Europa League Final - Benfica v Blue Scum

[kazzah9]

That was terryble

 

[kcmei]

I still think teams that went out in the champions league should not be allowed to participate in the europa league. If they're out, then they're out! Doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Shea]

I still think teams that went out in the champions league should not be allowed to participate in the europa league. If they're out, then they're out! Doesn't make much sense to me.

This is a huge issue to me

I'm sure they do it to add value to the EL by the fact that larger brand teams will end up playing in it - but clearly it has the opposite effect of defining the EL as a wooden spoon competition

They should scrap that straight away - personally I think they should reduce the number of teams in the CL and increase the amount of prize money in the EL to gain some parity

I'd actually prefer them to revert to the old system

CHAMPIONS ONLY in the CL

Best of the rest compete for the EL massively increasing its value as a result

Cup winners in the CWC increasing the value of winning your domestic cup again

As things stand they may as well scrap the EL and just increase the size of the CL because they've reduced the EL to a sham

 

[faymantaray]

​

 

[ItsBoris]

Haha and we think we're cursed:

In 1959, Benfica signed Hungarian coach Bela Guttmann from Porto. In 3 seasons he won two Portuguese league titles, one Portuguese cup, and two European cups. in 1962 he asked Benfica's board for a pay raise and they refused. He angrily left the club and said "Not in 100
years from now will Benfica win a European Cup."

They've lost 7 European finals since:1963, 1965, 1968, 1983, 1988,1990 and now 2013. 51 years and the curse continues."

Also interestingly if Bayern win the CL final and Mourinho goes to Chelsea, it will be Mou vs Pep in each of their first competitive games for their clubs.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Even with the news of John Terry's retirement he remains confident of picking up a winner's medal in the 2014 World Cup and he was last seen heading for Lord's in full cricket gear, just in case England beat West Indies.

 

[TheChosenOne]

I just call it the "Champion's League Losers Cup"

Bitter ? No. Just that they shouldn't be in it, innit.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

No, I agree. If you're out of a competition that should be the end of it, not being given another chance in another competition.

 

[ethanedwards]

Chelsea claiming to be Champions of Europe[/B] and so successful.. a) not champions of europe b) only in Europa League because couldnt get out of group stages of Champions League

Technically they still are.

 

[nailsy]

I'm another one who doesn't understand how Chelsea can win a competition they didn't qualify for

 

[nailsy]

I still think teams that went out in the champions league should not be allowed to participate in the europa league. If they're out, then they're out! Doesn't make much sense to me.

Exactly. It's like putting QPR, Reading & Wigan in the Playoffs now that they've been relegated.

 

[Spursbabe63]

Funny though...they are celebrating winning what they classed as the Mickey Mouse Cup of Europe!! And they called us fickle??!!

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Once again it's just a trophy handed out for effectively being a loser....

 

[RichieS]

Exactly. It's like putting QPR, Reading & Wigan in the Playoffs now that they've been relegated.

That's actually not a bad idea - the playoffs are a crap concept anyway (Watford came 3rd over 46 games, they should be up imo). You could set it up so that 19th and 20th in the Prem have to play each other in the first game so at least one of them will definitely go down. This season, something like this:

2-leg home and away
A) Reading v QPR
B) Wigan v Bolton
C) Watford v Leicester
D) Brighton v Palace

1-off neutral venue
E) A v B
F) C v D

1-off Wembley
Final: E v F

Winner joins Cardiff and Hull in the PL next season.