This week has been a tough one for British teams in European competitions, with only one out of seven teams winning, (Everton) during the round of 32 in the Champions League and Europa League. With disappointing losses, especially to Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, the future looks bleak for British team’s chances of European glory. They have been overtaken by teams from Germany, Spain and Italy, in terms of ability to win and all round play.
The amount of games British teams play in a week is a real concern- some teams traveling all over Europe. No other teams from other countries within either competition play as often as English teams and it effects them from being able to last the full ninety minutes while giving 100% effort. In countries such as Germany, they let their teams play on a Friday in preparation for a game on the following Tuesday or Wednesday. This gives their teams a great advantage with an additional 24–48 hours to recover and prepare fully. In comparison, British teams may play on the Sunday in the Premier League and then again on the Tuesday or Wednesday. This leads to fatigue and the inability to perform to the level in which English players capable of playing at. This is an issue that the Premier League should definately look into changing.
No one ever questions the skill of Premier League teams and the league has often been perceived as the best in the world. When they play in Europe, they are not losing their desire to play in the biggest club competition in the world. Watching these teams play, it does look as if there may be other competitions or matches on their minds.
The tactics that British teams present in Europe shows too much respect for other teams. They sit back and try to soak up the pressure, rarely going out and attacking from the start. Teams like Barcelona, Madrid, and Munich will always go out and take the game to their opponents, showing off their passing, technique, and flair- not allowing the other teams to play, personified by these three teams percentage of possession during their recent games. With only 6 goals from the 7 English teams this week (three from Everton alone), attack is definitely something Premier league teams will need to work on. In these cup competitions, you have to take all your chances and not doing so is a recipe for disaster.
What British teams have shown, especially at this stage, has proven they are lagging behind the rest of Europe. This is something that will have to change and they have to start performing and winning in order for the Premier League to reclaim its crown as the best league in the world. This looks far from reality at this point and there are many factors which are effecting their capability of progressing.