Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has warned that the new Champions League format that could come into action from 2024/25 could "kill the game". It's a message that will be filtered through to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, who could be competing in the competition when these new rules are implemented.
After the collapse of the European Super League, UEFA's proposed changes to the Champions League have gone slightly under the radar. The plans would increase the number of teams from 32 to 36, and the current group structure would no longer stand as UEFA aim for all teams to be in one single league. Among the more controversial additions would be two places based on 'historic' performance - something that is proving unpopular among fans.
"This evolved format will still keep alive the dream of any team in Europe to participate in the UEFA Champions League thanks to results obtained on the pitch and it will enable long-term viability, prosperity, and growth for everyone in European football, not just a tiny, self-selected cartel," said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. There are many more explanations as to how this new plan would work but it is a certainty that the new proposal will create a sense of uproar- although not as significant as the ESL reaction which united the whole of football.
