British Expatriate Network

Man Utd call for European revamp

United were dumped out of the competition by AC Milan
Manchester United want the format of the Champions League changed to help more big clubs reach the last eight.
United lost in the first knockout stage this season, as did Real Madrid, Barcelona and holders Porto.

United chief executive David Gill said "At the moment we effectively have a random draw after the group stage.

"Maybe we should use a system where the holders are rated number one and they play the 16th ranked team, number two versus 15, and so on."

You can't afford to have Real Madrid and Manchester United going out in the last 16

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

Gill is concerned that the competition will lose some of its pulling power if the 'glamour' clubs go out early.

He added "It's not good for the big clubs, not good for TV and sponsors if there are no Spanish clubs in the quarter-finals.

"When the draw for the group stage is made, each club's co-efficient is used.

"Given it is unlikely we will ever go back to a situation of having two group stages, maybe we should use a system during the knock-out phase that also reflects the rankings.

"AC Milan were discussing this before we played them, so it is not a knee-jerk reaction."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side also exited the competition at the first knockout phase, is another calling for changes.

He said "You can't afford to have Real Madrid and Manchester United - big clubs who invest so much money - going out in the last 16.

United drew Milan purely because they were not good enough to win their group

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"You will have a revolt if it continues like that.

"Seeding teams is a possibility. I don't think the formula at the moment helps the best teams.

"Maybe Uefa will use their ranking lists to influence the draw in future."

But Gill is not expecting Europe's governing body to act quickly, if they choose to act at all.

He added "I don't think there will be any changes for next season, but it is an argument being made and I am sure Uefa will look at it."



Funny isnt it?? as soon as they get their asses kicked out they want changes.
Actually i think it will garnise more interest if a **lesser known **team makes it though to the finals now and again a lot of folks support the underdog .

Millwall's manager should be there with Arsene and Sir Alex - after all, they got their arses kicked out of the UEFA Cup in the early stages last year but somehow, they seem to have taken it with good grace.

Funny that after much tinkering with the Champions' League, some participants still aren't happy with it roll

If Manchester United and Real Madrid wanted to make it through to the latter stages - well, they should have won. Plain and simple.

Complete Bollocks, if the draw was made based on coefficients or rankings then there would be less incentive to do well during the group stages of the competition. This could lead to the big teams fielding a weak line-up in Game 3 should they already have earned enough points to go through (which would cause an imbalance for the team chasing second place).

The World Cup does it this way, and I think it's the right way.

If United hadn't have fielded a piss poor team against Lyon, they would have won the group and not have been drawn againt Milan and would have still been in the competition.

Come on now, Alex has to blame someone after all he is sackable you know lol

Football is the last bastion of a meritocracy.

The last thing we need are attempts like this to pull up the drawbridge, as they do so disgustingly well here in the United States with their franchise system.