The largest annual soccer club tournament in Europe is underway.

The 2015 UEFA Champions League has reached the "elite eight." Just eight clubs remain and will do battle in the quarterfinals first leg on April 14 and 15. ESPN Deportes has been covering the Champions League tournament, and soccer analyst Fernando Palomo was generous enough to speak with our staff.

Fernando Palomo was previously a member of the El Salvador track and field team and the current record holder of the javelin throw in his native country.

Palomo has been vigorously following the 2015 Champions League, and he answers 10 questions about the quarterfinals below.

1. Let's talk about the losers first. Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal all lost in the round of 16. Why do you think the English Premier League clubs struggled so much this year?

"I think it's a consequence of many things. They're not just struggling in the Champions League but others as well. I believe that the culture of English futbol is so set on appeasing fans within their borders that they forget that there is a competition set outside of England. It's just hard for those teams to turn the switch on from Sunday to Wednesday. My theory is that English futbol is set to please the English crowds, but not to play the European fields."

2. Real Madrid will play Atletico Madrid in the famous Madrid Derby. Why is Real Madrid struggling against Atletico Madrid this year?

"I believe that Real Madrid struggles when an opposing team makes them play systematically and short space. Meaning short passes and in short space. Kind of like NBA type soccer, lots of movement in short space. Atletico just doesn't give it to them. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are great in 30 yards, but they struggle in short spaces against Atletico."

3. During Mexico's last two friendly exhibition games, you talked a lot about Javier Hernandez. Do you think he can succeed on Real Madrid, or would it just be better if he played elsewhere?

"I spoke to him after the second game (against Paraguay) when he was coming out of the tunnel, and I got a sense that there is another bridge for him to cross. I don't know where that will lead him to, but I doubt it's not with a team with such limited minutes like Real Madrid. He stated in his own bitterness in his own way by saying that he has gone through the lowest of the low. He has been dealing with a very unaccustomed situation where he's playing hard, but he doesn't know whether or not he's going to have minutes or not. Granted, he has had some chances and some of those he hasn't been able to capitalized on. He told me anybody who states that I'm happy sitting on the bench is lying."

4. Three La Liga teams remain. Would you say that the Spanish Premier League is the strongest soccer league in the world right now?

"To say that a league is better than another, we have to find out why. There are better leagues than the Spanish League if we take into account sporting factor. I think the Spanish League is better than it has been in the past because the distance between Madrid and Barcelona and the rest of the league has shortened. I would say the most unpredictable league right now is the French League. Anything can happen there. I think the best way to look at it is the Spanish League is more competitive than it ever has been before."

5. Barcelona is resounding favorites to beat Paris Saint-Germain. How can Barcelona avoid getting upset?

"Barcelona has been vulnerable this season, but Paris Saint-Germain has multiple injuries to key players. It's mostly the fact that the Paris squad is weakened by injuries. If they were full strength and ready to go, I would see them having a very big chance of eliminating Barcelona."

6. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have won multiple Champions League finals in their careers. Who do you think needs this one more?

"That's a good question. Cristiano Ronaldo just won it all last year with Real Madrid. Lionel Messi has to silence his doubters on a club that had a huge membership increase after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final in Brazil. Out of the two, I would say Messi needs it most."

7. Messi or Ronaldo?

"That's a question of taste. Who's better -- the Rolling Stones, the Beetles or Death Leopard? It's just more of what you like and prefer. I think Messi shows more organic ways of a futbol player. He's more unpredictable in that sense. He can do things at his best that few can even imagine to do ever. Ronaldo is a machine. He is a very mechanical player who knows how to finish."

8. We haven't seen a repeat champion of the Champions League since 1989 and 1990 when AC Milan won it back to back years. How can Real Madrid end that drought?

"Well, they certainly have to go through a run of good luck. That had some of it last year when they won it all, and even this year in the round of 16 against Schalke. I believe that in a two game situation they can beat anyone in the world. With that being said, soccer is such a game of inches and anything can happen going forward."

9. France has only won one Champions League, which came in 1993 when Marseille was victorious. Do you think Paris Saint-Germain France or Monaco have a realistic chance to win it this year?

"Monaco already had a big surprise in the round of 16 when they defeated Arsenal. Their run may not be over, but they have an extremely tough field to face, and as I said before Paris Saint-Germain is weakened because of injuries to their roster. So to be honest, I don't see France breaking the slump this year."

10. Bayern Munich is the favorite right now by the odds makers, but anything can happen. Who do you think will win it all?

"The odds makers may have made Bayern Munich the favorites, but I don't see them playing as a team that can run over anyone right now. They need to make adjustments because they're missing some key players. I could see Bayern Munich and Real Madrid playing in the finals in Berlin if they don't meet in the semifinals."

Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter

FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS AND UPDATES, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT LATIN POST.COM'S SPORTS PAGE