominence earned last season in the competition having secured qualification by securing a third place finish in the league, and they have done well as per transfers with several incomings although have lost midfielder Timothy Castagne to Leicester City.
INTER MILAN
Inter Milan were the beaten finalist in the Europa League last season but qualified for this season’s champions league having finished second in the concluded Serie A campaign.
Antonio Conte’s side have permanent Alexis Sanchez’ deal, signed Achraf Hakimi and Alexander Kolarov on permanent transfers while securing loan deals for other players too. Much will not be expected of the Nerazurri but anything worse than a quarter final place will not be welcomed from Antonio Conte this season.
JUVENTUS
Sacked Mauricio Sarri after a campaign that saw them lost in the round of 16 to Lyon. Juventus appointed Andrea Pirlo ahead of the new season and preparations has begun with several players leaving the club while others coming in.
Andrea Pirlo has shown the exit door to some big names including World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi while Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain have also been told to look for club as they don’t fit into his plans. Miralem Pjanic has moved to Barcelona.
Arthur Melo and Weston McKennie have joined the squad as Juventus continue their hunt for a second champions league crown since their foundation.
BUNDESLIGA TEAMS
BAYERN MUNICH
The treble winners will be brimming with confidence when the new season gets underway and have welcomed Germany winger Leroy Sane into the ranks although the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Perisic and Alvaro Odriozola have returned to their respective parent clubs.
Bayern Munich will always be a force to reckon with every season in the competition and have what it take to retain the crown they will be defending this season.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Eliminated in the round of 16 by beaten finalist. Borussia Dortmund put up a good fight and win the first leg but lost the second leg and were dumped out by a narrow 3-2 aggregate score-line.
Resisting the sale of Jadon Sancho will bolster their chances of going one better in the competition this season and with the arrival of Jude Bellingham and Jesus Reinier, Dortmund will be a much improved side. Emre Can has also secure a permanent move to the club from Juventus. The young Dortmund side do have what it takes to cause an upset in the champions league this season.
RB LEIPZIG
The revelation in the last campaign; RB Leipzig have put themselves in a position most of the top European teams want to be in just 11 years of their foundation. Their run in the competition ended with a 3-0 semi final defeat at the hands of PSG but they will not be much disappointed as they have enjoyed every minute in the competition.
Their top scorer last season, Timo Werner has left the club while they have brought in Hee-Chan Hwang and Lazar Samardzic. Angelino and Benjamin Henrichs have also come in on season long loans as the Red Bull club prepare to build on the success of last season in the UEFA competition.
LIGUE 1 TEAM
PSG – PARIS SAINT GERMAN
After reaching their first ever champions league final, PSG were on the losing end in Lisbon to a goal scored by a former player Kingsley Coman’s, which earned Bayern Munich their sixth European crown.
Les Parisiens will be hoping to go one better this season and with talents like Neymar, Mbappé and others in their ranks, it could be PSG’s season to finally get their hands on the silverware but they will also know, it will not be easy.
