Drogba looks to English clubs' European domination

CHELSEA'S striker Didier Drogba believes English clubs are on the verge of another golden era in European football.

The Blues, along with Liverpool and Manchester United, are through to the last eight of the Champions League.

That means the Premiership outstrips Italy's two, with Spain, Germany and the Netherlands limited to one each.

'Now it's perhaps England's turn,' he said on Wednesday. 'At one stage, Spain was on top.

'Then, three years ago, the French clubs started to come through a bit when Marseille reached the Uefa Cup final and Monaco were in the Champions League final.

'At other times, it has been the Italian clubs. These are cycles - and that's all the better for the English league and for us.'

If he is correct, English football is set to enjoy the dominance it had before its clubs were banned for five years after the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster.

They won seven European Cup finals from 1977 to 1984.

After the launch of the Champions League, only Liverpool in 2005 and United in 1999 have won it.

But they did provide two finalists in the last two seasons - with Arsenal losing to Barcelona last year.

REUTERS