Ilkay Gundogan has criticized the proposed reformatting of the Champions League and described it as “the lesser of the two evils compared to the Super League”.
UEFA recently announced plans to expand Europe’s premier competition to include 36 pages, where the group stage was then extended to ten matches instead of six.
Manchester City will more than likely be affected by the proposal with their hectic schedule that will grow further when the model is introduced in 2024.
With all the Super League stuff going on … can we please also talk about the new Champions League format? More and more and more games, no one thinks of us players? The new UCL format is just the smaller of the two evils compared to the Super League …
– Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) April 22, 2021
The recent controversy over the Super League has seen the Champions League reform skirt under the radar a bit, although Gundogan is keen to get fans’ attention back and has insisted that its current format is what makes the competition so great.
The German international took to his personal Twitter account to write: “With all the Super League stuff going on … can we also talk about the new Champions League format? More and more and more games, no one thinks of us players ?
“The new UCL [Champions League] the format is only the smaller of the two evils compared to the Super League. The UCL format works well right now and that is why it is the most popular club competition in the world – for us players and for the fans. “
Ilkay Gundogan attacked UEFA’s plans BSR Agency / Getty Images
City have never been named Champions League winners, but they have a real chance to lift the trophy this season after reaching the last four where they face Paris Saint-Germain.
Their best result in the competition so far came back in 2015/16 when Manuel Pellegrini guided them to the semi-final stage before being knocked out by La Liga giants Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola was brought in with the hope that he could lead them to European glory, but so far the best he has managed with the quarterfinals.
