Champions League 2024-25: Why the new format is ‘better for the game’ – McCoist

Champions League commentator Ally McCoist told Sports mole that the revised format for the 2024-25 competition was “better for the game”, despite criticism from players, fans and journalists.

The usual 32-team Champions League group stage has been replaced by one League phase in which 36 clubs are merged into one League tableand after each team has played eight times, the top eight qualify for the round of 16, while the next 16 teams compete in playoffs to advance to the next round.

Have a number of players pronounced Due to the increasing capacity of the games, the game went against the format, with suggestions of a strike even being considered, while the first day of play saw a number of one-sided results, including six teams winning by three or more goals Bayern Munich This made them the first team in Champions League history to score nine goals in a game.

However, when asked if the new league phase was an improvement over the previous version of the Champions League, McCoist responded Sports mole: “I think it was better for the tournament, better for the game.”

“I watched it, looked at the new format and was pretty hopeful and pretty optimistic that that would be the case, and I know it’s still very, very early in the process, but nothing has changed my mind about it . I’m still calm.” I’m happy with it, I’m happy with the way it started.

“As I said, before the tournament started I was hopeful and optimistic, and it remains that way at the moment.”

Bayern Munich secured their lead at the top of the table early on after an incredible performance 9:2 win against Dinamo Zagreb, with Celtic, Aston Villa And Liverpool the only British clubs in the top eight after one game week.

The new league phase means there will now be a total of 189 games played in the Champions League this season, an increase of 64 compared to 125 last season.

Rangers legend McCoist praises “fantastic” Celtic

The abolition of the group stage and the introduction of a ranking means that all 36 teams in the tournament are in competition with each other and any result can have an impact on qualification.

In fact, Celtic are currently third in the table and have more points than others Manchester City, AC Milan And arsenaland McCoist believes it is an example of how the tournament’s new format has benefited teams who would not normally qualify for the round of 16.

McCoist told Sports mole: “The Celtic resultBy the way, that was fantastic, a phenomenal result. Suddenly their fans are thinking, they’re looking at their games and thinking: ‘Can we clearly qualify?’ That’s great!

“No, that’s it, it’s great! And I was there Inter Milan City Game where I thought Inter Milan played well, really, really well, deserved a point. I watched Atalanta ArsenalSo I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen so far.

Opta analysis points out that just 10 points will almost certainly result in a top-24 finish and qualify teams for the round of 16 of the playoffs. Celtic’s win on matchday one could prove crucial to staying in the tournament.

Celtic take it on Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday in their second game of the 2024-25 Champions League and will be looking for their first away win in the competition since July 2019.

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McCoist: Fans “get bigger games”

UEFA said the desire for more frequent meetings between top European teams was one of the reasons for the new Champions League format and fans have already been treated to games like these AC Milan vs Liverpooland I can be happy Arsenal vs Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday.

McCoist considers the prospect of further duels between the European elite to be positive.

“There have been a few games in the last few games where you would probably effectively call them dead rubber,” McCoist said Sports mole.

“Maybe we’ll get one or two more of them in this new format, but what appeals to me now when you think about it – we had Manchester City-Inter Milan, Atalanta-Arsenal.”

“I think we’re definitely getting bigger games where the big clubs now really think, ‘Well, we really can’t afford to take our foot off the gas here, we’ll have to see how this league season goes’.” And by I like this point of view, I have to admit!”

Fans can also watch Aston Villa face off against FC Bayern Munich on Wednesday Barcelona At the end of October, while Liverpool will face Liverpool in another outstanding game of the league stage real Madrid at Anfield at the end of November.

Ally McCoist spoke to him Sports mole on behalf of talkSPORT bet.

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