UEFA is considering a new change in the Champions League format after this season that it has only introduced a large makeover of the competition.
Europe's Premier Club Competition dumped group phases this season instead of a competition phase for the first round.
This change added two match days to the European calendar with clubs with eight different opponents in the same number of matches to try to qualify for the round of 16 by ending in the top eight of 36 teams. Teams arranged the ninth to 24th fighting in a knockout round to join the other eight clubs in the last 16.
The extra competitions have added a tension to an overburdened club calendar and now, according to the Guardian, UEFA ways to alleviate the burden.
The administrative body is investigating the idea of scraping extra time from Champions League Knock -out competitions with drawn tires that go directly to a penalty shootout.
The trade unions of players have long argued for scrapping extra time and, with the new format that makes burnout worse, UEFA is considering the proposal seriously.
Concessions have already been made on the Domestic Calendar – FA Cup – Realization were deleted this season – and cutting off the extra 30 minutes of two -legged Champions League tires would go a small way to illuminating the problems caused by congestion In the late season.
The proposal will certainly be welcomed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who only complained last week about the full fixture list of his club.
City could not automatically qualify for the Champions League last 16 and have now been confronted with holders Real Madrid in a two-legged play-off on 11 and 19 February.
“The schedule is what it is,” said Guardiola.
'Everyone has to play in the Premier League, but what normally happens is that we have more difficult schemes for the (Premier League) teams in Europe. It is difficult to play against Real Madrid, the problem is in the middle of Newcastle. '
He added sarcastically: “They are always so friendly with the calendar, it has always happened that way for many years.”
Any change in the Champions League format should be ratified by the UEFA executive committee and it is unlikely that this will happen halfway through this television rights cycle, which runs until 2027.
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