With Arsenal and Chelsea both suffering defeats to Italian opposition and Stoke City also chasing a first-leg loss, will the Manchester clubs be England’s sole representatives when these ties are completed?
The satisfaction among Arsenal and Chelsea fans could not have been higher last Autumn, when United and City suffered Champions League exits.
After all, for months they had been forced to listen to how London clubs were so inferior to their Manchester counterparts.
Ashley Cole even got in on the act, reportedly chanting ‘Thursday nights, channel five’ at City players in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge.
Cole will not be laughing this morning, and few Arsenal or Chelsea supporters will see the funny side either.
But Manchester United and Manchester City supporters will allow themselves a wry smile, especially considering their own first leg leads in the Europa League ties.
The Europa League is Europe’s Carling Cup.
It only matters to the big teams and their supporters when they enter the final stages, otherwise, if they have bigger fish to fry, they disregard it as some sort of mickey mouse competition.
So right now United and City supporters are just getting acclimatised to their progress in Europe’s second-rate trophy, they can at least be cheered by the fact it looks like they will have plenty to brag about.
While both of them challenge for the Premier League title, and take away leg leads into their home Europa League games, their London rivals are at a particularly low ebb.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea fans and boards are deliberating the future’s of their managers, they both stare European elimination in the face.
The Champions League was a distraction from both clubs’ poor season in the league, and now both clubs are waking up to just how poor their seasons have been.
For United and City fans, seeing the rivals who taunted them back in the autumn fall flat on their faces must be sweet.
Will United or City go on to win the Europa League?
image: © nicksarebi
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
