Harry Redknapp: English teams have no chance of winning the Champions League this year

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United could yet follow City into the knockout rounds, but prize money is the best any of them can hope for.
Ridiculous: Wenger's side should have should have walked through to the knock-out rounds
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Harry Redknapp26 November 2015

Arsenal have a big chance of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages but it is ridiculous they should be in this position when you look at this week’s results.

It was a poor group from the start. Bayern Munich and the Gunners should have walked through it easily. Dinamo have been an absolute disaster in almost all of the European matches and were no match for Arsenal on Tuesday night.

You can’t believe Arsenal lost to them at the start of the competition and similarly, Olympiakos were rolled over by Bayern, who had 10 men for most of the second half.

They should be sitting here now with Arsene Wenger ready to send the reserves over to Olympiakos like they have done in the last few years they’ve been to Greece for the final group game. Now, they need a two-goal win but Olympiakos are not a great side and the toughest thing might be the atmosphere because it’s a difficult place to play.

Qualification is one thing but I feel English teams are playing for just prize money this year. Who is going to stop Bayern Munich or Barcelona? They are a cut above anyone else. Bayern have looked different class this season.

Barcelona’s 6-1 win over Roma was an incredible result. Their forwards produce the kind of football the game is all about. I watched Crystal Palace versus Sunderland on Monday and it was enough to send me to sleep but then you watch Barcelona play and it restores your faith in the game.

Even if Arsenal get through, they have it all to do to match the best in Europe.

Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb player ratings

1/12

Sorry Leicester, but you’re not top four

It has been a magnificent achievement for Leicester to top the table after 13 games but I can’t see them finishing in the top four.

Claudio Ranieri deserves a lot of credit. Many people weren’t sure about him when he came in. I was surprised he got the job in the first place because he had a disaster as Greece manager. He lost to the Faroe Islands and it’s a long way back from there! But they have been brilliant. Jamie Vardy’s enthusiasm for the game has rubbed off on the whole team and they know they carry a goal threat in every game.

Robert Huth was a big signing for them. He came in and helped Wes Morgan at the back, who I have always thought was underrated and has the potential to be a top Premier League centre-back.

Leicester have a difficult run of games now which may find them out. Manchester United pitch up on Saturday and they play Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City all before the end of the year. It will be a huge ask to stay in the top four during that run but a top six finish is possible given how well they have played up to now. It is great to see a different team up there and I hope they keep it going for a while longer yet.

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