Fergie predicts Prem dominance

03 November 2009 11:27
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Sir Alex Ferguson can see no reason why English dominance of the UEFA Champions League will not continue this season.[LNB] The Premier League has been omnipresent in the competition's latter stages in recent years, with three of the four semi-finalists for the past three seasons having been English.[LNB]When coupled with the fact the Premier League has provided finalists in each of the last five seasons, Ferguson's opinion seems more than plausible.[LNB]Yet there are some who claim a weakening of standards in England, coupled with the huge amounts of money spent by a Real Madrid outfit desperate to reach the final in their own Bernabeu Stadium next May, will ease that stranglehold.[LNB]Liverpool, for one, are poised precariously in this season's group stages but Ferguson has warned those jubilant at the thought of England's dominance coming to an end that they may be a bit premature in their celebrations.[LNB]"The English teams will be involved in the semi-finals again," he said.[LNB]"They have been very dominant in the tournament for the last six or seven years. That is shown by the evidence of the latter stages and I think it will be the same this year."[LNB]Cruise controlManchester United will book their place in the last 16 with two games to spare if they beat CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.[LNB]Chelsea are similarly well placed after their opening three games, while it would be a major surprise if Arsenal did not make it through after collecting seven points so far.[LNB]In contrast, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich are currently outside the automatic qualification spots, while AC Milan and Real Madrid have already lost matches in a group they were expected to dominate completely.[LNB]"Obviously Barcelona are one of the favourites," he said. "You cannot dismiss them.[LNB]"But there is no question in my mind that the English teams will compete for the trophy." [LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports