The fixture congestion in England has been attributed to as the major reason why Premier League clubs are struggling in European club competitions.
Others have pointed at several other factors, as a likely reason why clubs in England performed below expectations in European competitions this campaign.
Certainly, moving from a season where two Premier League clubs were crowned champions of respective European competitions, to another season where only one made it to the semi-finals leaves much to ponder on.
Manchester City defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the final to win the UEFA Champions League last campaign, while West Ham United also saw off Fiorentina 1-0 to win the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The Premier League has been dubbed the most competitive league in the world and also termed by many as the best league in Europe.
However, why does the league seen as the best of the best have only one representative remaining in a European competition this season as opposed to their other counterparts?
Definitely, this brings worry to enthusiasts of the Premier League, who view the division as the crème de la crème of leagues in Europe.
Jurgen Klopp offers his reason on why Premier League clubs are struggling in European club competitions
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, whose side crashed out to Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League after being defeated 3-1 on aggregate is of the notion that unhealthy congestion of fixtures has been the major factor.
Speaking in a presser ahead of his side’s upcoming league clash against Tottenham Hotspur, the coach said: “If no English team is in a European final, have we underperformed? The Premier League is the best in the world, not overrated, the players [overworked]. Someone needs to help the people, cut off one game!”
Klopp has over the years bemoaned the scheduling of matches in England and it sometimes in recent years sounds like a broken record given the number of times he has touched on it.
The health of footballers, who are the major component of the game expectedly should be paramount to all stakeholders, but in recent years, it looks like that isn’t the case.
From the emergence of new competitions internationally and at the club level, it is safe to say, that could be a major reason why Premier League players have not delivered as expected.
Pep Guardiola after his team’s FA Cup semi-final win against Chelsea, bemoaned the scheduling of matches these days and how players are often stressed out beyond comprehension.
Pep Guardiola On Fixture Congestion In England
Speaking with the BBC after the game, Guardiola said: “It’s unacceptable to let us play today. It’s impossible, for the health of the players. It’s not normal.
He added: “It’s unacceptable. 120 minutes, the emotions of Madrid, the way we lose, honestly.
“I know this country is special (with the FA Cup) but it’s for the health of the players. I don’t understand how we survived today.”
In addition, he stressed that all he is looking out for is the protection of his players.
The Spaniard added: “I just want to protect my players. It’s common sense. I’m not asking for something special or a privilege.”
Erik Ten Hag, Jose Mourinho, and David Moyes amongst others are notable managers who have also complained about fixture congestion in England.
Could that be the only reason why Premier League clubs have struggled in Europe this season? Well, I would not like to think so.
Are Premier Clubs Experiencing A Phase?
European football in the past two decades has shown that it has moved in phases, with the Serie A, German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, and La Liga all dominating at a point in time.
The years of dominance for these leagues differed, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla flying the flag of Spain for a lengthy period.
Afterwards, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and recently Manchester City have also fiercely competed in Europe.
Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus have also waved the banner of Italy high on a couple of occasions.
Olympique Marseille, the only French club to win the UEFA Champions League, and Paris Saint Germain have also fought squarely in European football for a while.
Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bayer Leverkusen, are also viable examples in Germany that have in years past accentuated brilliance in Europe.
Recently, as earlier indicated in this article, Manchester City and West Ham hoisted the flag of the Premier League high and well in the 2022/23 season.
Unfortunately, they have failed to replicate such this term, with Aston Villa being the only Premier League team remaining in Europe.
This obviously is a paradigm shift with the status quo for Premier League fans possibly resuming next season or in subsequent seasons.
Drop In The Amount Of Quality Players In The Premier League?
Additionally, there is the belief that the shirt sometimes gives a faux representation of the quality of some players.
For example, an average player by virtue of playing for Manchester City will be more respected and thought to be special as opposed to a quality player plying his trade with Sunderland, no disrespect to the Championship side.
However, that indeed might not be the right basis for assessment, as a quality player is only one, due to the brilliance he delineates on the football field irrespective of the club he plays for.
As such, it can be argued that some Premier League clubs have average players wearing their shirts and competing in Europe against oppositions with better players.
Even though, their fans will be enveloping the thought that they are better, in truth, they might be inferior.
Other superficial reasons why Premier League clubs are struggling in European competitions could be; passion on the day not being as immense as their competitors, or luck playing against them.
Winners of European competitions in the past 13 years from England (2011 – till date):
Chelsea – 2011/12, 2020/21 (UEFA Champions League)
Chelsea – 2012/13, 2018/19 (UEFA Europa League)
Manchester United – 2016/17 (UEFA Europa League)
Liverpool – 2018/19 (UEFA Champions League)
Manchester City – 2022/23 (UEFA Champions League)
West Ham United – 2022/23 (UEFA Europa Conference League).
The UEFA Super Cup was excluded because it is a one-off affair and not a competition, although it is a major trophy.
