and winning the league is the nice bonus potential when you are in that first 4 (in the case of the EPL). That focus could change if a club that is traditionally middling suddenly finds themselves in a position to win the league, like Leicester in 2016. The Champions League lineups are generally first options available.

In the US it is the opposite in soccer... but I wish it would change. We don't have a balanced table in the MLS but so much is put into winning the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup while we ignore the deficiencies that prevent us from winning CCL. I loved that RSL made it a priority in 2010 and that other clubs have made it a priority since.