Champions League Final goes through interesting rule changes
By Josh Ricker
The Champions League final is one of the largest and most watched events in all of sports, and this year it will have a couple rule changes that could impact the result.
According to the Liverpool FC website, these are the following rule changes for the Champions League final match to be played at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid,
"A change in UEFA regulations implemented ahead of the 2018-19 season means that teams are permitted to name as many as 12 substitutes for Champions League and Europa League finals. . . managers will also be able to make an additional substitute on top of the standard number of three should the games go to extra-time."
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This is a change that could really benefit a Liverpool team who are much deeper than Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur side. With players like Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, and Divock Origi, Liverpool could really be creative later in the match to try and win the game, with a substitute to spare in extra time.
Having a deeper squad will also help both sides, as they can be much more flexible in who they choose, being able to add five more players than usual. Essentially, it allows for a replacement for every single player on the pitch, plus one more. This will make it much easier to replace specific positions if a player goes down early for injury or whatnot.
The rule change could also allow both managers to bring along some young talent with the squad, which could be a huge experience for a young prospect. Even being on the bench for a Champions League final, not many players can say the same.
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While this does not seem like a massive rule change, one player can really make a difference in one-off games like this. A set of fresh legs can energize the team, and get them back on their feet if they have been caught on their heels a little bit. Regardless, it is just another factor that will have an impact on what should be a wonderful final in Madrid between two excellent English sides.