Jurgen Klopp: "England has to be the most difficult league in order to qualify for the Champions League, 100%.

Probably "Generational Talent" has something to do with it.

The idea that sometimes you get a "Golden Generation" of players.

So for example you would say players like:

  • Robben
  • Van Persie
  • Van Der Sar
  • Van Nistelrooy
  • And Many others

Were World Class players at their peaks, and then they get replaced with players like Janssen, Wijnaldum, and De Jong etc. who although have had times where they show some quality, they have never really made that next-step in their careers to a top-4 or so team in a really competitive league.

Or at least not been successful at that level consistently.

It's a similar thing when you think of a team like England.

Champions League winning players like:

  • Ferdinand
  • Terry
  • Lampard
  • Gerrard
  • Ashley Cole
  • etc.

Were replaced with players like Smalling, Jagielka, Lallana etc.

It's easy to see why a team like England for example hasn't leap-frogged the 'disappointment' of their previous "Golden Generation" with a team of largely "potential" youth players, or those who have largely played in teams around 4th-10th in the league.

Teams change with generations. Spain used to be Barcelona-esque with Villa, Xavi, Iniesta etc. then they move on, and the next generation has to fill the spaces of three players who were considered "best in the world" at their positions at one point in their career, but often can't live up to it, or have a different style, so the team declines.

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