Even from the couch, Wednesday’s Champions League match between Manchester City and Real Madrid looked like an event. There was a lot at stake and so was the quality of the football.
Pep Guardiola’s City pounced on their opponents like bees only for Real to show the courage and energy to provoke their sting. Man of the match was probably Real Madrid’s former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Defending is also an art at this level.
And I imagine all this is something similar to what French journalist Gabriel Hanot, editor of the esteemed publication L’Equipe, had in mind when he successfully petitioned UEFA to organize the first European Club Cup in 1955.
The key (as it still is) was in the title. It was for the champions, the best in each country. It was then, and indeed still is, that Celtic and Manchester United became the first British clubs to win what was then called the European Cup in 1967 and 1968 respectively. Yes, a tournament for champions.
What a curious idea it seems now, as English clubs last night prayed for unexpected twists in Europa League and Europa Conference League results that would take our UEFA coefficient to such a position that it would be us, and not Germany, who would be offered five places instead of four for next season’s Champions League.
Antonio Rudiger scored the penalty for Real Madrid’s victory against Manchester City
The departures of City and Arsenal damaged UEFA’s coefficient for Champions League places
It’s not hard to wonder what people like Jock Stein, Sir Matt Busby and other legendary winners like Bob Paisley, Brian Clough and Ron Saunders would think of that now. All of these men triumphed first in their domestic leagues and then flew their nation’s flag across land and sea, often in difficult conditions, to lift the most beautiful of club trophies. Yes, the European Cup took some time to get to in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and then it also needed to be won.
It’s still tremendously difficult to win. That hasn’t changed even though the format has. But as for the entrance, the door has been open for a long time. For a while there were two teams from the established European leagues (the champion and the runner-up) and that seemed right to me. Football has been growing over the years. So has the appetite for glamorous European matches. It’s natural to want more of a good thing and we understand that. Real, it should be noted, finished second in La Liga last season.
But now here we are, with four threatening to become five, and it’s much harder to square the circle. There are only 20 teams in the Premier League. So to even consider offering a quarter of those clubs places in the Champions League seems a bit like an insult to the values and heritage of this great competition.
Legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough poses with the 1980 European Cup.
Who knows what Bob Paisley, Liverpool’s iconic manager, would think of the format now.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham would currently benefit from five qualifying places
Tottenham will not mind this feeling. Currently it would be Ange Postecoglou’s team that would benefit from fifth place. The London club have traveled well this season under their charismatic Australian manager. It’s a pleasure to see him and all that.
But as things stand now, Tottenham have lost exactly a quarter of their 32 league games. Quarter. Champion form? In shape for the Champions League? Not even close. But the quality of its top-level competition has long ceased to matter to UEFA.
Forget the substance, just get an idea of its size and value. Like a sports car with a big engine, twin exhausts but cheap plastic seats inside, UEFA threatens to inflate its prized asset to the point that at some point we can only hope it goes off the road.
They will continue to be the usual suspects in the Champions League final next year
Next season the tournament will be different with 36 teams grouped in one league. The top eight will advance to the round of 16, while eight more will join them after a series of knockout matches. More games. More television. More money. We know who will be present at the time of death. The same teams, the same names, and that is exactly what the big clubs want. Guaranteed access to your favorite tournament. It is the closest they could get to a European Super League and for now they will achieve it.
This time next year, the later stages of the competition will no doubt feel more or less the same. They will wear the same ‘zing’. So why should we care? Well, those of us who believe in truly elite sport know that dilution will only take you in the opposite direction. So yes, we care.
Champions League? Maybe it’s time to call it something else.
Are the Chelsea players listening?
Chelsea’s dressing room is such a confusing place that they can’t even win a game 6-0 without sending the wrong messages. Mauricio Pochettino should have a 1-2-3 penalty taker and tell his players to stick to it.
But what if they just aren’t listening? So Pochettino really has a much bigger problem than who scores goal number 5 in a rout.
Foden’s view on Klopp surpasses the nonsense
During my time with Phil Foden earlier this week, I asked the Manchester City striker about Jurgen Klopp and was surprised by his response.
“He’s been such a brilliant coach and it’s a shame to see him go,” Foden told me. “I think he’s good for the game.”
At a time when relations between City and Liverpool off the field remain as bad and, frankly, as petty as they can be, it was refreshing to hear someone put such nonsense to rest. Klopp’s upcoming departure from Anfield at the end of the season would be a good excuse to wipe the slate clean.
Phil Foden has spoken in glowing terms about outgoing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Champions League pain is Southgate’s gain
So, bad news for England’s Champions League hopes, but better news for Gareth Southgate. Firstly, did you see the penalties taken by Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham on Wednesday in the Manchester City-Real Madrid match? Put them in your designated five, Gareth.
Secondly, this year’s Champions League final is so close to the start of the Euro that it will leave friction marks, but now only Bellingham or Harry Kane will be busy at Wembley on June 1, which is the same for England Good. Southgate’s side have a pre-tournament friendly against Bosnia in Newcastle two days later.
Bellingham scored his penalty for Real Madrid in their spectacular shootout victory over City.
Mane’s departure from the Reds was bad for everyone
It was at Liverpool’s Champions League media day in Kirkby in 2022 that Sadio Mane first hinted he could leave Anfield.
I felt bad then and it feels worse now. In fact, it now feels a bit like a sliding doors moment, for him and for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s team (although you have to marvel at the way they have rebuilt their attack) have never been more lethal without Mane, while the player’s own career has left him off the charts.
The transfer they granted him was to Bayern Munich and it turned out to be a disaster. Now, that he has just turned 32, he is abandoned in the Saudi Pro League.
Sadio Mane is now in the Saudi league and his career since leaving Liverpool has deteriorated
It’s a great shame, for him and for Liverpool. Mo Salah attracted most of the attention as Liverpool terrorized the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City at Anfield during Klopp’s golden years at the club. But ask those who played against Liverpool and they will tell you about the constant, monotonous and exhausting threat of the Senegalese striker, who would open holes in defenses with directness, speed and intelligence.
Mane, unlike Salah back then, understood the value of an assist and there were many. He also scored, and there was roughly a goal every two games in which he started for six seasons.
It’s hard not to think about this now as Liverpool begin to falter in front of goal, as we watch Darwin Nunez find fallow ground and even Salah struggle for fitness.
Mane was one of those transfers that everyone (player, coach, fans) has reason to regret. Sometimes it just happens like that.