The Champions League is a special competition that being in can make a world of difference for a club. You only have to look at Arsenal, the perennial also rans in the Premier League, who have managed to attract big player after big player from some seriously prestigious clubs because of their Champions League status.
Alternatively you could look at Manchester United who desperately spent their way to a limp 4th placed finished just to get the chance to qualify. It is the lifeblood of top level clubs and the elixir of life for those aspiring to elite status. Tottenham and Liverpool are fantastic examples of clubs who spend money hand over fist every summer in a bid to get into the Champions League and again in an effort to stay in there.
Alexis Sanchez famously picked Arsenal over Liverpool because of their Champions League status. It’s a competition that sells clubs to players. They all want to play in it and clubs leverage their position in it, or chance of qualifying, to buy players they think will strengthen their cause. Manchester United paid a lot of money for Di Maria in the hope he would inspire them back into the Champions League spots.
Di Maria will be lining up for PSG in Europe this week rather than Manchester United and you can get impressive Champions League odds on which team is more likely to progress in the tournament. Teams buy players specifically with the Champions League in mind and boosting their chances of winning the tournament.
Many players who moved this summer will be hoping to make an appearance in the Champions League, some of them just happy to be there, others dreaming of lifting it and a select few knowing it’s a real possibility.
Petr Cech crossed London in the summer from one Champions League team to another but is yet to feature for The Gunners in Europe’s elite competition. David Ospina was preferred in Arsenal’s shock loss to Dinamo Zagreb but the Czech international will be hoping he gets a chance to improve his Champions League clean sheet tally against Olympiakos on Tuesday.
Pedro has a winning pedigree in the Champions League and has joined a team with a manager who has won the competition with two different clubs. He missed Chelsea’s opening game against Tel Aviv but should bring a lot to the team when he inevitably makes his debut.
Team-mate Radamel Falcao may have to wait a while before featuring for the Blues with Remy preferred to cover for Costa in the opening match.
New Manchester United signings Schneiderlin and Martial will look to season professionals like other new signing, Schweinsteiger, for inspiration and advice. The German world-cup and Champions League winner brings a wealth of experience to the club and European pedigree. Meanwhile, Schneiderlin, a £26m signing from Premier League Southampton will be chomping at the bit to make his Champions League debut having finally earned a move to a European competing club. Martial who has experience of the Champions League, gained last season with Monaco, made his debut in the away loss to PSV will be hoping he gets the nod again and can carry his fine Premier League form into the UCL.
Manchester City have made some big signings in Otamendi, Sterling and De Bruyne and will be banking on their talent elevating an already star-studded group to higher echelons. They have endured a torrid 9 days in the Premier League but the Champions League is a completely different competition and there is no doubt they have the personnel to win the competition.
The Champions League becomes a more impressive competition with every season that passes and these English sides will be hoping their new signings can help take them all the way to the final.
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