The 2019/20 football season has been quite a peculiar one for many reasons. For starters, the English Premier League season ending on 26th July is something we never saw coming on the first matchday of the season. Liverpool may have run out convincing winners in this topsy-turvy variation of the premier league but there are numerous subplots that should serve up a tantalising new season.
The current battle for Europe
The Champions League and Europa league have introduced a World Cup-style knockout tournament in order to complete the competitions. One should not be surprised if this threw up unlikely winners much akin to Porto in 2004. This additional factor will introduce a new-found grit amongst the current competitors and should serve up some interesting games that decides who goes into the next season with the best momentum and bragging rights. The Liverpool example is one clubs should follow, who won the UCL and carried that confidence into the next season to finally claim that elusive Premier League title.
Quick start to next season
The new season in Europe’s top leagues will be resuming in the month of September with the Premier League announcing a 12th September return. This means putting in a good shift in European competitions in August for the likes of City, United and Wolves will mean that they go into the new season just a month later buoyed by a gain in confidence. The teams that enjoyed a strong restart to this season like AC Milan, Arsenal and United will be licking their lips at picking up from where they left off. Strong performances have given the squads a morale boost and they will be raring to go in September so that they can grab the new season by the scruff of their neck.
Action-packed transfer window
Managers have had 2 spans of time, pre and post-lockdown, to judge their current crop of players this season. This will help managers identify the areas they need improvement and players that need to be moved on. The quick return of the leagues also means that managers would like to wrap up their transfers as quick as possible in order to get a short pre-season before entering the new league seasons. For the current European survivors, this would mean their managers will need to work overtime in order to get their team ready for their next games while working hard in order to get deals across the line. This period will truly test the mettle of the managers of Europe’s elite.
New challengers to the throne
If this season has taught us anything, it is that the old guard is being challenged. Juventus have enjoyed a less-than-comfortable run to the Scudetto this season with Inter and Lazio giving them a run for their money. Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have all displayed the flair needed to overthrow Bayern finally. Liverpool managed to end 30 years of hurt and put their name on the new English Premier League title. There is a tide of change sweeping through football and this serves up quite a prospect for the new decade. There could very well be a new dynasty in town
The conclusion of the season this time around is not met with the sorrow of no football for a couple of months. Football will keep coming thick and fast and the commencement of the new season will almost seem like a continuation of the current one. Either way, football fans are in for entertainment each month.
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