New York City FC striker David Villa has suggested that European leagues adopt Major League Soccer's playoff format.
As opposed to the round-robin formats of top leagues in Europe, MLS features 12 of its 20 teams in a postseason bracket to determine a champion.
And Villa, a former star in Spain's La Liga with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, said there's a lot to like about the MLS configuration.
"Right now, after the final of the season, 12 teams have a chance at winning the trophy," Villa told MLSsoccer.com. "This is very exciting for every team, for the country, for the people, for people who love soccer. I like it."
Villa said adding a playing format would help to reduce meaningless games in European season's final weeks when the champion has already been decided.
"I like this format. Europe can copy this format," said Villa, who is in his second season with NYCFC and will play in his first playoff game on Sunday.
"Sometimes in Europe, in some leagues like the Spanish league or the Italian league, the last 10 games are very boring for winning the trophy because there's only two teams. Sometimes one team has the best chance of winning."
NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira compared the pressure his team will face in the playoffs to that which he faced in the Champions League knockout stage as a player with Arsenal.
"When you play in the European Cup and you're into the last 16 or the quarterfinals, it is of course a different type of pressure because you know you lose and you're out," Vieira said. "You just have to manage it.