Juventus star Andrea Pirlo considers the English Premier League to be the best league in Europe and feels that any one nation dominating the Champions League is cyclical.
The 36-year-old is currently preparing for the Champions League final against Barcelona on Saturday and previously admitted that winning in Berlin could be the perfect end to his playing career in Italy, fuelling speculation of a move abroad, especially to the Premier League, which he openly admires.
“The Premier League may not have the best clubs in Europe right now, but I still think it is the best league,” Pirlo told The Mirror.
“European domination is cyclical, the fact that English sides have done poorly this season means nothing.
“Next year they will have the same chance to the win as anyone else.
“No other league has the same level of competitiveness in having five or six clubs fighting for the Champions League.”
The veteran also discussed his previous experiences of European League finals and how it would help him.
“I know what it means to win this competition, but I also know what it means to lose one.
“The defeat against Liverpool in Istanbul is not just one of the worst moments of my career, but of my entire life.
“I’ll think about it on Saturday, I’ll use it as inspiration because I don’t want to feel like that after the final.”
I have to disagree with the great man on this one. I don’t think that the EPL is any more competitive than Serie A from top to bottom. The EPL, despite its huge: financial, infrastructure, stadia, marketing, & policing advantages, is barely any better than their European rivals. The technical quality isn’t that high, neither is the standard of the defending or tactics.
As for the battle for the CL places, it was similar in Italy with Juve, Roma, Napoli, Lazio, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, & Genoa.