Hello everyone! We're back as the best league in the world again, after some really bad years we have now proven that we're capable of beating anyone just like before. We've beaten 4/4 spanish teams this season and we had all of our 4 teams in the quarters and 3 of them in the semi's and now a all italian final. We're back! Forza Calcio! RESPECT!
One good season for Italian clubs doesn't mean a renaissance period for Italian calcio. Spain has had a nice lock on the best footy played for the past 3-4 seasons. If Italian clubs do as well next season, then fair enough. But for all we know next year we could have an Arsenal v Man U or Chelsea or Newcastle all English final, and we all know that won't secure the Premiership as the number one league in Europe or the world.
Did you watch any of the CL games this season? A renaissance is what it is. Italian teams have proved that they both play attractive football and that they can beat anyone. Juve dominated vs Real yesterday, the game could have finnished 10-1. I still think Real is the best team though, but the point is that italian teams are back where they belong and they proved that if you play attack football you can easily beat anyone. Forza Serie A!
You can't honestly believe that one season is enough to convince anyone that the Italians are back. If that was the case what about Manchester United in 1999, or Bayern in 2001(?), These teams winning championships did not spell glory days of English or Deutshe football. I realise that the last Italian club to lift the Champions League trophy was in 1996, but wait and see if Italian teams fare as well next season as they did this season before calling it the rebirth of calcio. I respect Italian football and am in no way saying that this isn't a renaissance, but if their teams consistently make the quarter and semi or finals for the next 2-3 seasons then we can accurately call it the rebrth of Italian excellence in Europe. As far as Juve dominating yesterday, come on, Real were without Makele (sp?) no full strength Ronaldo or Raul. I would hardly believe had both sides fielded their strongest lineup that Juve would have won as convincingly. But then again they beat a full strength Barca, so it evens out. It's a mixed bag mate. I was also impressed with Milan, especially against Ajax, (I was also a little gutted as I was in Amsterdam at the time of the seconf leg) and Roma (even though they didn't make it to the knock out stages), they were by far the weakest of the Italian sides and managed to do well in a difficult group.
Italian clubs will win their 10th European title, tying with Spain for first place in the all-time record. Note: Real Madrid won 9 of the 10 Spanish cups.
How convincing were Roma, Inter and Milan over the whole season? It's nice for the Italians, but not more than that. You can't draw conclusions like this from one CL season.
Manutd beat Juve Real beat Manutd Juve beat Real.... funny game..... Don't be surprise if Wenger and Patrick claim Arsenal better than all of of them...and the best and finest team in uefa......... it was nice not to see a sit back italian team...
Milan were perhaps the most consistent team in the champions league this season. And yes, you're right, thats exactly what we've been saying too.
As I've said all along, Italy was never going down the tubes, just had a bad run of luck in Europe. When you get to the highest levels, small things can determine outcomes. Can we say that Juventus is significantly better than Barcelona (where they nearly went out) or Real? Was Milan significantly better than Ajax or Inter? Or hell's bells, little Slovan Liberec, whom they squeaked by on away goals in the qualifying round? The last two years, things didn't work out for Italy ... this year, they did. For now, I'll just sit back and enjoy.
Toffee, i agree on the part that it's alot about coincidences. Next year it might not be any italian teams at all in the final, or one dutch vs one german who knows. But i see alot of jelousity in your post too. Wether you like italian football or not you can't deny that we're the best football league for the moment. 2 italian teams in the final that have been playing entertaining football in most of the games and also destroyed the likes of Bayern, Depor and now even Real Madrid. It was pure humiliation last night and you can not even admit it, instead you come with cheap shots like "Makalele was injured" "Raul was not fully fit" But what can i expect from a EPL fan anyway, you have only got one finalist the last 17 yrs or something so i understand you're jealousity. I admire Real and Man U though, they have been playing well. But italian teams beat all of the 4 spanish teams this year and none of the english teams really impressed me except for Man U neither. This year was italian, next year might be diffrent. We'll see.
I do like Italian football, it just simply seems premature to claim that the Italians are back from the dead, this year undoutedly they are the best in Europe because of how consistent their teams have played and won the games that must be won. So while I give props to where they're due, I will wait until next year (when Roma are in the semifinals) to say Italians are now the country to beat not Real Madrid or Barca or Ajax.
My point is that Italian soccer was never "dead", so it's hard to be back from the dead. Roma in nextyear's semifinals? I assume you mean of the UEFA Cup, of course.
Barca were in easy groups and only had to play one team before the quarters that was any good, Inter. Whereas, Milan beat Deportivo, Bayern, Real, and Dortmund before they even got to the quarters. The only games Milan lost in this years CL were the games they rested thier starters because they had already qualified for the next stage.