In a day and age where the Premiership’s rise to evidently being the strongest league in the world, I am stopping to ask you, who does England have to thank? Could the answer be staring us in the face?

I am almost 100% sure you will have greatly noted that there are now four English teams in the Champions League. You’ve also probably realized there is an all English final imminent. Furthermore, I am in no doubt that you are aware that English teams, over the past few years, have been dominating fixtures all over Europe. The question is, do you know who it is all down to? You can quickly snap to an answer, of course it’s Rafael Benitez, his single point-perspective on the Champions League has been driving him to success again, again and again; the like of Sir Alex, Mourinho and Arsene have to keep up with him. Some might say that this opinion is an outcry for attention! Of course the driving force of Ferguson, Jose and Wenger are what it’s all about, there heated competitions to out-do one another has forced the excelling of the great league we know today? I mean, Rafael Benitez focuses on the Champions League since the competition for the Premiership and other domestic trophies is just too strong. So he focuses on Europe alone, hence his results on league. I ask you to stop a moment. Stop and think deeper. Where did it all begin, what historical moment did the rise of the Premiership begin?

I know what you’re thinking; the Premiership has always been a super-power. But has it always been as powerful as now? Even a fool could tell you the answer is no. The fanatic bearing the highest of all attention-deficits would make no mistake in portraying the fact that the English sides’ feat this season is record breaking. However, only frequent readers of the news would tell you, time and time again, professionals’ such as Sir Alex Ferguson are looking back at triumphs and telling you, me, and the rest of us all, the Premiership is just possibly the greatest league in the world. Each week, millions of viewers, tune in to watch high-octane, adrenaline pumping, football-crazed affairs. It has everything, some say, quick-passing ability, evident from the sleek play of Arsenal; stylish skills, portrayed by the likes of Ronaldo, Nani, and many other Manchester United players; the ability to shock an audience till they’ve moved so far towards the edge of the seat they’ve fallen off, Liverpool FC won’t allow you to deny this. These aspects may not be better than every other team abroad, but they are what keep the viewers watching, even you can’t deny it.

Now it’s time to tackle (your going to have to excuse the pun), the initial issue. Because I could keep going on about the wonders of the EPL, but the site admin wouldn’t be happy with my extended loading times. Who do we have to thank. If you’ve been watching football as the years have passed (such as me, a life-long Devils’ supporter), you will remember the small decline in its ability after the great treble triumph of ‘99. Teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid, re-instated their names, back from the glory years, trying to rub away the names of United, cemented in football history. Clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool were in times of agony, Chelsea even getting rid of their captain, Dennis Wise. This left Arsenal to unexpectedly break records, the famous unbeatable run that earned them a place in the record books. Only the second team to make a whole league season unbeaten through all 38 games. Some-one had to end this shambles, who was it to be? None other than Roman Abramovich! Some claimed he would ruin Chelsea, just like Leeds, who now resides in League 1, once being a top European side. Others were optimistic. And too right they were. A first season branded him a spend-a-holic, finishing second just wasn’t good enough, allowing Arsenal to go unbeaten was atrocious, Ranieri had to go. Second season, bring in the chosen one. If anyone can do it, Mourinho can. And so he did; winning two season’s running. Creating greats such as Ivory Coast international Drogba, and widely regarded as best goalkeeper in the world, Cech; who only became truly great when Joe kicked the team in line. The rise of Chelsea was astonishing, untouchable, how could anyone keep up?

But the teams had to, Liverpool’s Benitez, instated after Houlier, had an aim, buy as many tall players as possible and win the Champions League, because bigger is always better. Pressure deployed on Sir Alex Ferguson forced him to reinforce tactics, and targets for transfer, it was the only way he could continue his life-long target, get more honors than Liverpool. Arsene Wenger’s unwillingness to fall behind meant he couldn’t stop either. Mourinho stood unsurpassable two seasons running. And then Sir Alex pulled out all the stops, charged to title victory! Claiming it for his own, Jose’s pressure was immeasurable, absolutely indefinable. Through endless wins in Europe Arsenal were the only team left out. Three English teams in the Semi-Finals of the Champions League. Unsurpassed glory for clubs through-out the league. Arsenal are going to have to make up for the fact they’re out this season, having made it to the finals the season before, only being punished by Barcelona in the Grand Finale. The season ‘07 turned out to be wonderful, although it didn’t end all happy at least it made three years running an English side made it to the European Finals.

Now this year. You maybe sitting and uncontrollably thinking that if Manchester United can beat Barcelona or Schalke ‘04 in the Semi-Finals and Chelsea dispose of Fenerbace in an ordinary manner an English Champions is inevitable. It’s all so possible, but at the moment we are just too far to decide, all great wise-men of football will tell you that football is a game of two halves, of two-tales, a goal is a goal and the under-dog can always carry a sting in the tail. Many cliques make it just impossible to tell. I know I wouldn’t bet on anything. But for now, next time someone asks you, what’s the greatest league in the world? And don’t just tell me, tell me why! Take a moment to think, there’s always more to it than meets the eye.