5) Packed domestic schedule
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Call it greed or capitalising on the global television audience whose numbers increase every year. The FA are averse to helping clubs playing in the Champions League knowing full well that such clubs playing in prime time slots is beneficial to all parties concerned.
Ever since England have had four slots in the Champions League, they have taken it as a given. As a result, the matter of concentrating on the Champions League is solely down the clubs themselves with no support from the FA.
In other leagues, the top teams are protected well. For example; Juventus had a massive game against AC Milan and the Serie A match was actually scheduled for Friday night to give Juve an extra day’s rest. The Old Lady eventually won their Champions League tie to qualify for the quarter-finals.
On the other hand, the Premier League’s television broadcasters decide when top of the table clashes are to be played and a Saturday night slot brings in the money but gives teams effectively 24 hours fewer to prepare. Add both League Cup and FA Cup games to the mix and you have players looking at a schedule of 50 to 60 games a season.
“Other countries, they care a lot about the Champions League. In this country the Premier League will always come in front of the Champions League. The institutions that lead the competitions make it very, very clear.
“Other countries play Fridays to rest, they play Thursdays to rest. They don't play — to rest!” – Jose Mourinho
Each of these five reasons alone is not why English clubs fail in the latter stages of Europe but it is a combination of some or all these points that have seen them struggle.
