Is the English Premier League Still Best in Europe?

Is the Premier League still the best league in Europe? The question becomes increasingly prevalent when placed under the lens of the Champions League.

Of all the leagues in Europe, the English are among the few that are permitted four participants in the Champions League; other major leagues given this preferential treatment include the Spanish League and the Bundesliga. But while the Spanish and German leagues continue to establish themselves in the UCL year after year, the English side continues to falter.

Granted, Chelsea won the tournament in 2012 and the English Premier League has been well-represented in the final over the last decade or so. But the last two years have actually featured a rather prominent decline from English sides.

In 2012-13 Chelsea failed to get out of the group stage; Manchester City suffered the same fate to a more embarrassing degree. Arsenal finished second in an easy group and was taken down by Bayern Munich in the first round of the knockout stages. Manchester United, the best English side in the tournament last year, was also taken down by Real Madrid in the round of 16.

This year saw all of the English sides move on to the round of 16 but fate has not favored England's top sides thus far in the tournament. Manchester City was defeated at home 2-0 by Barcelona after falling to 10 men for most of the match. The result was a rather disappointing outcome for a team that many felt was on the rise. A day later Arsenal suffered an almost identical fate against a Bayern Munich side that plays a similar style as Barcelona (if not the same style); Arsenal also went down to 10 men for most of the match and lost 2-0.

Chelsea and Manchester United are still awaiting their first legs; both are actually favored to get through to the first round. However, neither has an easy path.

Chelsea takes on a Galatasaray side that has shown itself capable of eliminating top teams from the competition. Just ask Juventus. Many would argue that Chelsea is coming into top form under manager Jose Mourinho, but one only needs to look back to the recent FA Cup defeat against Manchester City to know that this Chelsea team can be beat. If that is not a convincing example, then just look at Chelsea's struggles against a disciplined FC Basel side for evidence of this team's weaknesses. And if Chelsea gets past Galatasaray, does anyone really fancy this team as a contender against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona or even Paris Saint-Germain? The Mourinho factor certainly plays a major role in all of this, but this is still a susceptible club.

Manchester United has an "easier" task in facing Olympiacos; however, if a weak Premier League side like Fulham can embarrass United, then the top side in Greece will likely have a good chance (if not better) of taking down a mediocre United side. And there can be no doubt about the mediocrity of Manchester United. Manager David Moyes has managed to turn Sir Alex Ferguson's 2012-13 champions into a team lacking in confidence and fluidity.

Of course this entire criticism could crumble if Chelsea or United manages to make a deep run in this tournament and even win it.

Is the Premier League still the top league in Europe?