Champions League returns: Does European glory come at a Premier League cost?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

“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.

“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.

“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.”

Upson believes players would always choose to be going for more trophies rather than missing out on major tournaments.

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.

“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.”

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