Juve manager Antonio Conte speaks out after his side were eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
Following Juventus’ exit from the Champions League after a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich, boss Antonio Conte says Italian clubs can no longer compete with Europe’s financial superpowers.
Conte’s team were totally outclassed by the German league leaders over two-legs in their quarter final tie and the manager believes it will be many years before an Italian club wins Europe’s biggest club competition.
“It makes me laugh when I hear with two or three signings we can win the Champions League,” the Juve man was quoted in the Guardian.
“Italian football has come to a standstill and that should be a concern for everyone. When was the last time an Italian side reached the semi-final?”
The answer to Conte’s question is 2007, when AC Milan enacted revenge on Liverpool by winning the competition with a repeat of the dramatic 2005 final.
This season will be the sixth year running that an Italian side has failed to make the last four, with financial juggernauts Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, the two Manchester clubs and now PSG, the favourites for the tournament each year.
Italy’s fall from grace in the Champions League has coincided with the dominance of Barca, with the Catalans having reached a record sixth successive semi final after knocking out PSG on away goals on Wednesday.
English teams have occupied eight semi final positions in the last six years whilst football giants Bayern and Real Madrid have each appeared three times in the same time period.
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