Let's start by discussing the deserving exceptions. Billy Wright's Wolves didn't get to play in Europe, but they overcame Ferenc Puskas' Honved in an exhibition game in 1954, succeeding where England absolutely failed.
The nucleus of the Hungary team that defeated England 6-3 and 7-1 may very well merit a spot in this tournament. But how can we forget about City's Centurions (Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero) and Arsenal's Invincibles (Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, and Patrick Vieira)?
Even though they played only 22 league games that year, Preston, the original Invincibles and double champions, must be included since history demands it. They created the model.
Pep would endorse. The Heysel tragedy resulted in the expulsion of Liverpool's 1986–1990 squad from Europe; perhaps a streak of European Championship victories under the direction of John Barnes, John Aldridge, and Peter Beardsley would have changed things.
You basically lose points for not succeeding in Europe, which applies to Man City from 2017 to 2019 and Arsenal from 2002 to 2004. And praised for succeeding in Europe against all odds as a mid-range provincial club from Nottingham with a genius in command and win consecutive European Cups: still likely the best feat in English football, given the resources, if not the greatest team.
Accordingly, the top five are...
When you reach a certain age, you experience a sweet spot of reminiscence. I was 14 when Liverpool won the triple crown.
They were outstanding in defense with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Matic, and behind them were Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick. However, Pep Guardiola's Barcelona proved to be a stronger opponent, and the Liverpool team of 1974–81 won three European Cups, continuing to hold the record for the best English performance in Europe.
How would City compare? This team, in my opinion, stands apart from the Centurions of 2018 and the nearly identical Centurions of 2019, who may have even been more attractive but failed in Europe.
They are quite near the triple winners from United. But in the end, can anyone outperform David Beckham and Ryan Giggs on the wings, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane in the middle?
The sheer tenacity of that United team, as well as possible bias in favor of
The Busby Babes of Manchester United regrettably never achieved their tremendous potential in Europe; Denis Law, George Best, and Sir Bobby Charlton continued their legacy.
The most strategically significant period belonged to Arsenal (1931–1955), who won three titles in a row thanks to Herbert Chapman's invention of the W–M system and the center-half position.
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