English Teams' European Failures – What's to Blame?
The English Premier League (EPL) is one of the biggest football leagues in the world, let alone Europe, with a revenue of almost 6.5 billion euros. You will be amazed to know that the EPL is worth more than Europe's next two most significant leagues—La Liga and Bundesliga—combined!
Yet, since 2000, the English clubs have won just six out of the possible 24 Champions League titles and just four Europa Leagues. Other European teams, especially the Spanish clubs, have dominated the European championships and made the English teams look second-tier.
So, what gives? Why are the English clubs getting such a hammering in Europe? Well, let’s try to find out.
Tactical disadvantage
One of the starkest differences you will find between the playing styles of the English clubs versus other European clubs is the pace of the game. While English clubs are renowned for their high-octane gameplay, other European teams take a different approach.
For instance, the Spanish teams tend to dominate possession, the Italians excel in tactical discipline, and the Germans blend pace with technical precision. You might have seen the English teams struggle to adapt to these nuances, leading to crucial missteps in critical matches.
Another thing that's holding the English clubs back is the tactical preparation (or lack thereof) against seasoned European sides. Even experienced managers like Pep Guardiola have had tactical snafus in critical games. Manchester City FC has faced many such exits due to an abrupt change in tactics mid-competition.
Managers who do very well in the domestic circuit with a strategy are ready to abandon that strategy when it comes to facing their European counterparts. You can see how overthinking and overcomplicating strategies affect key players and disturb the team's balance on the pitch. This shift in approach can be as unpredictable as trying to find the best odds on football betting in South Africa, often leaving fans and pundits baffled by the sudden change.
Financial aspects
While it is true that EPL clubs have more money than they know what to do with, they have failed in their talent acquisition strategy. You will often see a club spending a crazy amount of money on transfer fees only to realise that the talent they were after is not worth it. The EPL clubs have a bad tendency to spend vast sums of money on star names, even if it creates an imbalance in the squad.
While a star-studded lineup might intimidate a domestic club, you need a well-rounded squad to compete in European leagues. Clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have done a far better job of balancing star power with balance. The European teams are way better at rotating their players without losing quality, a trait you will find sorely missing in the EPL.
Player fatigue and squad depth
The English football scene is insanely packed for the players. You can imagine how the pressure to perform at peak efficiency for such a long time can take a toll on their body and mind. It is no wonder the English players look like they are spent by the middle of European championships.
Another issue you will notice with English clubs is the depth of the squad. While some teams possess deep squads, you will often see a steep decline in quality between the first choice and the backup.
You will notice that the problem is less evident for clubs like Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain, who seem to have mastered the art of rotation without losing quality. If some English teams manage this aspect of their squad better, you will start seeing better performance and some championships coming home to England.
Other issues
Since Brexit, the English teams have found it challenging to deal with changes in player recruitment and work permit issues. The regulatory hurdles have taken a toll on some of the teams and their ability to sign some high-impact international players.
Another factor to consider is the psychological factors at play. When you have been underperforming for so long and have tremendous expectations from the fans, it can be difficult to break the shackles. Have you noticed how the unforced errors suddenly increase when the same team plays against a European rival than when it plays in the EPL? That’s psychology at play.
While the clubs are pouring in money and resources to address some of these issues, the results have been quite disappointing till now. Let's hope things change this season and English clubs regain their dominance in Europe.
