UEL gets vote of confidence

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7 September 2012-AFP

The much-criticised UEFA Europa League competition has been given a vote of support by top European club coaches, UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh said on Thursday.

Roxburgh to leave UEFA

With calls for the second-tier tournament to be drastically altered or even scrapped, Europe's governing body put the matter before a meeting of some 20 top coaches.

"The general consensus was the Champions League is fantastic and is top level football even though there are some small adjustments that could be made," the former Scotland manager said.

"The Europa League was worthwhile, had a place, and as everybody said, is improving."

Roxburgh's support for the Europa League received backing from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger who said that the competition was improving year by year although more time was needed to make it better.

"When you saw the level of Atletico Madrid in the SuperCup, you see that the Europa League is developing the level very well," he added, referring to the Spanish side's 4-1 win, as Europa League champion, over UEFA Champions League winner Chelsea.

Speaking a week earlier, UEFA president Michel Platini ruled out any major changes in the format for the Europa League which has gone through several facelifts since its days as The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and then the UEFA Cup.

Spanish and Portuguese clubs have dominated the UEFA/Europa Cup over the past decade with seven wins out of 10 - five of them going to Spain.