Carlo Ancelotti, the Champions League and 

the Premier League contingent

Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti (Getty)

Premier League teams will be more competitive

 in the Champions League this season than 

they have been in recent years, predicts 

Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, 

Tottenham and Man City will be flying the 

flag of English football in this year’s competition.

Since Chelsea lifted the trophy in 2012 there

 have been no English finalists and just twice

 have sides from the Premier League 

reached the semi-finals. Last season only 

Leicester progressed beyond the Round of 

16 before falling at the quarter-finals.They do

so against a backdrop of underachievement 

in recent years.

English teams in the Champions 

League since 2012

2016/17

QF – Leicester

Round of 16 – Arsenal, Man City

Group stage – Tottenham

2015/16

SF – Man City

Round of 16 – Chelsea, Arsenal

Group stage – Manchester United

2014/15

Round of 16 – Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City

Group stage – Liverpool

2013/14

SF – Chelsea

QF – Manchester United

Round of 16 – Man City, Arsenal

2012/13

Round of 16 – Manchester United, Arsenal

Group stage – Chelsea, Man City

Former Chelsea manager Ancelotti thinks 

things are about to change.

‘The last period in the Champions League,

 the Premier League teams had problems,

but this year I think they have really good

teams in the competition,’ said the Bayern 

Munich manager ahead of today’s pre-season

meeting against his old side.

‘Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, 

Manchester United, Manchester City —

 I think with these teams the Champions

League will be really more competitive. 

There was a period when the English teams 

did not do well in the competition but it was 

only a period. I think it’s finished.’

Jose Mourinho led Manchester United to Europa League glory

last term – now he will be eyeing the Champions League –

 a comptition he’s won twice (Getty)

Liverpool are back in the tournament after a two-year absence (Getty)

Antonio Conte is preparing his team for a return to the

Champions League (Getty)

Looking specifically at the chances of his former

 club, Ancelotti highlighted the improvement 

his compatriot Antonio Conte has made at

 Stamford Bridge.

‘Chelsea will be very competitive in the 

Champions League. The team is better,’ 

the Italian said. ‘Last year was a fantastic year

 for Chelsea and Antonio [Conte]. He was able

 to change the mentality of the team and the

 style of play and for this reason they will 

be competitive. Can they win it? I don’t know — 

I hope not.’