Episode 2884: The Champions League – Where Did It All Go Wrong?

With the Champions League matches themselves not providing too many fireworks, Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson join us for some Champions League meta-discussion instead.

In what feels a crucial period for the game’s history, I have written a book on modern football, who owns it and how it has been transformed by geopolitics, capitalism and its own failures. It’s out on 1 August, and you can pre-order here: https://t.co/61DFuqGzKr pic.twitter.com/n70Xvod5MN

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) February 26, 2024

It feels like the world’s top football competition has lost something – but why? What are the mistakes UEFA made along the way? Is there anything they can do to change things for the better? And why, despite these concerns, are US investors continuing to pump billions into European football?

?? ALLEZ PARIS ?#RSOPSG I #UCL pic.twitter.com/oIWcAm4szu

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 5, 2024

Plus there’s the Irish Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier draw horror show, Permutations Man, The St Pat’s Franchise, and the strongest fingers in the world.

CONFIRMED | 2025 Women’s European Qualifiers

Ireland will face France, England & Sweden in Group A3 ??

Fixture details to follow in due course#COYGIG | #WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/5C00tr9mC2

— Ireland Football ???? (@IrelandFootball) March 5, 2024

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We talk through some of the action from a weekend that saw Nottingham Forest’s refereeing lobbyist Mark Clattenburg swing into actionhttps://t.co/P5vUCfspEq pic.twitter.com/gqPFcKsbFy

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) March 4, 2024