English football is steeped in tradition, but not every tradition is worth keeping. The EFL Cup—currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons—has long been a staple of the domestic calendar, but in the modern game, it has become an unnecessary burden. With fixture congestion at an all-time high, player welfare concerns growing, and the tournament losing its competitive relevance, it’s time to seriously consider scrapping the League Cup altogether.
Fixture Congestion and Player Welfare
English clubs already face one of the most demanding schedules in world football. Between the Premier League, FA Cup, European competitions, and international breaks, top clubs are playing an exhausting number of games every season. The addition of the League Cup only exacerbates the issue, forcing clubs to stretch their squads even further.
Managers have spoken out repeatedly about the need to protect players from burnout. Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and even Arsène Wenger before them have all criticized the sheer volume of games in England compared to other European leagues. Injuries pile up, and the quality of football suffers as a result. While some argue that the League Cup gives squad players and youngsters a chance to shine, clubs already have the FA Cup for that purpose.
Declining Relevance
The EFL Cup’s prestige has declined drastically in recent decades. Once seen as a valuable domestic honor, it is now little more than an afterthought for the biggest clubs. Most Premier League sides rotate heavily for these fixtures, often fielding second-string lineups. Even the final, once a marquee event, struggles to generate the same excitement as other domestic or European competitions.
The tournament also offers a European place to the winner, but in reality, top clubs qualify for Europe through the league or FA Cup. When Manchester City, Chelsea, or Liverpool inevitably win it, the Europa Conference League spot is handed down the league table, often benefiting a club that had little involvement in the competition’s later rounds. This further devalues the tournament, making it feel like an unnecessary sideshow rather than a meaningful competition.
The FA Cup and Other Alternatives
Some argue that scrapping the League Cup would remove an opportunity for lower-league clubs to face Premier League opposition. However, the FA Cup already provides this platform—and with far greater prestige. Instead of spreading resources thin across two domestic cup competitions, English football should focus on strengthening the FA Cup.
One alternative could be to transform the EFL Trophy into a more inclusive competition for lower-tier teams while allowing top-flight clubs to opt out entirely. This way, the Football League clubs that benefit from the League Cup’s financial boost could still have a valuable tournament to compete in, without clogging up the schedules of Premier League and Championship teams.
READ NEXT: Blues Keen to Land Alexander Isak and Set to Sign Dean Huijsen as Jadon Sancho Departs