FC Porto and FC Braga,both of Portugal,could be forgiven for feeling a little bit hard-done-by,seeing almost everyone seems not to notice they have a final of a major competition to play.Indeed,the UEFA Champions' league final between Barcelona and Manchester United has clearly dwarfed this Europa league final.The question is,why is it so?
Harry Redknapp of Tottenham said he felt Europa league was a distraction.Martin O'neill,then of Aston Villa,sent out a weak team to lose in the cup.Steve Coppell said he would do so if his team,then Reading,qualified.Arjen Robben said he would ''never play'' in ''that'' competition.Frank Ribery of Bayern Munich said it was ''rubbish''.Martin Jol didn't appear to feel so bad when his then Tottenham team lost the quarter final to Sevilla. So,why would it be so?
People feel the thursday fixture is a distraction.By the time a team travels from England to Turkey and goes back on friday for a match on saturday,fatigue is meant to set in.And why would a team like Chelsea consider a game against Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel competitive?
I think UEFA has to make the Europa league popular.They maybe,should change the thursday fixture to a more convenient time.They may also have to add an incentive - probably make two Europa league finalists eligible for the next season's Champions' league.
All said,FC Porto and Braga FC would be chasing the cup.History beckons for them...and heck,it's a cup final!!