ALL those who booked hotels in Madrid in the belief there would be an English club contesting the Champions League final are advised to cancel now.
In fact, it seems increasingly likely the Premier League will not even have a representative in the semi-finals for the first time since 2002-2003.
The English dominance in Europe is such there have been three semi-finalists in each of the last three seasons. And we have been involved in the final in each of the last five.
But with Arsenal requiring a miracle in Barcelona and Bayern Munich heavily favoured to dispose of a Manchester United side minus Wayne Rooney, the cupboard should be bare come Wednesday night.
That will confirm what we have known for some time.
While the title race may be one of the most exciting for years, the standard at the top is the poorest for as long as we can remember.
Should Chelsea become champions, as they ought to, they will do so with a team that has blown hot and cold all season and which compares unfavourably with the Jose Mourinho side that won back-to-back titles.
In 2004-2005, the Londoners were beaten only once. And though they suffered five defeats in the following campaign - the same as this season - two of those came in their final two games when the title was already won.
The club's 2-1 victory over United on Saturday was thoroughly merited, despite their second goal by Didier Drogba being offside.
Then, again, it was clear Federico Macheda used either one or both of his hands to claim United's lone response.
It was United's seventh defeat of the season, more than any since they suffered nine in 2003-2004.
It is evident United are not the same side without Rooney. It should have been the day when Dimitar Berbatov stepped into the breach. Instead, all you could hear were the dispirited sighs of fans at Old Trafford and the sound of Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy congratulating himself once again on winkling £31million out of United for the Bulgarian.
He lacks the mental toughness of both Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yes, he has a wonderful touch but he spends too much time lurking - or hiding - in the shadows and never makes the sort of punishing runs that damage defences.
Then there was that missed volley late on. Hands up those who believe it would have been converted by Rooney or Ronaldo.
Alex Ferguson has serious problems going into Wednesday's return with a Bayern side who won 2-1 at leaders Schalke on Saturday to regain top spot. A side who will be reinforced by the return of Bastian Schweinsteiger and, maybe, even Arjen Robben.
And who does Ferguson turn to? In Rooney's continued absence, there is no one to galvanise the side.
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Should United opt to go for broke by playing both Antonio Valencia and Nani, they could be opened up like a can of sardines by Franck Ribery and Robben if the Dutchman is fit after a calf injury.
But if it is an uphill battle for United, Arsenal will be attempting to scale a glass wall in Barcelona without the experience of Cesc Fabregas, William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin.
Yes, Barca have lost both first-choice central defenders and are also minus injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
But any repeat of the sort of irresistible football we all saw in the first half at the Emirates and you really fear for a patched-up Arsenal side.
Only over-confidence stands between Barca and a convincing win, maybe even by three goals.
Testing times, then, for English football. And Ferguson in particular.
A week that could well convince him he has to spend big money in midfield and up front if United are not to enter the trough they went through from 2003-2006.
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, dann kann man sagen, sie sind verdient ins Halbfinale gezogen.
das fähnchen im winde oder wie? 
