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Gary Neville responds to Arsene Wenger’s call for major rule change ahead Man Utd vs Tottenham final
Gary Neville is in agreement with Arsene Wenger (Picture: Getty) Gary Neville has responded to Arsene Wenger’s call for UEFA to consider scrapping the prize of Champions League qualification for the winner of the Europa League. Manchester United and Tottenham will contest the final in Bilbao later this month, knowing that a victory would salvage their seasons and secure entry to Europe’s elite club competition. Former Arsenal manager Wenger argued that the reward of a place in the Champions League needed reviewing, especially given how far down the Premier League table Spurs and United are likely to finish this season. Asked if it was ‘right’ for the winners of the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League, Wenger told beIN SPORTS: ‘No – they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League. ‘Especially when you’re in the Premier League where already five teams qualify. I think it’s something [for UEFA] to think about and to review. Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. ‘On the other hand people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated you need to give them that prize [of qualifying for the Champions League].’ With Ruben Amorim’s side now safely through to a major final for the third season in succession, Neville was asked if he agreed with Wenger’s suggestion. Arsene Wenger disagrees with the UEFA rule (Picture: Getty) The former United skipper said: ‘I agree a little bit with Arsene Wenger [that Europa League winners shouldn’t earn direct passage to the Champions League] purely because every game we are watching at the moment we are just talking about the money at stake. ‘Nobody is talking about winning the Europa League to win a trophy. The Uefa Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup used to be big trophies that clubs could win and you used to think ‘wow, what an achievement.’ ‘Everything now is about a £60m game or a £100m game, the FA Cup has become devalued, really great competitions are becoming devalued.’ For Tottenham, meanwhile, winning a first piece of silverware since 2008 would surely eclipse the significance of a place in the Champions League and justify some of Ange Postecoglou’s bold claims earlier this year when he vowed to deliver a trophy. Tottenham can still salvage silverware this season (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Postecoglou took aim at Tottenham’s critics (Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) ‘It’s going to upset a lot of people isn’t it!’ said the Spurs boss at the prospect of being the man who could final help the north London club end their drought. ‘The debate’s now raging, the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they’re just going to take a team photo because we’re not worthy,” he told reporters. ‘I mean, who cares if we’re struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it’s so easy to get to a final, then why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three do it? ‘We understand our league form hasn’t been great. We understand the struggles we’ve had. A lot of them are because of the situation we’ve been in. But how does that diminish the achievement of getting to a final? ‘I couldn’t care less who’s struggling and who’s not. I think both us and United have earned the right to be there.’
Gary Neville has responded to Arsene Wenger’s call for UEFA to consider scrapping the prize of Champions League qualification for the winner of the Europa League.
Manchester United and Tottenham will contest the final in Bilbao later this month, knowing that a victory would salvage their seasons and secure entry to Europe’s elite club competition.
Former Arsenal manager Wenger argued that the reward of a place in the Champions League needed reviewing, especially given how far down the Premier League table Spurs and United are likely to finish this season.
Asked if it was ‘right’ for the winners of the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League, Wenger told beIN SPORTS: ‘No – they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League.
‘Especially when you’re in the Premier League where already five teams qualify. I think it’s something [for UEFA] to think about and to review.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
‘On the other hand people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated you need to give them that prize [of qualifying for the Champions League].’
With Ruben Amorim’s side now safely through to a major final for the third season in succession, Neville was asked if he agreed with Wenger’s suggestion.
The former United skipper said: ‘I agree a little bit with Arsene Wenger [that Europa League winners shouldn’t earn direct passage to the Champions League] purely because every game we are watching at the moment we are just talking about the money at stake.
‘Nobody is talking about winning the Europa League to win a trophy. The Uefa Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup used to be big trophies that clubs could win and you used to think ‘wow, what an achievement.’
‘Everything now is about a £60m game or a £100m game, the FA Cup has become devalued, really great competitions are becoming devalued.’
For Tottenham, meanwhile, winning a first piece of silverware since 2008 would surely eclipse the significance of a place in the Champions League and justify some of Ange Postecoglou’s bold claims earlier this year when he vowed to deliver a trophy.
‘It’s going to upset a lot of people isn’t it!’ said the Spurs boss at the prospect of being the man who could final help the north London club end their drought.
‘The debate’s now raging, the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they’re just going to take a team photo because we’re not worthy,” he told reporters.
‘I mean, who cares if we’re struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it’s so easy to get to a final, then why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three do it?
‘We understand our league form hasn’t been great. We understand the struggles we’ve had. A lot of them are because of the situation we’ve been in. But how does that diminish the achievement of getting to a final?
‘I couldn’t care less who’s struggling and who’s not. I think both us and United have earned the right to be there.’
