Non-League and the Champions League don’t go together. One is for purists who are sick and tired of money and acclaim ruining the beautiful game, and the other is the epitome of elitism. If you choose not to watch Uefa’s flagship competition, you aren’t the only non-League fan who adopts this attitude.
Still, to say that the Champions League offers you nothing isn’t always true. Take this year’s edition. So far, it looks like any other in the tournament’s history, yet things could take a significant turn due to recent events.
A Redraw That Levelled the Playing Field
Messing up the main draw wasn’t what Uefa wanted. Truthfully, it wasn’t what most football fans wanted because it meant adding jeopardy to the selections. If you follow a non-League club, of course, it’s in your DNA to root for the underdog. Well, the redraw duly delivered on that front since the UEFA Champions League odds for the top sides dropped like flies after the announcement, with teams such as PSG now priced at 9/1 to win the competition after being drawn with Real Madrid. Don’t be surprised if the Champions League betting tips from Paddy Power highlight the value for backing Real in this tie ahead of the knockout stages. Playing Real, regardless of Los Blancos’ perceived weaknesses, isn’t good for a team’s health, even if it boasts Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. From a competition standpoint, the ‘clerical error’ has been a leveller for the clubs that normally wouldn’t go as deep in the tournament since their side of the draw has opened up.
Consider Benfica and Ajax. The biggest clubs in Portugal and Holland typically struggle to keep up with the money spent by English, Spanish, French, and German sides. As luck has it, though, a route to the quarters, semis and maybe the final has appeared out of nowhere. For non-League enthusiasts that want a change from the status quo, this should be music to your ears!
Homegrown Squads & Fan-Owned Clubs
Another feature of watching grassroots football is investing in players who come through the ranks to make it to the big leagues. Think Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, two of the most decorated Englishmen ever who won plenty of titles with clubs they support.
Those days are over in many respects. The wealth of the game has seen to that. However, several sides in this year’s competition are utilising footballers that have a connection to their community and philosophy. For example, Ajax is synonymous with homegrown talent, and Davy Klaassen and Ryan Gravenberch are continuing the trend. Liverpool, meanwhile, have one of the best full-backs in the world in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea have Reece James, and Man City have Phil Foden.
Plus, Bayern Munich, an organisation partially owned by its fans, is listed as the second-favourites for the crown at 7/2. Whereas the majority of editions of the Champions League are about wealth and power, this version appears to be more in line with principles you would find on lower league terraces.
A Reckoning for Change?
As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone at 1500 CET.
— UEFA (@UEFA) December 13, 2021
Although it’s naive to assume professional football will regulate itself, the bumbled draw was another example of the absurdity of the modern game. Everyone and everything linked with the event look bad, whether it’s the clubs, the governing body, the sponsors, or the average supporter. It highlights that something must give very soon.
The sporting world is laughing at European football, as well they should after it couldn’t pull balls out of a hat. Uefa has already launched an investigation, while the football community is internally analysing the journey the sport is on and whether it’s healthy for the long-term success of the planet’s most popular activity.
It may be small, and it may seem simple, yet poking fun at the Champions League, the great bastion of professional football, might be the encouragement the authorities and fans require to push for the game to be given back to the masses.
Non-League lovers enjoy the underdog journey, watching homegrown talent, and the authenticity of the grassroots game. The Champions League may not have these qualities in abundance, but it’s showcasing them this season, even if the trigger is out of its control.
