Moyes blasts UEFA reforms
DAVID MOYES has hit out at the proposed Champions League reforms which would seriously benefit today’s opponents Arsenal and the rest of England’s biggest clubs. From 2024-25, UEFA plans would enable teams which have failed to earn a place in Europe’s top cup competition through their league position to be handed one based on previous successes, such as qualification for the Europa League or lifting a domestic cup.
It is a move which has infuriated clubs like Moyes’ West Ham who are striving to break into the European places on a more regular basis.
And it has led to further accusations that the continent’s biggest and wealthiest clubs, who only a year ago were forced into an embarrassing climbdown over proposals for a breakaway European Super League, simply want to make the Champions League a closed shop.
Moyes said: “I don’t think it sits correctly with anyone who is a football supporter.
“I’m guessing behind it is that this is some way to keep them from going into any other leagues,
ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta will bring the glory days back, says Bacary Sagna. The Frenchman, who made over 200 appearances for the club and shared a dressing room with Arteta at the Emirates, said: “I think he is doing an amazing, amazing job. He’s already shown that he has the mental
strength to stick to his principles.
“He’s stuck to his young players even when criticism was high and now we’re seeing the benefits. I am really excited about the future of this Arsenal team. I still believe it’s too early for them to be champions, not that it’s not possible but they need more experience of playing together. This is a very good squad and they can be very successful in the
near future.” that they’re going to try to reward the teams that are used to the Champions League because they’re going to need the money to keep building their teams.
“But I don’t think it’s what we’ve been brought up on.
“Maybe a new generation might change that again and quite often in football you’re never keen on change.
“But at the moment it seems really unfair to the football pyramid.
“We have a brilliant league here and the Champions League has been an incredible success.
“The games we are watching at the moment, the quality of the football, the teams...
“So we want new teams to qualify because, through the years, we have seen some of the teams who have made it.
“Villarreal last year beat Manchester United in the Europa League and they are now playing in the semi-finals of the
Champions League.
“Imagine one of us getting into that situation and not then getting the chance to show what we can do.
“It’s not that we want other competitions made up for the lesser lights – we want to try to mix it with the big boys when we get the chance.”