In CL, I don't think, that this is the problem. Think about it. I'm level 32. In about 10 seasons, I promoted about 7 times, played in the CL about 6 times, and always paired up with higher level teams. There have to be 32 teams in CL at those levels. Or. Why always you go higher? So I'm at 32 now, and have to play against 33. When I was 31, had to play against 32. So why not a CL with 28 teams at level 32 like me, and 4 teams with level 31? This is absolutely unfair. So some teams always play with the same and lower level teams, some play always with higher?
And the cup. In the last 10-15 seasons, no matter if I won the league, or finished in 10th place, I was destroyed in the first or second round, by teams higher level then me. The same unfair thing like in CL. When I was level 27-28, had to play against level 32. Now, I'm at level 32, and don't play against lower level teams, but got a level 37 in the first round.
Can't do anything. Don't win cups, or go some round, for at least to get money. In high level, you can't buy players for free, to sell them. In short time, there will be a financial collapse to my team.