Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel dispirited and unhappy amidst new Champions League Format
UEFA have approved a new Champions League format, from the 2024-25 season.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he is not happy about the new proposed format of the Champions League. Amid the failed attempt by 12 top European clubs to form a breakaway Super League, now UEFA with a new format for the Champions League, from the 2024-25 season with 36 clubs.
The competition from the 2024-25 season, with a new-look group stage that will see all teams play at least 10 fixtures, and teams set to play four more matches compared to the current format.
🗣"I'm not sure if I like it, it is hard for me to be excited. Did they ask any coach about this? I don't think so. Did they ask any players? I don't think so."
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he is not happy about the new proposed format of the Champions League pic.twitter.com/uBsrxHiYw6
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 26, 2021
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“I’m not sure if I like it because I can only see more games out of it,” he said. “And more games in a schedule that we have… it’s very hard for me to be excited at all.
“All these discussions about Super League made (everyone) forget that we have now a new format of Champions League very soon.”
I’m not happy about this format, not at all.
“Did they ask any coach about this?” Tuchel continued. “I don’t think so. They did not ask me. Did they ask any player about it? I don’t think so.
“We have so many new formats – Nations League, a new World Championship for clubs coming soon… so much new stuff, so many more games, more teams in the European Championship in the summer.
“It’s just more and more and more games – not more quality, just more games.
“Who should play these games? And at the same time, we have three substitutes here in the Premier League, in the toughest competitions. No, I’m not happy about this format, not at all.”
“We need all the support to be able to overcome this huge step in these two games,” he said.
“So, put your anger to the decision, put your anger to the way the decision was presented, which is well understood by me and absolutely fine by me.
“But don’t put it on the team and never doubt the love that all the people here in Cobham and I’m sure all the other clubs, don’t doubt the love everyone has for this game.
“We deserve it because we came a long way. I had the luck to be part of it since the knockout phase … If problems exist on a sports political level then it has to be solved on this level and not during a competition which is not affected.”
“And you will see all the passion on the pitch (on Tuesday) again,” Tuchel told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final, first-leg against Real Madrid at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.