Last season, English teams won two of the three European titles available, but on Thursday their last remaining hope for 2024 was ended.

Aston Villa were left to fly the flag for the Premier League in the Europa Conference League, the competition for which they'd long been favourites, but Greek outfit Olympiakos recorded a resounding aggregate victory having won in England and in Greece.

Unai Emery's love affair with European trophies will have to wait. English sides had look well set several months ago, giving thought to the idea that the Premier League would land a fifth Champions League spot due to their coefficient ranking going up, but they've been dealt a harsh reality check.

English sides, operating in the lucrative league they do, found themselves being given footballing lessons by teams from around Europe. At one point, especially if you believe the bookies, a Manchester City, Liverpool and Villa clean sweep had looked a strong possibility across the three tournaments.

Now it is left to other countries to enjoy the tags of European champions as Mirror Football takes a look at where it all went wrong for the home outfits.

Manchester United - Champions League group stage

A meek exit from their Champions League group is just one of the ways you can define their season. Yes they were paired with Bayern Munich, who secured two relatively comfortable wins over the Red Devils, but Galatasaray and Copenhagen proved far more challenging than they needed to be. A loss at Old Trafford to the Turkish side was a sign of things to come with Erik ten Hag's side winning just one of their six games to finish bottom of the group.

Newcastle United - Champions League group stage

Rarely will a team get so much credit for exiting the Champions League with five points. The 4-1 win over PSG at St James' Park will live long in the memory and was, in the eyes of the hierarchy, a sign of the good times to come. A cruel stoppage-time penalty decision ended their hopes of doing the double of the French side. However, home losses to Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan ultimately cost them in the group of death.

Eddie Howe's Newcastle couldn't negotiate the group of death (
Image:
Getty Images)

Arsenal - Champions League quarter-final

For the first time in over a decade the Gunners were back playing in a Champions League quarter-final, owing to a penalty shootout victory against Porto. It was Bayern though who would end their dreams. Arsenal may feel aggrieved, thinking the Germans were there for the taking, but a 1-0 loss in Munich saw them knocked out.

Manchester City - Champions League quarter-final

The holders couldn't emulate Real Madrid - the team who knocked them out - by going back to back in the Champions League. City had largely swept all before them and, in truth, hammered Los Blancos at the Etihad with the Spanish side praying for penalties by the time their 4-4 aggregate classic was coming to a close. Carlo Ancelotti's side were able to get the job done from 12 yards, but City can have few regrets with how they performed.

Real Madrid dumped out the defending champions

Liverpool - Europa League quarter-final

In recent weeks, the Jurgen Klopp farewell tour has gone off course and that began with a hammering at the hands of Atalanta. The Italian side silenced Anfield as they cut through their defence to secure a 3-0 win, which all but ended the Reds' hopes. Liverpool aren't accustomed to playing in the Europa League, but they couldn't make the most of their opportunity.

West Ham United - Europa League quarter-final

The Hammers were playing in Europe's secondary competition by virtue of winning the Europa Conference League last term. They were unfortunate to be drawn against Europe's invincibles thus far as Bayer Leverkusen secured a routine win in Germany before an 89th-minute equaliser in return leg in London kept their unbeaten run going.

The Hammers saw their journey ended in the knockout stages (
Image:
PA)

Brighton - Europa League last 16

It was a first ever venture into Europe for the Seagulls and it was certainly a lesson. They enjoyed some huge highs and some major lows. They won four of their six games, including two over Ajax, before they were hammered by Roma in the first leg of their last-16 clash. That effectively killed the tie, albeit they restored some pride with a victory at the Amex.

Aston Villa - Europa Conference League semi-final

Emery's team were stunned by Olympiakos at Villa Park as the Greek outfit secured a 4-2 victory. That left them with a mountain to climb in Athens - one they could not scale. Olympiakos completed the job with a 2-0 success on the night to leave Villa focusing on the league in the final weeks.

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