The CL is a cartel of the big clubs from big leagues playing each-other every year. Whilst technically superb and laden with cash I personally don't find it any more exciting than other predictable leagues like - the SPL for example.
Whilst I'll happily watch Barcelona play uber-fitba and I appreciate the quality of Xavi and Iniesta passing around the opposition, the actual matches don't excite as much as they should. It used to be the case that a match between, for example, Man Utd and Barcelona, would be an event, a rarity, something that you'd gather round the TV with your family and friends to watch once every few years. That’s not the case anymore. It’s now a regular occurrence, another match in a world with too much sanitised televised football. I’ll take it or leave it.
Frankly I am sick of a so-called Champions League that is anything but. It's a business venture not a sporting one, the very fact than non-champions can win it annoys me. I would be absolutely delighted if it returned to "Ligue de Champions" as originally envisaged, with the champions of all European Leagues taking each-other on. And I would have this opinion whether or not Rangers are it, I can occasionally have an objective opinion, albeit unrealistic.
The Europa League on the other hand. All sorts of teams, some we know, some we don't. The unknown means anticipation and excitement. It means big teams taking on wee teams. It means shock results. It means trips to interesting places that we wouldn't normally go to. It means what European football used to be about - something different, new experiences, learning, excitement. Teams that dismiss the Europa League are not sporting clubs they are businesses. This week all I’ve heard is Tottenham moaning about the Europa League, about how many games there are, about how they may field a weakened team. Do they not realise that a whole season of Europa League games, with visits to new cities and a great experience for the supporters, and a potential trophy, which they are more than capable of winning, will mean more to Spurs supporters than another season of non-achievement in the EPL behind Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool? Winning the Europa League will mean years of memories for a generation of supporters. That’s what sporting achievement means.
We are Rangers. We should, as Champions, be in the CL. But we need to embrace the Europa League not dismiss it. A Europa League run would restore our credibility, it would give some fun and joy for the support, and beyond the day to day stresses of the SPL, it would reinforce the very fundamentals of what we are about – a sporting club wanting sporting achievement. Money is all well and good, but success is what we will all remember.