This is the first edition of the Europa Cup, which multiple reports indicate is a complement to the Champions League. In the semifinals, BK Häcken defeated Eintracht Frankfurt and Hammarby defeated Sparta Prague, according to major media sources. The two-legged final format is unusual, as in international club football, finals are usually a single match on neutral ground, multiple reports note.
Häcken's sporting director Christian Lundström believes a single-match final like the Champions League final would be preferred, according to Fotbollskanalen. Hammarby's sporting director Arnor Smárason agrees that a single-match final would be preferred in a perfect world, Fotbollskanalen reports. Neither Häcken nor Hammarby have contacted UEFA about changing the final format, sources said.
It's well that it's something that most people want and strive for.
According to Fotbollskanalen, Christian Lundström described UEFA as having worked hard to establish this cup. It remains unclear why UEFA chose a two-legged format for the Europa Cup final instead of a single match, and whether UEFA plans to change the final format to a single match in future editions.
It's well that of course you would like to see that it was a single match like the Champions League final. At the same time, we know that UEFA has worked hard to get this cup going, it went quickly and I don't know what their plan looks like for the future.
I think exactly the same. That's how it is. We probably shouldn't focus so much on this now but rather be happy that it will be two fan festivals.
No, it's so far along now that you've just accepted it. I think it's too big a process to start. We can't place the match at one of the teams, we would never agree on that, which means you need to play on neutral ground. In the future, maybe you can co-organize it with the Champions League or similar.
It's nothing that we have done now so close to the final. In a perfect world, a final is always preferable, but now they have chosen to do it this way. Now you have to see it as we get a home match in the final in Europe and Häcken too. After that, we have to think about how it should look further on.