Van Bommel likes Castels: He knows how we feel

The UEFA Champions League (abbreviated as UCL) is an annual club football competitors arranged by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) as well as opposed by top-division European clubs, choosing the competitors champions with a rounded robin group stage to get a double-legged ko style, and a single leg final. It is just one of the most prominent football competitions in the world as well as the most prominent club competition in European football, played by the national league champions (and, for some countries, several runners-up) of their nationwide associations. Introduced in 1955 as the Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens (French for European Champ Clubs' Mug), as well as generally understood as the European Cup, it was initially a straight ko competition open just to the champions of Europe's residential organizations, with its champion believed as the European club champ. The competitors took on its present name in 1992, adding a round-robin group phase in 1991 and permitting several participants from certain nations considering that 1997. It has since been expanded, as well as while most of Europe's national organizations can still just enter their champ, the toughest organizations now give approximately 4 teams. Clubs that complete next-in-line in their nationwide league, having actually not gotten the Champions League, are qualified for the second-tier UEFA Europa League competition, and from 2021, teams not qualified for the UEFA Europa League will receive a new third-tier competition called the UEFA Europa Meeting League.In its present style, the Champions League begins in late June with an initial round, three certifying rounds and a play-off round, all repeated two legs. The 6 making it through groups enter the team phase, joining 26 groups qualified ahead of time. The 32 teams are attracted right into 8 groups of 4 groups as well as play each other in a double round-robin system. The 8 group champions and also eight runners-up continue to the knockout phase that culminates with the last match in late Might or very early June. The champion of the Champions League gets approved for the list below year's Champions League, the UEFA Super Mug as well as the FIFA Club World Mug. Spanish clubs have the greatest number of success (18 wins), followed by England (14 victories) and also Italy (12 victories). England has the largest number of winning teams, with 5 clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by 22 clubs, 13 of which have actually won it more than as soon as well as 8 effectively defended their title. Genuine Madrid is one of the most effective club in the event's background, having won it 13 times, including its very first five periods as well as also three in a row from 2016 to 2018. Bayern Munich continues to be to be the only club to have actually won all of their matches in a single tournament en path to their mug triumph in 2019-- 2020 period. Chelsea are the reigning champions, having defeated Manchester City 1-- 0 in the 2021 final.

Twice Koen Castels in the Champions League for the VfL Wolfsburg was already between the posts, the duel with Lille on Tuesday (21 clock, live! At Koen Castels) near his Belgian homeland is again something else. For the first time, the 29-year-old leads his team as a number one and on top of topics as a captain in the premier class. The anticipation, says the goalkeeper, is great, for that we worked hard in the past season.

Highlight Weeks for Castels

For caskets, it is highlight weeks of his career, although the restrained final person may not underline that himself. It's no different than usual, he says on the one hand. However, in the past week he completed his second international game for Belgium, for the first time he came against Belarus (1: 0) over 90 minutes for the red devil , and the Champions League now has additional highlights ready. Castels, in which league in four games tried by penalty, sees that as a reward for working hard . His wish is not surprised, I hope it can go on for a long time.

Talents before the breakthrough: Who could start in this Champions League season

Which class of VFL between his post has that has long since recognized new coach Mark van Bommel. I believe that Koen has increased again, says the Dutch, who sees his keeper at the top of the league. Top Level attests the 44-year-old to the Belgian, which in turn praises the coach. With a lot of feeling, Van Bommel is running his team up to the top of the Bundesliga. And in the feasible group G of the Champions League succeeded successfully by the group: It is an advantage, explains Castels, if you have a coach who has gained the experiences and has played at top level. How does it make itself noticeable? He knows how we feel in the square. Things that Van Bommel can also respond profitably in a half-time break. These are little things that a game can decide.

It is an advantage if you have a coach who has gathered the experiences and has played at top level.

Koen Castels

Small things that could also be needed on Tuesday in Lille, even though the French master OSC is started with problems with problems in contrast to the VfL. Nevertheless, van Bommel emphasizes, apart from the long-term injured all players on board: We will certainly not underestimate the opponent. Wolfsburg wants to win - if it must be with feeling.