Nigeria, March 16 -- When the revamped UEFA Champions League league phase concluded a few weeks ago, the mood around English football was one of confidence.

Five Premier League clubs - Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur - finished inside the top eight of the new league-phase standings.

That achievement allowed them to progress directly to the Round of 16 without having to navigate the knockout play-offs.

Soon after, Newcastle United - the sixth English representative - advanced through the play-off round to join them.

The outcome meant that every English club participating in the Champions League reached the knockout stage. For many observers, it seemed to confirm a long-held claim: the Premier League h...