Gerhard Aigner, UEFA’s Chief Executive who retires at the end of the year, today emphasised UEFA’s commitment to changes in the format of Europe’s premier club competition for next season.

‘Necessary step’
The 2003/04 UEFA Champions League will revert to one group stage, instead of two, before going to a straight knockout competition with the round of 16. Speaking at Old Trafford, Manchester, ahead of tonight’s final between Juventus FC and AC Milan, Mr Aigner said: ‘We are totally, 100 per cent sure that this was a necessary step.’

‘We had a problem’
Mr Aigner, who will step down after 34 years with UEFA, said: ‘We changed it at this stage because we are at the end of a contract, and we noticed already in the first year of the current contract that we had a problem, especially in the second group phase.

‘Rotation system’
‘The problem had many shades to it. It indicated that the players were getting under stress, that coaches started to bring in a kind of rotation system and not use their best players in matches which seemed less important, be it in the national or the European context.

‘Positive development’
‘It also showed that the fans had difficulties to cope with this high volume of matches, physically, spiritually and also economically. But we had to wait until the end of the contract to make an adjustment. I believe that with this adjustment, the competition is much fitter, and a positive development also for the fans, because we give them more time between European matches to build up again their interest and their expectation for the special match.

‘Mental recreation’
‘We were going into a situation where matches became ‘ordinary programme’, and were putting national matches in the shade. The players obviously appreciate to have again two weeks between international matches. It is not only a matter of physical recreation but a matter of mental recreation, to prepare oneself for another big issue, and then perform to the expectation of the public.

Results exceeded
‘That we might cause less income by this, ok, that we have to accept, especially when it comes to gate receipts because fewer matches means fewer gate receipts. But we can say here, with good reason, that this reduction of the format has no implications economically, because so far we have exceeded our results in many markets.

Ideal moment
‘And where we haven’t reached the amounts we have in the past, there is a general collapse of the market [in that country] which applies to national competitions and football in general in that market. So I think the moment was actually ideal for us to reduce the product, so that we can keep the value but improve the sporting perspective of the competition in the future.’

Not just quantity
UEFA’s Communications Director Mike Lee added: ‘It was about improving quality, not just quantity, and we actually think the competition will be a better competition. So if you think it’s good now, we think that next season, with one group phase and a knockout, it will be even better.

Resistance gone
‘It will also be slightly rebranded as we want to strengthen the competition, and I have to say, in the discussions we’ve been having with clubs in recent weeks, particularly as we’ve been reporting back on the television deals that have been struck, and also the sponsorship deals, I think the resistance that was there at the initial announcements has gone and people are looking forward to an even stronger Champions League.’

For further information:
Mike Lee, Director of Communications and Public Affairs: ++41-79-250 53 71
UEFA Media Services: ++41-22-99 44 55 9