Guess this is now the depressing reality for non-Champions League teams. If anyone of your players proves himself to be outstanding, one of the top four will take him off you. I'm afraid no team will be able to challenge these clubs unless you spend hundreds of millions. It's pretty much a closed-shop now, esp with the financial fair play rules coming in (which will basically entrench their advantage). It sucks balls that UEFA ruined the UEFA Cup of old. It was something worthwhile for clubs like our own to aspire to. Now we just have the embarrassing, second rate, shambolic Europa League. For those that aren't in it, the Champions League has spoilt football massively.