Aston Villa’s extraordinary form has shone a light on a worrying trend of teams who have qualified for European tournaments. Despite a promising start to the Premier League season, Aston Villa won only four of their eleven matches following European fixtures. This pattern raises some interesting questions as to how European competition is impacting domestic league performance. Clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United — each pursuing the same opportunistic promise — are hit especially hard.
In the past, clubs going on to qualify for Europe would tend to derail in their domestic pursuit. Brighton & Hove Albion came sixth, catapulting them into an exhilarating Europa League odyssey. They eventually dropped to 11th in the league—to say nothing of their defeat in the FA Cup semifinals. Such results point to a dilemma where the pressures of European football actually make it harder to succeed at home.
Past Patterns of Underperformance
Recent studies indicate that 25 out of 35 teams qualifying for Europe, who did not participate in the previous season, experienced a decline in points in the following campaign. Tottenham and Manchester United can both identify with this stat. Both clubs have endured miserable league campaigns, filled with false dawns and increasingly agitated supports.
Their current position is best illustrated by their home defeats to Ipswich Town and Leicester City. At the same time, Manchester United went through a rough patch of their own, receiving jeers from home fans, condemnation from commentators and outrage on Twitter. Each side is in a vulnerable place. The latter having the best shot of earning a Champions League berth by way of winning that prestigious Europa League.
The one exception to this pattern is Antonio Conte’s brief but successful tenure at Chelsea. He completely transformed the club, steering them to a Premier League title in a season without any European involvement. This accomplishment casts further aspersions on the ability of either Tottenham or Manchester United to flourish under the weight of the rigors of continental competition.
The Opinions of Experts
Ruben Amorim, the highly regarded homegrown coach of Sporting, made waves lately with his observation that Manchester United looked unprepared for their return to competing on two fronts. He stated,
“We are not ready to play Premier League competitively and be in the Champions League.” – Ruben Amorim
His comments speak to a larger issue about an apparent lack of ability or concern from teams to both compete at home and abroad. The Premier League is one of the hardest leagues to succeed in the world. For teams without the requisite depth to maintain their squads, this challenge proves especially intimidating.
The example of West Ham United makes this story all the more compelling. Their seventh-placed finish in 2021/22 got them into the new-fangled Conference League, which they went on to win. Yet the following year they found themselves unable to carry over their domestic excellence, having balanced homework between several tournaments.
The Broader Implications for English Clubs
Next season is set to be especially pivotal for English football, with six teams qualifying for the Champions League. This expansion underscores the increasing importance of European competition in the English game. It should serve as a powerful reminder of the dangers that come with forward-looking ambition.
Newcastle United, who secured fourth place in the 2022/23 season and enjoyed a Champions League campaign, faced a decline as they fell to seventh in their subsequent league performance. These ups and downs are a reminder that earning a spot in Europe means little when it comes to achieving domestic success.
Meanwhile, Napoli’s current success under their manager showcases how a team can thrive with focused ambition towards securing domestic titles. They are about to win the Serie A title after a fantastic surge to the finish line. What this shows is that, with the right conditions, success at home can be leveraged to achieve ambitious European goals.
Just ask Italy’s Inter Milan, whose unexpected run to this year’s Champions League final shows yet another facet of this double-edged sword. In chasing European glory, their owners took their eyes off the league ball, illustrating just how priorities can change results on two tracks.
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