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Champions League Could Have Just Four Qualifying Places In New Structure

Champions League Could Have Just Four Qualifying Places In New Structure

It would mean that 24 of the 32 teams would be guaranteed entry every year with another four up for relegation.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

The Champions League could be ruined by UEFA with provisional talks taking place over a proposed to the structure of the competition where only four teams would have the chance to qualify.

This season's Champions League might have been the best ever and we've still got a final between two sides that can beat each other on their day to go.

Of course this week's pair of comebacks, Manchester United's drama with PSG and two English teams in the final might skew our outlook but everyone has enjoyed Ajax's run to the semi-final, unless you're a PSV or Feyenoord fan of course.

The Dutch side started their run to the final four last July and had to go through three rounds of qualifying matches just to get into the Group Stage.

Their run in the knockout stages was sensational as they beat reigning champions Real Madrid and favourites Juventus before beating Spurs in the first leg of the semi, ahead of their eventual demise.

Whist we all love an underdog story it might be the last one we get in Europe's elite competition. According to Associated Press, via the Daily Mail, UEFA is considering a proposal to change the Champions League.

The change would see four groups of eight but most worrying is the change to 24 guaranteed places for Europe's elite and only four places for qualification.

Ajax celebrate winning against Juventus. Image: PA Images
Ajax celebrate winning against Juventus. Image: PA Images

That would mean that those 24 would qualify no matter where they finish in their domestic league, four places would go to the Europa League semi finals and four to teams winning their domestic leagues, who would go into preliminary qualifying.

Furthermore teams like Ajax, who finished second in the Eredivisie last season, wouldn't get into the competition and would be left to play in the Europa League.

Lucas Moura's goal was the latest dramatic moment in a great season. Image: PA Images
Lucas Moura's goal was the latest dramatic moment in a great season. Image: PA Images

The plans were presented to league officials on Wednesday and are so far just part of the opinion gathering consultation as the governing body decide what to do with the Champions League.

It would make it far less likely that we'd see another Ajax, after all they wouldn't have even been in the tournament.

We have something good for once, now UEFA plan on ruining it, great.

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Topics: Spurs, Liverpool, Football News, Europa League, Serie A, Ligue 1, UEFA, Premier League, Ajax, Champions League, La Liga, Bundesliga