Interpolic

Seriously, lucky () or not, that's the current situation and the reason certain countries get more places is that they've performed better than the rest and are generally better leagues. Are the Europa League winners usually gutted about not being able to defend their trophy if their league form means they get into the CL? No, league position is everything.

Why does it have to count itself lucky?

So you pick someone who finishes 4, third of the losers to play in the Champions League over someone who are the champions of the Champions League. Bizarre! Even more bizarre to pick the people who finished 5th of the losers like, or potentially 19th, as it could happen. Bayern finished 10th when they won the second European Cup in the 70's. Who finished 4th in the Bundesliga that year? Nobody knows because it doesn't matter, Bayern winning the European was a far better achievement which people do still remember and gave them the right to win it he next year Did they take the place from that year's German champions though? If not it's irrelevant. No but the same thing would happen now if a country with only one CL place won it It's the fact that we get 4 places already that means we don't get another Why does this matter?

So you pick someone who finishes 4, third of the losers to play in the Champions League over someone who are the champions of the Champions League. Bizarre! Even more bizarre to pick the people who finished 5th of the losers like, or potentially 19th, as it could happen. Bayern finished 10th when they won the second European Cup in the 70's. Who finished 4th in the Bundesliga that year? Nobody knows because it doesn't matter, Bayern winning the European was a far better achievement which people do still remember and gave them the right to win it he next year There weren't 4 CL places in those days so this is a laughable comment anyway.

It won't come at the expense of anyone else if it's always allocated. Say Chelsea had gotten 3rd and won tonight, then the team in 5th would get an extra place. If the country that wins the CL always gets an additional place then there's nothing unfair about it, it's a bonus and a reward to that league for winning the competition.

So you pick someone who finishes 4, third of the losers to play in the Champions League over someone who are the champions of the Champions League. Bizarre! The way the Champions League works now, with UEFA essentially sponsoring CL team's future success with the insane prize and TV money, such a team should see finishing in the top 4 as a pre-requisite to playing in that cup again, regardless of their progress in the competition. That's if we're not talking additional places, and I've made it clear I think additional places is the only 100% fair way to do this. Have no idea why 5 CL places rather than 4, or going back 4 instead of 3, or 2 instead of 1, gets people's backs up so much. It's not the European Cup anymore man, get over it. Although I'd be all for having 2 places for premier European Cup and another 2 for a secondary European Cup, anything that lessens the gap between the European competitions.

Give over. A team has a right to defend the trophy they won, to prove they are still the best team in that competition. They couldn't even manage to finish in the top 4 man, not even with all the money they've got from being in the Champions League for the last decade and an owner to whom money is no object. They've failed in the league but don't pay the price by missing out on the only competition anyone's bothered about these days, at the expense of one that has done what they thought they needed to do in the league.

I definitely agree with your comments above but I do think the champions have to be in the competition the next season. Doesn't seem right not to for me. Much harder to win the CL than finish 4th too. You quite clearly can fluke your way to a Champions League win though, same doesn't really go for achieving a certain league position.

Well I don't think you should change it tbh, I think 5 places instead of 4. League position's a far better indicator of how good a team is as well, it's hard enough getting in the top 4 without having this extra shit to think of as well. Don't get me wrong, it's funny because it's Spurs and it's good for us, but this needs sorted out unless we get to a point where the Europa League isn't such a bogey prize, which we won't.

I don't even think I agree with those saying the winners must take priority over the club finishing 4th place to give them a chance to defend their title, if I had to pick one or the other I'd go for who finished 4th. A club like Chelsea has failed massively by finishing outside the top 4 with the money they've spent and the wages.

Would you be saying the same if NUFC had finished 4th out of interest? Finishing 4th is a big achievement in the Premier League these days, like it or not. Blame the prize money gap between the Champions League and the Europa League for it, but you can't deny clubs this opportunity with a clear conscience imo.

Not buying the "everybody knows the rules at the start" business, I agree when it comes to the Football League playoffs but this situation happens once in a blue moon.

This needs to be sorted out btw, surely the country that wins the Champions League deserves an extra place. Each club should know what they can achieve by finishing in a certain position, not be fucked over by what happens in another tournament, one that they're not even involved in in this case.

First European Cup for London as a city as well, well get in.

Hopefully Abramovich will sell the club to some skint cunt like Uncal Mick now.

Which fucking tosser said that? Zola What an obviously impartial viewpoint.

Should outlaw betting because of daft cunts like Dinho.

Which fucking tosser said that?

Dinho, man.

Neville getting all heavy.

Neville says "SOMETHING IS HAPPENING" again.

Can always tell when a pen taker is shitting himself.

Neuer: I need your boots, your clothes and your motorcycle.

Anything can happen in a penalty shoot out but you'd presume Chelsea would have the mental edge like.

Are you really surprised? Disgracefully unambitious performance, I know they've been resilient but fuck me what a bunch of twats.