Anthony Gordon Explains Why Champions League Games Feel Like “Proper Football”

Anthony Gordon didn’t sugar-coat his answer when asked about the difference between the Premier League and the Champions League.

Ahead of Newcastle United’s Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, Gordon was asked about the difference between playing in the Premier League and Europe’s top competition.

He believes the two feel like different sports at times – and is that a fair assessment?

Anthony Gordon on Premier League vs Champions League

Gordon believes the biggest difference is how matches are played.

According to him, Champions League games are more open and focused on the technical side of the game, whereas playing in the Premier League has become increasingly physical.

“In the Champions League teams are much more open, they all try to play,” Gordon explained. “It’s less transitional. In the Premier League, it’s more physical than I’ve ever known it to be.

“It’s like a basketball game sometimes, it’s so relentless physically. There’s not much control, it’s just a running game. Sometimes it’s about duels, who wins the duels wins the game, or moments.

“The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game, it’s a bit more football-based, teams come and try and play proper football.”

He added, “I think in the Premier League now you’re seeing a lot more long throw-ins, set-pieces. It’s become a lot slower and a lot more set-piece based, I would say.”

Premier League Style of Play Has Become More Physical

Gordon’s comments echo a wider trend seen this season, where intensity, pressing and physical output often outweigh technical quality or sustained possession.

He also pointed to the growing reliance on set pieces in Premier League football.

You only have to look at the team sitting at the top of the tree, Arsenal, who have scored 26 goals across all competitions from set-pieces.

It is a weapon they have become increasingly reliant on, and, despite Arsenal having a creativity problem in open play, only Manchester City have scored more goals.

But Arsenal aren’t alone in this. Several teams, including Brentford, Manchester United, and Chelsea, have built a large portion of their goal output from corners and free-kicks.

In contrast, Gordon feels Champions League matches resemble a more traditional style of football.

Rather than constant transitions and aerial battles, European games tend to feature more structure, patience and technical build-up – all becoming less common in the Premier League.

Fans React to Anthony Gordon’s Premier League Comments

Gordon’s thoughts have quickly gained traction on social media, with many fans agreeing with his assessment.

One fan said he “summed up the problem of the Premier League perfectly,” while another described the league as “all running and physicality these days.”

Others praised Gordon for his football intelligence, noting that his interviews consistently show a strong understanding of the game, citing a previous interview with Gary Neville.

Some supporters went even further, claiming this season has been one of the least enjoyable Premier League campaigns in terms of watchability

However, some pointed out that his comments are “quite rich”, considering he plays for a team who rarely build up from the back and press man-to-man from goal kicks. Playing this way is, of course, going to result in more physical games irrespective of the opponent.

Whether or not everyone agrees, one thing is clear: Anthony Gordon has voiced what many fans have been thinking, and his comparison between the Premier League and other competitions has reignited the debate about where English football is heading.