Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticized the current UEFA rule that grants Europa League winners a place in the Champions League, stating it is “not right,” 9am News reports.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are both on course to reach the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21, holding aggregate leads in their respective semi-final ties. However, both clubs are far outside the European qualification spots in the Premier League, with United sitting 15th and Spurs 16th.
UEFA changed its policy in 2014, allowing Europa League champions to automatically qualify for the Champions League, a move Wenger now questions.
Speaking to BeIN Sports, Wenger said:
“No – they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League. Especially when you’re in the Premier League where already five teams qualify. I think it’s something for UEFA to think about and review.”
He added, however, that the current system has its benefits:
“On the other hand, people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated, you need to give them that prize (Champions League qualification).”
Wenger’s comments come as United and Spurs aim to emulate Manchester United’s 2018 Europa League triumph under Jose Mourinho, which earned them a Champions League berth despite finishing sixth in the league.
Since the Europa League was rebranded in 2009-10, no club finishing lower than 12th domestically has won the competition. Notably, Sevilla (12th in La Liga) won in 2023, and Fulham (12th in the Premier League) reached the final in 2010.
Wenger, who stepped down from Arsenal in 2018 and now serves as FIFA’s head of global football development, has been at the forefront of football reform, having previously proposed changes to the offside rule and the idea of a biennial World Cup.
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