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Managers react to playoff proposal | Just when you thought things were going well in the Premier League, things look like changing all over again. We might be in the midst of an exciting fight to finish fourth in the table, but this week’s discussion is revolving around the prospect of a playoff for the final Champions League spot. Premiership Talk’s Joe Radford weighed in with his opinion on the matter this morning, and slowly we’re beginning to hear more from Premiership managers.
Martin O’Neill
Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has indicated that he is certainly for the idea of a playoff.
“I only heard about it yesterday and gave it a wee bit of thought last night,” O’Neill said. “It’s quite interesting. I wouldn’t knock it immediately, particularly if we finish seventh in the league!
“I know the team who finished fourth would be galled if that was the case, but if you knew the rules in advance at the start of the season then you know the parameters.
“The Premier League seems rather glamorous, but it’s a constant struggle. You always feel as though relegation is haunting you. You want to get into the middle section of the table and then at the end of the season there could still be a charge for this spot.
“It would be interesting to see what all the Premier League clubs thought about it, because there has to be 14 in agreement. Outside the top sides I think people might go for it.”
O’Neill did admit, however, that it would be hard to find a place for the playoffs in the busy football calendar.
“I have to say there is definitely that element of ‘where do you fit it in? But the prize is so big, you’re talking about a Champions League qualifying game in August.
“The play-offs have become a massive thing now. I’ve experienced it myself. If you could guarantee me getting promotion through the play-offs, then I would take it every time.”
Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez, whose Liverpool side would perhaps be the most at-risk of losing out on a Champions League spot because of the playoffs, is less than thrilled about the idea.
“We are playing too much now. They were talking about a 39th game being played in Asia,” he said.
“If we now play the play-offs we’ll be playing until the end of the century.
“To play three, maybe four fixtures, when you don’t have time with international football – when will you play, how can you play these games and what does it mean for the team that finishes fourth?
“Maybe we can do the same with the teams at the bottom of the table. If you finish fourth maybe you could play with the team who finished third from the bottom.
“Then during the whole season we can play 50 games and we don’t have to rest so that will be fantastic.”
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