Arsène Wenger, the legendary former manager of Arsenal, has called on UEFA to revisit and possibly change the current Champions League qualification rules. His comments come ahead of what looks like a potential all-English Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Both teams have impressed in Europe this season and are closing in on a spot in the Europa League final set for May 21, 2025. Tottenham secured a 3-1 win over Bodo-Glimt in their semi-final first leg, while Sporting CP, led by Ruben Amorim, defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0—bringing the final into clearer focus.

Interestingly, despite their European form, both United and Spurs are currently sitting in the lower half of the Premier League table. This has sparked discussions about the fairness of the current UEFA rule that grants automatic Champions League qualification to the Europa League winners, regardless of their domestic league performance.

Wenger believes this rule should be reviewed.

Speaking on beIN SPORTS, he questioned the logic behind giving Europa League winners a spot in the following season’s Champions League. Instead, he suggested that they should be allowed to defend their Europa League title, rather than jumping straight into Europe’s top-tier competition.

“Especially when you’re in the Premier League, where five teams already qualify for the Champions League,” Wenger said. “It’s something UEFA needs to think about.”

His remarks have stirred debate among fans and football experts, with many questioning if a team performing poorly in their local league should get a shortcut to Europe’s elite competition just because of a strong Europa League run.

As the final approaches, and with Manchester United and Tottenham looking likely to clash, the conversation around UEFA’s qualification rules is expected to grow louder.