I never suggested winning the league isn't the greater achievement, although winning the CL isn't a much lesser achievement. They each require different mental skills to overcome. The league is a marathon, but in theory you could win a league without ever beating your main competitors. The CL by comparison is a sprint, but that is arguably the tougher mental test because you have to be perfect to win it. Statistically speaking, the idea that the League is harder to win just doesn't stand to scrutiny. How many Leagues have we won compared to CL titles? If the CL were easier and "tin pot", as some cretins on here have labelled it, we'd have at least one by now.
On the luck thing, no, it isn't unlucky that you've conceded an equaliser in the dying moments. If you're winning by one goal you haven't killed the game off, have you? Why does luck come in it? See above, there's a possibility you have to play your perfect game to win a European Cup final. The Scousers thought they were unlucky against Madrid this year. They weren't, they were just unclinical. Madrid were clinical, they had the right mindset on the night. Shit bust. On penalties, did Haaland's penalty the other day leave anything to luck? It was unstoppable. No keeper saves that. Conversely, if you take a shit penalty, you risk losing: luck has nothing to do with it. Have our recent League Cup/FA Cup wins been lucky? Let's further the analogy, is Federer lucky he has eight Wimbledon titles, and Murray unlucky he only has two? Wimbledon is a knock-out competition after all.
The reality is the CL is the biggest club competition in the world, and our failures in it are now holding us back as a club. Would you not love to see one of our own win the Balón d'Or? We could potentially have one on our books in Erling: but here's the thing, I can absolutely guaran-fucking-tee you he isn't winning that accolade unless he lifts Big Ears; and you can take that to the bank.
I'm expectant, rather than hopeful, that this is going to be the season. Pep will want it with every fibre and we potentially have the best group of players we've ever had. I could give two shiny shits how we fare in the domestic cups this season, I'd be happy for Pep to play the C-teams in both. Try to get the League sewn up early, then we focus our attentions on the big one.
