The new Champions League format starts this Tuesday. With more teams (36 against 32) and more matches (8 against 6 in the first phase). Gone are the eight groups of four teams, replaced by a League phase where each participant will play eight matches against eight different opponents to establish a ranking of which the first eight places will directly qualify for the round of 16 (the other eight will be played in play-offs between the 9th and 24th). The format offers some great matches but also makes the calendar heavier, which greatly annoys Alisson Becker, Liverpool goalkeeper.
“Our opinion may not matter”
“For the fans it's incredible: more games, more big games,” the Brazilian admits. “For us players, it's good to play against the best in Europe. But it's always a good idea to add games to the schedule that is not loaded… I'm being a bit ironic. Sometimes, no one asks the players what they think about adding extra games. Our opinion may not matter. But everyone knows what we think. Everyone is fed up. It's about sitting down together and listening to all parties. We have the media and television, UEFA and FIFA, the Premier League, the national competitions.”
“We are not stupid and we understand that,” he continues. “We understand that people want more games. But the sensible thing would be for all the people I mentioned – the ones who make the schedule – to sit down together and listen to all parties, including the players.” This 2024-2025 season is not really going in that direction since it will conclude with the new version of the Fifa Club World Cup with… 32 teams, the final of which will be played on July 13, 2025. Some European representatives could thus extend their season over eleven months.
“A lot of players have already spoken about it,” Alisson concluded. “We just need to be listened to. Let's sit down together and understand what direction football wants to take. Not just add games, competitions, add this and that. What we want is to give our best to football, if you are tired you can't compete at a high level. I want to give my best in every game I play, but we need a solution. It doesn't seem like we are close to a good solution for football and the players.”
Original article published on RMC Sport
