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As European competition returns this week, almost half of the Premier League clubs have continental football to look forward to this season – but will that help or hinder their Premier League campaigns?<\/b><\/p>\n
A record-breaking nine English sides will play European football in 2025-26 – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham in the Champions League; Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest in the Europa League; and Crystal Palace in the Conference League.<\/p>\n
But will those clubs who are not in Europe be able to capitalise on having a less hectic fixture schedule and more rest between matches?<\/p>\n
When Leicester City shocked the footballing world to win the Premier League in 2015-16, they only played 43 games in all competitions, with no European distractions.<\/p>\n
If an English club were to triumph in Europe this season, they would play a minimum of 55 matches – 38 in the Premier League, at least two domestic cup games and either 15 or 17 European matches, depending on whether they feature in the knockout play-off round.<\/p>\n
So what would teams prefer? Be fresh and do well in the league or face a gruelling schedule full of regular midweek games and international travel, but with more chances of silverware?<\/p>\n
“As a player I preferred to play,” said former England defender Matt Upson, who featured in the Champions League with Arsenal and the Europa League with Stoke City.<\/p>\n
“That amount of games from now until Christmas is probably on the heavier side of too much – but not having European football is not enough [for clubs] now.<\/p>\n
“There is obviously a tipping point where you can have too many games, but that’s why the squads are so big – the teams in Europe have to rest players.”<\/p>\n
Upson believes players would always choose to be going for more trophies rather than missing out on major tournaments.<\/p>\n
He said: “As a player, I liked to stay in a rhythm and playing twice a week was a brilliant gameweek for me. I would really enjoy that, and you felt really fit, and really sharp.<\/p>\n
“There is nothing like matches to get you really fit, to the level you want, certainly at this stage of the season where you are still getting into it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n