Domestic competition has raised the Europa League’s standing in England

By Ryan Conway

In 2013 Jose Mourinho proclaimed that it would be a “big disappointment” to win the Europa League. The statement came just months after Chelsea had lifted the trophy under the stewardship of ‘The Special One’s’ replacement, Rafa Benitez.

Fast-forward to 2017 and an emotional Mourinho stood on the Old Trafford touchline cheering and waving a scarf around, such was his delight at reaching the final of the competition. The celebrations were underlined by the post-match comments the Portuguese made after besting Celta Vigo in the semi-final, “If we win the Europa League I am more than happy. It would be amazing,”

“It means there is an opportunity to win a trophy, an opportunity to be back in the Champions League, and it means an opportunity to end the season in a perfect way because a final is the last match of the season.”

The Europa League has long been held in contempt by some Premier League clubs while teams on the continent have taken to it with the same seriousness as the Champions League. A snobbery of a competition that is more of a hindrance to the league campaign rather than a competition to strive to win, that snobbery is no longer present.

Jose mourinho!!! ❤ @ManUtd @AnthonyMartial coz United r going to Stockholm ❤ pic.twitter.com/haD0fDHuia

— Katie Flynn (@Kate_flynn86) May 11, 2017

A long-standing hierarchy of England’s top four teams has rendered Europe’s second club competition irrelevant. Yet the growing competitiveness among clubs to play Champions League football has inadvertently given a boost to a trophy often overlooked.

An established top four has become a topsy-turvy battle between six teams: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. With two teams set to miss out each season the Europa League has provided a backdoor entrance for a seat at the top table in club football as well as a trophy to lift at the end of it all.

In his last season in charge Arsene Wenger admitted his focus was squarely on the competition with Arsenal’s chances of the top four “very slim” in the Frenchman’s words. Unai Emery has taken the reigns at The Emirates stadium and has specialised in the competition in the past. The former Paris Saint-Germain boss guided Sevilla to three straight triumphs in the competition. He may be tasked with winning it for the first time in The Gunner’s history should the league campaign prove to be frustrating.

Emery defeated Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the 2016 final. Before the clash in Basel the Liverpool manager spoke about the importance of the final calling it an “outstanding opportunity”.  The game signaled a chance for Klopp to reach the Champions League but also to lift his first piece of silverware as manager of The Reds. The step up in domestic challenges has resulted in English teams competing on Thursday nights to give added significance to the fixtures. A trophy always looks good on the CV for managers after all.

Emery and his counterpart across town, Maurizio Sarri, find themselves in similar positions with their respective clubs. While judgement will most likely be reserved for how their sides look one year from now, having a Europa League as a peace offering for the board and supporters alike will earn them more time to complete their projects – as it has possibly afforded Mourinho in Manchester.

To play in, and win, the Champions League is the undoubted goal of the elite English clubs. However, the younger brother of Europe’s top club competition is no longer treated with the same disdain which greeted it less than five years ago.