When Liverpool fans look back at their time in the Uefa Cup, as it was former known, they do so fondly, remembering the side brimming with skill and spirit in the enthralling final of 2001 which they won via a golden goal. But after a disappointing season both domestically and in the Champions League, Liverpool were left with the now demoralising prospect of playing Europa League football.
And the change in how top clubs view the competition, although sporadic, is not without reason – it is perhaps influenced by the Champions League and just how lucrative it has become.
Figures released by UEFA reflect that despite a relatively anticlimactic performance in the tournament when compared to recent successes, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea earned themselves a combined total of £114.6million from television and prize money.
This is unsurprising given the amounts of money that are spent in football today, but what is rather startling is those figures compared to the discrepancy with the sums amassed by English clubs participating in the Europa League. Fulham earned around £8.1million whilst Everton earned a mere £2.8 million.
Such disparity vindicates the disdain shown to the Europa League by the top clubs and their fans whilst raising the question: Is it any wonder the gap between the top of the Premier League and the also rans continues to exist?
For was Fulham’s fairy-tale not of equal value, if not much more, than Chelsea’s Champions League exit – I am not suggesting for one moment that if Fulham had have earned as much as Chelsea for their European excursions they would have broken into the top four but it may of at least helped bridge the vast gap between them and those clubs. The figures also help to make Everton’s achievement in the 04/05 season all the more remarkable – especially when you consider the budget upon which Moyes orchestrated it.
Whatever clubs of a lesser stature than those representing England in Europe or sides without the riches of Manchester City do, the inflated prize money that can be incurred through Champions League prize money dictates the struggle we see year upon year to break into the elusive top four. The prizes that are on offer intensify clubs desire to be amongst Europe’s top clubs whilst tainting the reputation of the once celebrated Uefa Cup.
I feel that only Manchester City and Tottenham can only truly be considered as major contenders to smash the glass ceiling due to their evident wealth and Daniel Levy’s willingness to fund Harry Redknapp’s ambitions respectively – hopefully the Financial Fair Play rules will help reduce this gap.
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