UEFA president Alexander Ceferin urged coaches Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp to stop complaining about the Champions League calendar and format changing from 2024.
Slovenia have responded to the duo of Premier League coaches, who have often expressed their concerns about the form of players due to tight matches. But Ceferin has tried to shut up the duo by stating that "factory workers" in much less privileged positions are those who should complain, not superpaid coaches.
"It's always easy to attack FIFA and UEFA, but the thing is simple. If you play less, you get less money. Who should complain are factory workers who receive 1000 euros a month. Everyone wants more cup games, but no one gives up anything. The clubs wanted 10 champions league group stage matches. They'll have eight, it's the right number. Domestic leagues must have 18 clubs, but presidents disagree. They need to understand that two domestic cups are too many," Ceferin said, referring to England, which has two such.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Ceferin also discussed changing the champions league format in 2024, defending UEFA's decision to change the group stage and calling the current competition 'very predictable'.
"Today, you can already predict who will play in the round of 16 after the draw. In the future, big clubs will meet more often, smaller clubs will have more chances to qualify and the group will be fought to the end. It's going to be spectacular," Ceferpromises.
Klopp and Guardiola have been critical of the way the Premier League, FA, UEFA and FIFA have planned club and international tournaments, increasing the number of high-intensity games.