Former Milan and Italy Coach Arrigo Sacchi has given a scathing review of the Champions League contenders as “boring, uncreative and defensive.”
For the second consecutive campaign the competition has seen three English clubs in the final four, but Sacchi was far from impressed.
“Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester United – one of these four will win the Champions League, but they’ll hardly live long in the memory,” he wrote in his column for the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It is not by playing this way that you can hope to give fans and sportsmen alike emotions, joy and memories.
“Considering the enormous investments and the quality of players on show, they have a duty to win and be convincing.
“The spectacle on show was uninteresting, lacking in all suspense and real football. The only protagonist was the fear of defeat and that blocked off what little ideas and belief the teams had in the first place.
“In this situation filled with tension and worry, the collective was drowned out and when that happens even the individuals disappear.”
Italian football has long been criticised by the foreign media for being dull and defensive, but Sacchi insists the English clubs have overtaken them in this respect.
“Is it worth investing so much money to see a team that is so devoid of entertainment and harmony?” he said of Chelsea.
“The lack of ideas, creativity and any kind of plan are so evident that they justify the Blues fans’ malcontent.”
Their rivals in the 1-1 semi-final draw at Anfield didn’t get off lightly either.
“The technical quality of their individuals is overall not very good, along with their dribbling skills, possession play and creativity.”
The other semi-final at the Nou Camp ended goalless, as Cristiano Ronaldo missed an early penalty and from then on Manchester United sat back.
“The Red Devils were meant to be in great form going into this game, but played in a way that betrayed the English culture and history,” slammed Sacchi.
“They only thought of defending and put everyone behind the ball, attacking only in a few numbers on the break and keeping possession purely for the sake of it. They never once mounted a credible move. With so little help, their individual talents also failed miserably.”
Barcelona at least attempted to go forward, but Sacchi’s former Milan player Frank Rijkaard got a telling off too.
“Barca have lost the sharpness they once had and showed inadequate fitness levels. A team where envy, jealousy and in-fighting have damaged their professionalism, motivation and play.”
