Why the EPL's best stumble under Europe's bright lights

As ‘the most watched league in the world’, much is expected of English Premier League (EPL) clubs in the UEFA Champions League. However, with only four titles in Europe's elite competition in the last 30 years, the continental credentials of the EPL are in serious doubt.

The Premier League is at risk of losing its fourth UEFA Champions League place after another unconvincing start in Europe Source: Getty Images

Recent history isn’t any better – in two of the past three seasons, no English clubs were able to advance past the UCL Round of 16.

This season, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all slumped to at least one defeat (in the Gunners' case it's two) on the opening two matchdays.

So why have English teams struggled to dominate in Europe?

1. 'No easy games in the Premier League'

As the saying goes – ‘There are no easy games in the Premier League.’ So far in the 2015-2016 Premier League season: West Ham United won at Liverpool and Arsenal, Chelsea lost to Crystal Palace and Everton, Swansea beat Manchester United and Manchester City lost to the Hammers.

With a broadcast deal valued at £5.1 billion ($10.9 billion) smaller clubs in England have more resources to be competitive, pushing the big boys to the limit, week in and week out.

It fuels the age-old debate amongst fans, what makes for a better league? One that’s closely contested or a league with one or two powerhouses that consistently challenge in Europe?

Right now, it doesn’t seem like you can have both.

When Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012, it finished sixth domestically. Liverpool experienced a similar fate in the 2004-2005 season, finishing fifth in the league in the same season it reached the summit of European football.

“Here [EPL], when Crystal Palace buy [Yohan] Cabaye, and Stoke buy [Xherdan] Shaqiri and Leicester City [Gokhan] Inler and Watford [Valeron] Behrami, they have good players and the competition becomes fantastic. I’m happy with that.” – Jose Mourinho

2. Not up to it tactically

Juventus defender Patrice Evra (who captained Manchester United remember) didn't hold back after his side beat Manchester City on Matchday 1.

"Italian teams are better prepared tactically and that makes the difference in the Champions League. Manchester City are possibly the best team in England, but the Champions League is something else. The Premier League is the most interesting to watch, but tactically limited." - Patrice Evra.

The last EPL team to win the Champions League was Chelsea in 2012, a defensively-organised side conceding less than a goal per game in the competition that season.

For teams without the attacking prowess of a Real Madrid (Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Rodriguez and Barcelona (Messi, Neymar, Suarez and Iniesta) or Bayern Munich (Lewandowski and Muller) being tactically adept (and a little lucky) are keys to a deep run.

It worked for Chelsea in 2012.

3) Are they that good?

In last year’s Ballon d'Or nominations only one England-based player featured in the top 10 – Angel Di Maria, who left for Paris Saint-Germain less than a year after arriving at Old Trafford.

The Premier League boasts some fantastic players but the world’s very best are plying their trade in other leagues.

So when it's all said and done it's all as much about quality as it it quantity, with Barca, Madrid and Bayern once again the front-runners to lift the trophy - dubbed “The Big Ears” - at the San Siro at the end of May next year.