Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has already made his feelings on the Champions League clear as plans for a revamp of the tournament move closer.
According to a report from The Athletic, from the 2024-25 season, proposals would mean that greater security would be offered to the likes of Chelsea in qualifying for the tournament. The number of teams would be raised from 32 to 36, with the four extra slots given to a side that did not make the domestic requirements to qualify but have performed historically well in the tournament.
Having won the famous trophy twice in the last 10 years, Chelsea would be well placed to take one of those spots if they were to finish outside the top four. Other changes will see a 'Swiss model' introduced, with the group stage replaced by one league table before entering into the knockout stages.
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Last season, Chelsea's bid to finish in the top four hung in the balance as they battled Leicester for the final spot in UEFA's showpiece event. Having recently lost to the Foxes in the FA Cup final, Tuchel was asked how qualifying for the Champions League compared to winning the domestic tournament in his priorities, making it obvious how highly he ranks qualification.
"I am not a good loser but I want to be a respectful loser and I am not here to play the match [the FA Cup final] down because of financial reasons," he said in the days after losing to Leicester at Wembley last season. "We lost a big match, it was a huge match for us, we put out the best team possible, we did not rest anybody because we had the feeling that this game tomorrow is more important.
"But there is a but. Do we want to play Champions League next season? Yes, this is the target when I stepped into this club. I want to be very clear, the task was, 'let's try everything to be in the top four'.
"The task was not, 'let's try everything to win the FA Cup' because the FA Cup, as big as it is, does not bring you to Champions League football next season. It's the top four that brings us that."
Tuchel is yet to comment on these latest revelations. His side remain in contention to win back-to-back European crowns with a quarter-final clash with Real Madrid in the offing.
