06-01-2024, 12:41 PM
You’re right, that’s exactly the case - the Round 16 is indeed played over two weeks instead of four (out of five) weeks. Under the present timings the Round of 16 must have the most drawn out single stage of any knockout tournament, so good to see that getting condensed.
A professional club in England, qualified for Europe, will have a minimum of 38 league, 1 FA Cup, one EFL Cup, and eight CL matches - 48 guaranteed competitive games. Making it all the way in tournaments could see them play another 5 FA Cup, 5 EFL Cup, 9 CL (if they are unlucky enough to end up in the knock out play off round and then go on to win the whole thing) and potentially the Super Cup and Community Shield - a total of a potential 69 competitive matches. Of course that’s an extreme case but not implausible for the Liverpools or Man Citys of the world.
A professional club in England, qualified for Europe, will have a minimum of 38 league, 1 FA Cup, one EFL Cup, and eight CL matches - 48 guaranteed competitive games. Making it all the way in tournaments could see them play another 5 FA Cup, 5 EFL Cup, 9 CL (if they are unlucky enough to end up in the knock out play off round and then go on to win the whole thing) and potentially the Super Cup and Community Shield - a total of a potential 69 competitive matches. Of course that’s an extreme case but not implausible for the Liverpools or Man Citys of the world.