A league of its own

"NOT the best but the most competitive" was the unanimous verdict of four of the English Premier League's most celebrated stars when asked the vexed question of just where the EPL stands in the world rankings.
Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Wise, Sol Campbell and Steve McManaman agreed that the much-hyped League cannot currently claim to be the top division – but were equally convinced it is the most exciting.
Here in Malaysia for the Carlsberg Ultimate Football Retreat last weekend, where more than 300 hard-core fans came to meet their heroes at the Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort, the quartet acknowledged a slight deficiency in quality but felt the EPL made up in its entertainment value.
Asked if it was the best League pure and simple or just the most competitive, ex Liverpool, Real Madrid and England midfielder MacManaman was first out of the blocks.
"I think competitively it's probably the best. I don't think we have the best teams but we have the best bunch of teams. I think we have the best 20 teams.
"Of course, Real Madrid are the best team in the world. I certainly think over the 20 teams, we are stronger than the German league and Italian league.
"I think they have weaker teams. I'd certainly say we have the most competitive league but not the best teams if that makes sense."
It certainly did with the other three. Towering defender Sol Campbell, of Spurs, Arsenal and England fame said: "The Premier League is the most exciting league. I believe La Liga is the best football league in the world but the Premier League is the most exciting for sure."
Ex Chelsea and England midfielder Dennis Wise put a slightly different slant on it by saying: "I think it changes every year. It depends on the players brought into the League each year.
"If (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo turned up at an English club, you'd say 'Oh, they'll be the best team in the world'.
"So I think it changes depending on the personnel brought into that football club.
"If you think this year in the Champions League, Chelsea look quite strong and I think they can compete with the main teams – Real, Barca and Bayern Munich. It will be intriguing to see who comes out on top."
Italy and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola said: "I should say without doubt that the Premier League has this particular thing that whoever is playing – when a team at the top of the league is playing against a team in the middle of the table or down at the bottom – you're never sure who will win the game.
"And in my opinion that's a brilliant thing as it makes the League very competitive and it is very good for international competitions.
"You're never sure who is going to win these competitions. It looks very much like how Italy was at the end of the 90s. There were seven teams who could actually win that league and it was called 'the championship of seven sisters'. It was so strong it was unbelievable.
"In England you maybe don't have seven teams [who can win the title] but there are at least four teams who can win it and that makes it a terrific league. I agree with the others. There are teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona who are great teams but the Premier League is a great league."
It was music to the ears of Premier League official beer sponsors Carlsberg who were offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fans to meet and greet four of the greatest players to have graced the competition as well as win prizes to watch an EPL game in the UK.