The facts speak for themselves. 3 out of the 4 semi-finalists in this year`s Champions League Finals are....English.

According to the bookies Manchester United are odds on favourites, then Chelsea, then Liverpool, with Milan least favourites.

http://www.playfuls.com/news_00000010525...emony.html

Quote:According to Champions League statistics, the final on May 23 in Athens will be contested between two English teams. But then again, AC Milan also have history on their side when they face Manchester United in the semi-finals later this month and in early May.

The other semi brings together Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool, marking the third time that one federation had three teams in the final four and assuring England of one team in the final.

However, this, together with the sheer presence of Milan, could lead to some raised eyebrows at the controlling body UEFA.

Milan were not welcome in the elite event this season over their involvement in a domestic match-fixing scheme, but UEFA grudgingly accepted them because it had no legal means to prevent them from competing.

"This admission is far from being given with the utmost conviction. AC Milan takes advantage of the fact that UEFA lacks legal grounds to refuse the club's admission ... The club has obviously not yet properly perceived the troubles it is in and the damage it already caused to European football," UEFA said last August.

The Chelsea-Liverpool tie will excite English fans, but England's hegemony may be a one-off event as new UEFA president Michel Platini wants to raise the profile of small nations at the expense of the big powers.

"Enjoy it while you can because such a dominance is unlikely to manifest itself again ... partly because Michel Platini, the new UEFA president, wants to reduce the maximum number of entrants per league from four to three," said English daily The Times in March.

Spain had three teams in the 2000 semis with Real Madrid then beating Valencia in the final. In 2003, Italy had three semi- finalists and AC Milan beat Juventus in the final.

According to these statistics, Manchester should overcome Milan to meet Liverpool or Chelsea in the final. But Alex Ferguson's team must overcome the odds, having lost all three previous knockout meetings with Milan, the latest in the round of 16 in 2005.

"Manchester United should have some memories of AC Milan. We are one step away from the final," said Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf confidently after his team knocked out Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Milan have slight edge as the first leg semi is at Old Trafford on April 24, with the second meeting at San Siro on May 2. But United are on a high after routing another Italian club, Roma, 7-1 in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

"The Roma result was amazing for the players, amazing for the club. Now we need to carry on like this," said United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

English daily The Sun on Thursday dreamt of a final between United and Chelsea, the latter the only semi-finalist who have not lifted Europe's most prestigious trophy.

United can achieve a treble of Champions League, FA Cup and Premiership titles like in 1999 and Chelsea can even lift four trophies, the three mentioned plus the League Cup they have already won.

"We're looking sharp and strong and so the quadruple is a possibility. We certainly hope this is our season. We've not had too much luck in the Champions League over the years, so we're due a bit," said Chelsea captain John Terry.

United and Chelsea meet in the Premier League on May 9, could meet in the May 19 FA Cup final at new Wembley 10 days later and again another four days on in the Champions League decider.

Chelsea are out to make up for losing the 2005 semis to Liverpool 1-0 on aggregate from what they say was "a ghost goal" from Luis Garcia. There was no conclusive evidence whether the ball really crossed the line at Anfield on that day.

The rest of the continent is left to watch England's strong run in amazement.

"They have money (from new owners and the richest television deals in Europe), good players and good managers," said Eindhoven coach Ronald Koemann after losing to Liverpool.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said: "English sides have great players from every corner of the world. I think their sides are more physical, more complete. The players are better equipped for one-on one duels because they are used to that in the Premiership and they bring this strength into Europe."

Ferguson shared this view.

"The fact that three English teams are in the semi-finals probably makes our league the best in Europe. The competitive nature and the quality of the English game has improved over the seasons," he said.