Thursday 17 September 2015 13:38, UK
Premier League teams have made their worst-ever start to the Champions League group phase.
While Chelsea cruised past Maccabi Tel Aviv, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United all suffered defeats in the opening round of fixtures in Europe's elite club competition - an unprecedented number of losses by English teams.
In contrast, there were just two opening-round defeats for English sides last season, one in 2013/14 and 2012/13 and none at all between 2004/05-2011/12.
Chelsea's solitary victory means English teams took three points from a possible 12 on Matchday One - a return significantly below that of clubs from Europe's other top five leagues.
There are five Spanish sides in the competition this season and they took 10 points from a possible 15, while Borussia Monchengladbach were the only one of four German teams which failed to win.
There are just two teams from Italy and France in the Champions League group phase, but they still managed to better the points haul of the four English clubs, each taking four points from a potential six.
"It's sad," said Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. "To start the group phase, where you can make 12 points, and out of the 12 points you make only three, it's bad news for English football."
Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United fans will hope for a better outcome on Matchday Two, at the end of the month.
