The 32-club field for the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League field is set with a total of nine American players prepared for involvement in the group stage.
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna headline 10 American players that will now prepare for the start of the six-match group stage round, which will begin on September 6-7. Malik Tillman, James Sands, and Josh Cohen all clinched spots via the qualifying rounds, as Rangers and Maccabi Haifa guaranteed their berths on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sergino Dest, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Timothy Chandler and Owen Otasowie round out the players that will hope for successful performances in this season’s competition. Dest remains a Barcelona player amid European interest from Borussia Dortmund prior to the closure of the summer transfer window.
Defending UCL winners Real Madrid and Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt are in Pot 1 with EPL champions Manchester City, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, and Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain. Pot 2 will also be highly contested with Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus, and Barcelona all included in the eight-team pot.
Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and Inter Milan headline Pot 3, while Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic and Rangers are both in Pot 4.
Here is a closer look at the full field of American players and what pot their respective clubs are in for Thursday’s group stage draw:
Timmy Chandler – Eintracht Frankfurt – Pot 1
Christian Pulisic – Chelsea – Pot 2
Weston McKennie – Juventus – Pot 2
Sergino Dest – Barcelona – Pot 2
Gio Reyna – Borussia Dortmund – Pot 3
Cameron Carter-Vickers – Celtic – Pot 4
Malik Tillman – Rangers – Pot 4
James Sands – Rangers – Pot 4
Owen Otasowie – Club Brugge – Pot 4
Josh Cohen – Maccabi Haifa – Pot 4
Tillman was the MOTM in my opinion.
He created or was involved in almost all the Rangers attempts on goal. Many other times he was fouled so he could not break away. His defense is not at a high level but a great offensive weapon for Berhalter.
James Sands has quietly become an indispensable starter and a key defender for Rangers, playing nearly every minute for a team that are back in UCL for the first time in a decade. He is much improved over his rookie season, and really was MOTM against PSV. If he stays on course, he may get a call next month, as he is the only one in the pool I am aware who has game experience at CB and MF.
Looking a great loan move for Tillman. A goal last week against PSV and now an a game/ series winning assist today. Becoming a Rangers legend already. James Sands looks very good as well. Have a feeling Tillman will be on that plane to Qatar. Can play multiple attacking/ midfield positions. Really excited by his continued development.
He could have tried to imitate Arronson and score that himself but chose to pass. I liked it.
It was really good. The announcer was calling it a “poor decision and absolute gift” on the part of the goalkeeper who passed to the center back straight up the field…what I saw was, Tillman was playing possum and was about 10+ yards back when the ball was passed and I have no doubt the CB felt safe…but then there’s Tillman with that absolutely, utterly insane 0-60 acceleration in about two steps and he was on the guy before anybody else on the planet this side of Usain Bolt could have gotten there. That burst he’s got turns your head, especially because he looks like he’s just sort of cruising in second or third gear most of the time.
Tillman was an utter steal for us and I was shocked Germany let him get away. Now while we’re busy stealing let’s steal Falorin Balogun from England too and show up in Qatar with the world’s scariest-ever U23 team, and see what the kids can do.
Quozz – you made me laugh with the scariest U23 team – I’ve been saying that’s what Ive been saying this team is basically.