Sorry if this has been discussed before, but it seems that the CCL winner does NOT automatically gain a berth in the following season's tournament...any idea why? Seems they should be welcomed back to "defend their title", so to speak...perhaps it's because it's only a 24 team tournament?
In re: why, I don't think anyone (Mexicans included) wants more than 4 Mexican teams in the CCL, and in the short term Mexican clubs would be the most likely to get the "defending champion" spot.
Well... um... no... I do not want the "Pervious" winner in the tournament. (note the spelling in the thread title.) ...and I probably just opened a bottle that the Mod's would want to close right now (this thread, I mean)...
There he is...I knew "that guy" would show up, all smart-assed, pointing out any mistake he could find, trying to be funny but really showing what a douchebag he is. Spelling blunders can happen to the best of us...for me, it happens when I type fast..as in, "Go fcuk yourself, ballsack".
In reality they are not automatically given a berth because of the mere fact that entrance into the competition is based on league and region play leading up to the tournament. So the winner of last year's CCL may be at the bottom of the table in their home league this year which would not warrant them the right to participate.
Shit, in Mexico and Central America we could have teams wining the Apertura championship, then getting relegated to second division (after the clausura tournament) and still play the CCL.
For resolve this problem, CCL must move to 32 clubs with 24 clubs in phase group with the first two qualified and the best third to the knock out phase. If the current champion is not qualified for the competition he plays the preliminary round in place of a team of central america. what do you think about that?