Arsenal Women manager Jonas Eidevall says English teams need to look at themselves first when it comes to Champions League group stage qualification.
The Gunners were knocked out at the first qualifying stage by Paris FC, who subsequently went on to beat Wolfsburg in the second qualifying round over two legs.
Manchester United also exited the second qualifying round at the hands of PSG this midweek, causing United boss Marc Skinner to brand the qualification process ‘crazy’ with Arsenal, Wolfsburg, Manchester United and Juventus all failing to reach the group stages.
Jonas Eidevall was asked about qualifying and whether it is too difficult for WSL teams and he insisted the first reflection needs to be an inward one during his pre Bristol City press conference.
“The reality is that if Wolfsburg had beaten Barcelona in the Champions League Final, WSL wouldn’t have had any direct spots qualifying for the group stage, because our champions Chelsea would have needed to qualify,” Eidevall explained.
“We are the fourth ranked league in Europe and why is that? Because English teams have done worse than Spanish, German and French teams have been doing for the last five years.
“We as a league need to understand that is our starting point, that’s the reality. You can’t say that’s anyone else’s problem but our own as a league. English teams have not been doing well enough to get enough ranking points to get better ways into the tournament.”
Eidevall did say that he felt the 16-team group stage format is ready for expansion, “As a totally separate case, is there a demand for a bigger Champions League where we could get a different qualifying process where we are not playing one legged games on neutral grounds? Of course, but that’s a different question.
“When we start to think about where the English league is, we are number four in Europe from a ranking perspective. We can’t say that is anyone else’s problem but our own. We need to improve the quality in the league; so we make sure when the English clubs play in Europe that they are winning their games.”
Eidevall suggested that, again, the reflection has to be an internal one in England. “We have to acknowledge the fact that the highest paid salaries for women’s football players are not being paid in England. They’re being paid in Spain and in France. As much as we say we need more better teams in England, yes, but we also need the better teams to be better.
“It is a hard equation, it’s ok to say English teams should be the best in Europe but we live in a world where teams in other leagues still pay better salaries to their top players. We need to drive across everything. If we want the best league we have to have the best players and we have to pay the best salaries.”
There has been some suggestion of a secondary European tournament, the equivalent of the men’s Europa League but Eidevall prefers the idea of an expanded Champions League.
“Yes because it would be a nice opportunity for growth for teams to compete internationally, we know it has given us so much. But no because when we look at the Champions League from an economic perspective I don’t think it is a winning affair yet for the clubs.
“If the Champions League is not yet a lucrative economic model, why would it work to have a second competition? In the men’s games, the Champions League very much makes the most revenue then it works in descending order.
“So the Champions League for women first needs to get their financial model right, once we get that right, we can start expanding with more competitions. I can’t see the financial sustainability in adding another European competition right now for the teams that will compete in it.”
Eidevall also acknowledged that there are many perspectives for UEFA to consider aside from those of WSL clubs. “There are so many competing interests. If I look at it from an Arsenal perspective and the WSL being a competitive league, do I think there are a lot of teams in the WSL who could compete in the group stage of the Champions League? I do.
“The Conti Cup group that United get drawn into might be tougher than some of the Champions League groups in sporting quality. But, those who decide on these things can’t just take England and Arsenal’s opinion into account, they need to grow the whole game in Europe.
“Why would you invest in your women’s team in another country if it’s impossible to reach the Champions League group stage? Having that possibility might lead to that team investing more money into that team and that is always really important.
“The balance, for me, is to start growing the Champions League for women with more teams, so you still have a good pathway for champions in Europe so you still get that.
“But you also get opportunities for the League Path for the strongest teams in Europe to qualify for the group stage. That combination will give the best sporting format for where women’s football is at currently.
“That is why I also don’t like the idea of adding a second competition. I think expand the Champions League first and, from there, hopefully we can have a second competition in the future.”
Arsenal play away at Bristol City Women on Sunday at 6.45pm at Ashton Gate and the game is live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Credit to Eidevall for having maybe the most intelligent and balanced take I’ve seen anyone drop on this issue.
Not a lot to disagree with there. And to add, the FA could do more about scheduling to give teams the best possible chance in their European games.
Is it unsporting and shortsighted of me to hope that the only English team left in the CL is knocked out at the earliest opportunity? Yes. It is. But I don’t care.
Jonas is a good ambassador