PSV were there weren't they? Although I know what you mean, however I'd say this situation is different though.
Bolllox we are! http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/ccoef2014.html We may have no real chance of winning of the CL this year and will be gone from the EL after tonight but we are still performing better than Italy who are 4th this season. In fact at this moment for 2014, we are 2nd above Germany. As for the rankings that decide who gets 3 and 4 teams we are well clear of Italy, pretty close with Germany. Spain unsurprisingly are clear at the top: http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2014.html Also bear in mind that the number of places you get is based on the previous years rankings (unlike the teams seeding which is based on current ones), so next years CL places for each country is based on this: http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2013.html
You were still one of the worst sides left in it. No sides at this point are bad though, being the worst doesnt mean you were rubbish. Not at all. Worst is the wrong word tbf, should be weakest.
At this stage of the competition, you don't get much choice unless you're one of the other seven teams.
The other seven that year were Juventus, Lyon, PSV, Chelsea, Bayern, Milan and Inter. I'd say PSV are the only ones that could be considered worse than we were but its debatable.
We had the desire and belief after the 3-1 against Olympiakos in the final group game. We knew at that point that we were on the verge of something special, it just took the beating of Juventus for opposition fans to take notice.
So weak we scored 3 v Milan in one game and beat Chelsea on the way, the chavs knocked out Bayern and Barca, knocked Juve who had just knocked out Real. United went out failing to score over two games against Milan in the first knockout phase. 180 minutes no goals. Liverpool scored 3 in 1 game v Milan. Consistency was our problem, not weakness. In 2007 again we got to the final, again a weak team lucking through? by again beating the chavs and Barca in 2007 while United again got tonked by Milan
How exactly were Liverpool one of the weakest sides left in it?? Is that based on the fact they finished 5th in their domestic league because throughout the mid 2000's they were always strong in Europe. Lets look at the Eight teams left in the 2004/5 QF's and their European ranking at the start of that season. Bayern 5 Milan 9 Liverpool 10 Juve 11 Inter 13 Lyon 18 Chelsea 20 PSV 24
I didnt say immediately, I said if it continues, for example, if for the next 3-4 years we get constant drop outs at the group stage or in the last 16, all it would take is for the Italian teams to do well for a couple of seasons and it becomes squeaky bum time.
I would love to see Real play Atletico, surely that would be one of their biggest derbies for a long time? And Barca vs Bayern would be great, I want to see one of them knocked out so we don't play them in the semi's
