The English Premier League is overrated

The exit of Manchester Cityundefined UEFA Champions League at the hands of Lionel Messi' Barcelona completed the shameful performance of English clubs at Europe's premier club competition.

The EPL is huge in Nigeria and most part of the Africa and many around this region are glued to TV sets either at viewing center or at home every weekend and every game day.

EPL fans in this region argue that the league is the best thing to happen to football since its invention, but recent showing at the UEFA Champions League have shown that we have overrated the EPL so much over here.

League leaders, Chelsea were knocked out of the PSG, Arsenal were undefinedMonaco, Manchester City were flogged home and away by Barcelona while Liverpool players have been watching the Champions League games on TV since they were dumped out at the group stage.

Tell me, what is serious about the English league?

People often rave about the 'competition' in the league. The EPL is very competitive, anybody can beat anybody," you often hear people say.

"In Spain, there are only Barcelona and Real Madrid, in Italy there are only Juventus, in Germany there is only Bayern Munich," another wrong point.

Since 2005, three clubs have won the La Liga- Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid- four clubs have won the Bundisliga- Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg  and Borussia Dortmund- while three clubs have won the Serie A-Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.

The 'competitive' EPL is supposed to have more winners right? but wait for this, just three clubs have won the title since 2005-Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

So there goes our argument.

Since 2005, the EPL has produced just one Ballon d'Or winner-Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United- while the La Liga has produced eight Ballon d'Or winners. Serie A has produced one during that time.

The EPL has the pomp, the glamour and the money.

They have one of the best television deals in sports and the benefits reaped from the revenue sharing of that deal makes even the relegation battles interesting. But in terms of the tactical aspect of the game, the league is a long mile away from other top leagues in Europe and until that is worked on, they will continue to flop in the Champions League.