Olaleye Idowu
Manchester United legend Gary Pallister has slammed former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger over the Frenchman’s comments about Europa League winners making it to the Champions League.
For Pallister, the incentive is good for all teams and should not be changed.
Pallister told William Hill that the former Arsenal boss has “a few strange ideas,” and not all of them are good for football.
“[Wenger is] saying it needs to be looked at. I mean, it’s a tough one for me. You know, it’s great that winning the Europa League can get you into the Champions League.
“I can understand what he’s saying, it’s all about finishing in a high position in your [domestic] league, but I don’t know, I’m not sure about that one myself… It’s a great incentive for teams in the Europa League.
“Wenger has a few strange ideas, I think. Not all of them are good. If they are going to change it, it won’t be for this season. It’s for the powers that be to discuss that.
“I think they’ll leave it the same. It’s a massive incentive for the players who aren’t playing in the Champions League. I’d leave it the way it is.”
Two English sides, Manchester United and Tottenham, are close to making it to the UEFA Europa League final this season.
Both sides lead their semifinal after the first leg and will play the second leg on Thursday, May 8. They sit in 15th and 16th places in the Premier League, respectively.
Wenger stated that he was not in favor of Europa League winners getting an automatic spot in the UEFA Champions League.
