Major proposals being tabled by UEFA could secure the Champions League status of Manchester City and Manchester United in the competition for the long-term regardless of their Premier League finishes.
A proposal being considered by Europe’s governing body, in documents seen by the Associated Press, states that 24 of the 32 teams of the competition would retain their lucrative places regardless of their domestic success.
Such changes would be introduced for the 2024-25 season and match the proposals from the European Club Association, who have long called for their attractiveness to secure their status in Europe’s elite competition.
Per the proposals, four teams would be relegated from the eight-team groups and those four spots would then been taken by the semi-finalists from the Europa League - leaving just four qualification spots available for domestic champions competing in the preliminary rounds.
How Man City Champions League draw next season could be affected by English success in Europe
As part of that, there would be no room for the Eredivisie runners-up who this season were Ajax - and shocked the competition by reaching the semi-finals, where they were also just minutes away from securing a date with Liverpool in Madrid.
While UEFA insisted the proposal was merely ‘ideas and opinions’ after tabling the proposal on Wednesday, it is further evidence of the major changes that could be coming to the European game.
For United and City it is good news, particularly for the former, but it is unlikely to be welcomed by other clubs across the Premier League and the rest of the continent.
Controversial Champions League changes could affect Manchester United and Man City
