An interesting column has appeared today in the local daily “Marca” titled
“FC Barcelona against England”. It makes reference to the fact that
English Football has managed to place three Clubs out of 4 in the Semi-Finals
of the Champions League. Spanish Football long considered as the “Best
Football League” in Europe has only managed to get one of its teams into the
Semis that being FC BARCELONA & thus indicating quiet clearly that the
“balance of power” has definitely shifted towards the Premier League.
It’s the 5th time in the competitions history that a country has placed three
of its local League teams into the Semi-Finals of the European Cup/ Uefa
Champions League tournament. Adding another piece of fact, it’s the 3rd
consecutive year that English Clubs dominant the Semi-Final stage. The
Premier League & its Clubs have some advantages over the Spanish “Liga”,
firstly in terms of their economic strength with big injections of foreign
investment which exploit the succulent TV rights & merchandising cash flows
that in turn has attracted of late the higher class players. Secondly, the English
Football culture has a more mid to long term view of Football, their
professionals (e.g. Directives/Coaches/Managers) are given & allowed
sufficient time & patience to put in place projects. In Spain the rapid need for
results & success arms the game & it’s professionals with a short term view that
makes Club planning & management difficult, stressful & inefficient. One has
to only compare the time that Coaches in England have steered their teams
– Ferguson & Wegner for example – over Spanish Club coaches who last in
their job a year & at times months. That stability in England at the Directives
& Management level creates an atmosphere of confidence & tranquillity that
trickles down to the players who in turn establish strong ties with the Club in
return.
(photo elmundo.es)
The outlook for the future is unknown but some Football marketing & finance
experts predict that English Football is beginning to decline on the pillars that
sustain it currently. The economic crisis & the huge debts of the big Clubs have
halted the euphoria & maybe signs of a retreat – or a levelling out. Until
then Spanish Footballs only representative FC Barcelona will be flying the flag
of Spanish Football as they attempt to gain their 3rd European Cup, a prize
that is only at hand if they can eliminate two English Football teams. The only
fact that can be said right now is that England has a team already in the
Champions League Final at Rome this year, something that cannot be said for
Spanish Football.
Do you agree that English Football is stronger than Spanish Football?
