SBOTOP: Arne Slot Wants to See New Champions League Format in Action Before Passing Judgment

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has opted to reserve judgment on UEFA’s new Champions League format until he sees it in action. The Dutch manager, who turns 46 tomorrow, expressed that while the expanded structure brings added excitement, he prefers to assess its impact once it’s been experienced both on and off the pitch. Slot’s comments come as questions swirl around the possible strain of additional games on players and the overall excitement level of the tournament.

Slot’s approach underscores his pragmatic nature, as he remains cautious about making sweeping predictions without firsthand knowledge of how the changes will unfold. “It’s something you can ask me better in the end,” Slot said, speaking about the new format, which will include two extra group-stage matches for each team. “How is it going to be for the players with two added games, is it going to be exciting at the end of the group stage? – that is something we have to find out and I don’t think anyone has the answer to that at the moment.”

The New Champions League Format

UEFA’s new Champions League format, set to be implemented in the coming seasons, shifts away from the traditional group stage structure to what is being termed the “Swiss model.” Instead of eight groups of four teams, all participating clubs will compete in a single league table. Each team will now play 10 group-stage games against 10 different opponents, a significant increase from the previous six.

This expansion has raised concerns about player fatigue, squad depth, and the potential imbalance in fixture difficulty for certain teams. While the change promises more marquee matchups and the possibility of heightened drama, the question remains whether this will indeed deliver more excitement or simply add unnecessary pressure and risk of injury.

For Slot, these issues are particularly important as Liverpool seeks to balance domestic and European ambitions. “It’s not just about the extra matches, but how the intensity of the season impacts the entire squad. That’s something we can’t fully predict yet,” Slot acknowledged.

A Tough Defeat and Questions About Rotation

Slot’s comments about the new Champions League format came in the aftermath of a surprising 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, a result that has raised questions about his squad rotation policies. With Liverpool competing on multiple fronts, the Dutch coach has had to find a balance between keeping his key players fresh and maintaining consistent performance levels. However, the loss to Forest has sparked criticism from some quarters about whether Slot’s squad rotation is working.

Slot, for his part, refused to lay the blame solely on rotation. “Rotation is always a subject of discussion, especially when results don’t go your way,” he said. “But we have a long season ahead, and it’s important to have everyone involved and ready. That’s the only way to sustain a challenge across all competitions. The result against Forest was disappointing, but it’s not something we’re going to dwell on. We’ll assess what went wrong and make the necessary adjustments.” The defeat also highlighted Liverpool’s need for greater squad depth, especially with the prospect of additional Champions League fixtures on the horizon.