The Europa League is often regarded as the Champions League’s ugly sister who no one is interested in, and despite attempts by UEFA to glamour it up by the reward of Champions League football it is perceived so negatively by English clubs and the media.

But it really shouldn’t be, and the competition suffers as it is used as a scapegoat for poor league form for clubs competing in it.

Whilst that may be true for some clubs, however if the teams were more equipped in terms of squad depth then surely the fixture pile up it presents shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

It has a stigma to it and unfortunately they won’t be changed here in England take it seriously, and since Chelsea won it is 2013 no English club has advanced past the round of 16.

Largely down to the fact it is perceived so negatively, but surely the chance for some form of European glory and now with the added incentive of Champions League football for the winner is a big enough incentive for English clubs to take the competition seriously.

Of course it could do with some restructuring, maybe reduce the amount of clubs in it and reduce the games as a result would go along way to making it more elite and less of a strain on clubs league form.

It is true to a degree that it will impact on league form the stats back it up, but for teams just short of the elite level (top four) in Spurs and Liverpool. The pair could be well advised to have a real crack at the competition as it won’t be easy for those two clubs to break the top four, winning the Europa League could well be their best shot of Champions League football.

Also, the clubs below the likes of Liverpool and Spurs like West Ham, Southampton, Swansea City and Stoke City will welcome the competition.

It is a chance for European football, and their fans wouldn’t mind a 13th place league finish if it meant they had a real run in a European competition. It is a good competition and should be seen positively and without it the clubs below the top four would have even less to play for.

Which is a bad thing, as all these clubs realistically have left to play for is Premier League survival and just maintaining a place in the Premier League, at least with the Europa League places being 5th and 6th, teams can gradually progress to aim for the Europa League and European football after establishing themselves as a regular Premier League side.

Whilst it can be seen as a positive for some unfortunately down to the Europa League’s bad reputation for many it will be seen as a poor man’s Champions League until clubs and the media start to change their perception over the competition.

It could do with a restructuring, but at the moment it has it’s positives and clubs should focus on those rather than blame the Europa League for everything that goes wrong.

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