How Does History Help You Win A Footy Match?

[smudgerfox]

Most of the reports saying it's an extension of the "fairytale" that a side with no recent European history should win so emphatically on this hallowed stage - but honestly, why should it matter? Travelling to Europe is hardly difficult or strange., most decent players are internationals and most don't hang around at one more club for more than a couple of years. So why does a club having regularly played in the Champions League in the past, help them in the very familiar format of an 11 v 11 football match, today? Doesn't last night really show how poor some sides contesting the Champions League group stages really are, the weakness of the national league of one of Europe's strongest footballing nations and the extent to which clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona can almost take knockout qualification for granted?

[Steven]

As I heard a Spurs fan explain that Leicester City have no heritage, and by inference Spurs do, so Leicester City could not win the PL. Heritage is in the past and history always begins at a single moment in time so perhaps our PL and CL is here and now and that helps us to win games. 

[Grewks]

it doesn't.

 

When the first ever game was played, no side had any 'historical advantage'.

[davieG]

For players experienced in playing European clubs with their own 'way' of playing it probably gives them an edge but history itself i can't really see that it matters other than clubs with European history are more  likely to attract those experienced players.

 

Last night being a one off I don't think it show anything one way or the other.

[Trav Le Bleu]

I think we have players who have played in over 150 Champions League matches between them?

 

So not sure you can say we're new to this.

[rmahrez]

It does now the European Coefficient system takes into account a club's history, apparrently... 

 

 

• Historical success in the competition will also be acknowledged in coefficient calculation (points for previous European titles with a weighted system for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League titles)