Hands up if you’re bothered about the Europa League… Anyone? (Picture: Getty)

The Europa League. Hands up if you’re bothered?

That’s the question most Spurs fans ask themselves at the start of every season when we’re not participating in the Champions League – which happens to be every season since we last qualified for it.

Make no mistake about it, the competition in its current format is simply an afterthought. It isn’t quite the same one where Spurs made glorious history, under the floodlights in those near-epic Glory, Glory Nights.


Football has shifted so much since the 60s, 70s and 80s that these days competing for fourth spot in the league is practically a trophy – an invisible one, but unfortunately one that we have become obsessed with thanks to the fame, riches and top-end adventures that await the ones that qualify. The nearly teams get the Europa League.



I called it an afterthought, it’s probably more so a cushion for any CL side that has the misfortune to get knocked out, as they fall straight into another cup run that can aid with finances and even silverware.

Will this season be any different? It might

And this is why Spurs fans are not that bothered, or perhaps start out so until we drag ourselves towards the latter stages.

We all want a cup, we all want silverware. That one night out will outlast several seasons of just finishing ‘fourth’.

I was surprised we got as far as we did last time out – we rode our luck, rotated, and we seemed preoccupied with the league. So will this season be any different?

It might.

Having spent £60m already this window (Etienne Capoue confirmed), our depth is far greater. I can see us progressing in this distraction… sorry, I mean competition – even though the league will retain its supremacy in terms of priority.

We’ve got a qualifying round to get through first, though, against Georgian club FC Dinamo Tbilisim, who play at an impressive 53,000-capacity stadium.

We’ve played them before, back in the ill-fated 1974 Uefa Cup run, drawing 1-1 then smashing them 5-1. We’re away first leg once more, which gives me confidence.

A decent scoreline there and it sets up another one of those nights under the floodlights at the Lane. Not so glamorous, so excitement levels will be subdued but Tbilisi themselves had success in the Uefa Cup back in 1981.

With the League Cup and the FA Cup both providing disappointments last season, it’s important for us to do well and actually endeavour to look like we want to win it, but it’s very difficult for that to shine through this early in the season.

Both Spurs and AVB have form with this competition (regardless of the name Uefa plant on it).

Honestly, I’d love the FA Cup, but European nights are what you make of them. If the team are up for it, the supporters will be up for it, and winning silverware breeds confidence and belief but it also gives us another chapter in our history.

It begins here. Hopefully it ends with Lilywhite ribbons on the cup, in the final.