Here\u2019s a breakdown of the most notable exclusions and the stories behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tottenham Hotspur: Mathys Tel Left Out Amid Racial Abuse Fallout<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTottenham\u2019s Champions League squad announcement raised eyebrows with the exclusion of Mathys Tel<\/strong>, a top-rated young talent. While the club has not provided an official reason, speculation is rife that the decision may be linked to the Super Cup Final incident against PSG<\/a><\/strong>, where Tel missed a crucial penalty and was reportedly subjected to racial abuse<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSources close to the club suggest Spurs may have opted to give Tel time away from the spotlight to recover emotionally and mentally from the ordeal. The move has sparked conversations around player welfare and the psychological toll of high-pressure matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TEL.jpg\")
photo courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOther notable exclusions from Spurs\u2019 UCL squad include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Yves Bissouma<\/strong> \u2013 reportedly out of favor under the current tactical setup<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- James Maddison<\/strong> \u2013 recovering from a long-term injury<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dejan Kulusevski<\/strong> \u2013 fitness concerns and form issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Kota Takai<\/strong> \u2013 developmental reasons<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Radu Dragusin<\/strong> \u2013 tactical reshuffle in defense<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Left-Out-1.jpg\")
@madders<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTottenham\u2019s trimmed A-list squad has only 22 players, well below the UEFA maximum of 25, suggesting strategic restraint or internal challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus Out, Max Dowman In<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nArsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a bold call by excluding Gabriel Jesus<\/strong>, who is still recovering from knee surgery<\/strong> following an ACL injury sustained in January. The Brazilian striker is expected to be sidelined until early 2026, making his inclusion impractical for the group stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Left-out-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn a surprise move, 15-year-old Max Dowman<\/a><\/strong> has been added to the squad. The young midfielder has impressed in training and is seen as a long-term prospect. His inclusion signals Arsenal\u2019s commitment to youth development and squad depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liverpool: Federico Chiesa Dropped, Rio Ngumoha Promoted<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLiverpool fans were stunned to see Federico Chiesa<\/strong> omitted from the Champions League squad. Despite being a cult favorite, Chiesa\u2019s lack of consistent playing time and UEFA\u2019s non-homegrown player limits forced manager Arne Slot to make a tough decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Left-Out-3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nInstead, Rio Ngumoha<\/a><\/strong>, a teenage sensation signed from Chelsea last summer, has been included. Ngumoha didn\u2019t qualify for the B-list due to UEFA regulations, making his A-list inclusion necessary. The move reflects Liverpool\u2019s future-focused strategy and squad balance priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChelsea: Buonanotte Out, Estev\u00e3o In<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nChelsea\u2019s Champions League squad features only three club-trained players\u2014Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and the injured Levi Colwill\u2014falling short of UEFA\u2019s requirement of four. As a result, the Blues could only name a 24-man squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Left-out-4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe casualty? Facundo Buonanotte<\/strong>, a deadline-day signing from Brighton who had expressed excitement about playing in Europe\u2019s top competition. In his place, Chelsea opted for Estev\u00e3o<\/strong><\/a>, a rising Brazilian star with high potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe decision underscores Chelsea\u2019s ruthless squad management and long-term planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manchester City: Lewis and O\u2019Reilly on Team B<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nManchester City\u2019s squad announcement was less dramatic but still notable. Rico Lewis<\/strong> and Nico O\u2019Reilly<\/strong> were left off the A-list but included in Team B<\/strong>, which allows clubs to register younger players who have been with the club for two consecutive years since age 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Left-Out-5.jpg\")
@niccz10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis strategic move enables City to maintain squad flexibility while complying with UEFA regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts: Squad Management in the Spotlight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe 2025\/26 Champions League squad announcements have revealed more than just tactical preferences\u2014they\u2019ve exposed the emotional, regulatory, and developmental layers behind elite football management. From Mathys Tel\u2019s exclusion amid racial abuse concerns to Gabriel Jesus\u2019 injury recovery, clubs are navigating complex decisions that go far beyond the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the group stage unfolds, fans will be watching not just the players who made the cut\u2014but also those who didn\u2019t.
Bet <\/a>on the Bundesliga, Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, and all major leagues with Bangbet! Enjoy exclusive odds, expert game predictions, and win exciting prizes every week. <\/strong>
Bangbet <\/a>\u2014 More Than Just Winning!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 season has kicked off with elite clubs unveiling their official squad lists\u2014but not without controversy. Several high-profile players have been surprisingly excluded from their teams\u2019 A-list rosters, sparking debate among fans and pundits alike. From injury setbacks to emotional recovery periods, this year\u2019s omissions reflect both tactical decisions and deeper […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":7253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[1047,992,1046,1048,1045,109],"class_list":{"0":"post-7250","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football-news","8":"tag-2025-champions-league","9":"tag-bangbet-champions-league-updates","10":"tag-players-left-out-of-ucl","11":"tag-squad-ucl","12":"tag-ucl","13":"tag-uefa-champions-league"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7250"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7266,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250\/revisions\/7266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Sources close to the club suggest Spurs may have opted to give Tel time away from the spotlight to recover emotionally and mentally from the ordeal. The move has sparked conversations around player welfare and the psychological toll of high-pressure matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other notable exclusions from Spurs\u2019 UCL squad include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tottenham\u2019s trimmed A-list squad has only 22 players, well below the UEFA maximum of 25, suggesting strategic restraint or internal challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a bold call by excluding Gabriel Jesus<\/strong>, who is still recovering from knee surgery<\/strong> following an ACL injury sustained in January. The Brazilian striker is expected to be sidelined until early 2026, making his inclusion impractical for the group stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a surprise move, 15-year-old Max Dowman<\/a><\/strong> has been added to the squad. The young midfielder has impressed in training and is seen as a long-term prospect. His inclusion signals Arsenal\u2019s commitment to youth development and squad depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liverpool fans were stunned to see Federico Chiesa<\/strong> omitted from the Champions League squad. Despite being a cult favorite, Chiesa\u2019s lack of consistent playing time and UEFA\u2019s non-homegrown player limits forced manager Arne Slot to make a tough decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, Rio Ngumoha<\/a><\/strong>, a teenage sensation signed from Chelsea last summer, has been included. Ngumoha didn\u2019t qualify for the B-list due to UEFA regulations, making his A-list inclusion necessary. The move reflects Liverpool\u2019s future-focused strategy and squad balance priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chelsea\u2019s Champions League squad features only three club-trained players\u2014Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and the injured Levi Colwill\u2014falling short of UEFA\u2019s requirement of four. As a result, the Blues could only name a 24-man squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The casualty? Facundo Buonanotte<\/strong>, a deadline-day signing from Brighton who had expressed excitement about playing in Europe\u2019s top competition. In his place, Chelsea opted for Estev\u00e3o<\/strong><\/a>, a rising Brazilian star with high potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decision underscores Chelsea\u2019s ruthless squad management and long-term planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manchester City\u2019s squad announcement was less dramatic but still notable. Rico Lewis<\/strong> and Nico O\u2019Reilly<\/strong> were left off the A-list but included in Team B<\/strong>, which allows clubs to register younger players who have been with the club for two consecutive years since age 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This strategic move enables City to maintain squad flexibility while complying with UEFA regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2025\/26 Champions League squad announcements have revealed more than just tactical preferences\u2014they\u2019ve exposed the emotional, regulatory, and developmental layers behind elite football management. From Mathys Tel\u2019s exclusion amid racial abuse concerns to Gabriel Jesus\u2019 injury recovery, clubs are navigating complex decisions that go far beyond the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the group stage unfolds, fans will be watching not just the players who made the cut\u2014but also those who didn\u2019t. The UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 season has kicked off with elite clubs unveiling their official squad lists\u2014but not without controversy. Several high-profile players have been surprisingly excluded from their teams\u2019 A-list rosters, sparking debate among fans and pundits alike. From injury setbacks to emotional recovery periods, this year\u2019s omissions reflect both tactical decisions and deeper […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":7253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[1047,992,1046,1048,1045,109],"class_list":{"0":"post-7250","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football-news","8":"tag-2025-champions-league","9":"tag-bangbet-champions-league-updates","10":"tag-players-left-out-of-ucl","11":"tag-squad-ucl","12":"tag-ucl","13":"tag-uefa-champions-league"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7250"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7266,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7250\/revisions\/7266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus Out, Max Dowman In<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n Liverpool: Federico Chiesa Dropped, Rio Ngumoha Promoted<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nChelsea: Buonanotte Out, Estev\u00e3o In<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nManchester City: Lewis and O\u2019Reilly on Team B<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts: Squad Management in the Spotlight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Bangbet <\/a>\u2014 More Than Just Winning!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"