Tottenham Hotspur Campaign for Champions League Squad Expansion
Tottenham Hotspur are actively lobbying Uefa to increase the permitted squad size for the Champions League, following a season where manager Thomas Frank has been compelled to omit Mathys Tel from the squad on two separate occasions. This push comes as the club navigates strict regulations and an expanded competition format.
Mathys Tel's Omissions Highlight Squad Constraints
Mathys Tel, a 20-year-old French forward who joined Tottenham in a £30 million deal last summer, was recently dropped from the Champions League squad ahead of a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund. This move was necessary to facilitate the return of Dominic Solanke from injury. Tel is also unavailable for the final league stage match against Eintracht Frankfurt, where a win would secure Tottenham's place in the last 16.
Initially, Tel was excluded from Tottenham's Champions League list in September due to a shortage of homegrown players, which prevented Frank from naming a full 25-man squad. A rule change in December provided a temporary reprieve after Solanke sustained an injury, but with Solanke now fit, Frank faced the difficult decision of choosing between the two players for the remaining league phase games.
Champions League Regulations and Tottenham's Argument
Under current Champions League rules, clubs that advance to the knockout stages can make up to three changes to their squad before 5 February, but this cannot exceed the 25-player limit for A-list players born before 2004. If a club has fewer than eight homegrown players, their squad size is reduced accordingly. These regulations were established nearly two decades ago, and Tottenham argue they should be relaxed to reflect the competition's expansion.
Since the introduction of the Swiss model league phase last season, all clubs now play at least two additional matches per season. Those failing to finish in the top eight face an extra two games in play-offs for the last 16. Tottenham's advocacy is influenced by persistent injury issues over the past two seasons under Frank and Ange Postecoglou, as well as genuine concerns about player welfare amid increased demands.
Seeking Support and European Opposition
Sporting director Johan Lange has discussed the issue with other Premier League clubs to garner support, with Chelsea and Arsenal showing the most receptiveness so far. However, European rivals oppose the move, fearing it could amplify the advantage conferred by English clubs' financial resources.
As the final round of group stage games approaches, with all matches kicking off at 8pm, five English clubs are positioned in the top eight, alongside holders Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. Manchester City also have a chance to qualify automatically if they defeat Galatasaray and other results align in their favour.
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