Pundits Weigh in on the Champions League New Format - Is it the Right Move?

Ahead of the September games, Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry hosted a Zoom call with US media members to provide some insights.
Carragher and Henry, both former football stars who transitioned into television careers in the UK and the US, have been part of CBS Sports' Champions League coverage in North America for the past two years. They've been the life of the Champions League with CBS, bringing in humour, excitement and game sense on every match day, along with former English and Man City defender Micah Richards.
Even with Henry's new role as the coach of France's under-21s, they'll continue contributing to CBS Sports' coverage.
One of the key talking points revolved around the potential for underdog stories in this year's tournament, with teams like Union Berlin and Belgian champions Royal Antwerp making their Champions League debuts.
For teams like this, making the Champions League is everything. Henry added, "I think the story of the Champions League is great when you have teams like Union Berlin and Royal Antwerp. Obviously, you'd like them to do well, but the story is already great, so I hope they can add pages to the book and have a great campaign."
"It's going to be difficult, but to be in the Champions League from where they started is just magnificent."
This edition of the Champions League marks the final year using the current group stage format. Starting next season, UEFA will expand the competition to include 36 teams and organize them into one large "league." Carragher and Henry shared their thoughts on this significant departure from the familiar format and how it might change the competition in the future.
Ever pragmatic, Henry commented, "As a player, I didn't really care what was in front of us. They don't ask you if you're happy with the rules before they change the rules, unfortunately for the players. So, you have to get on with it. For me, it doesn't change anything."
With this new format, however, Carragher believes it could improve the competitiveness in the group stages, whereas right now, the last few games have become dead rubber.
This edition of the Champions League will be the final tournament of this format, and this has gotten a bigger buzz around tickets. While official sources can help, trusted resellers are the lifeblood of every fan.
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Both Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry are no strangers to European football.
Carragher, a legendary defender for Liverpool, boasts an impressive record of 149 appearances in UEFA Competitions. In 2005, he clinched the title with Liverpool, his highest playing accolade.
Thierry Henry, the Ballon d'Or Runner-up from 2004, has a golden mark in the Champions League Hall of Fame with 50 goals in 108 appearances and his title win in 2009.
This year's draw has a 'group of death' which consists of PSG, Borussia Dortmund">Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Newcastle.
Carragher was enthusiastic about this move when asked about Newcastle's fate in this deadly group.
"For me, I think that is a brilliant draw for Newcastle, I really do," he affirmed. "I think the excitement, the nights at St. James' Park, the away trips for the supporters – and they've still got a really good chance of getting through."
Henry shared a similar sentiment that it is a positive sign for the club to be back in the Champions League and its fans to experience the top tier football on Wednesday.
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