Wenger: Close the door (RossKinnaird/Allsport)

As Sir Alex Ferguson's side prepare for tonight's crucial qualifying encounter with Zalaegerszeg at Old Trafford, Arsenal's manager has recommended to UEFA that the back door into Europe's illustrious competition should be firmly shut.

Wenger fears the Champions League is quickly losing its appeal with television companies, as well as their audiences, and argues that the only way forward is to restrict qualification to the elite. In essence, to once again make it a true Champions League.

UEFA intends to tackle the problem later this week by scrapping the second group stage of the competition from next season. That, however, has been met with opposition by Europe's leading clubs, who are concerned at the loss of revenue such a change would bring.

Wenger also disagrees with UEFA's solution to the problem, but he believes European football's governing body must be more ruthless if the competition is to survive beyond the next two years.

'What they are proposing is not the right formula,' said Wenger yesterday. 'The formula we have at the moment is not attractive to all the television broadcasters.

'It leaves you with two choices, go backwards or forwards. And I believe what they are proposing is a regressive step.

'The best way is to go forward and form a European league of around 10 clubs, a real Champions League. The bigger clubs would need bigger squads because you would have to keep your domestic leagues, but it will have to happen soon or European football will collapse.

'A European league would create an interest. Even with the changes they are proposing you would still have games between an Italian team and a Russian team that are of no interest to anyone in, say, France.

'If you have a European league where every country is represented, you will maintain the interest that will keep the television companies happy. It's only my opinion, but I think it's the only way forward.'

Wenger recognises the obvious flaw in his argument. Arsenal have enjoyed three years of Champions League football after finishing second in consecutive seasons, but he nevertheless feels that those who fail to win their domestic title should be relegated to the UEFA Cup.

'Europe is at a crossroads,' he said. 'What people want to see is the best playing against the best.You cannot convince people otherwise. They want to see Real Madrid against Arsenal or Manchester United against Barcelona. It would be a league everyone wants to win.'

This evening Wenger will be focusing on Arsenal's Premiership date with West Bromwich Albion at Highbury. Dennis Bergkamp is injured, but Wenger confirmed that Gilberto Silva will start as the Double winners try to extend their Premiership record of scoring in 41 successive matches.

His United counterpart Ferguson, meanwhile, will once again be without goalkeeper Fabien Barthez tonight. Although he has returned to training, Barthez is making slow progress with his hip injury.

But there was good news for Ferguson as record signing Rio Ferdinand is fit and may start on the substitutes' bench against Zalaegerszeg.

United trail 1-0 from the first leg and midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron said: 'This is like a cup final to us. Everything hangs on this one game. We cannot afford another performance like the one we gave in Budapest.'

United's hopes of signing Rennes defender Julien Escude faded last night when talks between chief executive Peter Kenyon and officials from the French club broke down in Paris. United are believed to be £1million short of the £4m valuation placed on the player and Rennes have shown no sign of weakening.