Taboo Europa League, is this the good year? Italian history in a cup never won

Rather than the Europa League, it should be renamed “Europa Liga”. In the 14 years of the new format of the former UEFA, Spanish clubs have dominated with 9 successes, of which 5 for Sevilla – queen of the event – and 3 for Atletico. The king of the benches and of the Cup is the Basque Unai Emery, who after the trio of triumphs in a row with the Sevillians between 2014 and 2016, also won again at the helm of Villarreal three years ago. Then in the “new” tournament there were 3 English laurels, one German and one Portuguese, with Porto in 2011 in a derby final with Sporting Braga

other times

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And the Italians? Zero. And to think that in the old UEFA they dominated. In fact, of the 38 editions of the ancient format we had won 9 (plus another 6 finalists), more than anyone else. And in the “golden decade”, between ’89 and 1999, even 8 out of 11, with 4 finals resulting in a tricolor derby! The other championships were chasing: 6 German successes, 6 English, 5 Spanish and 4 Dutch… Other times, unfortunately. 25 years have passed since Malesani’s Parma ’98-99 – in triumph against Marseille with goals from Crespo, Vanoli and Chiesa. And in 14 of the Europa League we managed to bring only 2 clubs to the final: Conte’s Inter in 2020 (2-3 against Sevilla), a Covid season with one-off matches in the direct eliminations, and on May 31st Mourinho’s Roma , defeated by the Sevillians but on penalties.

semi-finalists

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The Italian taboo of this Cup is also demonstrated by the results of the semi-finals and various placings. Of the other 28 semi-finalists, Italy places 5, like the English and Spanish. But in the total of the 56 semi-finalists we have 15 from La Liga, 12 from the Premier League and only 7 from Serie A. With the Bundesliga at 5, the 6 Portuguese ones, and so on the others. It is proof that we are struggling even in this Cup when faced with the top tournaments. Yes, because in the Champions League if the last triumph is more recent, with Mou’s Inter in 10 (the year in which the Europa League was inaugurated), then only the Spanish (7), English (4) have won it ) and Bayern (twice).

Why

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The Italian taboo of this Cup is also demonstrated by the results of the semi-finals and various placings. Of the other 28 semi-finalists, Italy places 5, like the English and Spanish. But in the total of the 56 semi-finalists we have 15 from La Liga, 12 from the Premier League and only 7 from Serie A. With the Bundesliga at 5, the 6 Portuguese ones, and so on the others. It is proof that we are struggling even in this Cup when faced with the top tournaments. Yes, because in the Champions League if the last triumph is more recent, with Mourinho’s Inter in 10 (the year in which the Europa League was inaugurated), then only the Spanish (7), English (4) have won it ) and Bayern (twice).

slaps

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In the past we lost the last Italian team in the tournament even in the round of 32, like Napoli 2010-11. Or the following year Udinese against Az in the round of 16. In 2016 Lazio was eliminated in the round of 16 by Sparta Prague, in 2017 Roma by Lyon, the following year Lazio again with Salzburg in the quarter-finals, and then Inter in the round of 16 with Eintracht, when Sarri won with Chelsea in the final. In short, not against big clubs. In recent seasons it seems that we believe in it more, with the two finalists and the 4 semi-finalists. Perhaps for a return of pride, or even economic, given that in recent times you can earn around 30 million euros, the amount taken from Roma in ’23. It would be nice to finally register an Italian name in the Europa League.