Exclusive: Paul Robinson reacts as Leeds chief slams UEFA plans
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United
Paul Robinson has said that the changes that are being proposed for the Champions League “don’t sound great” for Leeds.
However, he thinks that any changes to the format are a long way off.
Leeds chief Angus Kinnear said that Leeds fans should be outraged by the proposed changes that would see teams with historic European merit qualify regardless of where they finish in the league. [The Athletic]
Writing in his program notes for the Chelsea game Kinnear said, “The element that the supporters of the majority of Premier League clubs should be most outraged by is the principle that qualification for Europe will no longer be only based on in-season merit but on a coefficient of clubs’ historic performances in Europe
“This is shamelessly engineered to perpetuate the inclusion of clubs who have long-term European success and whom UEFA deem will have greater commercial value at the expense of emerging clubs.”
Talking exclusively to MOT Leeds News Robinson said, “It doesn’t sound great. And it wouldn’t be great for Leeds.
“However, there’s still a lot of work to be done before something like that gets passed.
“The format of the Champions League and the way things are at the moment there’s not a lot that’s wrong with it.
“There’s all this talk of a European Super League or fixing the Champions League to ensure the big clubs are in, but I think changes are miles off.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world by a mile. You look at France, there are two or three good teams.
“Look in Spain, there are three or four strong teams.
“There are 20 strong teams in the Premier League and the top of the Championship is a better standard than a lot of leagues in other European countries.
To say you’re going to start messing around with the Champions League… I just can’t see it at the moment.”
Kinnear’s point is as valid for a club like Leicester as it is for Leeds.
The elite European competition used to be reserved just for the champions of each league.
That’s already been expanded to fit in the top four clubs from England, but at least the competition still works on merit.
If ‘elite’ clubs can’t finish in the top four then they don’t deserve to play at Europe’s top table.
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