The article examines the shifting narratives in football history, particularly as the Champions League enters its quarter-finals. It outlines the transitions between different eras of dominance, from the initial supremacy of teams like Real Madrid and Benfica to the complexities introduced by increased competition among Europe's elite leagues. The author highlights how past eras are often viewed differently over time, emphasizing the lasting impact of events like Porto's surprise victory in 2004, which marked a definitive change in the competitive landscape of European football.
Narratives are never as straightforward as they may appear. One era does not yield easily to another. What constitutes an era changes over time.
As the Champions League reaches its quarter-final stage this coming week, it feels that one age has ended and another has yet to materialise.
As the Champions League began making the rich richer, the nature of the pattern changed. It became harder and harder for one club or one country to dominate.
Porto beating Monaco in the 2004 final felt like the end of an era, the last time a team from outside the big four European leagues won the competition.
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