Should Europa League Winners Really Secure Champions League Spots?

In a season characterised by inconsistency, the prospect of an all-English Europa League final involving Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur is both tantalising and contentious. With both clubs languishing in the lower tiers of the Premier League, their potential route back to the Champions League via European success raises significant questions about merit in football. Tottenham and United find themselves in an unusual position as they look forward to their upcoming Europa League semi-finals against Bodo/Glimt and Athletic Club, respectively. With precarious league positions—16th for Spurs and 15th for the Red Devils—their desperate form this season starkly contrasts with the continued hopes tied to their European campaigns. The UEFA's decision to offer Champions League qualification to Europa League winners, intended to incentivise competitiveness, has come under scrutiny from many, including footballing legend Arsène Wenger. Wenger, a name synonymous with Arsenal and a staunch advocate for footballing fairness, voiced his concerns during a recent appearance on BeIn Sports, stating, "No. They should qualify automatically for the Europa League again, not necessarily for the Champions League, especially where you are in a league that already has so many teams—five teams who will qualify." This sentiment echoes a growing unease regarding the dilution of meritocracy in the sport. The crux of Wenger's argument suggests that the rewards of winning the Europa League should not override the fundamental principles of league performance. He emphasises that such allowances could lead to greater disparity within the Premier League, further creating a divide between the leading clubs and the rest of the pack. As he noted, “With more teams now qualifying for Europe, the gulf inside the league will become even bigger.” The possibility of either club failing to secure a Champions League spot through domestic performance while benefitting from a Europa League victory is unsettling for many supporters and analysts. After all, how just is it that a season filled with mediocrity could culminate in the allure of Champions League football, a competition which typically represents the pinnacle of club success? On May 21, as Tottenham heads to Bilbao with a fragile 3-1 advantage over Bodo/Glimt and United stems into their second leg with a robust 3-0 lead against Athletic Club, the stakes could not be higher. Fans marvel at the idea that mediocre league performance might be brushed aside if either club lifts the Europa League trophy. Yet this leads back to Wenger's standpoint: is it really fair for badly performing teams to be rewarded in such a manner? Supporting Wenger's position is the stark reality that no team has completed the Champions League qualification dream from a lower league position than 12th since the rebranding of the competition a decade ago. In today’s game, the importance of regular top-flight performance arguably outweighs cup successes, and rewarding teams for lesser accomplishments could lead to a complacent attitude among clubs. As opinions on this matter continue to divide football analysts, fans of Tottenham and Manchester United are torn between the allure of European glory and a fair assessment of their season's performance. Ultimately, it raises a more profound question: at what point does a club's prestige outweigh its actual achievements on the pitch? The footballing community awaits the outcomes of the upcoming matches with bated breath, shrouded in the storm of debate surrounding qualification fairness. As the Europa League saga unfolds, will we see a challenge to fundamentally rethink the way European qualification is structured? Or will clubs continue to walk the tightrope of backdoor access to the most elite competition in football? We invite readers to share their thoughts and engage in this crucial discussion regarding fairness and merit in our beloved game.

• Arsene Wenger
• Manchester United
• Tottenham Hotspur