I think people really need to stop and consider the extent to which this sort of viewpoint is just doing the handiwork of the European Super League as a concept and an ideology.We should treat this as a competition for the academy players. If I were the manager I’m not even sure I’d attend the matches. Just let the academy staff run it.
Now, there is a LOT UEFA could do to make their secondary competitions more effective and dramatic. In structure and perhaps even more so in name the ECL as it exists just proves they've lost the plot. I get and accept all of that, and have a million ideas for improving things.
But it's European silverware, and we should compete for it proudly and sincerely.