‘Difficult EPL hurting clubs’ Champions League performance’

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and his Manchester City counterpart Manuel Pellegrini have said that English clubs are unable to do well in the Champions League due to the physical, <g data-gr-id="18">high intensity</g> competition at the domestic level.

English Premier League (EPL) teams have struggled in Europe over the last three seasons with only one club – Chelsea in 2014 – managing to reach the semi-finals. In 2013 and this year no <g data-gr-id="17">English</g> team have managed to get past the round of 16.

European football’s governing body UEFA has expressed concern over the situation and is looking to reduce the number of English sides in the Champions League from four to three in the future. The extra place could go to Italy following Juventus’ successful run to last season’s final.

“The Premier League is a very difficult league. It is not easy to beat the ­opposition every week. It is always a struggle and a battle in England. Then you play in the Champions League in midweek,” van Gaal was quoted as saying by the British media on Sunday.