In a power shift toward Europe’s wealthiest clubs, UEFA has agreed to give more guaranteed Champions League group-stage places to the four highest-ranked leagues.
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The current top four according to European governing body Uefa’s rankings are Spain, Germany, England and Italy.
Leicester City have been handed a decent chance of progression in their first Champions League campaign after being drawn alongside Porto, Club Brugge and FC Copenhagen in the group stage.
Under the present system, the top three leagues – now Spain, Germany and England – have three places each, while their fourth-placed teams must contest a play-off over two legs for a place in the group stage.
UEFA have explained the new changes for the Champions League group stage, which will take effect from 2018.
In a move that will surely only consolidate the power of the strongest leagues in Europe, UEFA has made a few structural changes to the Champions League qualification process.
Teams from the Premiership, La Liga, Serie A and The Bundesliga have maintained their positions with four teams going through.
“I welcome UEFA’s decision, it reflects a serious and fair solution for European club football”, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the ECA and Bayern Munich, said in a statement.
The Champions League can be tough all it wants, but we now have the coach to win it. But who will face who in the draw? At present the winners enter at the playoff stage by right, but are elevated to the group stage if the holders also qualify via league position. This year Roma was knocked out by Porto in the qualifiers meaning only Juve and Napoli – Italian runner-up – are in the group stage. It states that winners of Europe’s top seven associations will be placed directly into pot one. Also preserved was the Champions Path – initiated by disgraced former president Michel Platini in 2009 – with the vision of allowing clubs from lesser national associations to qualify for the Champions League proper.
Uefa has besides uncovered the cash related dispersal to clubs will be “stretched out all around” for the Champions league and Europa League.
“It s not a nightmare draw at all because we are in a wonderful competition and we are really happy to be here, but in Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach and Celtic we know it won t be easy”, said City s director of football Txiki Begiristain. A new financial sysytem will see sporting performances better rewarded, while market pool share will decrease.
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“Of course, if I’m in Spain then, I’ll be at the stadium (Camp Nou) to watch and support him (Kelechi Iheanacho) during the game”.
