Rummenigge: Bayern and others must go full throttle in CL opener | OneFootball

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, longtime CEO of FC Bayern, has taken a clear stance on the reform of the competition ahead of the start of the new Champions League season. For the 69-year-old, the league format is a win for everyone involved—and a lesson for the big clubs.

Today, Tuesday, the Champions League kicks off for the second time in its new format. Instead of fixed groups, there is now a league phase in which each club plays eight matches against different opponents. For Rummenigge, this reform is a real added value: “In the old group stage, everything was often decided after the fourth matchday. Bayern Munich was regularly through, and there were one or two meaningless games,” he explained in an interview with dpa. Those days are now over.

More excitement, more intensity

Photo: IMAGO

The debut season has completely convinced Rummenigge: “I approach this as a football fan. The mere fact that in the premiere, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain—all four top teams—had to go through the play-offs was, for me, proof of how much more exciting this system is.”

The former world-class striker sees the advantages clearly distributed: For UEFA, the reform is a “coup,” fans experience more high-caliber matches, and the clubs also benefit from increased excitement and attention.

However, the format also demands a lot from the clubs. For eight matchdays, there is high pressure to secure a good position for the knockout phase. “The big clubs have understood that they have to go full throttle from the start to get into the top eight—because that’s what everyone wants,” Rummenigge emphasized.

Bayern as a cautionary example

That even a top club like FC Bayern can stumble was shown last season. As twelfth in the table, the German record champions missed direct qualification for the round of 16 and had to take the detour through the play-offs. For Rummenigge, this is a warning signal—and at the same time a guarantee for more seriousness this year.

“A year ago, a lot was still new, and some top clubs took one or two matches a bit more lightly. Now I expect a clear learning effect,” said the current FCB supervisory board member.

The new reality in the Champions League is thus clear: no phases for taking it easy, no games to catch your breath, but constant high tension. For spectators, this means, according to Rummenigge, an even more thrilling experience: “Fans are constantly checking their phones: Where is Bayern? Where is Real? UEFA has really pulled off a coup with this.”

The start of the new season will show whether the top teams have learned from last year’s experiences—and whether the reform delivers on its promise: excitement until the very last matchday.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.