Former Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer gives his view as to why English clubs are so successful in the Champions League.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all through to the quarter-finals of the 2008 competition and Smicer, a winner three years ago with Liverpool, has backed his former team to be in good shape in the end of this season.

Q: Why have been the English teams so dominant in the UEFA Champions League in recent seasons?

A: The main reason is the inflow of top foreign players into the Premier League. Almost nobody can compete with the buying power of English clubs.

Q: The inflow, as you say, has prepared the Premier League clubs for the Champions League, then?

A: I would not put it that way. For instance, Barcelona are playing a much more attractive football than English teams. But they are very difficult to beat. They play a well-organized and efficient football with lots of discipline and, moreover, they have individuals who can decide matches. This is the difference.

Q: What about foreign managers? How big is their impact?

A: Very big. Arsenal is led by Frenchman Wenger, Liverpool by Rafael Benitez and Chelsea were coached by Portuguese Jose Mourinho. That speaks for itself.

Q: How different are they to English managers?

A: They are stronger in terms of theory, physical preparation and tactics. For English coaches football is not such a big science. In one interview Pavel Srnicek described it perfectly in the case of Kevin Keegan, who just picks the squad and presses "play".

Q: This was not the case of Rafael Benitez, who you experienced at Liverpool?

A: He is the total opposite. He goes into detail, he leaves nothing to chance. He can read the opponent brilliantly. We always knew what we wanted to play, the opponent's biggest weaknesses and how to exploit them. Accuracy and maximum concentration in preparation is not concerned only with Benitez, it concerns the whole staff. They work like this all year long. And it was clear to see that in their leg against Internazionale.

Q: Where could it be seen?

A: Inter had a player sent off in each game. That would not happen under Benitez as everybody there knows that in such important games it cannot happen. In the Champions League Benitez reaps the benefits of the rotation policy. When a season is in its final stages, Liverpool are always in great shape.

Q: In your opinion, how do fans in England enjoy the Champions League? Aren't they more interested in the Premier League?

A: The Premier League is a big crowd-puller. If Liverpool fans could choose between the Premier League title and the Champions League triumph, they would choose the Premier League first. But the Champions League is a welcome bonus for them. They can improve their mood in it and, since the European style of football suits Liverpool, their mood has been improving.

Smicer, 34, currently plays for Slavia Prague and was speaking to Czech newspaper Sport.

Vasek Kadlec / Eurosport