It is the best club competition in the world but once again the English teams will flatter to deceive in this season's Champions League.

The draw was made this week for the group stage of the competition and all four English teams will be expected to progress.

But when it comes to the knockout stages, they are all lagging behind the big three teams in world football.

You can't look past Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as the main contenders to lift the trophy at the San Siro in May.

Chelsea could be worth a punt because Jose Mourinho knows how to set up his sides to win big matches, but even they don't have the talent in their squad that is on a par with Barca, Real and Bayern.

Paris St Germain and Juventus are also strong outsiders but are again miles behind the 'big three', yet they possess players who would easily grace must starting elevens in the world.

Manchester City can't seem to get used to playing Champions League football after faltering in every season they have made the competition.

However, their squad does look better balanced this season with Raheem Sterling providing much-needed pace and energy into what has previously been a slow side.

City have the toughest draw in the group and could struggle to progress.

They will face last season's finalists Juventus, Europa League winners Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Winning your home games is key in the Champions League and City will need to make the Ethiad a fortress this season,  while also trying to pick up as many points as they can on the road.

Arsenal have the difficult task of taking on Bayern Munich in their group, but Olympiakos and GNK Dinamo shouldn't pose them too many problems.

Chelsea will easily navigate their group, which contains Porto, Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel Aviv, while Manchester United have a tricky group.

Louis Van Gaal's men will go up against PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg - all decent, experienced European teams.

But Man Utd will reach the next stage ( I say begrudgingly being a Liverpool fan) and it could very well be by the skin of their teeth.

There was a time, not too long ago, that English teams dominated the Champions League, reaching final after final nearly every year.

It's not all doom and gloom. We do have very strong teams. But at the moment the gulf between Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and the rest of Europe is huge.