I take a view that the European Conference League is the ultimate custard pie to any supposedly big side.
Sure, if you’re a traditionally mid-table outfit then the prospect of a few European tours is cause for celebration, beer abroad, and tales of nights under lights will be just the ticket. Not to mention a nice little bump in the turnover.
For a club that went bonkers spending a billion on a new stadium – despite a truly appalling track record when it came to winning silverware – who then plastered posters all over London bragging about Champions League football, this is a horrible reversal of fortunes.
Good. The football has been neglected, Pochettino wasn’t backed, Mourinho’s appointment turned out to be another fiasco, and now manager-less, sponsor-less, and still potless after losing another cup final, this is the culmination of some extremely poor management.
7th spot would be a dreadful comedown – I would say a reality check – but we’re past that point, surely?