90min's Definitive European Power Rankings: Week 25
Following a week in which:
- Sporting CP won Liga NOS.
- Manchester City won the Premier League.
- Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga.
- Little Mix won a Brit Award.
We at 90min have decided to commemorate the release of Barry Jenkins' The Underground Railroad by listing off some of our favourite quotes from Jenkins' other projects - all while ranking the 10 best football teams in Europe of course.
10. Ajax (Re-Entry)
"You gonna know that I love you." (Moonlight)
After a solid month of PR disaster, after PR disaster, after PR disaster for Europe's 'elite' football clubs, this week Ajax decided to go against the grain and tell their fans that they actually love them.
The newly crowned Dutch champions melted down their Eredivisie shield into stars and sent them to season ticket holders with the tagline 'our success is your success'. Lovely.
For that great PR and, you know, winning the league, Ajax make it back into the Definitive European Power Rankings this week.
9. Borussia Dortmund (-)
"I think you'll find it's still pumpin'." (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Look, Bayern are/have been/will always be the big dogs in Germany, but despite this Borussia Dortmund are still pumpin' - still winning trophies, still playing pretty damn good football.
They did all of that this past Thursday when they battered RB Leipzig 4-1 in the DfB-Pokal final. Nice one.
8. Manchester United (Down 4)
"I got you." (Moonlight)
After Manchester City failed to clinch their fourth Premier League title in five years on Saturday, Manchester United decided to do it for them on Tuesday.
Ok maybe that's a bit harsh, but regardless, it's not been the best of weeks for the red side of Manchester.
7. AC Milan (Re-Entry)
"Who you gonna be?" (Moonlight)
This past week AC Milan decide which football team they were going to be. They had two options:
A) The pathetic Milan of the 2010s who dramatically collapsed at every available opportunity.
B) The pretty damn good Milan of the 80s, 90s, 00s who rose to the occasion at every available opportunity.
By beating Juventus 3-0 and thumping Torino 7-0 they've quite clearly chosen to be the latter.
6. LOSC Lille (-)
"I don't want to sound foolish, but remember love is what brought you here. And if you've trusted love this far, don't panic now. Trust it all the way." (If Beale Street Could Talk)
LOSC Lille, you're so bloody close to winning your first league title in a decade.
Don't panic now.
Trust that Burak Yilmaz and co. can win you your final two games and Ligue 1.
5. Atletico Madrid (Up 3)
"You're my only. I'm your only." (Moonlight)
Diego Simeone has been employed by Atletico Madrid for the best past of a 1,000 years - and judging by the fact that they're two wins away from winning La Liga, they've probably made the right call.
4. Sporting CP (Up 3)
"Let's drink on up, man, and let's go on in." (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Yes, this is your weekly update that Sporting CP are still unbeaten in the league.
It's also an announcement that Sporting CP have in fact won the bloody league too.
So Sporting players and fans, go have a pint and celebrate and then finish off the season with wins over Benfica and Maritimo.
3. Inter (-)
"I'm me man. I ain't trying to be nothing else." (Moonlight)
Inter have garnered plenty of criticism this season for their supposed 'boring' style of football under Antonio Conte.
D'you know how they responded to that criticism?
That's right, by winning the league.
2. Chelsea (-)
"You ready for this?"
Are Chelsea ready for the UEFA Champions League final?
Judging by their win over Man City on Saturday: yes.
Judging by their defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday: no, not at all.
1. Manchester City (-)
"I've never been more ready for anything in my whole life." (If Beale Street Could Talk)
While there are some question marks over whether or not Chelsea are ready for the Champions League final, there aren't for Man City.
They are Premier League champions and, by quite a distance, the best team in Europe right now.