Published 19:41 IST, October 18th 2019
Frank Lampard opposes changes to UEFA Champions League group stages
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has opposed any changes to the group stage matches in UEFA Champions League as it will affect the players' fitness and quality.
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Frank Lampard, the Chelsea manager, has expressed vehement opposition to Champions League reforms which he claims will lead to player burnout. Reportedly, Lampard told a meeting of European club leaders that an increase in group games would be a serious mistake and that the current status quo should be left alone. Lampard is managing in UEFA's flagship tournament for the first time this season and does not believe it is feasible to squeeze more fixtures into an already congested calendar. He is a Champions League winner in 2012.
The present format is sufficient
Frank Lampard is happy with the Champions League's current format and sees no reason to increase the number of fixtures from 2024-25. He believes that the changes proposed by Juventus President Andrea Agnelli risked devaluing the competition. There have been some proposals that would expand the number of UEFA Champions League Group Stage matches. Agnelli wants four groups of eight clubs in the initial stage of the Champions League and 21 matches to win the competition, insisting that everyone wants more games. Plans to include as many as 96 teams and bring in a promotion and relegation system were shelved last month, but discussions are still ongoing as to how to revamp the Champions League from 2024-25 onward. UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti came under some fire for appearing to be backing some of the proposals put forward by Agnelli and the European Clubs Association.
The Chelsea Boss remains open to changes to UEFA club competitions, provided they are mutually and widely beneficial, so it has been crucial to have heard from such a broad range of voices from the football community. The Premier League hosted the event in London, which was attended by around 200 clubs around Europe. The body represents 36 professional leagues across 29 countries. The league was understood to have received assurances that there are no firm proposals to cut the number of Champions League group stage places for English clubs. Lampard believes that the teams playing the Champions League deserve it. He feels that increasing the number of matches in an already busy schedule would affect the quality and freshness of the players.
16:34 IST, October 18th 2019