How important is the Europa league?

[tomaldinho1]

England seems to be the only country that appears to look down on Europa League, for the most part, the 1, maybe 2 Away games that are really far away such a Kazakhstan are in the group stages when the teams put out are mainly fringe players who wont feature in the league games. as for the too many games arguments, its 2 games more than champions league however teams rest far more in Europa than champions league so that somewhat balances it out. The Thursday to Sunday routine must throw players for a few weeks.

Given how much of a scramble the league looks added to the unknown 5th position qualification (City could successfully appeal for all we know). Making Champions League by Winning a trophy is far better than being 2nd-4th(5th) in a league table.

For all the disrespect Europa League gets its still the 3rd biggest competition to win behind Champions League & Premier league. Above FA Cup on virtue of UCL qualification and it being a European competition over Domestic

It makes sense that countries with 'weaker' leagues would value the Europa more because realistically if you're a team like Sevilla, Wolfsburg, Lyon etc (i.e good team but going deep in the CL is a big task and domestically you have to complete with the Real/Barca, Bayern, PSG dominance) it is your main European competition and genuinely winnable.

It's always good to win trophies but it's more about mentality, we should try to win it because we're in it but also not be afraid to acknowledge it is a 2nd tier European competition and obviously not what we want to be competing for. For me you have CL, PL as the ultimate goals of every season, the FA cup is great but is devalued a bit by the joke that is the league cup. Europa is kind of the European equivalent of the FA cup for me although it's likely you'd face a better team in the FA cup - realistically the toughest game in the Europa will be Inter whereas in the FA cup we have Chelsea then likely City in the final if we get through.

 

[SirAnderson]

Feck having a participation trophy. I want to win trophies, so if we not getting out of the group, I'd rather win the trophy.
If we get knocked out in the KO rounds to better teams, then fine we go and try again each season hoping to eventually win it.
Teams like Club Brugge for example from the fringe leagues can revel in a participation trophy and get 4th place in Group stages of CL but if we can't get out of that groups, we don't belong in the CL anyway, but then again, some one has to come last.

 

[jackal&hyde]

We will know about City by this time next week. The verdict is the 14th I think.

If we qualify for the CL in the league I think having time off will be better for our chances next season than aiming to win a trophy that won't get us anything we don't already have.

You watch everyone whinge at Ole next March when our players are dead on their feet and Liverpool Coast to retain the title.

There are only 3 games thought and a lot of substitutions. We can go for it without hurting our form next season.

 

[Mihai]

England seems to be the only country that appears to look down on Europa League, for the most part, the 1, maybe 2 Away games that are really far away such a Kazakhstan are in the group stages when the teams put out are mainly fringe players who wont feature in the league games. as for the too many games arguments, its 2 games more than champions league however teams rest far more in Europa than champions league so that somewhat balances it out. The Thursday to Sunday routine must throw players for a few weeks.

Given how much of a scramble the league looks added to the unknown 5th position qualification (City could successfully appeal for all we know). Making Champions League by Winning a trophy is far better than being 2nd-4th(5th) in a league table.

For all the disrespect Europa League gets its still the 3rd biggest competition to win behind Champions League & Premier league. Above FA Cup on virtue of UCL qualification and it being a European competition over Domestic

Italy was the same, at least a couple of years ago. I remember reading an article in Gazzetta about Milan not giving a feck about Europa.

 

[MrEleson]

When comparing big clubs, people usually discuss the number of league titles and CL’s their sides won with the emphasis on the latter especially when comparing teams across different leagues. No time have I ever heard anyone bring up the number of Europa leagues won as an added bonus to a team’s list of honours.


For example, if you were comparing United and Barca’s European haul (5-3). A united fan wouldn’t say “oh but we also have a Europa league, so it’s basically 5-4 on European trophies.” That would be laughed at. You just wouldn’t include it in such a comparison altogether.
Sevilla won the Europa league 3 years in a row very recently and I don’t think anybody really cared. Are most people even aware that they achieved such a feat?

I think that should pretty much sum up the lack of prestige the tournament holds.

People remember and appreciate great teams in the CL that don’t win it more than they do Europa league winners.

 

[sp_107]

There are only 3 games thought and a lot of substitutions. We can go for it without hurting our form next season.

Agreed

 

[peridigm]

When we won it the first time it was great because it was a new manager and it got us into CL the following season. We finished 7 points off top4 that season because Jose prioritized the EL. We're in a different situation this season as we can have top4 wrapped up before our next match in EL giving us a freedom of just trying to win a trophy. I think it will carry less weight, an asterisk if you will due to the format change and the number of games being reduced. Still like to win it as it would be Ole's first trophy as a United manager and a great boost going into next season.

 

[Eire Red United]

Given the first team will be no where near the lask game I think go for it. A maximum of three games and a chance to win a trophy. If they were sticking with two legs for the quarters and semis then I wouldn’t mind not going for it but with only three games I think it’s worth trying to win.

Didn’t know it was straight knock out from QF on. 3 games for a trophy is a great chance for us.

 

[SirAnderson]

What pisses me right off, is when we barely scrape through a CL group stage and come 2nd, and then get kicked out at the first time of asking!
I'd rather we came 3rd and play in a competition on our level where we can actually win a darn trophy!

 

[jackal&hyde]

The ones saying they don't care will absolutely love it if we win it.

 

[w1thout]

If we win the Europa League we'll be seeded in the 1st pot, while if we only qualify through the PL, as we currently sit 9th in the UEFA coefficients table, we'll be seeded in the 2nd pot at most.
I think it makes a huge difference if we really plan on doing something in the CL next season.

Plus it's a trophy. A 2nd tier trophy, nonetheless I'm always down for some silverware, and our young group of players should be as well. It's only 3 games.

 

[sewey89]

Quarter and Semi final draws tomorrow, will certainly be interesting.

I think that it would be silly not to try and win the trophy at this stage. Say that we beat Chelsea and play in the FA Cup final, we’ll then have 10 days after that before the quarter finals on 10/11, semis on 16/17 and final on 21st. They could almost be seen as pre season or ‘ticking over’ games. The players have just had 3 months off, I don’t think it’ll benefit them to have a huge amount of time off again.

There are 3 weeks off between the EL final and the proposed season restart on September 12. You could give the players a week off, few days warm weather training and then a couple of friendlies and be good to go for the start of the season

 

[OutOfTowner]

Ole will also desperately want a trophy on his CV. Reckon Chelsea will put us out the FA Cup.

I would add to this the fact that Ole, for a long time at least, has been under intense scrutiny and his suitability for the United job constantly questioned. Winning a European trophy in his first season, prestigious or not, should be enough to get that monkey off his back and give him a lot more confidence going into next season. Winning the FA Cup in addition would fantastic and I'd love him to be able to do so and silence some of his harshest critics.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

I really would like to win this again and see Ole lift some silverware but hoping we secure top 4 and CL football through the league first. I think it would take a load of pressure off if we can go into this and not worry about CL and just concentrate on winning it for the trophy. Especially with it being one leg ties going forward the pressure would be massive if it was our only avenue for CL and would leave absolutely no margin for error.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Are we still discussing whether we want another trophy or not?

 

[Tom Cato]

The Europa league has gained more momentum in recent years, it's still a tier below CL but it's earned a lot more repute than it had during its inception.

The final is still a big event with a traditionally full stadium (not this year of course) and televised to millions. I'll be delighted if we win it.

In 4 days we may already be in the Champions League already if Citys ban is upheld as expected. But I'd like to get third in the league and win the Europa League as well.

 

[RuudTom83]

For Ole I hope United win it, add a cup this season plus another next season and I think it could be the start of something special.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

No one will whinge on this topic. Europa is not Carabao cup. Also, it's just 3 games at max. Not counting return leg vs LASK as that's definitely one for the kids. Winning a trophy can only improve morale within the squad.

It's not as simple as that though is it? Of course a trophy is better than no trophy. But if us playing in Europe's second competition in August is going to cost us next season in the legs is it worth it if we have already qualified? If we haven't then it's a no brainer we go for it.

And you say nobody will whinge if we do fall off next season. People were whinging in the match thread when we were 3 nil up at Brighton mate playing well.

I think it's a reasonable question to ask personally. Liverpool are going to sign off again soon and rest their legs up for next season why United and City probably won't be able to. Its a huge advantage.

I wouldn't share this opinion though if it was the CL we were in. I think that competition would be worth the sacrifice. I don't think the Europa is unless we need to win it.

 

[RedDevil@84]

The players had more than enough rest this season. I don't see how a few weeks of extra football is going to wear them out so much, that they will struggle in next season.

 

[flappyjay]

England seems to be the only country that appears to look down on Europa League,

To be fair we won it recently and there was an all English final last year. Making a ucl qualifier has increased its standing. This year Wolves and United are taking it seriously. Arsenal were taking it seriously too unfortunately for them they are trash.

 

[arthurka]

If we win the Europa League we'll be seeded in the 1st pot, while if we only qualify through the PL, as we currently sit 9th in the UEFA coefficients table, we'll be seeded in the 2nd pot at most.
I think it makes a huge difference if we really plan on doing something in the CL next season.

Plus it's a trophy. A 2nd tier trophy, nonetheless I'm always down for some silverware, and our young group of players should be as well. It's only 3 games.

This anyone saying otherwise is crazy..

 

[gza the genius]

If we don't play these Europa games we'd just be playing less beneficial friendlies anyway. Might as well go for it and at the least it's better than any other preseason games we'd be playing. Plus, Ole possibly winning his first trophy and the overall mood boost at the club could be great for going in to next season.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

The players had more than enough rest this season. I don't see how a few weeks of extra football is going to wear them out so much, that they will struggle in next season.

Some of them letting them go off on holiday is more harmful.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

1. A trophy.
2. Doesn't matter if it's lower tier trophy.
3. Good way to sneak into CL.
4. Nice back-up to CL if league end fail.
5. Rubbish mentality to throw it away, win everything is the ethos.
6. Still a trophy.
7. You win something in a season, rather than zero.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Why would people not want to win trophies?

This is why people who support smaller clubs hate people that support bigger clubs sometimes.

It’s cafe mate. Quite a lot on here are obsessed with resting players in matches. Is this normal? At other clubs? Do Everton fans do this?
By game three post lockdown people were obsessing over resting players again.
I understand managers making changes to a team etc but what I don’t get is being a fan and constantly talking about it and obsessing over it.
Also the other big club arrogant thing our fans do a lot is call for the League Cup to be disbanded and for the Fa Cup to be reduced etc. Imagine that disbanding a whole cup competition just so we can rest players some more and concentrate on qualifying for the CL.

 

[el3mel]

European trophy and a night to remember + a CL spot vs a 4th spot in the league no one will remember.

I know my choice. The El final against Ajax so far has been the best night I have had post Fergie. If we repeat it again this year it will be the same feeling too.

Though ideally you will do like Chelsea last season, finish top 4 and also win it.

 

[adexkola]

When comparing big clubs, people usually discuss the number of league titles and CL’s their sides won with the emphasis on the latter especially when comparing teams across different leagues. No time have I ever heard anyone bring up the number of Europa leagues won as an added bonus to a team’s list of honours.


For example, if you were comparing United and Barca’s European haul (5-3). A united fan wouldn’t say “oh but we also have a Europa league, so it’s basically 5-4 on European trophies.” That would be laughed at. You just wouldn’t include it in such a comparison altogether.
Sevilla won the Europa league 3 years in a row very recently and I don’t think anybody really cared. Are most people even aware that they achieved such a feat?

I think that should pretty much sum up the lack of prestige the tournament holds.

People remember and appreciate great teams in the CL that don’t win it more than they do Europa league winners.

Idiots didn't care.

Yes, knowledgeable people know about Sevilla's successes in the Europa League.

 

[AshRK]

I hope the team takes it seriously. It is a trophy and considering ole is building a young side this trophy could give us a kickstart to win more and bigger trophies in the future. Winning breeds confidence. I hope we win both FA cup and Europa.

 

[adexkola]

Anyway, this thread is further proof of the need to

1. Ban non-champions from the CL
2. Limit EL entry to clubs finishing second and third across Europe
3. Bring back the CWC

These changes I will enact immediately upon seizing power

 

[Nickelodeon]

It's not as simple as that though is it? Of course a trophy is better than no trophy. But if us playing in Europe's second competition in August is going to cost us next season in the legs is it worth it if we have already qualified? If we haven't then it's a no brainer we go for it.

And you say nobody will whinge if we do fall off next season. People were whinging in the match thread when we were 3 nil up at Brighton mate playing well.

Hence I mentioned that people wouldn't whinge on "this topic". Otherwise, you can't have this forum without whinging people mate.

Either way, I'm not saying that yours is an invalid argument. I just don't agree with it. Even if we want to rest our legs, don't see the point of doing it at this stage with Europa. If we want to be doing this, I'd rather we sacrifice a competition (FA Cup or Carabao) right from the start in the next season.

 

[Dancfc]

I'd rather a deep CL run than win the Europa.

The CL is more than just actually winning it (although that's obviously the ultimate goal) it's about making memories on the way and competing with Europe's elite.

 

[romufc]

I'd rather a deep CL run than win the Europa.

The CL is more than just actually winning it (although that's obviously the ultimate goal) it's about making memories on the way and competing with Europe's elite.

I agree a semi final run to the CL is alot better than winning the Europa.

However; if you are in the EL and only 3 games away from winning it, you go for it.

If Manutd do manage to win it, it also puts to bed "we need a manager that can win trophies", or we need a proven manager and get Poch in who has 0 trophies if I must say.

 

[Dancfc]

I agree a semi final run to the CL is alot better than winning the Europa.

However; if you are in the EL and only 3 games away from winning it, you go for it.

If Manutd do manage to win it, it also puts to bed "we need a manager that can win trophies", or we need a proven manager and get Poch in who has 0 trophies if I must say.

That's true i guess in some circumstances it's more important to get that first trophy no matter what and can certainly see why that's applicable to you guys this season (probably is for us aswell in fairness) but in general I'll choose any CL knockout place over a Europa win anyday. It's much better for building a club aswell, for example look at us pre 2012 where despite no CL trophy our reputation build due to the great games we had Vs elite sides and compare that to Sevilla stacking up on Europa's but no one really cared.

Regarding Pochettino I don't really blame him for not winning a trophy at Spurs. I've always been a big believer that a manager gets a team in the position to win a trophy but more often than not it's the mentality of the players/culture of the club that determine if they get over the line, prime example to that would be Sarri not winning a trophy with Napoli but does at Chelsea at the first time of asking with a inferior team.

Stick Poch at Chelsea or United and there's not a snowball in hell's chance he goes trophyless in my opinion.

 

[U99ted]

For example, if you were comparing United and Barca’s European haul (5-3). A united fan wouldn’t say “oh but we also have a Europa league, so it’s basically 5-4 on European trophies.” That would be laughed at. You just wouldn’t include it in such a comparison altogether.
Sevilla won the Europa league 3 years in a row very recently and I don’t think anybody really cared. Are most people even aware that they achieved such a feat?

I agree with @adexkola , and the United fan would also be laughed at for ignoring the UEFA Cup Winners Cup (of which Barcelona won more than United).

 

[romufc]

That's true i guess in some circumstances it's more important to get that first trophy no matter what and can certainly see why that's applicable to you guys this season (probably is for us aswell in fairness) but in general I'll choose any CL knockout place over a Europa win anyday. It's much better for building a club aswell, for example look at us pre 2012 where despite no CL trophy our reputation build due to the great games we had Vs elite sides and compare that to Sevilla stacking up on Europa's but no one really cared.

Regarding Pochettino I don't really blame him for not winning a trophy at Spurs. I've always been a big believer that a manager gets a team in the position to win a trophy but more often than not it's the mentality of the players/culture of the club that determine if they get over the line, prime example to that would be Sarri not winning a trophy with Napoli but does at Chelsea at the first time of asking with a inferior team.

Stick Poch at Chelsea or United and there's not a snowball in hell's chance he goes trophyless in my opinion.

Yep, I agree a CL run will always elevate you more than the EL. Chelsea is a good example but also Ajax. We played them in the Europa league when we won it in the final with the same players coming through, yet a great run elevated those players and teams to another level.

This is the problem with fans saying "hes not won anything", well yh if he is managing a team that never wins a trophy.

I agree with you on Poch however; I would be reluctant to change manager as that may put us back another 6-8 months, likewise with Chelsea because a manager will come in and see what players he likes etc.

If we are to stop Liverpool, neither team can afford that IMO.

 

[Chipper]

When comparing big clubs, people usually discuss the number of league titles and CL’s their sides won with the emphasis on the latter especially when comparing teams across different leagues. No time have I ever heard anyone bring up the number of Europa leagues won as an added bonus to a team’s list of honours.


For example, if you were comparing United and Barca’s European haul (5-3). A united fan wouldn’t say “oh but we also have a Europa league, so it’s basically 5-4 on European trophies.” That would be laughed at. You just wouldn’t include it in such a comparison altogether.
Sevilla won the Europa league 3 years in a row very recently and I don’t think anybody really cared. Are most people even aware that they achieved such a feat?

I think that should pretty much sum up the lack of prestige the tournament holds.

People remember and appreciate great teams in the CL that don’t win it more than they do Europa league winners.

Agree with you when it comes to the big clubs. It's not something United or Barcelona fans are particularly going to bring up when talking about their club's history. Not now at least, suppose there's a chance should either face many years in the wilderness and not winning much of anything then a Europa League would become very exciting and a fantastic thing to cheer for again.

We're nowhere near at that stage and are unlikely to be. It would probably have to take some sort of financial collapse for us to ever get there as our monetary power means we should be looking to compete against the very best and as long as we have this kind of money the Europa League will always be viewed as a bit second-rate or an underachievement. It's just the way the game has gone. Pre-money UEFA Cups or Cup Winners' Cups are a bit different.

Would disagree on Sevilla to an extent, I certainly know what they did and think most keen followers of the game do. I'd imagine most who come to a site like this regularly do but If "most people" includes casual observers then possibly not. It didn't make them a fantastic superclub in my eyes and it's not going to but it was a great achievement for them and for their fans it must have been amazing. It put them more on the map than they previously were. If it was Real Madrid doing the same then no, definitely not, it wouldn't have done the same. I liked Fulham's and Middlesbrough's runs to the final of this competition in the past.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Any european final is worth winning.

It's also a great training ground for the champions league. The 2 legs, away goals etc... learning how to play that way is different.

I enjoyed our cup run to winning it, and it was fantastic to see the boys celebrating with the trophy.

Who remembers Bailly dancing round with his crutches?

 

[Rish Sawhney]

It's not as simple as that though is it? Of course a trophy is better than no trophy. But if us playing in Europe's second competition in August is going to cost us next season in the legs is it worth it if we have already qualified? If we haven't then it's a no brainer we go for it.

And you say nobody will whinge if we do fall off next season. People were whinging in the match thread when we were 3 nil up at Brighton mate playing well.

I think it's a reasonable question to ask personally. Liverpool are going to sign off again soon and rest their legs up for next season why United and City probably won't be able to. Its a huge advantage.

I wouldn't share this opinion though if it was the CL we were in. I think that competition would be worth the sacrifice. I don't think the Europa is unless we need to win it.

Why do you keep ignoring that winning it will also help us massively next year in the CL? 3 extra games is barely anything and City will be playing CL games as well.

 

[SAFMUTD]

I think is a lose-lose situation, besides the UCL ticket theres not much to gain from it.

If were in it we are expected to win, if we win then its normal no surprise, if we loose its all failure were in crisis.

I cant wait to be back on the UCL, should never been competing in this low tier competition to start with.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Why do you keep ignoring that winning it will also help us massively next year in the CL? 3 extra games is barely anything and City will be playing CL games as well.

It's 4 more games as there's a second leg against LASK. But it's more about extending the season by another 3 weeks rather than number of games. The players will have to keep training to stay fit. This is what people aren't grasping.

We will be going from one season that's been dragged out to another 55 to 60 game season and likes of Liverpool n Chelsea will get time off. Its definitely a disadvantage for likes of us n City.