Italian clubs eliminated in all three European quarter-finals for the first time in 7 years, Serie A has fallen behind comprehensively.

With the conclusion of all second-leg matches in the Champions League and Europa Conference League quarter-finals early on April 17 Beijing time, the semi-finalists for all three European competitions are now confirmed. The Premier League stands as the biggest winner, boasting four teams in the semi-finals. The Bundesliga, La Liga, and Ligue 1 each have two representatives. Remarkably, Serie A, a member of the top five leagues, suffered a complete wipeout. This is the first instance since the 2018-19 season (prior to the Europa Conference League's existence) that no Serie A club has progressed to a European semi-final. Coupled with the Italian national team's failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, it is evident that Italian football has comprehensively lagged behind. This backwardness applies not just to the national team but also to Serie A, which was once celebrated as the "Little World Cup."

Performance of Serie A clubs in this season's European competitions:

• Champions League (4 teams): Napoli (eliminated in the league phase), Inter Milan and Juventus (both stopped in the knockout play-offs), Atalanta (eliminated in the Round of 16).
• Europa League (2 teams): Roma (eliminated in the Round of 16), Bologna (eliminated in the quarter-finals).
• Europa Conference League (1 team): Fiorentina (eliminated in the quarter-finals).

Personal viewpoint: The decline and backwardness of Serie A, leaving it vulnerable to setbacks, appears irreversible. Due to economic constraints, even Champions League-level Serie A teams now possess purchasing power inferior to that of Premier League relegation-threatened clubs. No players in their prime are willing to join Serie A, which has become a haven for veterans and disillusioned stars. Italian football might still have hope, but it requires Italian players to bravely venture abroad, like Sandro Tonali, to compete in stronger leagues rather than stagnating in the aging Serie A. The Italian national team needs eleven Tonalis, not players nurtured in the sheltered environment of Serie A—players who celebrate with champagne after a World Cup qualifier play-off against Bosnia.