Deleted member 19340
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IMO the only reason the EL means more these days is simply because it’s not the worst form of Europe. The CL qualification for the winners has been around since 2015, so it’s not like that swung things. No one really cared when Utd won in 16. And I’d argue no dropdown from the CL has hurt its perception, since that’s one of the bigger criticisms our win has had.The Europa League is a funny old thing quite frankly.
Until very recently it really hasn't been worth winning or even trying to win.
Too many games, in shitty parts of Europe, on Thursday nights, and then when you think you have a chance, you get a strong Dortmund or Atleti, knocked down from the CL. By which point your whole league season has gone tits up due to those Thurs/Sun fixtures and all the travel. And even if you did win it, your prize money was akin to winning one game in the CL and your actual prize was.....a place in next season Europa League.
Now there's CL football and NO CL teams, it's actually worth trying to compete in.
But the downside is it could only ever been won every other year. Mad in a way that nobody will ever be able to win back to back Europa/Conference leagues.
I remember when the word ‘Europe’ in football media was basically shorthand for ‘Champions League’. I grew up in the ‘Thursday night, channel 5’ days; remember the 2-2 vs Chels away in 12/13 with the Adebayor screamer and after every goal scored, that song came out from both sets of fans because the game was seen as the CL decider?
The Conference has been a massive success for UEFA tbh, it’s seen as a somewhat respectable trophy and has massively increased the value of the two above it.
...as the sun sinks slowly in the west...