The Europa League. Often looked at as the Champions League’s runt sibling, UEFA’s second tier of continental club football has been sneered at in recent years, with many claiming that the sheer level of matches involved and the long trips for Thursday night games have a negative impact on domestic performances.
True, there are a lot of matches (15 to win the tournament proper) and, granted, there are often trips to countries such as Bulgaria, Russia and Turkey, but the Europa League deserves some respect.
Southampton are the latest new kids on the block from the English game to roll up their sleeves and wade in, with a winnable qualification play-off tie with FC Midtjylland all that stands between the Hampshire outfit and real continental football.
Although some have already suggested that the extra games may be too much for Ronald Koeman’s men – citing Everton’s struggled last season – we believe that the Saints must embrace the challenge and that taking it seriously is the best possible thing to do. Here are FIVE reasons why…
Realism
Let’s be realistic for a few seconds. Southampton pretty much reached their ceiling last season. Pushing for a Champions League qualification spot was all well and good, but eventually the financial muscle of the likes of Liverpool, Spurs and Manchester United saw the Saints pushed down to a seventh place finish. No disrespect intended, but that’s the best the club can truly hope for, unless they get a huge cash injection from wealthy owners – albeit Financial Fair Play would prevent a Manchester City-esque rise.
Southampton are somewhat in limbo, they’re not powerful enough to compete for the top four this season, yet they’re far too good to be anywhere near a relegation fight. So, why not put serious effort into the Europa League? Silverware is on offer and, aside from a handful of elite sides – whose motivation in the competition may be questionable – the South Coast outfit are among the upper end of the teams involved in terms of quality.
Style of football
Although not at the extreme end of the scale – the tiki taka phenomenon – Southampton do aim to play football in an attractive manner, selecting technical prowess over physical power. Okay, Victor Wanyama and Graziano Pelle bring an element of brute force, but in Jose Fonte they have a centre-back comfortable bringing the ball forward, while attacking midfielders such as Jay Rodriguez, Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane enable a fluid approach in the final third.
A solid defence last season – albeit the first two games of the new Premier League season have raised concerns – bodes well for European football, with keeping it tight away from home often necessary.
Champions League back door route?
Win the Europa League and you book a spot in the Champions League. Finally the competition has been given genuine credibility by UEFA’s decision to allocate another spot in the biggest competition, and Sevilla, in its inaugural campaign, took advantage by lifting the trophy – they finished fifth in La Liga.
38 Premier League games are likely to see at least six teams finish ahead of the Saints, while a friendly draw and a handful of truly great performances could put the Hampshire side in with a shout of reaching the final, and maybe even lifting the Europa League trophy.
Continental appeal
The Europa League may be given a look akin to that you may direct at unidentified brown mess on the bottom of your shoe in England, but across the continent the competition has a larger appeal. Aside from the bigger teams who drop into the tournament from the Champions League or find themselves eligible on the back of below par seasons, the competition is pretty fierce with impressive sides such as Sevilla having shown just how to benefit from the exposure it brings.
Players want to play European football, and if Southampton can impress it may give them a greater level of attractiveness when chasing stars from mainland Europe, or further afield.
Something for the fans
Midweek games under the floodlights are always a little bit magical. Southampton supporters have been through a lot over the course of the last 10 years, dropping as low as League One while almost witnessing the club, one of only a few elite sides on the South Coast, nearly cease to exist through financial issues.
A season of European football seemed improbable not so long ago, so supporters of the red and white side are really embracing it now – the atmosphere at St Mary’s against Vitesse Arnhem was truly excellent.
It would be quite the reward for the club’s loyal following to see their side playing against teams such as, potentially, Schalke, Villarreal or Napoli when trips to sides like Bristol Rovers and Walsall were on the agenda in 2011.
