Now here’s a question for Spurs fans: Would you rather win the Europa League Cup, or finish in the top four of the Barclays Premier League this season?
For me, I would love a trophy. The Europa league is maybe not the most prestigious cup, but it is a European Cup nonetheless. Seeing as Tottenham are already knocked out of their domestic cups, I think to win the Europa League would be a great achievement. Should football be about glory, about winning trophies? Or should it be about finishing in a set place in the league where the chairman receives a little more money to play with? To us fans, perhaps money isn’t everything. But, in the modern game money is so critical. It buys the world class players who advance the club forward. It expands stadiums to generate more revenue through ticket sales. It generally powers a club. Football isn’t just a sport anymore.
Top four means you qualify for the Champions League, something Spurs have not been involved with since 2010. Although the club did sit in a qualifying place in the 2011/2012 season but, as Chelsea won it that year earning themselves a spot, it required clubs to finish third or better to enter the competition. That season, Tottenham were just one point from qualifying, behind North London Rivals Arsenal.
The Champions league has brought some very special memories to Spurs fans. Their debut year in 2010 was fantastic to watch. Beating both AC and Inter Milan was a massive highlight, and to think that the club reached the quarter finals was something special, too. Perhaps finishing in the top four isn’t just about money then. A chance to play in CL football gives a club the opportunity to play against the world’s best.
With all due respect to the Europa League, if I had the choice between winning that competition or playing in the Champions League, I would choose the latter every time. It may not be a winnable competition for Tottenham at this stage, but who knows. Sometimes the underdog goes unnoticed until they are the ones holding the cup. After all, the game is about glory. Is playing in a contest against a Spanish giant better than beating a mediocre Norwegian team who, in their domestic league, are struggling for survival? Of course. Competing for a cup that is harder to win is simply better than winning one that is that much easier.
So, let’s hope we can finish strong this season. Strong enough for a top four finish.
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