How ironic that our football teams should demonstrate a renewed commitment to Europe at the very point at which our politicians are negotiating an exit. In the footballing sense at least, the English are coming, not going. All five English clubs top their respective groups in the Champions League at the halfway stage, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea outright, Liverpool on goal difference and Spurs in a straight share with Real Madrid. Though early in the piece it remains some statement given the poverty of the English effort since Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012. On only four occasions, two in the same season, have the quarter-finals featured a Premier League club in that period. And this after the power period of 2007-09 when for three successive years England provided three of the four semi-finalists.

ENGLISH DOMINANCE

Thus it was quite a moment on Tuesday when Spurs opened their account against the 12-time champions in the Bernabeu at the fifth time of asking. City were already two up at the time and letting off flares at home to Serie A leaders Napoli, while Liverpool were about to crack a fourth without reply in Slovenia against Maribor. Napoli recovered from the early shellacking at the Etihad to at least make the score respectable (2-1) and perhaps reveal how City might eventually be tamed, ultimately by playing them at their own fast-paced, attacking game. But it was resoundingly England’s night with Liverpool running up a record 7-0 score on the road in Europe and Spurs holding the mighty Madrid to a draw. On Wednesday United continued their utilitarian step under Jose Mourinho with an unnecessarily grinding one-niler against a woefully underpowered Benfica. Not to worry, Chelsea went at it in a 3-3 barnburner with Roma at Stamford Bridge to uphold the Premier League’s reputation for unrestrained chaos.