Premier League fighters leave Serie A with bloody nose

Liverpool's elimination of Inter in the Champions League this week has prompted some Serie A soul searching as well as Roberto Mancini's decision to resign at the end of the season, although the Inter coach later declared that he had changed his mind and wanted to stay.

Last term, Milan entered the Champions League semi-finals with three English clubs, but still managed to lift the trophy.

The English Premier League has hit back this season, however, with Arsenal dumping Milan out in the first knockout round last week. Chelsea and Manchester United are again through to the quarter-finals with Roma the only Italian representative.

Mancini's disappointment at Inter failing in the Champions League again was palpable but he refused to say that the English top flight was that much stronger than Serie A.

"They are two different competitions. The Champions League is also different," he said.

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez, in contrast, said the Champions League was easier than the English Premier League because it is tough to overcome Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

"We have very good players. It is the power of the Premier League," Benitez said.

The Spaniard may clash with one of them in the Champions League quarter-finals following today's draw. But having beaten Chelsea in the 2005 and 2007 semi-finals, he hopes concentrating on two legs rather than a nine-month season will pay dividends.

Money is a major factor in the Premier League's dominance.

While the big clubs in Italy have funds, the teams they play most weeks struggle along and do not provide adequate competition, in stark contrast to mid-table English teams who still have cash to splash.

The arrival of foreign managers in England, particularly Benitez, has meant southern European and South American players are now more willing to head to England than Italy.

In truth, Inter could have been 2-0 up at San Siro in the first half and level in the tie if their finishing had been better. Two red cards over the two legs was also a factor.

Such is the pressure for Inter to do well in Europe, having only won the European Cup in 1964 and 1965, that they become much more nervous than usual.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is lauded as Serie A's most complete striker but he froze both home and away against Liverpool, missing one chance on Tuesday he might have scored with his eyes closed against Livorno or Reggina.

Even Kaka, the world player of the year, has been very average this season and failed to inspire Milan against Arsenal. They drew 0-0 at the Emirates before being humbled 2-0 at home by Arsene Wenger's young guns.