OpenTube

Why the Premier League's financial might still can't bully Europe's giants in the Champions League

Miguel Delaney's Inside Football

6,549 views

As the Champions League begins once again, Lawrence Ostlere is joined by Miguel Delaney and Richard Jolly on the latest episode of Copa Independent to debate the reduced jeopardy in the league phase, the value of finishing in the top eight, and how the format can benefit smaller clubs while packing the calendar. They discuss quirks of the draw and standout fixtures including Manchester City vs PSG, Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United, and José Mourinho facing former clubs, plus interest in Cesc Fàbregas’ Como.

The panel then explores why Premier League spending hasn’t translated into European dominance, citing domestic competitiveness, fatigue, turnover and coaching context.

Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n

Independent Sport brings you the latest and greatest in global sporting events, featuring expert analysis and reliable updates from the biggest fixtures on the planet.

Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent

Find us on social:
TikTok / TikTok: independentsport
Instagram / Instagram: independentsport
X (Twitter) / Twitter: Independent
Facebook / Facebook: TheIndependentOnline

Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh
Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x

Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations

14 Comments

@bucklberryreturns 3 weeks ago (edited)

The PL strength does hurt the clubs when playing in Europe versus the now only four monster continental giants, for two reasons.

1. Obviously, there's more tough games in the PL than other leagues (worsened by there literally being more games), meaning key players always get picked against Bournemouth and the likes.

2. There are so many giant clubs compared to other leagues who have at most two. This makes getting stars (like Vini Jr. to Arsenal this summer) very difficult, because we cannot guarantee a couple of major trophies. For all we know, Man Utd and Chelsea may have a decade long top of the league rivalry, with City and Arsenal winning a cup or two, that's not happening with Marseille and Lyon. As such, world stars go to Bayern, Madrid and PSG, because there is no risk.

@jonathanstreifer9389 3 weeks ago

Those "giants" are a shrinking number. There are essentially only four giants left that can compete with the PL.

@FCB_Jimmy 3 weeks ago

I really love this podcast. Quality!

@dronesclubhighjinks 8 days ago

I'm so impressed that British experts managed to talk about continental leagues without using the word farmer or using a sneering, contemptuous tone! Instant subscribe!
You have rightly noted that PSG is owned by limitless wealth Qatar.
Please also note that Bayern Munich and all of the Bundesliga clubs are 50% plus one fan owned. It's truly remarkable how they manage to stay competitive.
The other German clubs that used to be at the same level tumbled into financial difficulties over the past 50 years.

@user-kk4zw5jo4t 3 weeks ago

I'm with Miguel on the "wallpaper" nature of the games.
As a (casual) Inter fan on the other side of the world, I woke to the news they had played Madrid (oh?) and lost (shame) but that was about the extent of my reaction.
Does it really even matter in the scheme of things?

@mrcatcake1264 3 weeks ago

The LFP agreed to postpone difficult league games for PSG ahead of CL knockout games, which EPL would never have allowed

@rulifaller8474 3 weeks ago

If Barcelona, PSG and Bayern would play in the PL, there would be more thrashings. But the best team in the PL has a conservative set-up with relatively limited attacking talent. The other top teams are just not very good.

@CarlinConnolly 3 weeks ago

I think you have to add Man City and Liverpool as the teams that could win it, along with Inter, Real & Atletico Madrids - yes, Barca, PSG, BAyern & Arsenal are the favourites but once you get to the knockouts then those are your 8... and when did we ahve 8 serious contenders in the past? Since the CL began, we ahve had the italian teams and one or two others - Ajax in 95 came from nowhere... I don't think there is a single season of the CL when you ahd 6 contenders, let alone 8. The difference now is only that you can't see a dark horse coming through, but then no-one saw Porto in 2004, Liverpool in 2005 and Chelsea in 2012 as contenders before the season started.... let's face it, the CL has always had a few Big Guns and a few dark horses and a lot of also-rans...

@abiodun-b9 3 weeks ago

Looks like Premier league clubs have the disadvantage of weariness in the later stages of the Champions league, due the intensity of the PL compared to other leagues. Hence I will tip Barca, PSG or Bayern to win the CL.

@Lmjm86 3 weeks ago

ATletico Madrid

Not ATHletico Madrid

@rulifaller8474 3 weeks ago

Guardiola dominated football tactics, he obviously did not dominate the CL. He won it once in the past 15 years, and he even only made the final 2 times.

Real made the final twice in the past 8 years, they are not inevitable, and they have been terrible in the past two years and they have not really improved their weakest part in the team, their midfield. There is zero reason to put them in the top tier favorites, regardless of who is the manager.

Sometimes wanting to draw big conclusions makes you speak nonsense, and Theresia’s unfortunately quite a lot of that in this podcast.

@cirus900 3 weeks ago

Simple, the type of football played in epl is far from the best football.

@clemfandango619 3 weeks ago

Premier league clubs play 38 matches a season. They can't put their feet up like Real, Barca, bayern,PSG. The envy at the Premier league's appeal from a British paper says it all.

@johno9761 3 weeks ago

Why are journos who cover English football SO DAMN OBSESSED with money? These videos are ALWAYS about money and football finances and owners your more obsessed about it than ANYONE ELSE and yet you lot are the same people who call the spending grotesque. Then STOP talking about it every 5 minutes! All we’ve heard for the last month is Bezos and the consortium at Liverpool, record transfer spending, SCR/FFP/KFC.