UEFA’s executive committee has commissioned a report on the competition which was recently dubbed “a poor second” to the Champions League by the manager of Leeds United soccer club David O’Leary.
Speaking at a coaches forum in Geneva, O’Leary indicated that the revamped competition should mirror European club football’s most prestigious competition. “We have to do something with the UEFA Cup because it is getting weaker and weaker. It needs to be addressed, like they did with the Champions League, to give it any sort of standing,” he said.
UEFA communications director Mike Lee said: “UEFA favour the use of a group stage but there are man issues that need to be addressed to bring about that reform. We are looking to bring a report to the UEFA executive meeting in December.”
