[W.HI.P]

I hate to bust your bubble.
In european countries, although in the fans eyes, the local league is seen as important, European competition is the one and only way to truly judge a team.
The serious European franchises have one concentration for a season.
Uefa leagues.
It is where the greatest representatives of European countries compete againt each other.
Teams are obligated to rest prior to a CL game.
This is why we have so many favorites loosing to small teams, especialy when the CL is coming down to its end.
It is also why teams that finish 3rd and 4th in their local competitions do so well when Europe is watching.
Coef's are carefully considered by high representatives of the sport in each country, bringing fourth interventions prior to CL games.
Interventions that include communications regarding avoiding injuries etc in these small local (Meaningless) challenges.

Very few elite teams(Arsenal, Bayern Munich), seem to run franchises with different priorities.

Here is a way, one can rank the teams of a country.
I'l use England as an example.... how about this year?

Lets say Arsenal win the Premier league.
Chelsea beats Liverpool in the Champions league semi-final.
Milan Beats Chelsea in the Final of the Champions league.

The rankings of 2008 would be:
1)Chelsea
2)Liverpool
3)Arsenal
4)Man Utd

You would feel good about your team winning the premier league, but your team would clearly be behind the 2 superior teams who represented England in the only league that counts.