£30m jackpot up for grabs – but will Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea or United be getting their hands on it?

Football
FanCast columnist Jordan
White wonders which
one of our English hopefuls is capable of winning the Champions League, come
May.

If Manchester United's victory in the Champions
League proved anything, then it is that English football is back up as the best
in Europe. Three teams in the semis, Arsenal in the quarters; it was fantastic
to see and a perfect two fingers up to one Michel Platini.

Quite what English football has ever done to upset
the UEFA President remains to be known, but he cannot seem to stop chipping
away and having a pop at our elite. One minute he is on his soapbox moaning to
all and sundry as to his dismay at how the likes of United and Liverpool conduct
their business, and the burden of their debt, while the next minute he is
attacking the ever prudent Arsene Wenger; whose club Arsenal have an exemplary
balance sheet, as being more concerned about the business side of the football.
We clearly cannot win and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see
another all English final.

So is this possible? There is no question that each
team, with the possible exception of Arsenal, have all made significant
improvements to their squads that will make them a stronger prospect this
season. All teams have been blessed with a decent group and despite points being
thrown away by Arsenal in Kiev and United, at home to Villarreal; you really
cannot foresee any of the English club's failing to get out of their respective
groups. There really is no reason to suggest it can't be possible, I mean in
all honesty, there really is nobody else to fear.

I really believe that we are now the most feared
teams in Europe, where daunting trips like to Milan, Camp Nou or the Bernabeu
no longer strike fear into our clubs. Chelsea have never had problems in Barca,
while Arsenal and Liverpool proved last season how they can go to Milan and win
comprehensively, outplaying them in the process. I'm sure that is what wrangles
UEFA more than most is that England is now considered the best League in the
world and the very fact that the best foreign talent now ply's their trade in
it.

So the big question is as to who will get their
hands on the trophy in Rome come May and pick up the £30m prize jackpot that
goes with it? All teams are capable and all have experience in reaching the
final – so whose year is it?