Karl-Heinz: English will dominate (Champions League)

by true_frnd Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:57 am

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has predicted English clubs will dominate the Champions League again this season.
Karl-Heinz: English will dominate (Champions League) 95281_10

Karl-Heinz: English will dominate (Champions League) 95281_10

Bayern
are back in the competition this term after missing out last year, but
Rummenigge appears less than optimistic about his side's chances should
they face a Premier League club."The English have stolen a march on Europe at the moment," he said."The Bundesliga has fallen a long way behind clubs like (last season's finalists) Manchester United or Chelsea."If
you look at the possibilities they have there, it would be a sensation
if the English do not play a dominant role this year again."For Rummenigge, there is one clear reason for this - money.In
England many of the top clubs are in the hands of rich foreign
investors, but in Germany stricter rules prevent outsiders buying a
majority stake in Bundesliga clubs.Rummenigge believes the only
way the Bundesliga can become competitive again in Europe is by
following the example set by the Premier League and opening the door to
external investment."You cannot criticise investors like
(Chelsea's) Roman Abramovich or the Abu Dhabi Group of Manchester
City," he said at a press conference in Munich."I would rather wish that we approach these things with a little less fear in Germany."Money
is now decisive in the transfer market and what happens in the transfer
market is decisive for what happens on the pitch."Bayern are by
far Germany's richest club and spent almost 80 million euros on new
players last year, putting them up on a par with Europe's big spenders.However,
their income from television revenue is not even a quarter of the
amount earned by the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC
Milan.Until things change, Rummenigge feels the Bundesliga is in danger of "missing the train".He said: "I just don't see how Germany's top clubs can play a role among the elite of Europe."At
the moment, the Bundesliga has no chance. In the meantime, enormous
sums of money are being invested in football in eastern Europe."A
player like Robinho earns 6.5 million euros net. You can forget about
such sums in the Bundesliga. Germany no longer has the scope to compete
financially."Bayern begin their Champions League campaign at
Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday while the only other Bundesliga
representative in the competition, Werder Bremen, face Anorthosis
Famagusta on Tuesday night.