Unleashing Wenger's Unconventional Champions League Proposal
Wenger Advocates Major Adjustment in Europa League Regulations, Implying Potential Implications for Manchester United and Tottenham
Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager and the current FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, has set the cat among the pigeons with a bold suggestion - a revamp of the Europa League qualification rules. Instead of the winners securing a spot in the Champions League, Wenger proposes they ought to qualify directly for the following season's Europa League instead[1].
Ahead of this season's Europa League semi-finals, scheduled for Thursday, Wenger called for a radical change in the league's regulations. Man United and Tottenham, who boast healthy leads from their first matchups against Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt, respectively, stand on the precipice of meeting in the final. Both teams are aiming to salvage their seasons by securing a place in the competition.
If they succeed, as most expect, they could potentially find themselves facing off in the final. The Europa League winners currently receive a direct spot in the subsequent Champions League, a tradition established by UEFA since 2014. However, Wenger believes the winners should instead be relegated to the next season's Europa League and not promoted to the Champions League[1].
"They should qualify automatically for the Europa League but not necessarily for the Champions League," Wenger told beIN Sports. "Especially when you're in the Premier League where already five teams qualify," he added[1].
Wenger acknowledges that some might argue that the Europa League needs to be motivated and interesting by offering the Champions League as a prize. Nonetheless, he emphasizes that it's something worth pondering and reviewing[1].
Historically, no team has reached the Europa League final while finishing lower than 12th in their domestic league since the competition was rebranded for the 2009/10 season. Sevilla finished 12th in La Liga in 2022/23 on their way to winning the trophy for an unprecedented seventh time. Fulham ended the 2009/10 season in the same position before suffering a defeat to Atletico Madrid in the final[1].
United previously benefited from this rule after winning the Europa League in 2017. They managed to secure a place in the following season's Champions League despite finishing sixth in the Premier League[1]. Both Spurs and United are currently in the bottom half of the Premier League. With three matches remaining, Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou's sides are 15th and 16th, respectively[1]. Neither side can finish any higher than 12th in the table this season.
The Europa League semi-final second legs are set to take place on Thursday. Coverage of Man United vs Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt vs Spurs will be live across the talkSPORT network[1]. To catch the action, tune in to talkSPORT through the website, talkSPORT app, DAB digital radio, smart speakers, 1089 or 1053 AM, or visit talkSPORT BET for the latest odds and bet boosts[1].
- The former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has proposed a change in the Europa League qualification rules, suggesting that the winners should qualify for the following season's Europa League instead of the Champions League.
- If Manchester United and Tottenham win their upcoming Europa League semi-finals, they could potentially meet in the final, as the current tradition established by UEFA since 2014 is for the Europa League winners to secure a direct spot in the subsequent Champions League.
- Arsene Wenger has advocated for a change, saying that the winners should not be promoted to the Champions League, but instead, qualify automatically for the Europa League.
- Wenger also acknowledged that some argue the Europa League needs to be motivated and interesting by offering the Champions League as a prize, but he emphasizes that it's an idea worth considering and reviewing in the future.
