Uefa announced significant changes to their flagship Champions League yesterday, saying they had managed to “keep it in the family” after staving off the threat of a breakaway league by Europe’s top clubs.
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But while Brendan Rodgers’ team will be underdogs in the group, their formidable Champions League record at Celtic Park, where they have defeated Barcelona and Manchester United in recent seasons, ensures that City will travel to Glasgow on September 28 mindful of the unique difficulties that the fixture will pose.
The new regulations were announced at a UEFA media conference in Monaco, shortly before the draw for the Europa League group stage.
Guardiola, who also spent most of his playing career at the Catalan club, steered Barcelona to two Champions League titles as well as a number of other trophies during his time as coach from 2008-12.
The threat of a breakaway European Super League had appeared significant earlier this year, and Press Association Sport reports that the biggest push for change has come from Spain and Italy, the nation that looks set to benefit the most from the adjustment.
The Reds earned their place in the competition after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season and this is the first time they are featured in the group stage.
Now the team that finishes fourth in the Premier League must come through a play-off round to reach the group stages of the Champions League, but from the 2018-19 season the top four ranked associations – England, Spain, Italy and Germany – will receive four automatic spots.
Italy’s Serie A stats only appear worse when you take into account that they only qualify 3 teams under the current structure whereby the 3rd placed team enters qualifying.
Now the top three leagues receive three guaranteed spots plus a chance for an additional team to qualify through playoffs – the fourth league has two guaranteed spots with an additional two teams qualifying through the playoffs. Currently, the Europa victor can be made to qualify through the playoffs.
Celtic’s Scott Sinclair is looking forward to taking centre stage in a Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium after being drawn against Manchester City.
Scott Sinclair will return to face Manchester City when Celtic visit in the Champions League.
Theodoridis said it was an achievement just to keep any places for teams from the smaller leagues who struggle to compete on level terms with the elite clubs. Those look to be at risk.
Details of how the deal will squeeze clubs such as Belgium’s Bruges and Switzerland’s Basel will be “finalized by the end of the year”, UEFA said.
The final major change is in the way the money paid to clubs is calculated.
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A new four-pillar financial distribution system will be introduced based on starting fee, performance in the competition, individual club coefficient and market pool.
