As the end of another UEFA Champions League campaign draws to a climactic close, it’s traditional to assess those that stood above others with their contribution of exceptional performance, inspired tactics and delivery of dramatic moments.

The ritual of placing an outstanding player or masterful manager on a pedestal to marvel at their achievements is an annual exercise of adulation, but there is a flip side to the tale of the season that this ignores.

Tradition, according to Christian scholar Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, is “the living faith of the dead”, and so - with this thought as a guiding light - this column will focus on the negative and malfunctioning instead. Namely, which manager failed most to live-up to their pre-season goals? After all, this is the question that preoccupies the myriad of club owners across Europe.

Failure can be so subjective, so potentially the best bar to provide a measure of successless shepherds is to focus on the value for money they gave back to their sides. If transfer spending against progress in Europe’s top club competition is mapped the following four were rightly in the firing line*:

4. Alex Ferguson – Manchester United:
He may have been the greatest manager to grace British football and a two-time winner of the Champions League but "Fergie" had seen diminishing returns from his forays into Europe in the last two seasons of his tenure. A sizeable $103m were spent over the last campaign bringing in players such as goal-getter Robin Van Persie and goal-stopper David De Gea.

In return United failed at the group stages last year and were knocked out before the quarterfinals in 2013. No wonder the great Scot was left devastated by the Real Madrid defeat this time around, by his own standards the Red Devils had not delivered. Future – Retires at end of season

3. Roberto Mancini – Manchester City:
The blue half of Manchester are relative newcomers to Champions League combat, so that may be a mitigating factor for failure, but what they lacked in experience they surely made up for in player spending power. An outlay of over $230m in the last two seasons by Italian coach Roberto Mancini, not to mention the capture of the English Premier League title, had seen expectations soar as high as the players’ wage bill at Eastlands. And sadly, for their followers, this campaign saw the disappointment of a winless group stage and stunted progress in Europe once again.

Jack Rodwell, Maicon, Scott Sinclair, Matja Nastasic and Javi Garcia were all brought to the club for $84m but failed to propel the Sky Blues past the group stages at the second time of asking. Mancini’s critics will point to his limited success with Inter Milan in the same competition too. The timing and delivery of the termination may have been less than tender but is it any wonder the owners decided to wield the axe?*
Future – Unemployed after being sacked by City

2. Luciano Spalletti – Zenit St. Petersburg:
The 54-year-old Italian manager joined the Russian side in 2009 but in a show of enhanced ambition the national champions splashed out $140m in the last year on player firepower, including the signings of such luminaries as Brazilian striker Hulk and Alex Witsel of Belgium.

Despite such investment, and with promise to be the dark horses with designs on shaking up the old order, Zenit flattered to deceive. They notched up just two wins in six groups games, with Hulk scoring only once in five outings, and conceded nine. As club captain Danny concluded at the end of the campaign: "Considering the quality we have in this team we could have done much better." Future – Linked to Chelsea, Roma and AC Milan

1. Roberto Di Matteo – Chelsea:
Never before have the reigning champions of Europe been booted out of the competition at the first opportunity, but such was the fate of 2012’s unlikely title-holders from London. The football world marvelled at the ability of the 42-year-old manager Di Matteo to cajole a dispirited team and defeat the mighty Bayern Munich in last year’s final.

It then scratched its head in disbelief as the Italian’s - albeit inherited - team failed to fire despite over $153m of investment in the last 12 months. Di Matteo was dumped from the club shortly before Chelsea were dumped out the group stage. Whoever takes over next season will be expected to considerably improve on that return. Future – Currently unemployed

*Updates made in light of the sacking of Roberto Mancini by Manchester City.

After 124 games and 355 goals, there are only two teams left standing in the European Champions League.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund managed to navigate their way through an intense group stage and six dramatic knock-out stage matches to reach the final, scheduled for May 25 at Wembley.

Since there is still plenty of time to look ahead to the Battle of the Bundesliga, I have decided instead this week to take a look back at what has been an exhilarating season and pick my Most Valuable Player of the competition.

We all know that individuals don’t win trophies on their own, but there is always an elite group of players who are the difference between winning and losing key matches.

In order to pick the best player, I wanted to narrow down my choice by identifying the best team, and as I analyzed some key statistics from this season’s competition, it became clear to me that Bayern were head and shoulders above the rest.

They have the highest number of victories and goals scored, while also boasting the best defense. The Bavarians were particularly impressive over the last two rounds, beating Juventus and Barcelona with aggregate scores of 4-0 and 7-0.

What about Dortmund? Well as entertaining and dynamic as they have been, and as well as Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski have played on the way to the final, I decided my MVP had to be a Bayern player.

So who did I pick? Well, there were a few candidates. At the back, Dante and Philipp Lahm have been outstanding; in midfield, Bastian Schweinsteiger has pulled the strings magnificently; while on the wings, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben have both had moments of brilliance.

However, in my opinion, the MVP of this season’s Champions League has been Thomas Muller.

First of all, let’s look at the numbers. For starters, the 23-year-old is the only outfield player to have played all 12 of Bayern’s games in the competition this season.

He is their top scorer, with eight goals, and contributed two assists. Muller has also covered more distance, 127 km, than any other player on his team.

They say the numbers don’t lie and they definitely tell a story of a player who has been incredibly influential in his side’s run to the final.

Of course statistics are only part of the story and when talking about Muller, one can’t forget about what makes him so special and that is his versatility. After all, this is a player who can play anywhere across the front line. He can line up as a left winger, right winger, attacking midfielder or striker and be equally effective.

It’s not just his high level of skill that allows him to adapt to his different roles, it is also his sophisticated football IQ.

Muller has an excellent sense of positioning and has shown repeatedly he can be at the right place at the right time in key contests.

He is a guy who can show up at the near post to score with a flick, stay on the edge of the area and hit the back of the net with a powerful shot, or pop up at the far post to tap in a cross. Just ask Barcelona…

So there you have it. Thomas Muller is my pick. What do you think? Send us your votes.

With its youth system, strong national team, and financial prudence as well as the entertaining style of football employed by both the country's international side and its top clubs, it's not difficult to understand why Germany has been branded a soccer success.

And it is. Just not as much as we perceive it to be. Yet.

While the march of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to Wembley has been thrilling to watch, it's too early to tick the box marked "Era of German domination."

Bayern's haul of four European Cups is impressive but Liverpool, A.C.Milan and Real Madrid have all done better. And the Munich giants haven't conquered the continent since 2001.

Only two other German clubs have also won the tournament whereas England has produced five different champions.

In total, German sides have only six titles between them, well behind Italy and England, with 12, and Spain's 13.

Even the much vaunted Die Mannschaft can't claim to be the best ever international team. Their tally of three World Cup victories is impressive, but they last won the event in 1990, almost a quarter of a century ago.

Brazil, France, Italy and Spain have all enjoyed periods of international superiority since then.

However, no-one can equal Germany's record of 12 top-four finishes in World Cups and that consistency is now allied to, arguably, the most exciting crop of young footballers the country has ever produced.

As my CNN colleague Tom McGowan wrote this week, Germany have strength in depth from defense to attack. Manuel Neuer, Matts Hummels, Iklay Gundogan, Mario Gotze, Marco Reus and Thomas Muller, to name but a handful, make national team coach Joachim Low the envy of his peers.

Germany's youth system and the relative buoyancy of its national economy are two key reasons behind their football ascendency. Any talent identification manager will tell you that growing a sport and improving standards is a numbers game. In essence, the more youngsters who play, the more stars you'll end up with.

Germany has tapped into its large Turkish, Polish and African immigrant population. And the scary thing is, it could do better. Being born in the country doesn't automatically entitle you to German citizenship. You have to apply for it.

That process is bound to dissuade some immigrants' children, although plenty still choose to play for Germany rather than the nation where their parents or grandparents are from.

Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira are two examples, although their stock has fallen slightly since their move to Real Madrid. And that's where my point about the economy comes in. Many Spanish football experts I've spoken to this week insist their country's austerity measures are having a negative impact on the clubs. Although the financial weakness of La Liga, Real and Barcelona apart, is not a new thing.

In contrast, Germany is dealing with the global economic downturn better than many other nations and the Bundesliga is one of the best run leagues in the world.

According to accountant Deloitte's reputable Sports Business group, Germany's Bundesliga is only the fourth richest in Europe behind England, Spain and France.

However, it's growing fast. It already has the best attendances of any of its European rivals while revenues for the entire league broke the $2.6 billion barrier for the first time last season.

So that's the reality, but let's return to the perception or, if you like, the X-Factor that German football has always had.

I was amused to see former England striker Gary Lineker's name trending on Twitter during Bayern's first-leg demolition of Barcelona.

It was down to fans poking fun at Barca defender Gerard Piqué who claimed, before the game, that Lineker's famous quote - "Football's a simple game. You play for 90 minutes and then the Germans win" - isn't true any longer.

After a 7-0 aggregate thrashing and the first all-German Champions League final, it's never felt more true.

It used to be a soccer stereotype. A slightly lazy cliche that didn't always bear close scrutiny: Germany always winning at football.

Yet, as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund imperiously brushed aside La Liga's leading clubs in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, the reality is coming close to matching that perception.

We've seen all-Spanish, English and Italian finals in the Champions League. Now, for the first time, a deutsches derby will decide who is the best club side in Europe.

No sooner had the final whistle blown on the semifinal victory by Borussia Dortmund over Real Madrid, than speculation swiftly turned to whether this was also the final whistle on Jose Mourinho’s career at the helm of the Spanish giants.

Never one to miss a trick in tantalising the press, the self-dubbed "Special One" shaped the narrative of the media response to the defeat by suggesting in post-match interviews that he “might not be” in charge of Los Meringues next season.

“England,” he stated, “is where I know … I am loved. I know I am loved by some clubs, especially one.”

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that Mourinho is hinting at a return to former club Chelsea, the London side he steered to two English Premier League titles.

Madrid has notoriously high standards of success and it is plausible to think that failing to secure “La Decima” has done for one of the most decorated coaches in modern times.

The rumour, if proved true, could be a catalyst for an almost annual merry-go-round of managerial moves that puts new leaders in charge of Europe’s biggest teams. If you believe some of the most reputable newspapers across the continent this could pan out in the following butterly effect scenario:

1. The Times and Bild both reported that despite Mourinho’s agent having talks with PSG, the Portuguese is destined for a return to Chelsea come the end of the season – a move that would rekindle his love affair with English football

2. This would leave a vacancy at the helm of Real, a job that La Parisien – via sources within the board of PSG – claimed would be taken by Carlo Ancelotti after an agreement was made by the two clubs earlier this year and with the Italian on the way out

3. Such a scenario would fit with reports by the Daily Telegraph this week of boasts by senior figures within PSG of prising Arsene Wenger away from Arsenal to fill the gap Ancelotti might leave

4. And if recent CNN FC pundit and football writer Patrick Barclay is to be believed – writing for the London Evening Standard – any opening at Arsenal should be filled without delay by Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp given the German’s “stature and elegance”

5. Arsenal might not be the only vacancy to fill in England, with rife reports that Roberto Mancini will be unceremoniously dumped by Manchester City after failing to defend the title. Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini could find his way to the Sky Blues according to the Daily Mirror and The Guardian

This is just one scenario of course, built on nothing more than journalist tittle-tattle and theories cobbled together from crumbs of truth; however, the potential domino effect across Europe could be remarkable.

In the modern day Champions League, a small elite group of multi-lingual managers have emerged – able to coach high-profile clubs in different nations – and the big moves of the close season will undoubtedly involve them.

Owen Hargreaves is a former England midfielder who lifted the Champions League trophy twice during a glittering career.

On Thursday, the former Bayern Munich and Manchester United star made his debut for the CNN Football Club.

Born in Canada, Hargreaves rose through the ranks at Bayern before helping the Bavarians to European glory in 2000.

Seven trophy-laden years followed, including four Bundesliga titles and three German Cups, ahead of a switch to United in 2007.

Injuries marred Hargreaves’ time in Manchester, but it didn’t prevent him playing a key role in United’s 2008 Champions League triumph.

Hargreaves represented England 42 times, playing for his country at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Now Hargreaves has answered your questions as CNN FC put him On the Spot after he appeared alongside host Pedro Pinto and former Chelsea and Uruguay player Gus Poyet to analyze the week’s Champions League semifinals.

The CNN FC team also debated the week’s poll question, which asked: '"Which manager should move on at the end of the season?"

Vote in the poll above and don’t forget to tune in to the CNN Football Club on CNN International at 1600 GMT on Thursdays.

You can also have your say by following our @CNNFC Twitter account or visiting the show’s Facebook page.

"Almost impossible." That's how former German international striker Oliver Bierhoff described the task his country face in trying to win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

On the evidence of last week's Champions League semifinal first legs, Bierhoff is mistaken.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund could both capture continental glory after four-goal hauls against Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, but the big winners look set to be the German national team.

A look through the starting line ups for both Bayern and Dortmund reveals an array of young, exciting, vibrant, German talent which must have national coach Joachim Low licking his lips.

"Both German teams are very good, without a doubt, as are the national team," Real coach Jose Mourinho was quoted as saying on FIFA's website. "There is a generation of players in Germany of great quality and they will be candidates to win the next World Cup."

Bayern’s team revolves around a core of German players reaching their collective peak.

Colossal goalkeeper Manuel Neuer enjoyed a largely trouble-free evening against Barca, stationed behind a back four which included national team captain Philipp Lahm and athletic centre back Jerome Boateng.

Thomas Muller scored a brace and constantly troubled a dishevelled Barca backline, while Bastian Schweinsteiger - a veteran of 98 Germany caps at the relatively young age of 28 - expertly contained midfield opponents Xavi and Iniesta.

And all of this without Toni Kroos, the 23-year-old playmaker widely regarded as one of Europe’s most prominent rising stars.

Swelling Bayern’s fearsome ranks next season will be Mario Gotze, a $48 million man signed from Dortmund who starred alongside four-goal hero Robert Lewandowski during last week’s 4-1 rout.

Lewandowski might be Polish but Marco Reus is homegrown and, bedecked in black and yellow, resembled a wasp constantly stinging the Spanish champions.

Even the threat of Cristiano Ronaldo was nullified by the disciplined Iklay Gundogan. The 2011 signing from Nuremberg looked at home in the heart of a high-stakes midfield contest and outshone his Spanish counterpart Xabi Alonso.

Ronaldo’s only moment of joy came following a rare lapse in concentration from Mats Hummels, a young defender who is reportedly attracting admiring glances from Catalonia.

A 4-1 defeat for Madrid and a 4-0 loss for Barca would have had their Spanish stars sweating over an humiliating Champions League exit.

But perhaps the bigger question mark hangs over La Roja’s reign at the top of world football.

Two Spain-based German internationals were certainly given food for thought.

Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira were both anonymous during Madrid’s no-show at the Westfalenstadion.

Spain have ruled the international roost for the last five years, winning two European Championships and a first World Cup crown in addition to a continental title at under-21 level.

Vicente del Bosque’s team may have reigned supreme, but Germany have also enjoyed admirable consistency.

The Germans have reached three semifinals and the Euro 2008 final in the last four major tournaments.

With Low agonizing over how best to push Die Mannschaft over the finishing line, the key might just lie with some of the talent rising through the ranks.

Both Bayern and Dortmund played with an intensity and purpose which made tiki-taka look dated and pedestrian.

Euro 2012, won by Spain after an emphatic 4-0 win over Italy in the final, was a first major championship for Gotze, Rues, Hummels and Gundagon.

Two years wiser, and possibly with Champions League winner’s medal in their back pockets, the young quartet might provide the spark which fires a German World Cup triumph in Brazil.

Brad Friedel has become part of the furniture in the English Premier League, spending 16 years in the division with a host of top clubs.

On Thursday, the formidable Tottenham Hotspur shotstopper made his debut for the CNN Football Club.

Friedel arrived in England in 1997 and has gone on to make nearly 500 appearances for Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and high-flying Spurs.

Now the former United States national team goalkeeper, who represented his country at two FIFA World Cups, has answered your questions as CNN FC put him On the Spot.

Friedel appeared alongside host Pedro Pinto to dissect the week’s European Champions League semifinals, which saw Barcelona beaten 4-0 by Bayern Munich and Real Madrid lose 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund as German clubs dominated the Spanish giants in the opening legs.

The team also debated this week’s poll question, which asked, '"Does responsibility come with superstar status?"

Vote in the poll above and don’t forget to tune in to the CNN Football Club on CNN International at 1600 GMT on Thursdays.

You can also have your say by following our @CNNFC Twitter account or visiting the show’s Facebook page.

English Premier League footballers have it pretty good. They are rich, famous and idolized by millions of fans around the world.

It would be fair to say they are reaping the rewards of all the work done by English football officials over the last 21 years in making the nation’s top flight the most marketable and profitable soccer product on the planet.

However, as the Luis Suarez case showed this past weekend, the increased money has brought increased scrutiny, and that means players need to realize they have a responsibility to act in a professional manner.

Right now, the English Premier League is broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes and has a TV audience of 4.7 billion people.

Those are numbers released by the league itself, which has worked along with TV rights holders BskyB since 1992 to make it the most watched club football competition on the planet.

Every year the coverage has improved and right now every game is televised in HD with the host broadcaster using over 20 cameras to capture every inch of the pitch.

This means players can’t get away with anything. Twenty years ago, I suspect Suarez could have bitten Branislav Ivanovic without ever being caught.

I remember when Vinny Jones squeezed Paul Gascoigne’s genitals during a First Division game back in 1987.

Even though the picture became part of football folklore, there was never any video and there was certainly never an investigation.

I have also spoken with many former players who used all kinds of tactics to disrupt opponents, such as poking or pinching various parts of their bodies when the referee wasn’t looking.

What has happened over the last two decades is that with increased coverage and exposure, players in the world’s top leagues have become accountable for their actions.

Whether they like it not, that is the case. It begs the question, are they educated accordingly by their respective clubs?

Effectively, modern day footballers have become reality TV show characters starring on a global stage with fans judging their every move. That is the price they have to pay for their outrageous wages and luxury lifestyle.

Regarding Suarez, he should have known better. He was caught biting a player in a Dutch League game in November 2010 and served a seven-match ban.

In December 2011 he was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. Surely someone at the club has spoken to him about his conduct on the pitch and explained what he can and cannot do and say?

Players around the world should pay attention to the Suarez incident and the punishment surely heading his way. They should realize they have a responsibility to live up to the high expectations which come with being a highly paid superstar.

As this case has shown, nothing they say or do on the pitch will go unnoticed.

Stan Collymore forged a reputation as a formidable English Premier League striker before building a career as one of Britain’s most recognizable football broadcasters.

On Thursday, the former Liverpool and England goalscorer made his debut for the CNN Football Club.

Collymore scored 97 goals in a career which spanned a decade, including 26 in 61 games for Liverpool.

Since hanging up his boots in 2001, Collymore has become well-known for his forthright views on television, radio and social media.

On CNN FC, he was alongside former France and Paris Saint-Germain winger David Ginola to debate the forthcoming European Champions League semifinals, which see Barcelona take on Bayern Munich and Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund.

The duo, alongside host Pedro Pinto, also debated this week’s poll question, which asks, do Bayern Munich need Josep Guardiola?

Vote in the poll above and don’t forget to tune in to the CNN Football Club on CNN International at 1600 GMT on Thursdays.

You can also have your say by following our @CNNFC Twitter account or visiting the show’s Facebook page.