Champions League preview! New format, favourites, dark horses & more! | ESPN FC

all right that's enough for the Premier League let's move forward to the Champions League that starts tomorrow in terms of the draw new format uh we're going to go with the Swiss model they went high futin this is used in a lot of Chess competitions internationally so it's one single table eight group matches now one through eight go forward to a knockout stage of 16 teams 9 through 24 will then compete in a two-legged tie uh to get themselves into that rap that uh group of 16 in The Knockout phase so you have two more group games and then there will be four more group games for some teams that are in those knockout ties so let's start here can you see that again see that again there's a lot there's a lot thr at you right there huh it's a good thing we're recording this cuz they can just rewatch it and listen real quick you've lost me a day I've got no idea what day week well perfect let's just say this we got a lot more games to watch and maybe some more interesting games St I didn't give you the pots I didn't give selection yet I didn't do any of that I'm not doing it what a surprise more games more money shocking yeah yeah yeah so let me ask you this it says who will it benefit and who won't obviously we know the owners will benefit for money and and some some the build Sur the stadiums we got that will anybody on the field will anybody in the field benefit from this or will people be hindered Stevie I'll start with you no I think listen I think we're at the stage know where you may get the odd surprise if you're lucky but but it's going to be the same faces it's going to be the same old faces we're going to qualify and then we'll get the knockout round and as I said there might be one surprise because it usually is some somebody somewhere gets above the station and makes it through but other than that no the only people that are going to benefit are the moneymen absolutely the money men the whole format has been changed not for the game of football not to make the competition better but to sh to to get more do in for whoever ends up getting it in the pocket probably the teams will get more which will which will make them shut up and not complain too much we playing even more games so I I I honestly don't see right now I might change my mind when I see it playing out but right now I don't see it changing anything the same teams are going to get through to The Knockout stages as I said with maybe one one surprise that's it I mean this is just an episode where I'm just agreeing with Steve you know in every point I mean it th this format was purely made to make sure that the rich get richer and the money keeps flooding in I I mean I love the champions league and this is taken from somebody that can't wait to see Aston Villa in the tournament but like from a financial perspective you know at the end of the day I agree I think by the end of it you're going to see the same teams going through it and also The Knockout stages this means that they're probably not going to be as exciting because we have this massive League table I will say though that if to answer your question on the pitch there is a chance right because it's so big right this league and it's eight matches and it's like home and away and you play one and you do another one whatever the quote unquote not big teams not Giants may have a chance at disrupting something in one of those first eight matches just like when Newcastle United defeated PSG 4-1 at St James's Park last October maybe you might see somebody like breast from League a bologna right or or or Aston Villa Villa Park depending on who they see so maybe there's a benefit there but at the end of the day I see Real Madrid top of this table Manchester City right there then you got Arsenal Bayern Munich and the likes and then between Ninth Place and 24th they're going to go all out in February meaning more money and more exposure so you know and by the time the knockout stages comes around I think it might be a different sentiment to the lik of what we've seen in the past so I agree with Stevie it's all about money I I see the same teams at the end of the day winning it the only good news is that asille is going to be part of it I was it was no point in asking you who are you excited to see L I know that means a lot to you to see the villains back there I mean listen I I got my new shirts for this season and when I saw that Champions League badge I I I I I shed a tear I mean it's been a ridiculous thing I have never seen this club in this situation I don't even care what format put us all on a boat and make us play footall I don't care as long as we're doing Champions League that's all that matters but I I I also like by the way I'd like to see what shab alono is going to do via Leverkusen in in this competition we obviously know how good real quick with those show those odds guys show the odds for for overall because you said that you like to maybe some dark horses so yeah give us lus a 25 to one here yeah I mean obviously these are the the same times of teams that that we're talking about Stevie was talking about I agree with him about the big ones Manchester City Real Madrid Arsenal Liverpool um Barcelona even with older 17 year olds PSG under Luis Enrique but Leverkusen man I mean listen at 2500 a team that at the very least can go far it's not a bad odd there to make it because they're they remain a really really well-managed Club they know exactly who they are they've added some components and they're the kind of club that like ultimately there's only one star here and that's shaby Alonzo and if he can handle it and at least take them far you you never know I mean the ODS obviously Pro to be the case for the likes of Real Madrid Manchester City but Leverkusen Is Not a Bad Bet Stevie any teams you I know you said they same names at the end of the day though but some of those teams up there have big names as well do you like anybody with a bigger number that you might think could win this thing not really sorry boys not really I mean the same old there it is same old same old there we go the problem the problem is this competition this competition is is completely a waste of time and space generally until The Knockout stages then the tournament properly begins you know the previous format was set up and in the way it set up the big teams couldn't get knocked out unless they were so bad then then then it was down to them not down to the format again we'll see how this format plays out but I think I think it's the same thing the champions league is not something I get excited about until that knockout stages I would say that I agree 100% but I'm interested to see Leverkusen uh how they do with Alonzo and the fact that you know this team it's not going every game it's going to lose some games because what they did last year was just an anomaly it just it really very really HMS but I think they will be better in some ways because they'll have another year together they haven't lost anybody they've actually added so I am really interested to see what Leverkusen do when it comes to The Knockout stages and I got to say I'm I'm interested to see what Villa do un I mean obviously in the Europa League he's got I think he's got at least what three wins in the Europa I think I think this is the guy will be determined to show that he's about doing it at the highest level as well as just you know the Europa League so I'm I'm kind of interested in in both of these teams but after that I just want to get to The Knockout stages as quickly as possible by the way it's uh four Europa League wins for just just hey by the way with multiple clubs too hey four four everybody just be quiet when it's four four um there's other storylines as well by the way like you know Liverpool I think are intriguing because you know it's clear that Darwin Nunes is not the man in the Premier League can will he use all his anger uh in the Champions League and and how deep would the squad do um Bayern Munich under Vincent company I'm intrigued to see how they do will Harry Kane finally get that trophy as well and then there's those like clubs that you know have have waited so long to be in the competition once again Sparta prag of course by the way go on their social media page what they did to announce their Champions League entrance is so funny but I'm looking at so many clubs and maybe Arsenal right they've never won this competition can they do it so we'll be very interesting to see how this format helps them but I'm with Stevie uh the same old same old will win it but here's hoping that we get surpriced at the very likes of somebody like Bar L Villa by the way it all depends on that draw because Villa Park is GNA be rocking absolutely abolutely rocking so I can't wait to see that yeah for surprises I'll Take Your Arsenal surprise there it's never happened before not a surprise but Lord knows I'll take that [Music]