The ‘remaining eight’ format utilized in final season’s Champions League and Europa League may return in 2024.
That is in keeping with UEFA’s deputy normal secretary Giorgio Marchetti, who has hinted the single-country, one-leg format could possibly be adopted once more.
It was used to conclude the Champions League and Europa League final time period after the season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, with the ultimate eight groups competing to win the competitors aver a two-week interval in August.
Marchetti stated that, though the 2 elite European competitions are restricted to utilizing their present codecs for the following three seasons, these codecs may change at the beginning of the following cycle.
“An excellent rule is to by no means exclude one thing which proves useful or has potential,” Marchetti stated. “We all know there are numerous components that must be taken into consideration, comparable to calendar and organisational constraints, followers’ involvement, financial implications, however we’ll for positive examine this format and its variations for our upcoming discussions.
“Single knockout matches clearly favour uncertainty and feelings. We obtained nice suggestions from golf equipment, broadcasters and different companions in addition to from the followers.
“The circumstances made this format a should, however the outcome couldn’t be higher in addition to the diploma of satisfaction.”
The Europa League additionally adopted the same format, with the German cities of Cologne, Duisburg, Düsseldorf and Gelsenkirchen internet hosting video games.
Manchester United misplaced to Sevilla within the semi-finals of the Europa League mini-tournament, whereas Metropolis had been crushed by Lyon within the final eight of the Champions League.