Uefa: Leading European coaches call for away-goals change
Last updated on .From the section European Football
Europe's top club coaches have asked Uefa to review the use of the away-goals rule in continental competitions.
They also want the transfer window to end at the same time in all the continent's major leagues.
"The coaches think that scoring goals away is not as difficult as it was in the past," said Uefa deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti after the meeting in Switzerland.
"They think the rule should be reviewed and that's what we will do."
The annual gathering included Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Arsenal boss Unai Emery, plus Emery's predecessor Arsene Wenger, along with Juventus' Massimiliano Allegri, Real Madrid's Julen Lopetegui, Carlo Ancelotti of Napoli and Paris St-Germain's Thomas Tuchel.
The rule was first introduced in the former European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965 as an alternative to tossing a coin or staging a replay on a neutral ground when the aggregate score in a two-legged tie ended level at a time when travelling abroad was far more challenging.
In the event of a tie, the team that scores more away goals is the winner.
Marchetti said the coaches felt the rule was also counter-productive and that, as much as encouraging away teams to attack, it induced home teams to defend to avoid conceding a costly goal.
On the transfer window, he said the coaches wanted more countries to follow the example of England and Italy and close them before the start of the season.
In Spain, Germany and France, they continued until the end of August as before.
"The coaches are of an opinion that there should be a unified window and the window should close before the competition starts," said Marchetti. "The idea would be to try and bring them into line."
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CL & EL are just a sham of a competition the old knockout format was far superior..
They now want to further erode the chance of an upset with removing the Away Goal rule, something that is the epitome of European Cup Competitions.
That's it, keep eroding the game to further benefit your bottom line.
"CL & EL are just a sham of a competition the old knockout format was far superior.."
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Agreed, but the CL is not a competition for league champions. It consists of not just the champions but a smattering of other "top" clubs. So it shouldn't be called a champions league. I'll leave it up to others to decide a suitable name.
Also revert to old European Cup format where only national champions participate including the League winners from smaller Nations! Format - knock-out!
Teams finishing 2nd, 3rd & (in some cases) 4th in their National League shouldn't be allowed to participate.
Champions League is too contrived and money driven!
'Top managers call for away goals change'?
Some fools will twist any topic to get at their most hated teams and so far Man U, Liverpool, Celtic and even Spurts are on the end of it!
"Within 5 years, there will be a european super league"
Pretty sure i've heard that every year for the last 10 years.
How about we just leave well alone!
Mourinho was there.
returning to a straight two legs,then extra-time/penalties, the home team in the second leg has a massive advantage
no doubt, the seeding system would ensure the seeds had this advantage
the away goals rule at least gives the underdog a sniff of a chance