English Premier League has become so famous and popular around the world that in England itself many top flight teams are not taking any other domestic league matches at part with league games. Reason could be anything including, money, frame, recognition and etc., but high rising control of league organizers over English soccer is the main reason behind this. Though, everyone knows it that many domestic leagues are losing their charm coz of high rising league popularity, but no one has ever said anything in public yet. FA Cup, the oldest association football tournament, is one such event that is witnessing ignorance from leading English clubs. Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert is probably the first one who accepted it openly and said many clubs can do it without being distracted by FA if they are doing well in EPL. If such kinds of words are coming from a team who has won this oldest event seven times, it should mean a lot. In fact, this is also a fact that Aston Villa could not perform well in this tourney since many decades so their contrast over its popularity is obvious, but anyway, Lambert looks to be more serious than ever.
One of the other prominent reasons why this event is losing its appeal is that there have been many cases in the past when top performing teams could not be as successful in EPL as they were in FA Cup, like last season’s first time champion Wigan who was relegated in Premier league that is why many take FA cup inferior to that of EPL. The 44-year-old Scottish professional football manager said, “I think if you asked the majority of them, if they were being honest, they probably would do. Not just because of the money but survival in the league is vital.
“It is realistic. That is the nature of it. If anyone says any differently then I am not so sure they will be telling the truth because the Premier League is the most vital thing that anyone wants to get into and we are no different. Cup competitions, if you can get through, then absolutely I want to get through. I don’t want to not get through but your main one is the league. We don’t have a massive squad and points are really important. If you are honest enough people will say the same.”