Can football clubs actually face the consequences of their actions? Champions League return preview and Sheffield United in the Champions League??
Part 1
With the news of Manchester City’s two season ban from European competition it now means that fifth place will be enough to qualify for next season’s Champions League, assuming the ban is upheld. Currently in fifth place, at the time of recording, is newly promoted Sheffield United.
Hello and welcome to the Total Football podcast. I am your host Declan Harte, and joining me from the stairs that leads to the bedroom, it’s Andrew Conway.
Andrew, just how much would you love to see Chris Wilder’s men compete in the European Cup?
Part 2
So that’s the big news this week. Manchester City banned from Europe, a true and authentic Brexit for Pep Guardiola. Or is it? There’s so much to unpack here, let’s section it all.
First off, Guardiola. Does he stay at City, can he stay at City?
The players, can they stay at City?
The case will go to the CAS, but will they overturn the decision?
The implications for City’s 10 trophies of the Abu Dhabi era, are they legitimate?
Is this fair? Have City been hard done by with rules created specifically to curb their glory?
Finally, what next for City? How does a club come back from such a ruling? Everything is now tainted, who would want to touch it?
Part 3
The Champions League returns this week after a winter hiatus. The last few seasons have given us a series of incredible nights of thrilling entertainment and unbelievable matches. Can this season live up to that standard? Who are the favourites to win the whole thing? And who will make it through these eight Last 16 ties to become our quarter finalists?
Part 4
The Premier League returns properly next week with a full slate of fixtures. On Saturday there is a huge match for Champions League qualification as Tottenham go to Frank Lampard's Chelsea. Victory for Spurs will keep their hopes of top 5 alive, but can Chelsea afford to keep dropping silly points?
Closing
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