Europa League, not just for Thursdays

Gol Television declared it was a black day, or a black night for Spanish clubs in Europe. Spanish clubs had enjoyed the same results as English sides but the difference was that in Spain the Europa League is taken seriously. For Spanish clubs it is a trophy worth winning and another way of maintaining Spanish dominance on the club scene but clubs are not the only ones who are benefiting from the success of what some say is the poor relation to the Champions League.

In 2001 Liverpool won what was then known as the UEFA Cup. It came just two years after Manchester United had won the European Cup and a year after Arsenal lost on penalties in the UEFA Cup Final. English football was starting to emerge as a major force but the force was to be short lived. Since then, England have had three wins in the Champions League – Liverpool 2005, Manchester United 2008 and Chelsea 2012. Spain have won the Champions League four times – Real Madrid 2002, Barcelona 2006, 2009 and 2011. In the Europa League, England have had no winners since Liverpool’s victory against Alaves but Spain on the other hand have won it five times, Sevilla twice, Valencia once and Atletico Madrid twice. How has this benefited the national team?

In 2011, Spain’s Under-21s were crowned champions of Europe. In the squad there were World Cup winners and players who had played Champions League football, but as fringe players. Two key players to the success had played an active role in winning the Europa League for their club. Alvaro Dominguez and David de Gea started for Atletico as they won the Europa League in 2010. A year after the success in 2011, four more players would play in another final of the Europa League. The tournament that has often been overlooked by many is seen in Spain as a way for many young players to cut their teeth and also gain valuable experience in intense atmospheres that Europe can offer. Young players with lots of European experience can only delight the Spanish FA as they aim to continue their assembly line of talent and trophies.

It is not just Under-21 players who are gaining from the chance to play in Europe. One example of a current full international that benefited from the former UEFA Cup is Santi Cazorla. He played in the semi-finals of the Europa League in his final season at Villarreal. For Cazorla it was the opportunity to show Vicente del Bosque that he was able to handle it on the big stage. Cazorla is not alone. Players who do not play for clubs in the Champions League see the Europa League as an opportunity and not a burden. Spanish television stations want to show the games and there is interest from the Press in the tournament. In Spain, European success, no matter how small, is something to fight for and something to celebrate. Take Atletico’s Super Cup victory and parade through the streets of Madrid as an example.

Last season both Manchester clubs and Valencia were knocked out of the competition. Valencia fought to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League after falling into it, whilst the English clubs had other agendas. Both clubs had a League title to play for but that is not the case for every club in the Premier League.

This season, Atletico Madrid have started their campaign to retain the Europa League. The club need Champions League football to help balance out the books but silverware is silverware. Los Rojiblancos see their European campaign as worthwhile and whilst the club have rotated in the early stages, they are using youth players. Other clubs have a similar idea. Once again the benefactor could be the Spanish national side.

La Liga - Club News