Europa League to Prove Costly for Wolves?
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Wolverhampton Wanderers enjoyed a tremendous return to the Premier League last season. Many pundits were tipping them to finish in the top half of the table but not many thought they would qualify for European football.
Wolves finished the 2018/19 campaign in 7th place with 57 points. They were some way behind the top six but to finish as the ‘best of the rest’ was quite an achievement for a team who were playing Championship football just a season earlier.
Finishing in 7th place brought much celebration to Molinuex as the fans looked forward to the potential of Europa League football next season. However, the one problem with finishing in the final Europa League qualifying place is the round at which you enter the competition. Wolves were drawn into the second qualifying round and their season was due to begin on the 25th July with a match against Crusaders.
Wolves won both games of the tie against Crusaders and were handed an easy third qualifying tie against Pyunik of Armenia. Again, this proved to be a very simple task as Wolves brushed their opponents aside to reach the playoffs.
The playoffs brought with it a much more difficult task as Wolves were paired with Torino of Serie A. However, with a strong starting XI Wolves won the first leg away from home 3-2 and that put them in a strong position for the second leg. Again, Nuno Espirito Santo picked a strong team and Wolves finished the job, winning 2-1 at Molineux.
There was much celebration as Wolves qualified for a European tournament for the first time since 1980/81. It is great to see European football back at one of the top English football stadiums but will it come at a big price?
The Premier League is where it matters most for teams. Wolves need to be in the Premier League to continue their development as a top-flight club but could that be about to come under threat due to their Europa League participation?
You only have to ask fans of Burnley, Everton and West Ham to find out what early European involvement can do to a Premier League club. Unfortunately, Wolves fans have already been finding out for themselves as they have struggled to come to terms with playing in both competitions at the beginning of the season.
Wolves have played five Premier League matches and have yet to win one. Last weekend they suffered their worst result since returning to the Premier League last season, going down 5-2 at home to Chelsea.
Wolves are down in 19th place in the Premier League with 3 points from a possible 15 and that run of form cannot continue. However, with a run of Thursday night Europa League and Sunday afternoon Premier League games to come, things could be about to get worse.
Will Wolves be able to balance the two successfully or could they be in danger of relegation this season?
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