Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes this could the year when a Premier League team finally win the Champions League after several seasons of underachieving in Europe, but is keen for Manchester United not to collect the trophy.
With five teams in the Champions League this season, England is the most represented country in this season’s edition and all of them are in the last 16 at the moment.
While Manchester United and Chelsea are yet to take the field in the first knockout round, Manchester City and Liverpool have already scored big away leg victories and Tottenham are in pole position to make it to the last eight after a 2-2 draw against Juventus in Turin.
Carragher admits that it has been too long since England have had it so good in Europe’s elite competition and feels they should have at least two or three teams in the semi-finals this season.
The former Liverpool legend is keen to see English teams dominate the Champions League conversation again after underperforming in the competition over the last few years.
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Asked if this could be England’s year in the Champions League, Carragher said on Viasport: “I hope so. I think it’s been a long time.
“I think as a league we have more money than any one of the top sides and we have been buying some top talents. Maybe we can’t compete with [Real] Madrid and Barcelona for the real best players.
“But with five teams in the Champions League, you have to be looking at least one to the final or hopefully two, so that we can have an English winner.
“I was fortunate enough to play in the era of probably 2005 to 2010, when English teams really dominated the Champions League semi-finals.”
Carragher admits he wants to see two to three English sides in the semi-finals to provide the country's clubs with a chance of reaching the final.
But the Liverpool legend is keen for the Reds' fierce rivals Manchester United not to pick up the trophy, as he roots for Jurgen Klopp's men.
He continued: “That’s what you are looking for, two or three teams in the semi-finals and hopefully one of them wins it.
“Hopefully that team wears red and not Manchester United.”
