10 Football Teams That Under-Performed In 2019/20
It's like they didn't even try.
In parallel to the story of the plucky underdog exceeding all predictions to win the hearts of the neutrals, we have this bunch. Teams with lofty expectations and no results to show for it.
Unlike their counterparts, many of these teams were expected to achieve great things, whether that be European football, promotion or a league title, but unfortunately failed to deliver.
Some failed spectacularly.
Many of these teams are commonly referred to as one of the better teams in their respective divisions, so how has it gone so wrong that they find themselves on a list such as this?
Several factors contribute to a club's success or failure. Managerial changes, poor recruitment, being unlucky with injuries, a squad downing tools, an inability to shake off a run of bad results or even a combination of many of these factors can see a good team capitulate.
Whatever the reasoning may be, the fact of the matter is that these teams simply have not shown nearly enough and need to do some serious work this summer before the beginning of the 2020/21 season to make sure they get back on the right track.
10. Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen have been one of the longest-lasting top-flight teams in Germany.
Since the Bundesliga was formed in 1963, Die Werderaner have only ever tasted relegation once after they finished 17th in the 1979/80 season, though they immediately bounced back by winning the second division and have remained at the top since.
They avoided jeopardising this impressive run by the skin of their teeth in 2019/20.
Finishing 16th meant two things. Firstly, it was their lowest league finish since their relegation campaign, and secondly, they would face the relegation play-off.
Though they would beat Heidenheim to retain their Bundesliga status, they only did so on the away goal rule.
Bremen's woes seem to lie partially in their unspectacular recruitment over the last two seasons. The 2017/18 window saw fantastic recruitment in the likes of Milot Rashica, Jiri Pavlenka and Ludwig Augustinsson, but the two subsequent seasons saw a whole host of squad players come in as they failed to replace the likes of Serge Gnabry and Thomas Delaney.
Whilst Florian Kohfeldt also led the club to 8th and 11th placed finishes in his short run at the club, he must improve in the transfer market to avoid another season like this.