Former Chelsea midfielder Ray Wilkins: Champions League overshadows international football

Ray Wilkins – Chelsea (PA)

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Former England and Chelsea stalwart Ray Wilkins has claimed that international football now plays second fiddle to the Champions League.

Wilkins, capped 84 times for the Three Lions, was asked by Goal.com at the latest Castrol EDGE webchat if the international game is in decline.

He said: “Well, I don’t think it’s in decline as such but the Champions League is such a wonderful competition that it seems to have taken over international football.

“I’d never say international football was in decline because that’s the pinnacle of your career, whether it be as a player, or as a coach or as a manager.

“You want to play for your national team and you want to play as much as you possibly can for them as well. But there’s so much football being played at the moment and injuries being picked up – the Champions League is such a wonderful competition that it does tend to overshadow what’s going on out there in international football.”

The former Chelsea assistant coach was participating in the Castrol EDGE webchat with ex-England boss Glenn Hoddle ahead of England’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales on Saturday.

Wilkins added, “We’re playing in Wales; the stadium will be absolutely packed, great atmosphere. I expect us England to win, we’ve got far more experience.”