I am a little too young to remember the days when English teams were banned from European competition, but five years without competition would be pretty brutal for our teams nowadays.

I understand the main aim for elite clubs in the Premier League is to make the Champions League, but this is only achievable for four teams a season. So for the others having to settle for the Europa League instead, there should still be an element of pride in competing in a european competition.

It gives the opportunity for teams who are not likely to win the Premier League a good chance of winning major silverware, which is the reason most footballers are in the business for. So the negativity towards this competition is frustrating, brought on by teams, fans and media alike.

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Many clubs across Europe do take the Europa League seriously and want to win it. In this year's competitions you have teams like Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Napoli and Ajax, all of which have played in the Champions League recently but now find themselves in the second tier competition. Though they are all looking to progress to the latter stages. But for the English teams it's seen as a waste of time and a distraction, they're not willing to give it their full attention.

I hear a lot of reasons why the Europa League isn't worth participation; it's on a Thursday, there are too many teams, they have to travel too far and they are less 'glamorous' ties. But apart from the day of the week games are played, the two competitions are almost identical!

Teams in the Champions League are from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus this season, and the Europa League group stages are very competitive with some big European teams on show. Also, the winner of the competition is guaranteed a place in next season's Champions League, which should add extra incentive to Premier League teams who regularly fall short of a top four finish each season.

It all seems a bit snobbish from the English teams,  an arrogance that Premier League teams are too good for the Europa League. Simply put, it's a ridiculous attitude to have considering the showing of all the English teams in Europe over the last few seasons. Coming from a supporter of a team that has been in the Europa League quite a few times, I fully expect them to try and win it every time.

A European trophy would be a great achievement and I want my club to be competing in Europe every season, regardless of which one it might be. I don't believe in the excuses like 'we lost because we played on a Thursday' that some fans like to use. You never see a club competing in the Champions League complaining about the same thing.

I want a successful team who tries to win trophies that are a realistic target. So it's time we got behind the Europa League and appreciate it for what it is; European football.

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