Pranav Nair
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer unimpressed with Champions League expansion
According to the Mirror, Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains unconvinced by UEFA’S expansion of the Champions League.
The changes will see the 32-team tournament expand to a 36-team one. These proposals set to be implemented from the 2024/25 season will increase the number of games in the tournament from 125 to 225.
Solskjaer is well aware that this expansion will see more money be brought in. As the continent’s premier competition and one of the iconic tournaments in the sport, an increase in revenue in terms of TV cash and gate receipts is inevitable.
“I know there’s money in it.”
The United boss, however, believes that the governing body is putting quantity ahead of quality. More so, the increased number of matches will add more strain to the workload of the players.
“The new format of the Champions League gives the players more games – and we need to look after the players so they can play at their best level.”
While he believes players will always be up for making it all the way to the latter stages, it may be accompanied by a lack of quality thanks to fatigue.
“Are we preparing them to play at the highest standard?”
Why fix something unbroken?
Solskjaer has enjoyed memorable moments in Europe both as player and manager of Manchester United. His heroics at the Nou Camp in 1999 and the epic comeback under his guidance against PSG in 2019 will live long in the memory.
As someone who has had to deal with players tiring towards the end of the season, his concerns are justified. For an organization that was hell-bent on opposing the European Super League, UEFA is willing to look the other way when it appeals to them.
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There is little need to tinker with what is already an excellent format for Europe’s premier football competition. But then as Solskjaer pointed out, there is money in doing so. UEFA appear to be fine with minting cash as long it is them who does so.
