Buzzing Bayern Munich supremo Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has told cynics of the revamped Champions League to pipe down with their complaints.
The German legend has been left stunned by growing negativity over UEFA‘s brave new dawn with Bayern themselves in a battle to qualify after losing two of their first four games. Withering takes from pundits and epic rants from fan TV channels have been met head on by punters who are in love with the eight-game league system. Celtic fans are part of the thumbs up brigade as they thrive in the world’s premier competition for the first time in over a decade under Brendan Rodgers’ guidance.
Real Madrid and PSG are among the sides facing a fight to finish in the top eight, with the likes of the Premiership champions., Brest and Sporting championed, with one commentator on X, claiming it’s “annoying all the right people”. Rummenigge himself has no qualms, stating: “The old group stage was boring because after the fourth matchday things were decided. Now it is more difficult, even for the good clubs, to qualify. What is more difficult is more emotional. I’m convinced that the fans will gradually appreciate the new league phase more.”
A trio of clubs from pot four are sitting inside the top eight and the likes of Celtic, Brugge, Zagreb and Lille are strong bets to make the knockout stage. It comes amid Arsenal Fan TV claiming the new look masterminded by Aleksander Ceferin felt more like “NFL or NBA. He stated: “You play a team once, then move on to another, and it’s all for TV money. Why can’t we play them back at the Emirates after tonight?”
But that appears to be the part teams who are thriving are enjoying most, fresh games, no rematches and other matches taking place having implications down the road. Brugge’s win over Aston Villa before travelling to Glasgow sees two teams knowing a win will have both on the brink of the playoffs, at least.