I like it! Tell me one person who isn't in favour of this new format for Champions League football? And the chief bean counter from UEFA doesn't count. One-off knock-out games from the quarter-finals onwards have revamped this tired old cumbersome comp. If there's one good thing to come out of this whole Covid crisis then maybe it's this.

Without ever meaning to they've stumbled across a brand new recipe that is simply much better viewing - and especially for the neutral or not personally involved football fan. Yes it means a reduction in games, and therefore revenue, but it guarantees I believe a revolution in renewed interest.

Finishing this tournament at the end of Europe's domestic leagues makes perfect sense. Get it all done within an easy to follow fortnight with one-off matches, neutral venue, allocate 25k tickets to each team's fans with the rest going to corporate donutters.

Wrap the comp up, touted  as being the most prestigious club comp in world football, when all players and teams are on a much more equal footing. By that I mean that not all the leagues are as bitterly competitive as say the EPL with many of the others already effectively over by Feb/March. It would all point to a much more anticipated end of season Euro football fanfare and party. Add in the crowds and it'd be near perfect. Ask anyone who's been watching how enjoyable this spectacle's been. But now the bad news. It WON'T happen.

And we all know why...$$$. Six less games means six times less of the actuarial average amount per game earned. And, sadly, that is ALL they (UEFA the  administrative body in charge and the greedy clubs themselves) care about.

Money will dictate as it does in every sport. The clamour for cash over-riding what would clearly be increased and renewed worldwide interest.

Yes it's a shame but this is what football is now, a business more than a game.