Thomas Tuchel has given his honest assessment on the supposed changes that are to be made in the Champions League, starting from 2024.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is against changes to the Champions League. The proposed change will see clubs playing more fixtures in the group stage.
The Blues are already set to complete a 58 or 59-game season this year. That total would be increased in future, with four extra matches added to the group phase of the Champions League from 2024.
Along with UEFA’s revamped Nations League and FIFA’s new Club World Cup tournament proposals, Tuchel believes that players at the top clubs are being pushed beyond their physical limits.
It tallies with recent comments made by Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan, saying that players should be considered before UEFA make such decisions.
“I am not sure if I like it because I can only see many more games in the schedule that we have. It is very hard for me to get excited about it,” Tuchel said to Sky Sports ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
“With these discussions about the Super League, we forget that we now have a new format in the Champions League. Did they ask any coach about it? I don’t think so. Did they ask any players about it? I don’t think so.
“We have a Nations League, a new championship for the clubs, so much more stuff and so many more games, European Championships in the summer, it is just more and more games. Who should play these games?
“At the same time, we have only three substitutes per game here in the Premier League. No, I am not happy about this format.”
More and more players are expected to voice out on this over the coming days, and UEFA might also consider taking a second look at their proposed plan.
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