Amid The Failure Of The European Super League, Tuchel Did Not Like The New Format Of The Champions League

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel (Twitter @chelseaFC)

JAKARTA - Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel said on Monday he was not a fan of the new Champions League format which will force teams to play more games in a season, putting a strain on players.

Amid failed attempts by 12 of Europe's top teams to form the Super League, European football's governing body UEFA approved a new format starting the 2024-25 season with 36 clubs and teams playing four more matches than the current format.

"I'm not sure if I like it. I can only see more matches and it's difficult for me to be excited at all," Tuchel told reporters ahead of Tuesday's semi-final first leg against Real Madrid.

"All this discussion about the Super League makes us forget about the new format of the Champions League. Do they ask the coach or the players? I don't think so," he said.

"We have so many new formats, with the Nations League (UEFA) too ... It's not quality, it's just more games. At the same time, we only have three substitutes in the Premier League, which is the toughest competition."

While UEFA threatened to ban the founding clubs of the Super League - including Real Madrid and Chelsea - from the Champions League, Tuchel said both teams "deserved" to be in the semifinals.

"We don't deserve it because of a political decision or because of our logo, we deserve it because we have come a long way," Tuchel added.

"I have had the luck to be a part of this since the knockout phase and we have fought our way through the results. If there is a problem at the level of sports politics, it has to be resolved at that level."

The match is also likely to see Real striker Eden Hazard playing against his former club having forgotten his injury concerns and Tuchel said the Belgian will make amends after being out for most of the season.

Tuchel talks #RMACHE! 💬

- Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 26, 2021

"Eden is a top quality player, he is a key player at this club and this league, we have great respect for him," said Tuchel.

"A lot of people know him well but we don't just talk about him ... He's fit, came back in the last game. If he plays, I'm sure he wants to score points."