The real cost of Premier League vs Europe
European football has always been a test of strength and endurance for English clubs. In the 2025/26 season, a record nine Premier League sides will compete in European events. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur enter the UEFA Champions League, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest join the UEFA Europa League, while Crystal Palace steps into the UEFA Conference League.
However, the question arises. Does such a busy schedule lift clubs to new heights, or does it hold them back in their home league race? History shows that balancing both goals has been rare, with only a few clubs able to claim the Premier League and European crowns in the same season.
The weight of a packed season
European runs add both glamour and burden. For teams chasing trophies abroad, the number of matches can grow heavy. A club that reaches the late rounds could face up to 55 matches in one season, with 38 league fixtures, domestic cup ties, and 15 to 17 European games.
In contrast, Leicester City’s title win in 2015/16 came during a calm schedule, as they played only 43 matches and avoided Europe altogether. The gap in match load shows how rest and recovery may aid some sides while travel and midweek contests stretch others thin.
Player view: Rhythm vs fatigue
Former England defender Matthew Upson sees the matter from a player’s point of view. He recalls enjoying a steady rhythm when playing twice a week, as the pace of matches built sharpness and fitness. For players, more games often mean more chances for medals and less risk of losing match shape.
However, Upson admits that the number of matches near the winter break can become too much, pushing the need for bigger squads. Rotation is important, as rest ensures energy for others.
History of league success without Europe
Leicester’s miracle run in 2015/16 is a clear sign that freedom from Europe can fuel success. Chelsea matched the feat the following year. Even in the early Premier League years, clubs such as Manchester United in 1992/93 and Blackburn Rovers in 1994/95 had little European strain when they took the title.
Since England received four Champions League spots after the 2001/02 season, it is rare for Premier League clubs to reach the top-four spots in the domestic league without experience in continental football leagues like the UCL and the Europa League. Still, the dream of ruling both at home and abroad is not impossible.
Manchester United did so in 1998/99 and 2007/08, while Manchester City reached the same glory in 2022/23. Liverpool’s older double wins in 1976/77 and 1983/84 remain part of English football pride. These rare feats prove that, while hard, it is not beyond reach.
The strain of extra matches
The current season has already shown how fast the calendar can grow. Crystal Palace had played seven matches before mid-September, including qualifiers and the Community Shield, and may reach 29 by Christmas.
By contrast, sides like Bournemouth, Leeds United, Manchester United, Sunderland, and West Ham United could play only 18 by that point, with no Europe and early cup exits. More games mean more risks, from injuries to poor form, but fewer games can also lead to longer waits between matches, which may stall rhythm.
Upson stresses that breaks can help if the training mood is good. If form dips and morale sinks, long gaps can hurt more than they help. Players then face long days at the training ground with no quick chance to fix their troubles on the pitch.
Europe can hurt league form
For some clubs, the push for Europe has come at a sharp cost in the league. Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League last season by beating Manchester United in the final, yet they slumped to 17th in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, United ended only one spot higher. Spurs won their first European competition since 1984, but their underperformance in the Premier League still led to Ange Postecoglou's exit.
Burnley’s 2018/19 season showed another case. They played six UEFA Europa League qualifiers by August, failed to reach the group stage, and ended 15th in the league, far worse than the year before.
Newcastle in 2012/13 advanced to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals but slumped to 16th in the league. Both Blackburn in 1998/99 and Ipswich Town in 2001/02 were relegated while in European contests. The toll of travel, fatigue, and split focus has often left sides vulnerable.
Strange without Europe
For some giants, a season without European ties feels unusual. Manchester United, for example, last played a campaign without Europe in 2014/15. This year marks only their second such season since the 1990s.
Already out of the Carabao Cup, they may finish with their lowest match total in the Premier League era unless they make a deep FA Cup run. A lighter schedule may bring rest, but can also rob players of the stage they are used to.
The balance of risk and reward
European football remains a dream and a danger. The lure of silverware and the honour of continental glory drive clubs to chase it, even as the Premier League demands steady focus week after week.
Clubs outside Europe gain longer rest and simpler schedules, while those in Europe face fatigue but gain chances at history. The question lingers each season. Is it better to stay fresh and fight at home, or to risk a heavy load in pursuit of a greater prize?
The true cost of glory
The story of English clubs in Europe has always been about balance. Some sides have thrived, finding ways to claim both home and abroad. Others have struggled, paying the price of split focus with poor league finishes or even relegation.
This season, with nine clubs carrying the extra weight, the test will be greater than ever. By spring, the answer may be clearer. Is the dream of Europe worth the risk of losing ground in the Premier League?
