The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is on many metrics the epitome of success for football teams in Europe. Each year, teams invest millions in a bid to capture the continental title. Some teams have won it several times. Yet, here are those who have fallen short on numerous occasions despite being giants in their specific countries.
Arsenal
The London outfit has continually fallen short of their said potential when it comes to all matters Champions League. The best they ever got was a finals appearance in 2006, which they painfully lost 2-1 to Barcelona. The team has in recent years fallen out of competition as it goes through a transition in management following Arsene Wenger’s departure.
Paris St. Germain
PSG has made a monumental investment chasing the elusive title. From buying big-name players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Angel Di Maria and Neymar, to hiring managers like Thomas Tuchel and Unai Emery, there has been no shortage of effort. The pain has, however, continually refused to pay off even as they dominate the French League.
Atletico Madrid
A Spanish giant that has long been in the shadows of Real and Barcelona, Atletico have failed to go the last mile on each of the three seasons it has played in the finals. The team lost twice to city rivals Real in recent years and their best days seem to have passed, at least for now.
AS Roma
When commentator Peter Drury shouted ‘Roma have risen from their ruins,’ it appeared as though their moment was finally here. The Italians were completing a second-leg comeback to eliminate Barcelona in the latter stages of the 2018 knockouts and appeared ready to go the distance, at last. However, that was not to be, and they remain behind the likes of Juventus and AC Milan on that front.