Italy boss Marcello Lippi critical of Manchester United’s, Chelsea’s and Arsenal’s foreign policies

Coach claims Premier League’s ‘big clubs’ lack English core...

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has somewhat belittled the European triumphs by England’s club sides by claming that there is very little ‘English’ about them.

With Liverpool having won the Champions League in 2005 and Manchester United in 2008, Premier League clubs have recently fared far better than their opponents from Serie A.

However, Lippi claims that the influx of foreigners at all levels of football means these successes cannot be claimed as English.

“English football is represented by Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal,” he said, as quoted by Mail Online.

"These teams have foreign owners, foreign coaches and most of their players are foreign. What's English about them? Not much."

The 2006 World Cup winner was also quick to level criticism at Italian clubs, particularly Inter and AC Milan.

“Is there any Italian in Inter, with all their nationalities and a foreign coach, or in Milan, even if they have some [italian] players?

"They're Italian teams but they're not the embodiment of Italian football. Italian football is Palermo, Cagliari, Genoa or Chievo, teams that play good football, as well as the national side.”

Can't speak for Arsenal or Chelsea but we sure as hel_l have a fair number of UK players in our team...

Why doesn't he have a go at Madrid or Barca?

How about massive self doubt.

How about massive self doubt.

He mentions 4 italian teams - have they ever played CL football this century? maybe they should hire a few foreigners.

Funny how the "Surrender Monkeys" never made much of this when Serie A was the richest and most dominant league in Europe.

he's got a point about the club owners and managers though.

plus italy are the current world champions, so perhaps he has a wider point too.

he's got a point about the club owners and managers though.

plus italy are the current world champions, so perhaps he has a wider point too.

Anyone spouting off about how Serie A is run in comparison to other leagues is sure to only win the battle of public opinion with those who have already conformed.

Geez...all that time in the newsclipping forum is paying off.

he's got a point about the club owners and managers though.

plus italy are the current world champions, so perhaps he has a wider point too.

Anyone spouting off about how Serie A is run in comparison to other leagues is sure to only win the battle of public opinion with those who have already conformed.

Geez...all that time in the newsclipping forum is paying off.

in fairness he mentioned provincial clubs which were not implicated in calciopoli.

he also has a pop at inter and milan. i don't see much wrong with what lippi's said here to be honest.

Does he not have a point then when Arsenal for example field a Team with no English Players in it ??

I don't like Lippi very much,but he's right on this one.Too many foreign players are a detriment for the national teams,plus we have potential young champions playing in lower leagues.

Last night Inter won at Chelsea,but as an Italian i am not happy to see an Italian team with no Italian players(I'm told that Materazzi played the last 2 minutes,but i don't consider him a football player)

Does he not have a point then when Arsenal for example field a Team with no English Players in it ??

Id say a big fat yes, but to those plebs waving at cameras and taking pictures at The Emirates stadium i doubt it, dont see any clubs fans complaining though.