The last time an English club won the Champions League was in 2011-12.

Didier Drogba’s penalty eluded Manuel Neuer to edge Chelsea past Bayern Munich in the Bavarian capital, and after eight years of growth bankrolled by Russian oil magnate Roman Abramovich, the Blues had reached the pinnacle of European football.

Chelsea’s victory was hardly indicative of the status of Premier League clubs on the continent. It was just the fourth time an English side had won the tournament since its rebranding in 1992 – and considering the other three belonged to European competition experts Manchester United and Liverpool – it made sense that fans and pundits alike were beginning to question the credentials of England’s top flight.

As recent as five years earlier – when Liverpool lost to AC Milan in the 2006-07 final, England had three teams in the semi-finals. That feat repeated itself in each of the next two Champions League campaigns, and in the span of four years, five Premier League sides contested the final.

Half a decade on, and by the time Drogba’s goal clinched a maiden Champions League victory, Chelsea’s ascension had become the exception. Here’s a look at the successes of English clubs over the last 11 Champions League and how England’s top flight has begun to trend down:

When Leicester City became the only Premier League club to advance to the quarter-finals last season, a miracle run by the Foxes was the only positive among a den of negativity concerning England’s efforts on the continent. That prompted further discussion and a slew of questions about English football, chief among them: Why are Premier League sides so poor in the Champions League?

The decline can be chalked up to several factors, ranging from the lack of a winter break and subsequent congested schedule, the competitive nature of the Premier League when compared to Europe’s other top divisions and its effect on a squad, and tactical naivety in contrast with Spanish and German peers. Gareth Bale, who has tasted Champions League football with both Spurs and Real Madrid, agrees.

“Obviously the winter break is massive. In England you’ll play four or five games and we don’t play any. You don’t get many rest days and it really does burn you out for a long time after that,” Bale told the Daily Mail in March.

“Spanish teams definitely know they have this edge over the English. Every country does: Spain, Italy, Germany, they all have the winter break.”

A glance at the quarter-final sides over the last six seasons alludes to England’s decline, a staggering number when compared to England’s second-place standing in UEFA’s club coefficient as of Sept. 29, 2017:

Without a finalist in five years and just two clubs in the last-four during that spell, this season’s efforts from a record-five English sides is flipping the trend of mediocrity on its head.

Through 15 group-stage matches, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool have combined for 11 victories, four draws, and nary a defeat with 44 goals scored and a scant 11 against. With the group stage at the midway point, it’s becoming clear which sides will advance to the knockout round, and which will fight for a third-place finish and a spot in the Europa League.

So far so good for the five English sides, each of whom lead their respective groups after three matches, with the two Manchester sides boasting perfect records. Tottenham and Chelsea both sit on seven points, and with six and five-point advantages, respectively, on the third-place sides in Groups H and C, meaning a spot in the last-16 for the London duo appears highly likely. Even Liverpool, which kicked-off the group stages with a pair of underwhelming stalemates, stands atop of Group E by virtue of Tuesday’s 7-0 drubbing of Maribor.

Whether tactical adjustments or increased payrolls and spending powers courtesy of a massive television deal are the reason for England’s return to prominence, it’s both too early to say and too complicated to quantify. One thing that’s clear is that Premier League clubs are again to be feared on the continent, a standard befitting Europe’s richest league.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

After crashing out of the Champions League last season courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to Monaco, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted his squad was too thin to handle the rigours of Europe’s marquee tournament.

“Our objective is to be competitive in the Premier League and Champions League but we need to show more, maybe to add more quality in our squad,” the affable Argentine gaffer told the Mirror last November.

“We have quality, yes, to compete in the Premier League but maybe to share both, maybe after today we see we struggle a little bit.”

Nearly 11 months removed from the loss at the Stade Louis II, Spurs were again hampered by a handful of injuries for Tuesday’s unenviable visit to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid, but instead of suffering through a slew of second-choice players, Tottenham excelled in the 1-1 stalemate.

Winks glimmers in the Spanish capital

It’s easy to hype up English players, especially those that wear the badge of an academy product.

That’s exactly the burden that Harry Winks carries, and while the load is beyond his control, the 21-year-old made a good account of himself Tuesday.

With ball-stopping midfield duo Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama both absent with injury, Winks paired with Eric Dier in a 4-2-3-1 formation opposite central midfield monoliths Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Perhaps the greatest testament to Winks’ performance was that he didn’t appear out of place.

Winks completed 94 percent of his passes and successfully bagged 14 more than any other Spurs players, but it was his work in cutting off Real’s distribution through the middle to Karim Benzema that will earn the once-capped Three Lion praise. Look no further than Winks’ team-best three interceptions for proof of a polished two-way player who is making the most of Pochettino’s faith.

Sissoko shines out wide

Considering the magnitude of the opponent and its celebrated venue, Tottenham’s starting XI raised a few eyebrows.

Ben Davies’ illness and Danny Rose’s 10-month absence meant Jan Vertonghen slotted in at left-back, and with Dele Alli serving a suspension, Fernando Llorente played as a quasi No. 10 with Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko on the wings.

While Eriksen was busy getting a 90-minute lesson in metronome management from Modric, Sissoko was starring on the left flank. Arguably his best performance in a Spurs strip since a deadline day move last summer from Newcastle, Sissoko combined with right-back Serge Aurier to brilliant results. An enterprising effort from the French international both in possession and off the ball saw Sissoko pair two successful dribbles, complete 82 percent of passes, and perhaps most remarkably, get stuck in on three fruitful tackles, monitoring the world’s best full-back in Marcelo.

Contrast between two continental campaigns

After getting bounced by the principality lot 11 months ago, Pochettino offered, “Maybe after five games we do not show enough quality to share two tough competitions in the Premier League and Champions League.”

Tottenham appeared outclassed in Europe, Winks barely had a few appearances under his belt, and Sissoko’s move to the English capital was maligned as one of Spurs’ worst summer signings.

A year on, and elated Tottenham supporters who had made the trip to Madrid were singing, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, who needs Bale when you’ve got Sissoko?”

What a difference a year can make.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Since the European Cup was rebranded with a new moniker in 1992, Real Madrid has won the Champions League on six occasions for a total of 12 top-tier continental triumphs.

During that same spell, Tottenham reached the tournament’s knockout phase just once before bowing out to the heavyweights from the Spanish capital in the quarter-finals of the 2010-11 installment.

Seven years on, Spurs supporters will look back at the 4-0 first-leg defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2011 as a symbol of the rift in quality between the two sides. That divide has since narrowed, though, with the emergence of a talented Tottenham core in line for a European shock.

Considering both form and pedigree, here’s a look at a combined XI between the two squads ahead of Tuesday’s tilt in Madrid.

GK- Hugo Lloris: France’s No. 1 has been instrumental to Tottenham’s consecutive top-three finishes with 28 clean sheets over two seasons, giving Lloris the edge over Los Blancos shot-stopper Keylor Navas – who, to his credit, has been better than the routine chorus of whistles would imply.

RB – Dani Carvajal: Slick-passing Carvajal is indisputably first choice ahead of Spurs right-back duo Serge Aurier and Kieran Trippier. Despite a spell on the sidelines with a viral condition that will see him miss Tuesday’s visit, the Spaniard has quietly emerged as one of Europe’s best full-backs.

CB – Sergio Ramos: Given his incomparable experience in the tournament and his knack for timely goals on Europe’s biggest stage, three-time Champions League winner and reigning tournament Best Defender honouree Ramos is a an automatic pick ahead of Jan Vertonghen.

CB – Toby Alderweireld: A massive reason Tottenham’s spine is arguably the Premier League’s best, Belgium international ball-stopper Alderweireld could walk into any club’s starting XI. Hotspur habitues are hoping that soon doesn’t become the case with reports of a contract stalemate prompting exit talk.

LB – Marcelo: Marcelo is football’s preeminent full-back and the first name in this lineup. Even if Danny Rose was fit, the England international couldn’t hold his Brazilian counterpart’s boots if he was selling them at a High Street retailer.

MF – Luka Modric: With Modric and his midfield mate Toni Kroos manning deeper positions in support of a No. 10, a defensive midfielder a la Casemiro or Mousa Dembele would be persona non grata in this squad. And for good reason, with the former Spurs star providing the midfield metronome in a bountiful Los Blancos squad.

MF – Toni Kroos: If Modric has the keys to the engine room, Kroos does the little things to ensure the train runs on time, combining a characteristically German source of industry with a penchant for threading a perfectly weighted ball into cramped confines.

MF – Isco: Free from the shackles of injury-plagued Gareth Bale’s usual spot in Zidane’s starting XI, Isco has finally gotten his chance to shine in a central playmaking role. The Spaniard’s spot in this team pushes crafty Christian Eriksen out wide, relegating Dele Alli to the bench.

RW – Christian Eriksen: Making his case as the continent’s most underrated player, Eriksen is in the best form of his life. After being castigated as a crafty player who doesn’t score, the talismanic Dane has seven goals in his last 10 for club and country. His inclusion over Marco Asensio is a statement in itself.

FW – Harry Kane: Boosted by a varied skill set and deceptive acceleration, Kane has cornered the market on making the spectacular look unspectacular. The 24-year-old England No. 1 is the continent’s in-form striker courtesy of 36 goals in 31 matches in 2017 with six hat-tricks to boot.

LW – Cristiano Ronaldo: Even if the clock struck midnight and Ronaldo turned from football’s majestic stagecoach into an Emile Heskey-sized pumpkin, the Champions League record goal-scorer (109) gets into this starting XI based on his resume. The four-time winner has dominated the tournament over a decade and change.

Bench: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Serge Aurier (Tottenham), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Pep Guardiola isn’t buying into reports suggesting Napoli will rest its star players during Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Manchester City.

The Manchester City boss claimed he even knows which players will line up opposite his squad at the Etihad Stadium.

Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, hinted that manager Maurizio Sarri could give the team’s regulars a breather during the mid-week tie in order to ensure they’re fit for a crucial Serie A clash with Inter this weekend.

Guardiola, however, wasn’t willing to take the bait

“Absolutely not,” Guardiola told reporters, according to Rory O’Callaghan of Sky Sports, when asked if he believed De Laurentiis.

“If he is travelling this afternoon with Maurizio Sarri in the same plane, or in a private jet, he can ask him what team he is going to play.

“I think in the last 10 games they have played the same lineup. I can announce to you which players are going to play for Napoli against us.”

Napoli’s previous Champions League match – a 3-1 win over Feyenoord last month – featured virtually the same squad that appeared in the starting XI this past weekend against Roma, with the exception of defender Nikola Maksimovic.

Napoli went on to beat Roma 1-0 on Sunday to maintain the team’s perfect start to the Serie A campaign through eight matches.