Several strong European teams that play in the UCL will also play in the UEL if they are eliminated in the group stage. As Roma are favorites to win at the moment but I don't think they are the best. But we cannot underestimate them. The European League has many interesting surprises this season and I am sure we will also see many interesting surprises next season. Seeing the performance of a team from the UCL or an underdog team that can beat a big team is something that we can only see in the European league.
Surprises in matches are more visible in the European League than in the Champions League, but the level of fierce competition in matches is clearly more visible in the Champions League than in other leagues. But for the teams that are eliminated from the Champions League and enter the Europa League, it is also quite dangerous for other opponents because they could make a bigger surprise in the Europa League with the interesting matches they receive here.
Agreed, the Europa League isnt the "little brother" of European football anymore. It has its own flavor, and now that teams that didn't make the Champions League are playing, its like a wild card event where anything can happen.
However, the style change for next season will be huge. There will be no more escape for those Champions League losers; they're going straight out the door! I am interested to see how this will change the quality of the competition as a whole. What do you think? Will it make the Europa League better, or will it backfire? Lets see what happens.