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Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall says the current Women’s Champions League qualification format is a “relic from the past” that “impacts injury risk”.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Gunners progressed to the second round with a 1-0 victory over Rosenborg<\/a> in Saturday’s first-round final, having beaten Rangers 6-0<\/a> three days before.<\/p>\n English clubs are set to avoid the mini-league format next season when Uefa launches a single-league stage featuring 18 teams.<\/p>\n However, Eidevall is unhappy with scheduling, claiming the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Uefa have “zero concerns” over a lack of recovery time between games that are 72 hours apart.<\/p>\n “Now we\u2019re through it, I can say it – it\u2019s lucky an English team will not have to play in these mini tournaments again. For all the excitement, it is a relic from the past,” said Eidevall.<\/p>\n “This is just done from a budget perspective. That\u2019s why they cram it in on Saturdays, to save another hotel night [by playing on a Sunday]. <\/p>\n “All research around the world shows there\u2019s a massive difference between 72 hours and 96 hours recovery after a game. That part, I just can\u2019t get my head around.”<\/p>\n In the WSL, clubs choose their own kick-off times within the designated fixture window for each round and must approve broadcast selections. <\/p>\n But Eidevall says he has raised concerns with Uefa and the WSL “in relevant discussions” to drive change.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s just science. WSL has zero concerns about it, Uefa has zero concerns about it. Science – it\u2019s a fact – it impacts injury risk. It\u2019s the same in the men\u2019s game,” he said.<\/p>\n “It’s just that science is one thing and broadcasting money is another thing.<\/p>\n “You always need to get on with things. It\u2019s not an excuse, it\u2019s just scientific.”<\/p>\n Arsenal will find out their opponents in the second qualifying round when the draw takes place on Monday at 12:00 BST.<\/p>\n They could play Juventus, BK Hacken, Paris FC, Fiorentina or Sporting. The two-legged ties take place on 18-19 and 25-26 September.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n