The eyes of the footballing world will be on the Spanish city of Bilbao this week, as two of European football’s trailblazers contest the final of the Europa League on Wednesday night.
Manchester United were the first English team to lift the European Cup in 1968 under legendary manager Sir Matt Busby, following it with two further Champions League crowns in 1999 and 2008. Spurs has a storied European past of their own, representing the first British club to achieve major European silverware with the Cup Winners’ Cup success of 1963, following that with UEFA Cup successes in both 1972 and 1984.
It therefore seems strange to think that whoever lifts the trophy in Bilbao will likely be setting the unwanted record of winning a major European trophy whilst pairing that with the lowest domestic league finish in history – a fact that is unlikely to deter either team on Wednesday night. That record is currently held by West Ham United who finished 14th during their run to the UEFA Conference League title in 2023. The prize at stake though is much greater than during that particularly evening in Prague, with both clubs having the opportunity to gate-crash the Champions League next season and in so doing re-set their respective trajectories.
But is this additional reward unjust?
Arsene Wenger certainly thinks so, making the following widely circulated remarks about the award earlier this month.
Asked if it was “right” for the winners to qualify for the Champions League, Wenger told BEIN Sports: “No – they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League.”
“Especially when you’re in the Premier League where already five teams qualify.”
“I think it’s something (for UEFA) to think about and to review.”
Wenger has been dismissed as sour grapes, given his strong affinity to Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal. But he isn’t the only notable media presence who has argued against the automatic qualification scenario, especially for a football association that is already sending as many as five teams to the competition.
That final point is a valid one, as six teams in an elite competition from a single association would seem excessive when the norm was a maximum of four teams just a couple of seasons ago. Yet it was UEFA’s decision to expand the group stages from 32 to 36 teams that opened the door to increased participation, and the dominance of major leagues means that to do anything but include more teams from these associations would dilute the competition further. UEFA must balance representation in the Champions League against having the strongest teams available, and almost every recent winner of the Europa League would be a worthy participant in the premier competition based on competitive ability alone.
A domestic cap though should not see the Europa League qualification position removed. The gruelling navigation of UEFA’s secondary competition is a greater achievement than finishing 4th or 5th in the Premier League, not least for the fact it involves actually winning something. Spurs fans are keenly aware of having the ‘4th placed trophy’ jibes levelled against them – a Europa League winning season would represent a far greater achievement than their trophyless Champions League qualifications.
That sentiment will of course not be universal, but is more likely to resonate best with those that grew up on European football that was often reserved for those that won their league or domestic competitions to qualify. In winning the Europa League and therefore earning a seat with the elite of European football harks back a little to the days of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, and obviously allows the UEFA Europa League to maintain its prestige in the modern day.
This wasn’t a prize that appeared suddenly either, both teams – and indeed the finalists in recent years – have known from the outset what is at stake in this competition. The approach Manchester United and Spurs have taken in the competition should be commended and not vilified. Despite avoiding the qualification rounds with immediate entry into the group stages, both sides will have navigated 15 games by the end of Wednesday and have taken in vast swathes of the continent in the process. This is not a feat that should be underestimated or dismissed, especially in an era of near endless domestic cup obligations and regular international football throughout the season
By the end Wednesday night the winner will have truly earned their place amongst the elite of European football.