The Premier League is not a mock giant!

A highly mixed week for the six clubs from the English Premier League in Europe’s “top competition.” Only league leaders FC Arsenal and joint record champions FC Liverpool made it through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. However, experts do not see the “crisis” of the English elite league in Europe proclaimed by many media outlets, primarily from Germany. Nor do I, by the way.

“Paradise in trouble – a disaster looms. What’s going on with the Premier League,” headlined Kicker Sports Magazine somewhat half-heartedly on March 16, 2026, just before the second-leg matches in the Champions League.

But not without reason. FC Chelsea – beaten 2–5 in the first leg by defending champions Paris Saint-Germain – and Tottenham Hotspur, who were outright humiliated by Atlético Madrid with the same scoreline, were already on the brink of elimination after the first 90 minutes.

Tottenham conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, the venue of the 2019 all-English final between the “Spurs” and Liverpool, and interim coach Igor Tudor substituted goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in a desperate and bizarre move. Even the opponent was surprised. “At a professional level, I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said Atlético coach Diego Simeone. Or put differently: everyone embarrasses themselves as best they can. 

Real Madrid dismantled the most recent English Champions League winner, Manchester City (2023), 3–0 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

An almost-embarrassment for the Premier League: Manchester City, pictured here against Real Madrid, and three other English clubs were eliminated in the Champions League round of 16. Photo: Imago Images / Anadolu Agency

Two times conceding three goals on the same day – never happened before

The fact that two English clubs, City and Chelsea, lost by a margin of three goals on the same day in the Champions League had never happened before in the competition since its 1992 reformatting. 

FC Liverpool (0–1 at Galatasaray Istanbul), Newcastle United, and FC Arsenal (both 1–1 against FC Barcelona and at Bayer Leverkusen) also did not head into their second legs with particularly strong results.

While the “Magpies” paid a heavy price in a 2–7 defeat at Spotify Camp Nou against “Barça” and City exited against Real (1–2), Arsenal and Liverpool restored some pride for England’s elite class with 2–0 and 4–0 wins respectively.

“That was the best match under my management,” said Liverpool coach Arne Slot, who has been under criticism, with confidence afterward. Perhaps he had to say that, but things won’t get any easier for the under-pressure Dutchman or for the “Reds.”

In the quarterfinals, PSG could once again prove to be the end of the road. Last year, Paris already stopped the league-phase leaders in the round of 16. It would be somewhat logical if it happened again, because despite massive transfer investments, Liverpool have been the disappointment of the season. 

Premier League and Champions League leaders Arsenal should not underestimate their quarterfinal opponent Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese champions delivered a memorable comeback, beating underdogs Bodø/Glimt FK of Norway 5–0 after extra time following a 0–3 first-leg deficit.

“A brutal reality check”

Nevertheless, the obituaries for the Premier League proved premature. “I would advise against drawing excessive conclusions from this and questioning the good reputation of this league,” said former Premier League professional Thomas Hitzlsperger in a Kicker column, dismissing all superficial debates about the strongest league in the world. “The results were disappointing, yes, but it was one matchday and not a trend.” 

Regarding City’s early exit (having already failed in the 2025 playoffs against Real Madrid, 2–3 and 1–3), Hitzlsperger—whom I had the chance to interview back in 2003 as a young pro at Aston Villa—offered an explanation: “It’s certainly possible that over the years, under Pep Guardiola, more has worn off than one might think.”

City appear fatigued, Tottenham are battling relegation, Chelsea are a chaotic assembly
Possible—the team seems saturated, and City’s decision-makers from the United Arab Emirates called for a crisis meeting after the elimination against Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola will leave the club in 2027 anyway, and then a rebuild will be necessary at the Etihad Stadium.

FC Chelsea, which resembles more of an investment project than a successful team, and Tottenham Hotspur, who are fighting relegation in the Premier League and failed to impress even as eventual Europa League winners last year, currently lack cohesive squads. 
Strong, focused, and determined: FC Arsenal in the second leg against Bayer Leverkusen. 
“The Gunners” are determined to make a statement this Premier League season—and in the Champions League as well. 

They have been chasing the English league title since 2004 and have not reached a Champions League final since 2006. Overall, the North London club has only won one international title: the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994 in Copenhagen against Parma (1–0). It is therefore hardly surprising that the most consistent English team this season is clearly stating its ambitions. “After such a long time without the very biggest trophies, everyone here is hungry for titles. We are all pulling in the same direction,” said former Leverkusen player Piero Hincapié (24) of FC Arsenal in an interview with SPORT BILD ahead of the first leg against the German runners-up.

For me, Arsenal remain a favorite to win the Champions League—and the English title as well. 

The fact that this round of 16 nearly turned into a complete embarrassment for English clubs has, as mentioned above, individual reasons that vary from club to club. 

Moreover, performances in European competitions are not taken as seriously on the island as the domestic league itself, which is evident from the scheduling after Champions League matchdays. If Liverpool put in a massive effort against Galatasaray on Wednesday evening, it does not mean they have to play again at lunchtime on Saturday at Brighton & Hove Albion.

“The fact that English clubs are more often eliminated earlier in European competitions,” wrote Thomas Bröker in Kicker Sports Magazine, “is no coincidence but by design—and also a result of the congested schedule and the intensity of the game.”

Nevertheless, the Premier League remains the benchmark in Europe. It continues to lead the five-year ranking—the most important European competition ranking—by such a large margin that a fifth Champions League spot is likely again next year.