That might work to lessen the blow on the lower competitions, but that would still bloat the UCL with "Top 5 league" teams. And besides, I think if you're going to call a competition the "Champions" League, that only champions should be playing in it.
The Cup Winners Cup used to be second to the European Cup. The UEFA Cup (now Europa League) used to be the third tier. But that changed when the Champions League format was introduced. The Cup Winners would usually finish in the top half. Suddenly, a lot of cup winners were playing Champions League instead. That led to teams as low as the Quarter Finals qualifying for the Cup Winners Cup (when previously, it was always the winner. Or the runner up in case of a double winner). This made the Cup Winners Cup lose all its prestige, so it was merged with the UEFA Cup. Not removed, but merged. Which is why if you win your domestic cup, you qualify for the Europa League unless you finish top 4.
True, for Bruges getting to the KO´s is enough...
Clubs like ajax are being forgotten despite their immense history
solid idea mate, I think lessen the blow by making it top 3 go to UCL maximum though, but still bring back cup winners cup
That might work to lessen the blow on the lower competitions, but that would still bloat the UCL with "Top 5 league" teams. And besides, I think if you're going to call a competition the "Champions" League, that only champions should be playing in it.
I've got a photo of me with ECWC from 1985
Isn't cup winners cup like todays conference league?
The Cup Winners Cup used to be second to the European Cup. The UEFA Cup (now Europa League) used to be the third tier. But that changed when the Champions League format was introduced. The Cup Winners would usually finish in the top half. Suddenly, a lot of cup winners were playing Champions League instead. That led to teams as low as the Quarter Finals qualifying for the Cup Winners Cup (when previously, it was always the winner. Or the runner up in case of a double winner).
This made the Cup Winners Cup lose all its prestige, so it was merged with the UEFA Cup. Not removed, but merged. Which is why if you win your domestic cup, you qualify for the Europa League unless you finish top 4.