BEFORE WE START, two things need to be made clear. Football is the greatest sport on earth, and I don’t support a team. Taking these two elements into account allows me the fortune of seeing the game for what it is in an objective(ish) manner. Conversely, I can never truly understand how it feels to see your team win a trophy, avoid relegation, or in the case of Barcelona versus Paris Saint-Germain feel the total euphoria or soul-destroying misery that came with that result. I hover in fandom purgatory, just enjoying the moment, but not feeling it. I get my thrills from the spectacle.
In the aftermath of Monaco’s thrilling encounter with Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16, it became clear that this season’s knockout stages were truly exceptional. Pundits and fans alike were quick to praise the incredible drama and high-scoring matches. This included the unforgettable moment when Sergio Roberto’s dramatic late goal secured Barcelona’s historic comeback against PSG, a moment etched in football history.
This particular Round of 16 witnessed an astonishing 62 goals across 16 matches, averaging a remarkable 3.8 goals per game. For neutral observers, it was a feast of attacking football. For supporters of the eight victorious teams who navigated this intense 29-day period, the euphoria was palpable.
The subsequent quarter-final draw presented further captivating matchups. Yet, for many, the spotlight shone on Leicester City. While they were the sole English representative remaining, their allure transcended national boundaries. Their Champions League journey was rapidly evolving into a modern football fairytale, a narrative that would undoubtedly become legend for Leicester faithful, a fitting continuation of their improbable Premier League triumph.
Amidst this reflection on the captivating Champions League action, my thoughts drifted back to a Real Madrid versus Napoli clash from a bygone era. The year was 1987; I was a football-obsessed 14-year-old. This particular game held immense significance as it featured my footballing idol, Diego Maradona, pitted against a star-studded Real Madrid side boasting the likes of the brilliant Emilio Butragueño.
However, this wasn’t a Champions League fixture as we know it today. This was something arguably even more prestigious: a European Cup tie. Adding to its historical weight, it was a first-round encounter, a stark contrast to the strategically crafted Round of 16 matchups of the modern Champions League.
Maradona had recently spearheaded Napoli to their first-ever Serie A title, a historic achievement that granted them entry into Europe’s premier club competition. In that era, participation was reserved exclusively for league champions, with the exception of the previous year’s European Cup winner, who was invited to defend their crown.
Intriguingly, the first leg in Madrid was played behind closed doors as punishment for crowd disturbances in Real Madrid’s previous season’s semi-final against Bayern Munich. Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory in the eerily silent stadium before traveling to Italy for the return leg. An early Napoli goal ignited hopes of a comeback, but a Madrid equalizer extinguished those dreams, abruptly ending Napoli’s inaugural European Cup campaign after a single round.
Johan Cruyff lifting the European Cup, a symbol of the prestigious tournament that preceded the Champions League.
It is often suggested that this particular fixture indirectly contributed to the eventual creation of the Champions League, or at least a version resembling it. Silvio Berlusconi, the then-owner of AC Milan, reportedly watched the game in disbelief that two footballing giants could be drawn against each other so early in the competition. The prospect of one of these European powerhouses being eliminated so early in the tournament deeply troubled the Italian media magnate. Berlusconi also feared that his own beloved Rossoneri could suffer a similar fate. Driven by these concerns, he proposed the idea of a European Super League, designed to guarantee consistent matchups between Europe’s elite clubs.
Red Star Belgrade’s 1991 European Cup victory, a testament to the tournament’s history of crowning diverse Euro champions.
Read | Red Star and the immortal triumph of 1991
While the Super League concept didn’t immediately materialize, the underlying concern about premature exits for major clubs resonated within UEFA. Recognizing the financial and sporting interests of these dominant teams, UEFA opted to create a competition structure that would allow them to remain involved for longer periods. This ultimately led to the evolution of the European Cup into the Champions League, a competition that has undergone numerous transformations since its inception.
In the era of the European Cup, fate played a significant role. The draw held immense importance: Who would your team be drawn against? For many fans, it was an opportunity to rally behind their nation’s club representative, transforming the competition into a mini-European Championship of sorts.
The draws were eagerly anticipated weeks in advance. For some, like myself, the European Cup draw even made geography somewhat interesting. Armed with an atlas and newspaper, I would meticulously analyze the draw, tracking the journeys of British clubs, identifying the longest trips, the easternmost destinations, and, of course, the glamour tie of each round.
In a pre-internet era, before the fall of the Iron Curtain, any fixture beyond Vienna felt like venturing into the unknown. Information was scarce, relying on fragmented accounts and second-hand stories. Playgrounds buzzed with tales, often embellished, of someone’s dad who knew someone who had traveled to these footballing outposts and faced unimaginable challenges. The European Cup draw conjured up fanciful narratives, painting a picture of football played in almost mythical lands.
Match highlights, usually broadcast on Sportsnight in the UK, offered tantalizing glimpses of these distant stadia, often featuring running tracks encircling the pitch. Familiar names from World Cups would appear, now sporting unfamiliar club colors, yet showcasing the same renowned skill and flair. It took time to reconcile that the Michel Platini in Juventus’ black and white stripes was the same player who graced the 1982 World Cup in the untucked blue of France.
Remarkably, the European Cup format could even produce domestic clashes, but only when a nation held the title of European champion. Such an occurrence was a badge of honor, signifying a country’s dominance in European club football.
This rare event materialized in the 1978-79 competition. Nottingham Forest, under the legendary Brian Clough, fresh from their league title triumph and maiden European Cup entry, were drawn against the previous two-time Euro Champions, Liverpool, in the first round. It was the undisputed tie of the round, requiring no atlas to locate.
Forest prevailed 2-0 in the first leg and then held the reigning European champions to a 0-0 draw at Anfield. Their European journey had begun, defeating the favorites in the opening round, ultimately culminating in their first European Cup victory. Remarkably, Nottingham Forest, despite the European Cup’s champions-only prerequisite, went on to successfully defend their title the following season, becoming the only club to have won the European Cup more times than their domestic league title.
While familiarity may have played a role in Clough’s Forest side conquering Europe, it pales in comparison to the repetitive matchups that characterize the modern Champions League. This season alone, we witnessed Barcelona facing PSG and Bayern Munich clashing with Arsenal for the fourth time in five seasons. Such repeated encounters risk breeding not just contempt but also boredom amongst fans beyond those directly involved.
A retro-style animation celebrating the European Cup, evoking nostalgia for the tournament’s golden era and its Euro champions.
This brings us to the central question: Is the Champions League truly superior to the European Cup? This is a debate that sparks endless discussions among football enthusiasts, a question perhaps destined to remain unanswered, much like whether Manchester United’s treble-winning team surpassed the Busby Babes or how Lionel Messi would have fared in the 1970s.
As time passes, a sense of traditionalism deepens. Football history was once defined by eras of great teams and dominant players. Now, there’s a growing concern that football, particularly in England, is increasingly categorized as pre- or post-Premier League, and pre- or post-Champions League. Many contemporary sports students lack a genuine understanding of the traditions of the old First Division or the European Cup.
For me, the core distinction lies in the European Cup’s exclusivity as a competition for league champions. It was the ultimate reward for conquering a domestic league campaign, a grueling test of consistency over numerous matches. Winning the league title guaranteed not just a medal but also a coveted place in the most prestigious club competition. The league title and European Cup were almost equally valued, representing more than just financial gains for players and clubs.
The straight knockout format of the European Cup injected an element of thrilling unpredictability and high stakes into every tie. To triumph, teams had to be prepared to overcome any opponent. This format inherently fostered the potential for cup upsets, a narrative that resonates deeply with neutral fans.
The two-legged format, prevalent in every round except the final, ensured that first-leg performances carried significant weight into the return fixture. Imagine the heightened drama if every round possessed the intensity of that extraordinary Champions League Round of 16 witnessed this season?
In the 1992-93 season, the European Cup underwent a transformation, becoming the Champions League. The format shifted to incorporate group stages, diluting the knockout drama and diminishing the potential for unexpected comebacks like the Barcelona-PSG spectacle.
In 1997, UEFA further altered the landscape, a change that, in my view, permanently diminished the competition’s prestige. They permitted league runners-up to enter the tournament proper. By 1999, this expansion grew further, allowing some nations to field up to four teams. The 2005-06 season witnessed the unprecedented situation of five English clubs participating in the Champions League.
How can a competition featuring 25 percent of the Premier League clubs truly be considered the Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens (European Champion Clubs’ Cup)? Why should champions from smaller footballing nations be relegated to qualifying rounds? Winning a league title, regardless of the country’s stature, should be recognized as winning a league title.
Why should Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints (TNS) be compelled to compete in a first-round qualifying game on June 28th, while Tottenham, finishing third in the Premier League, automatically progress to the group stages, commencing their campaign on September 14th?
Ajax’s history as Euro champions highlights the legacy of clubs from various nations who have achieved European glory.
Read | Amsterdam’s last night of European glory
In this season’s Champions League, only three teams – Barcelona, Juventus, and Leicester City – league winners from their respective domestic competitions, managed to top their groups. Teams that were not champions in their previous season claimed the top spot in the remaining five groups. While it’s a valid point that teams must earn their progress, and league winners are not guaranteed group dominance, the current format provides an inherent advantage to non-champions from wealthier leagues.
The influence of money and lucrative media contracts significantly shapes the structure and seeding of teams in the current format. The insatiable demand for televised football coverage is a major driving force, but should this demand supersede the fundamental ethos of the competition?
Do clubs like TNS not deserve the opportunity to be drawn against footballing giants like Barcelona or Juventus? Surely, the anticipation surrounding that first-round draw would be a fitting reward for their domestic league triumph. Imagine the excitement for supporters of a smaller Welsh club, dreaming of the possibilities as the names are drawn.
The relentless pursuit of a top-four Premier League finish has, in many respects, diminished the prestige of the FA Cup. Arsenal’s consistent top-four finishes led to an unbroken streak of 11 Champions League seasons, despite not having won the league title in many of those years. Do Arsenal fans truly consider a top-four finish as true success? Would Tottenham players not prefer FA Cup or League Cup winner’s medals over Champions League appearances?
These are recurring questions, but if the Champions League reverted to the European Cup format, these debates would become largely irrelevant.
Returning to Leicester City, their presence as the sole English team remaining in the Champions League feels fitting. They earned their Champions League berth through a remarkable 38-game league campaign and are now reaping the rewards. May their journey continue to unfold.
If their campaign concludes, the traditionalist in me hopes it’s against another reigning league champion, not a third-placed team like Atletico Madrid. Should they defy expectations and lift the trophy, they could, for at least one season, justifiably claim the title of the best club in Europe, true Euro champions in spirit.
Perhaps the Champions League only truly captivates when it reverts to the essence of the European Cup in February, during the knockout stages, where the spirit of true Euro champions is forged.
By Stuart Horsfield @loxleymisty44
