Premiership clubs eclipse those in Spain

Spanish clubs have fallen behind English clubs in recent years, said players who ply their trade in Spain and other football personalities. The Spanish league's defending champions, nine-times Europe champions Real Madrid, have not made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League since the 2003-2004 season.

Spanish clubs have fallen behind English clubs in recent years, said players who ply their trade in Spain and other football personalities.

Only one Spanish team, Barcelona, made it to the quarter-final of Europe's top competition this season while the Premier League's Big Four -- Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester -- are all present.

The Spanish league's defending champions, nine-times Europe champions Real Madrid, have not made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League since the 2003-2004 season.

"Real Madrid and Barcelona are giants in Spain but children in Europe, which has put an end to our international hegemony," former Real striker and coach Jorge Valdano of Argentina said recently in his column in sports daily Marca.

"The Champions League has shown us the truth: that great football is played in England," added Valdano, who is nicknamed "The Philosopher of Football".

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson agrees, saying recently that the Premier League was the strongest in Europe.

"For a while, it was the Spanish league. Now it is the Premier League. There's no doubt," he said.

"I remember that eight years ago the Spanish had Real Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona in the semi-finals. That has changed, the English clubs are better," he added.

English teams have an advantage because they are flush with cash thanks to a series of mega-money television deals, said Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde.

"They can recruit any player they want and you can see that on the pitch. We are witnissing a significant change," he said.

Among the players who have have been lured to the Premiership are two of Spain's best players: 20-year-old midfielder Cesc Fabregas and 24-year-old stiker Fernando Torres.

Liverpool signed Torres from Atletico Madrid on a six-year contract worth 36 million euros (59 million dollars) last year while Fabregas joined Arsenal from the youth ranks at Barcelona in July 2003.

Other La Liga stars dream of following their example.

Sevilla's Brazilian full-back Dani Alves, 24, made no secret of his desire to join Chelsea last season but the Spanish side would not let him go for less then 40 million euros and he ended up staying put.

"The difference with Spain right now is enormous. I'll bet that we will have a Champions League final between two English teams," said Spanish side Almeria's coach Unai Emery.

"In any case, these things are cyclical. One year it could be England, the next it's Spain, then Italy and so on," he added.