Wenger issues warning to Premier League after Champions League exit
Arsene Wenger has warned the Premier League clubs not to become complacent after no English team reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Wenger’s Arsenal side the last eliminated at the hands of Bayern Munich, according to BBC Sport.
It is the first time since the 1995/96 season that there is no English representative in the last eight of the competition. Premier League champions Manchester City and Champions League holders Chelsea were knocked out in the group stage, becoming the first holders to fail to get past the first round. Manchester United fell at the same point as Arsenal, after losing to Real Madrid.
“It's a massive disappointment for English football,” Wenger said. “We accept the rest of European football has caught us. We had Manchester City and United, Chelsea and Arsenal all out by the quarter-final.
“It's a long time since that happened. We have to take that into consideration in the way we think about the future of the Premier League,” added Wenger.
Arsenal beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the second-leg of their contest, but lost on away goals after Bayern won 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the first meeting between the sides.
Bayern manager Juup Heynckes disagreed with Wenger’s comments, saying: “I think comparisons like this don't bring much. We have had German teams knocked out early in previous years.
“I think Manchester United were unlucky to get knocked out and Arsenal showed what a quality team they are. You get cycles like that in football. I think the English teams will be back next year.”
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