Former Manchester Metropolis defender Nedum Onuoha was complimentary of the brand new format and believes it has been a hit.
“I’ve loved it,” Onuoha instructed BBC Sport. “There have been numerous good video games within the group stage and plenty of large moments, and never simply when the massive groups have performed one another both.
“The largest change for me was that groups solely performed one another as soon as within the league stage. It meant no-one lived or died by that outcome, and in addition the power from the lesser groups was very totally different to when groups knew they’d play one another once more in a number of weeks’ time.
“Aston Villa beating Bayern Munich was a superb instance. Bayern didn’t get a second probability towards them, after they most likely wouldn’t have slipped up once more – however they had been nonetheless capable of claw again the factors they dropped.”
Eventual champions PSG misplaced three of their opening 5 video games, earlier than a late resurgence noticed them win their subsequent three matches to safe a play-off tie with fellow Ligue 1 aspect Brest.
After successful that, Luis Enrique’s aspect met Liverpool, the staff who completed prime of the league part, within the final 16.
“Whereas PSG are clearly a top-quality aspect, their journey exhibits that discovering type on the proper time is what issues,” added Onuoha. “They had been out of the highest 24 till they received their penultimate sport, after which received via the play-off stage.
“That is one other factor I like concerning the format, as a result of PSG have proven that sooner or later, it would not matter in the event you do not make the highest eight.”
Journalist Nicky Bandini made a effective level concerning the new format benefitting Luis Enrique’s aspect.
“With out this format, we’d perhaps not have seen this PSG staff that has developed in the course of the season as a result of they might have gone out,” mentioned Bandini. “This fashion we get to see them progress, and it looks like a extra entertaining journey.
“At all times a lot within the Champions League has been about coming good on the proper time – it has all the time been about what’s your type like within the spring somewhat than your type in the beginning of the match.
“However I do assume with the additional video games this yr, and with the very particular journey we have now seen PSG go on, you actually have been capable of observe this growth in actual time.”
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