http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 FC, Zenit St. Petersburg, Manchester City and Spartak Moscow shocked the world after putting in weak performances in the European tournament
UEFA Champions League, arguably the biggest and one of the most difficult club-level football tournaments on earth at the moment, promises bags of entertainment as it contain teams with mere class and quality.
However, it does not guarantee any top side to remain in the cup competition even if they are the defending champions. In fact, every team knows one rule to progress in the tournament and that is winning.
Bettor.com presents their respective readers with a list of those clubs that failed to meet their expectation in the continental tournament courtesy to their weak performances in the group stages.
Chelsea FC
Group Members: Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and
Football Club Nordsjælland
Three wins, two defeats and barely one draw demolished the English Premier League club’s dreams of lifting the prestigious European trophy for the second time in their entire history.
The North London club’s 3-0 defeat against Juventus, which persuaded Roman Abramovich to sack Di Matteo, made their elimination almost certain after putting them on the 3rd spot on their respective group table.
But Rafael Benitez lacked enough luck to help his new team reaching the round-of-16 despite winning his first and the team’s last group stage match 6-1 against Football Club Nordsjælland at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea failed to secure a place in the knock-out stages despite being level on points and a better goal difference with Shakhtar Donetsk following their head-to-head record against the Ukrainian champions.
Though people are blaming the frequent managerial changes behind the defending champion’s shocking exit, the player are equally responsible for the club’s failure to progress from the group stages.
Zenit St. Petersburg
Group Members: Malaga CF, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/RSC-Anderlecht-c40394 and AC Milan
Luciano Spalletti failed to fulfil his promise of taking the Russian Premier League champions to the final stages of the tournament despite investing 100 million Euros in the transfer window.
The Italian tactician splashed the cash to sign http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 and SL Benfica this summer after assuring the St. Petersburg club’s management of a decent European campaign.
But the mere reality is that Zenit failed to secure a place in the next stage despite recording big European wins against RSC Anderlecht and AC Milan at Petrovsky stadium and San Siro respectively.
Manchester City
Group Members: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam
The fact that Roberto Mancini’s side have been eliminated from the coveted tournament this term would definitely have cheered their noisy neighbours, Manchester United, at least for now.
The Citizens made history after becoming the only English club not to win a single match in the group stage of the European tournament after suffering three draws and three defeats respectively.
Meanwhile, the Manchester-based club failed to secure a place in the UEFA Europa League after finishing at the bottom-spot. Above all, the Sky blues are yet to register their place in the round-of-16 despite investing above 200
millions in last three years.
Spartak Moscow
Group Members: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/SL-Benfica-c40542
Many would have thought that Unai Emery, who joined the Moscow-based club after leaving http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-CF-c40864 this summer, will help Spartak in reaching the later stages following his reputation of a top European manger.
However, the 41-year-old coach recorded just one win in the group stages against Benfica before being sacked after their 1-5 league defeat against Dynamo Moscow at Luzhniki stadium.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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