By Andrew Warshaw
September 6 – The much-maligned Europa League, the UEFA Cup in its former guise, has gained strong support from Europe’s top club coaches who believe it is now a credible tournament in its own right.
In past seasons, many clubs, not least those in England, have treated the competition as a needless distraction, fielding weakened teams so as not to suffer injuries to key players.
However, this season’s competition is arguably the strongest yet and Europe’s leading club coaches made it clear today that they are in favour of it being extended beyond 2014-2015.
That is when the existing three-year television contract deal expires, but getting rid of the tournament and expanding the far more prestigious and lucrative Champions’ League would make no sense, according to the game’s top managers.
“I believe that the new Europa League is improving from year to year and you have to give it time,” Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger said at the conclusion of UEFA’s annual elite coaches forum.
Wenger noted that UEFA once ran three continental club competitions.
The European Cup Winners’ Cup was scrapped in 1999, and the UEFA Cup was rebranded in the current Europa League format ten years later.
The Arsenal coach, who has guided his team into the Champions League group stage for 15 straight seasons, said the Europa League presented high-quality football.
“You saw the level of Atlético Madrid in the Super Cup,” Wenger said, referring to the Europa League champions’ 4-1 trouncing of Champions League winners Chelsea last Friday (August 31).
Not everyone, however, is happy with the format of the Europa League, which allows clubs eliminated from the Champions League group stage to be parachuted straight into the second-tier tournament to have another crack at glory.
“I know UEFA are looking at the nature of the competition,” said UEFA’s technical director Andy Roxburgh.
Another part of the forum was a presentation by UEFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina – notably on the system of additional assistant referees deployed successfully in UEFA’s competitions but still frowned upon in many quarters of the game.
“This was quite illuminating for a lot of people in the room,” said Roxburgh.
“I’m not sure that [the coaches] were aware of what everybody’s duties were – and the kind of angles and vision that they have.
“The additional eyes have definitely improved things.
“They certainly have a deterrent effect on pulling, pushing and elbowing in the penalty box.”
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