Man Utd: Champions League plan ‘a joke’

By European Football
March 24 2005

Uefa have branded Manchester United chief executive David Gill’s suggestion that they should introduce a tennis-style system whereby the top ranked team would play the lowest ranked team in the last 16 and so on, a joke. They insist there will be no change to the present format what so ever. Uefa's director of communications William Gaillard stated:

"Uefa are always willing to listen to what clubs have to say but David Gill's plans would turn the competition into a bit of a joke."

"The idea of seeding clubs beyond the group stages goes beyond all principles of a sporting event.”

"Are United saying that they want to turn the Champions League into a static competition where the same clubs reach the latter stages every season?”

"If that's the case, supporters and TV companies would lose interest straightaway because the competition would become boring.”

"The reason why the Champions League is so lucrative to clubs is because the competition is so exciting and full of surprises. “

"Introducing seeding that would keep clubs apart would make it boring and result in totally meaningless fixtures during the group stages.”

"If Manchester United had won their group then they would not have been drawn against AC Milan in the knockout stage. Maybe they should consider that."

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